Los Angeles is not as well known for its local beer scene as San Diego, but the City of Angels still offers variety and depth for any visitor who wants a taste of the local brews. The emerging beer culture includes both local craft breweries and taprooms serving rare and noteworthy flavors from across the country, nurturing a culture of creativity and constant change. U.S. News consulted a number of local experts to find out just what makes the Los Angeles microbrewery scene worth checking out.
Eagle Rock Brewery
Tucked into a dark corner of a tiny street is Eagle Rock Brewery. Most visitors say it’s not even in the Eagle Rock neighborhood (it’s closer to Glassell Park), but there’s one thing that’s certain: This establishment began the slow-moving evolution of Los Angeles’ microbrewing revolution.
[Read: 5 Off-the-Beaten Path Neighborhoods to Visit in Los Angeles.]
The unpretentious, populist ethic at Eagle Rock Brewery extends to the communist-style posters and logos, and “Beer for the People!” slogan. Taste a flight of the brewery’s four top beers: the steady Solidarity ale (available seasonally), Manifesto witbier, Populist IPA and Revolution pale ale. Visitors can bring their own food and get to know strangers at communal tables in the small, friendly space.
Eagle Rock Brewery is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. Free brewery tours are available Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. with no reservations necessary.
Angel City Brewery
The Arts District of downtown Los Angeles, a destination in itself, is the location of art deco-inspired Angel City Brewery, a warehouse that looks like it came straight from a film noir scene. “It’s a sign of the resurgence of the Arts District,” says Irene Chen, concierge at The Ritz Carlton, Los Angeles. At Angel City, beer drinkers enjoy the energy and atmosphere of the revitalized Arts District just as much as the craft brews, she says.
With brewing in one half of the establishment and a taproom and pub in the other, it’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon, sipping on a flight or enjoying a pint of the flagship Angel City IPA. Food trucks in the parking lot and corn hole on a Saturday night keep Angel City popular with the local crowd.
Angel City Brewery is open every day, though hours vary.
Mumford Brewing
Just a few blocks away in the Arts District is Mumford Brewing, a taproom and brewing outfit that’s a new addition to the scene. Opened by three homebrewers who decided to go all in during the summer of 2015, the microbrewery already has an impressive back catalog of experimental beers, with new options rotating in and out every few weeks. The only way to find out what they have is to visit for yourself.
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Additionally, Mumford hosts pop-up events with Solarc Brewing, the brainchild of a local duo who specialize in “gruit,” a medieval form of beer-making that sources local materials to make beer, instead of hops. When Solarc and Mumford team up, you can double your experimental beer fun in one visit.
Mumford is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m.
Santa Monica Brew Works
The breezy “beach-brewed” philosophy of Santa Monica Brew Works is simple: Create great beer to drink all day by the beach. The tasting room in central Santa Monica is the city’s first (and currently only) local microbrewery and specializes in easy-drinking light ales and extra-hoppy IPAs. The Brew Works is also home to the Gluteus Minimus, a rare nearly gluten-free ale. The taproom doesn’t serve food, but thrives on a steady diet of food trucks just outside its doors.
You can visit Santa Monica Brew Works Wednesday through Sunday, though hours vary by day.
Golden Road/Mohawk Bend
“It’s cool to go try a bunch of selections from the same brewer, but it’s even better to go to a place where they offer a lot of beers from a wide selection of breweries,” says Ryan Fisher, concierge at Santa Monica’s Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. At Mohawk Bend, you can get both.
The Echo Park taproom is a cousin of nearby Golden Road Brewing, a microbrewery that specializes in smooth, drinkable local beers. All of Golden Road’s beers are on tap at Mohawk Bend, in addition to dozens of other brews from around the country. Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny the Elder, hailing from San Diego, is a local favorite, but the three-page beer list offers unique flavors for everyone. In addition to the brews, Mohawk Bend serves a unique vegan-friendly lineup of classic bar food, from spicy cauliflower “wings” to wood-fired pizza.
Mohawk Bend is open weekdays starting at 11:30 a.m., and weekends starting at 9:30 a.m. Closing hours vary by day.
Father’s Office
Casey Duggan, former head concierge at the Viceroy Santa Monica and current head concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta, is partial to the tiny taproom credited with Los Angeles’ gastropub revolution. “Without a doubt my favorite pub is Father’s Office. I would travel across the city to spend an evening there. They’ve got an amazing burger, and their rotating taps are stellar.”
[Read: The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles.]
The woodsy bar, complete with creaky floors, boasts an incredible collection of microbrews from around the country, including California favorites, as well as beverages from tiny Colorado and Michigan joints. For beer aficionados jonesing for something from their home state, Father’s Office is the place.
To experience more of what Los Angeles has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.
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6 Breweries to Visit in Los Angeles – Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com
