California

California is known for their beautiful weather year round, wine tasting, and delicious beer. Despite being a very expensive place to live and visit, doing a brewery tour here is a lot of fun! Here’s a list of the breweries I have personally been to in California along with my opinion about each.

Brewery Map

Brewery Reviews

Los Angeles

  1. Golden Road Brewery (Grand Central Market):
    • About the Space:
      • This location is in the Grand Central Market, so it’s just a bar in the marketplace. Fun to hang out and have a beer while shopping or eating from the various vendors!
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a decent selection of beers at this location with a few different styles. Overall the beer is average to above average. Try the Sunset Coffee Stout or the Wolf Among Weeds Double IPA.
  2. Pacific Plate Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Small-batch microbrewery and taproom in an office park that offers a range of craft beers with Latin flavors. Fun place to come a chill.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have some unique offerings, so definitely worth a try. The Guava IPA and Horchata Stout were quite tasty.

San Diego

  1. Fall Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Fun neighborhood brewery that is dog friendly. Lots of food options nearby, or they have rotating food trucks.
    • About the Beer:
      • Excellent beer options here with numerous styles to satisfy your craving. The 2 AM Bike Ride Stout was fantastic!
  2. Mike Hess Brewing (North Park):
    • About the Space:
      • Modern tasting room with board games and cool brewery views.
    • About the Beer:
      • Everything here was delicious, so get a flight to try multiple beers. The Deceptio Black IPA and the Coffee Grazias Cream Ale are good choices.
  3. Mission Brewery:
    • About the Space:
      • Microbrewery housed in an old building from 1894, right near downtown San Diego. They have plenty of games and seating, making this a really cool place to hang out.
    • About the Beer:
      • So many different styles and options to pick from, and all of them are great. Be sure to get a flight! Try the Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout or the Shipwrecked IIPA Dry Hopped With Citra Hops.
  4. Pizza Port:
    • About the Space:
      • Hopping beach town hangout with picnic tables and arcade games that serves hand-tossed pizza along with a variety of beer.
    • About the Beer:
      • Their brews are just as tasty as their food, so this is an excellent place for a craft beer. Try the Kook D.I.P.A. or the Revelations Belgian Ale.
  5. Poor House Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Wooden, rustic, open and airy feeling brewery provides a cool atmosphere for a tasty beer.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have your standard offerings, but they do try experimental beers from time to time. The IPA Experimental Batch was quite tasty when I was there.
  6. Stone Brewing Co.:
    • About the Space:
      • Very impressive brewing facility that offers tours. Be sure to chat it up with your tour guide and you might get some extra tastings! They also have an excellent food menu, so you’ll likely spend a long time here!
    • About the Beer:
      • World famous beer, so not much more to say other than it’s all delicious.

San Francisco

  • ThirstyBear Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Loft life brewpub with a huge bar and a wide range of food items. Sometimes they have live music.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a huge selection of beers, so getting a flight is recommended when coming here. Overall the beer was tasty. Get the Kozlov Stout or the Howard Street IPA.