Los Angeles may not have been known for its craft beer culture about a decade ago, but the past five years have brought about a brewery renaissance in the city. From Frogtown to Torrance, inventive artisans across town have started tinkering and experimenting with the magical combination of water, malt, hops, and yeast to bring a fresh new taste to the beer scene.
Much like L.A.’s best restaurants, many of the city’s breweries are focused on infusing their craft beers with locally sourced ingredients — you’ll find avocado ales, IPAs made with tango tangerines (a beloved SoCal citrus), tangy grapefruit lagers and micheladas brewed with flaked maize, tomatillos and chile verde. Is your mouth watering yet? Whether you’re a beer purist or you’re looking for bold new flavors to tantalize your tastebuds, these are the 11 best breweries in Los Angeles that have beer gardens and taprooms for you to taste-test their selection of craft brews right on-site. Bottoms up!
1. Three Weavers Brewing Company
Kicking off the list is the exceptional Three Weavers Brewing Company, a woman-owned operation and the very first craft brewery in Inglewood. This place has got a lot to love — from their award-winning Kolsch to their community-driven ethos to their very fun, very friendly tasting room. Get your hands on their “Citra Puffs” — a satisfyingly juicy pale ale that’s basically summer in a can with its notes of citrus peel, stone fruit, and pineapple. Be sure to grab a six-pack or two for your next backyard kick-back.
📍 Location: Inglewood • 1031 W Manchester Blvd A-B, Inglewood, CA 90301
2. Angel City Brewery
Situated in the heart of the Arts District, Angel City Brewery has been a tried and true watering hole for the neighborhood since it relocated to the expansive warehouse in 2010. However, this local favorite has been slinging its delicious ales since it was founded in 1997, establishing itself as a leader in the LA craft beer boom long before others caught on.
The years of experimenting and fine-tuning their craft is evident. Be sure to keep a look out for their famous annual kolsh-style avocado ale, a zingy beverage that strikes the perfect balance between crisp and creamy. Even if you’re not a huge beer lover, Angel City Brewery’s spacious tasting room is a big enough draw in and of itself, where they host karaoke, art shows, yoga, food pop-ups and an array of fun events, like its famous St. Patrick’s celebration. Oh, and you can even bring your dog here! (on leash).
📍 Location: Downtown Los Angeles • 216 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
3. All Season Brewing Company
All Season Brewing Company makes for a great Friday night. This massive space — which used to be the historic Firestone tire station on La Brea — is filled with arcade games, Skee-Ball, a Chica’s Taco stall, a full bar that offers classic and craft cocktails and a brewery with outstanding beers on draft. With tons of indoor and outdoor seating, it’s the ideal place to get together with friends, especially if you’re all coming from different corners of the city. The central location in Mid-Wilshire can’t be debated, and neither can their selection of fantastic beers. We recommend sipping on the Red Line, a nuanced American red ale with layers of toffee, vanilla and candied citrus.
📍 Location: Miracle Mile • 800 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
4. Highland Park Brewery
Don’t be fooled by the name, this brewery has since expanded from its cute and cozy location inside of Hermosillo bar in Highland Park to an impressive warehouse in Chinatown. We love Highland Park Brewery because they aren’t afraid to get a little funky (that’s what fermentation is all about, right?) with their recipes. For coconut lovers, the bold and nutty Coconut Tree Imperial Stout is a must, giving off a subtle taste of crème brûlée on the finish. If you’re hankering for something lighter, the Hermosillo Lager is crispier than crisp and will hop right off your tongue. All in all, you can’t go wrong here. Plus, the tasting room itself is an absolute blast — just try to avoid the weekend crowds by getting their a bit earlier.
📍 Location: Chinatown • 1220 N. Spring Street
5. Common Space Brewery
Beer lovers unite at Common Space, a gorgeous 24,000-square-foot tasting room that boasts plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Now over five years in business, this community-oriented brewery has established itself as a lovable local favorite. With long wooden tables reminiscent of European beer halls, Common Space makes it clear that this is a space to mix and mingle with strangers. Don’t miss out on their absolutely delicious Jasmine Rice Saison 008, a silky-smooth Belgian pale ale that’s got a dash of pepper and just the right amount of fruity flavors without being overly sweet.
📍 Location: Hawthorne • 3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250
6. Monkish Brewing Co.
This family-owned brewery is reason enough to make the trip over to Torrance. Monkish Brewing Co. has amassed somewhat of a cult following for their limited-release brews, which are announced on social media just hours before dropping. Lovers of hoppy IPAs and pale ales — this place will be your mecca, although we’ve yet to try a bad batch of anything here.
📍 Locations:
- Torrance • 20311 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
- Anaheim • 336 S Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805
7. Audio Graph Beer Co.
Audio Graph is an unpretentious, laid-back brewery that makes for the perfect DTLA hangout spot when you need a place to decompress just three blocks from the Crypto.com Arena. Try award-winning beers like the Bass Clef Barleywine, which won best in show at the California State Fair; and the Spring Reverb, which took bronze at the Great American Beer Fest. Don’t miss out on their weekly programming, which includes comedy nights and cooking classes.
📍 Location: Downtown Los Angeles • 1203 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
8. Benny Boy Brewing
The sleek and stylish Benny Boy Brewing in Lincoln Heights combines a love for both cider and beer under one roof. Technically considered the city’s first combined cidery and brewery, Benny Boy opened its doors in April of 2022 under the guidance of husband-wife duo Ben Farber and Chelsey Rosetter. Ben learned the art of brewing in Belgium, giving their beers a distinctly European-inspired flavor with a “CA twist.” The ciders, on the other hand, are all 100% made with California apples, making for a deliciously dry and crisp finish (none of that sickly sweet cider allowed). With its gorgeous outdoor beer garden — complete with cozy fire pits — and yummy pop-up food vendors, the vibe at Benny Boy Brewing is the epitome of fun relaxation.
📍 Location: Lincoln Heights • 1821 Daly St, Los Angeles, CA 90031
9. Arts District Brewing Company
Round up a group of friends and head to Arts District Brewing Company stat. More than just a brewery, this place is the ultimate hangout and party spot, complete with Skee-Ball, darts, ping pong, a full cocktail bar and fantastic food. If you’re new to their beer menu, you’d be wise to order a flight and get a taste of everything they have to offer. We’re partial to Las Perlas, a German-style Kölsch that’s described as bready, honey-sweet and bright. The flavors fly off the tongue in just the right way while leaving a satisfying finish. You also can’t miss the Traction, an IPA with notes of mango, papaya, dank citrus and fresh grass. Arts District Brewing Company is the kind of place where even if you wind up hating everything you drink here (you absolutely won’t), you’ll still have an incredible time.
📍 Location: Arts District • 828 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013
10. Boomtown Brewery
After you get your fix at Arts District Brewing Company, head to the neighboring Boomtown Brewery. This DTLA mainstay is known for their commitment to brewing classic, old-world beers. But don’t confuse classic with commonplace or quotidian — their beers are full of flavor, richness and unfiltered deliciousness. They offer about six beers year-round, but what you’ll really want to get your hands on is one of their limited-edition, seasonal batches. The Barrel Aged Saison is a wildly refreshing imperial saison that’s been aged in Côtes du Rhône red wine barrels. Chances are you’ll leave with a couple of bottles for safe keeping.
Come for the good beers and stay for the good vibes, which includes open mic nights, karaoke and vegan food pop-ups.
📍 Location: Arts District • 700 Jackson St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
11. Frogtown Brewery
Last but not least, head to Frogtown Brewery situated next to the LA River for a taste of some of the best handcrafted beers the city has to offer. Helmed by long-time friends Adam Kestel and Mike Voss who fell in love with home-brewing, alongside the official home brew taste-tester and LA Native, Gustavo Rojas, the trio opened the cozy, laidback brewery in 2016 to great success. Stepping into Frogtown feels like walking into a friend of a friend’s party — you may not know anybody, but the vibe feels familiar and comfortable. From traditional Belgian-style ales to experimental IPAs, you’ll find a beer that perfectly suits your tastebuds here.
📍 Location: Frogtown • 2931 Gilroy St, Los Angeles, CA 90039
12. Golden Road Brewing
Not only is Golden Road one of the few woman-founded breweries thriving in the U.S. craft beer scene, it’s also Los Angeles’ largest craft brewery with multiple locations and a 50-barrel brewhouse. The brewery takes inspiration from L.A.’s diverse neighborhoods and communities, infusing the city’s spirit and creativity into flavors like “Street Cart” with lime and salt, and the “Whose House” blonde ale made in collaboration with the L.A. Rams.
📍 Locations:
- Atwater Village • 5410 W San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
- Anaheim • 2210 E Orangewood Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
- Downtown LA • 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
- Huntington Harbor • 16390 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
13. MacLeod Ale Brewing Co.
Indulge in a comforting combination of delicious pizzas and British ales at this trendy Van Nuys brewery. The expansive space offers both indoor and outdoor seating, plus some communal board games and dartboards. Bring your dog, bring your kids, and enjoy these traditional cask ales brewed on-site — we’re partial to the “King’s Taxes” a dark Scottish ale made with specialty malts.
📍 Location: Van Nuys • 14741 Calvert St, Van Nuys, CA 91411
14. Brouwerij West
It’s worth a trip out to San Pedro to visit Brouwerij West’s 17,000-square-foot outdoor beer garden, where you can sip on classic Belgian-style ales and hoppy IPAs. You could spend all afternoon here thanks to a selection of rotating gourmet food trucks, live music, and art. Conscious of the facility’s massive size, Brouwerij West works to offset its emissions by using solar energy and a mash filtering system to reduce water use.
📍 Location: San Pedro • 110 E 22nd St, San Pedro, CA 90731
15. Paperback Brewing Co.
Paperback’s eye-catching comic-themed cans convey the playfulness of their beer selection. Ever since the days of tinkering with an at-home brew system in the owner’s garage, Paperback has always showcased a spirited creativity and attention to detail. Their new Artsakh Ave. tasting room is a delightful destination in Glendale, but you can still visit the original location and beer garden near Griffith Park.
📍 Locations:
- Glendale • 422 Magnolia Ave, Glendale, CA 91204
- Glendale • 123 N Artsakh Ave, Glendale, CA 91206
So there you have it – a roundup of our picks for the best breweries in Los Angeles. Let’s toast to sharing a crisp craft beer with friends while supporting locally-owned businesses. Cheers!
Written by Andrea Alonso and Jamie Ferrell