Why crack open a cold one at home when you can relish in the greatness of Los Angeles and one of its many great breweries? Whether you’re looking for a rich, dark stout or a blonde ale, you can find a place for lager and friends all across the city. From downtown L.A. to the coast, read on for the city’s best breweries.
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Website / 800 S La Brea Ave 90036
Since 2021, All Season Brewing has been dedicated to “good beer, good times and good folks.” It offers a full bar, which includes classic and craft cocktails, wine and house-made ginger beer and it is also a 15 barrel brewhouse and ski ball spot. It’s located within the Firestone tire shop in Miracle Mile, making it a unique spot to check out.
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Website / 110 N Marina Dr 90803
Come check out Ballast Point’s Long Beach location for the perfect ocean breezes and gorgeous water views. This two-story location offers a harborside spot with outdoor patios and fire pits. It features 60-plus beers on tap along with a tasting room that is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m Monday through Friday, 10 a.m until 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. until 8 p.m on Sundays.
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Website / 1821 Daly St 90031
Located in Lincoln Heights, Benny Boy Brewing is the best place to unwind after a long day with a cold one. You can join others in The Backyard, its outdoor seating area with firepits and take in the nice sunsets while sipping on one of their various beer choices. Benny Boy’s brings the cozy feeling from your home into theirs and we’re sure that you’ll have a great time.
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Website / 3056 Roswell St 90065
Eagle Rock Brewery is family owned and operated and was the first microbrewery to open in Los Angeles back in over 60 years. Since opening its doors, it continues to strive to make high-quality beers that are both well-balanced and approachable. They want their guests to enjoy their drinks while also enjoying their space.
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Website / Various
Ale Works has two locations in Hawthorne and Culver City. Both locations offer production spaces and family-friendly tasting rooms. At the Hawthorne location, there is indoor seating, as well as a large outdoor beer garden seating area. There are also TVs located throughout Ale Works both inside and outside to be sure you won’t miss your game. It has 25 rotating taps that change frequently but offer light, dark, sour, Belgian and hoppy options.
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Website / 5930 York Blvd 90042
A restaurant and taproom, Macleod on York is a craft brewery that brews traditional British beers with an L.A. twist. The team at Macleod begin with traditional recipes, but look for inspiration through the multicultural city of Los Angeles as a way to create beer for everyone to enjoy. Alongside with your beer, you can try out its pizza with many flavors to choose from like spicy meatball, basil chicken pesto, four cheese and garlic, buffalo chicken and so much more.
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Website / 1920 Colorado Ave 90404
Santa Monica Brew Works is Santa Monica’s first and only brewery. It is also home to Emmy’s Squared Pizza, which has a variety of different pizzas to choose from, such as its Hot Chicken, Vodka, MVP and the Big Al. It offers a happy hour Monday through Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. What’s more, check out the Johnny Rockets Milkshake Porter flavors while visiting, such as the chocolate peanut butter or strawberry options.
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Website / 5410 W San Fernando Rd 90039
The Atwater Village Brewpub offers a family-friendly environment with bright and welcoming interior spaces and a shaded outdoor area that is taken great advantage of during the warmer months. It includes a variety of brews on taps, while also serving fresh food favorites made from ingredients that come directly from Los Angeles local farms. Some menu highlights include its avocado tacos, birria fries, Chimi burger and its falafel bowl.
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Website / 700 Jackson St. 90012
Rooted in California’s history as a place for potential riches and discovery, Boomtown Brewery embraces the creativity and community of the very artists that keep Los Angeles thriving. In addition to serving what they describe as “old world, unfiltered, gravity fed, fully flavored beers with integrity, they offer their space as a venue for galleries. The taproom taps into the heart and soul of the DTLA Arts District by hosting DJs, benefits, block pirates and bicycle rides all in the name of engaging around a beer.
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Website/ 828 Traction Ave. 90013
Since 2015, the Arts District Brewing Company has brought Angelenos a rotating selection of 30 craft beers, in addition to a full bar of cocktails and wine. Ranging from wheat ales to stouts to IPAs, their 15-barrel brewhouse produces approximately 2,1000 barrels each year by their award-winning team. They have a pretty hearty menu of mouthwatering items like tater tots and buffalo fried chicken sandwiches. And be sure to head over on a Monday for a free round of skee ball, an ideal start to your week.
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Website/ 1220 N. Spring St. 90012
Ample parking? In L.A.? Nothing better. The Chinatown-border location of Highland Park Brewery is a city gem neighbor to Los Angeles State Historic Park. Pop by before your way into a Dodgers Game or relax on the patio with your pup. Their menu boasts fresh hoppy beers, crisp lagers and bold stouts that are accompanied by a menu inspired by its surroundings, such as salsa negra mole tots, the kung pao wrap and chili limón chips. Highland Park Brewery has such a solid fanbase that they have a special Bottle Friends Membership that already has a waitlist for next year.
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Website / 216 S. Alameda Ave. 90012
Riding on a wave of creativity, culture and craft, Angel City Brewing’s origins go back to 1997. Over the last several decades, it has gone through a number of ownership changes and renovations and now sits in the historic John A. Roebling Building in the Arts District. Come sit at its mustache bar for its constantly rotating selection of Angel City beers on tap, including some exclusive options.
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Website/ 140 Main St. 90245
This locally-owned, independent brewery focuses on fresh, hoppy West Coast IPAs. Founded in a garage by Rob Croxall over a love of hops, El Segundo Brewery has expanded from producing 60 to 400 barrels a month in its 11 years. Their selection is designed to be consumed within 6 weeks of production and promise beers characterized by “amazing aromas of citrus, pine, tropical fruits and just dankness.”
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Website/ 110 E. 22nd St. 90731
Brian Mercer spent much of his career importing Belgian Candi Sugar for some of the country’s top breweries when he decided to found his own beer brand in 2010. By 2016, Brouwerij West came home to San Pedro where it now operates as a brewery, tasting room and beer garden in a former Port of Los Angeles Warehouse built by the Navy during World War II. Not only does Brouwerij West attest to combining traditional ingredients and progressive experimentation, but its solar-powered facility uses 30 percent less water than traditional breweries. Be sure to head to the coast to sip on a Belgian-style ale and munch on food from a local food truck.
Breweries are so much more than beer. When you find the right spot you find community.
See also: The Best Wine Bars In L.A.
Photography by: Jose Hernandez-Uribe/ Unsplash
