Angel City Brewery
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Located on the edge of the Arts District in downtown LA, Angel City Brewery’s public house perfectly captures the vibe of the neighborhood. In addition to their superlative line of beers (standouts include their Tokyo “Super Dry” and Black Lager) there’s also a rotation of food trucks and the option to turn any draft beer into a Michelada for an additional charge. In addition to free and paid brewery tours, they also partner with Art Share LA and feature pieces in their pseudo gallery in the rear of the space.
If that isn’t enough reason to come by, the Truly bar is just next door and is worth checking out for the novelty alone even if you aren’t big on hard seltzers.
All Season Brewery
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All Season might have the best “taproom” of any brewery in the city. Situated in the old Firestone tire shop in Miracle Mile, the space is as diverse as it is expansive. Not only can you sample their collection of solid craft beers, but there’s also a full bar with cocktails and an onsite taco spot in case you get the munchies. In addition to indoor and outdoor seating options, there’s also Skee-Ball (free on Monday) and some excellent brewery merch. The place gets busy and quite loud though they typically have so many bartenders on hand that even at their busiest you never have to wait long to be served.
Benny Boy Brewing
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One of the most unique brewery experiences in the city by far. On one end of the expansive Lincoln Heights space is the brewery which features pours straight from the tank and the choice to make any beer into a Michelada on demand. Across the beer garden, made up to recreate a backyard hangout, is the Cider House where you can get any of their delicious ciders or a glass of natural wine if you’re so inclined.
For those who can’t make up their mind, any beer and cider can be combined to create your own unique Snakebite. With a full calendar of events and pop-ups, this recent addition to the brewery scene in LA is worth visiting.
Frogtown Brewery
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Like Eagle Rock Brewery this one takes a little effort to get to unless you live in the neighborhood. The steampunk aesthetic of the taproom doesn’t quite work, but the beer and service are excellent. The brewers aren’t afraid to get weird with it and their Tiki Series has produced some particularly interesting beers worth tasting.
If you’re a fan of what they do, look into their Frog Society Membership. Not only does it get you a nice discount that could quickly pay for itself (depending on how thirsty you are) but also gets you access to specific events and first dibs on certain beer releases.
Boomtown Brewery
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It feels like there’s always something going on at Boomtown. Depending on the day of the week there might be a gallery exhibition, live music, karaoke, a team-building exercise, or a wedding reception. It is impressive how they’ve leveraged their massive taproom into a combination sports bar, billiards hall, and event space. There’s even a handful of arcade cabinets. That being said, they are worth a follow on Instagram explicitly so you don’t find yourself walking into an event that isn’t the vibe you’re looking for.
Parking is a breeze and their rotation of food trucks is top-notch. Oh, and the beer is pretty good too!
Paperback Brewery
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Yes, there are cool places to visit in Glendale.
Paperback is situated off of San Fernando Road just south of the Americana and a few doors down from Glendale Tap (another excellent craft beer bar worth visiting). Credit to them for committing to the bit — most of the beer’s names and can art display the pulpy, dime store comic aesthetic that is also reflected in the quirky decor of their taproom, seemingly built into a modified airplane hanger.
As a bonus, the semi-permanent food truck Bun & Blanket is one of the most reasonably priced places to grab a bite at any brewery you visit.
Eagle Rock Brewery
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Eagle Rock Brewery is small and unassuming, tucked back down a dead-end side street and with little available parking. They have food, though it’s limited to what can fit under a pop-up tent in the space between tables and pallets. But what they lack in bells and whistles, they make up for with incredible service and excellent beer. The bartenders are friendly, building a rapport with newcomers and regulars alike. While the rotation of guest beers is nice, their normal roster of offerings is top-notch (the Populist is a particularly popular and delicious IPA).
They also recently announced that they will soon welcome Party Beer Company to cohabitate in the space. The more the merrier.
If you are looking for a great beer in a chill, family-friendly environment you can’t go wrong.
El Segundo Brewing Company
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El Segundo Brewing Company’s taproom is located on Main Street in, you guessed it, El Segundo. They have several excellent beers but it would be a crime not to highlight their collaboration with former pro wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin as a unique draw for thirsty patrons. Not just a gimmick, the collab has produced a handful of delicious offerings, including their Broken Skull IPA which might be the most approachable, easy-drinking IPA in the city.
They’re also an incredibly dog-friendly space, so much so that they even host the occasional adoption event to help pups in need.
You should also check out The Slice & Pint, also owned and operated by ESBC, which is only a block or two away. You’ll never guess what they have.
Highland Park Brewing
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First things first — though it’s called Highland Park Brewery, the taproom is just outside of Chinatown. Yes, there is a production facility in Highland Park but it’s not open to the public (though Hermosillo is right nearby which is part of the HPB family). This is all to say be careful when looking up the location on your maps app.
All that being said, HPB’s taproom has an inviting atmosphere with great food and an efficient ordering system that keeps the occasionally long lines moving quickly. The staff is friendly and the outdoor patio is a good space to bring a well-behaved dog. Also, their “sad cat” logo merch is quite excellent.
As a bonus, just down the street is Homage Brewing which is worth visiting if you’re looking for something a bit more bespoke.
Macleod Ale Brewing Company
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The self-proclaimed “Van Nuys Village Hall,” Macleod Ale Brewing Company’s taproom is located in Van Nuys next to an autobody shop and across from another autobody shop. Their beers are mostly British-inspired ales and lagers, though they always have a sour or an IPA on hand to please any palette. While their full kitchen has closed they have a decent rotation of food trucks and it’s one of the few places in the city where you can play a game of darts if you are so inclined.
Pour one out for their former second location in Highland Park. Gone too soon.
