First Magic Kingdom sells beer, now a Disneyland brewery is coming

Who couldn’t use a frosty beer after waiting in line for It’s a Small World? A Disneyland brewery is coming later this year.

Any person who has braved a theme park can understand the desire, sometimes need, for an ice cold beer. For years, Magic Kingdom opted not to serve adult beverages. Now, frosty cold beers are seen all around Cinderella’s castle. The California Disney parks don’t want to be left behind. A Disneyland brewery is coming later this year.

Ballast Point Disney brewery collaboration, photo from Disney Media Site

Disneyland News announced that Ballast Point, the popular San Diego brewery, will open in the Downtown Disney District. Bringing in a California brewery is a smart choice for Disney. While Disney could have brewed their own beer in house, using Ballast Point brings in a built in craft brewery audience.

Ballast Point is a very popular California craft brewery. Known for its Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point has a wide variety of both year round and limited release beers. The flagship Sculpin IPA is a citrus forward IPA with plenty of hop enhanced bite. Still, extremely drinkable, the Sculpin IPA is easily paired with a multitude of dishes or very enjoyable just on its own.

According to Disneyland news, the brewery will offer limited edition Disney only beers. These types of beer offerings are becoming more common at theme parks. Universal Resorts Florida has special Harry Potter and Duff beers, which are made by local Florida breweries. Also, Epcot at Walt Disney World often features local Florida breweries during its various food festivals.

In addition to the beers, the new brewery will feature full menu. The food is  said to feature Southern California cuisine. While that designation is quite broad, Disney said that the menu will consist of “salads, small plates, flatbreads and entrees featuring local, sustainable and seasonal ingredients.”

These type of restaurants affiliated with theme parks are becoming more popular. Visitors are becoming more food savvy. Long gone are the days of hamburgers, chicken nuggets and pretzels. Guests want more menu options with better ingredients. Disney seems to be following these dining trends.

Next: 5 beers to try at Universal Resorts Florida

While Disney hasn’t announced an exact opening date, many people will be eagerly anticipating the opening.