Best Brewery Tours In Los Angeles
Ask any sports fan, backyard bbq enthusiast, fraternity brother and pretty much any guy in general, and they'll tell you beer is the greatest beverage ever invented. If you've ever wondered about the process of beer making or brewing, then a tour might be in order. While commercial brewing plants may be impressive, you can really learn a lot from a small or local brewery. If you live in Los Angeles, there are several you might want to check out.
Angel City Brewery
216 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 622-1261
www.angelcitybrewery.com
Angel City Brewery is one of the most popular brewery tours, as it is the only active brewery in DTLA. The brewery is located in a 100-year-old factory, which already makes the tour pretty cool before you even get to the beer. The schedule is pretty steady with hours on weekends that make catching a tour very accessible. Learn about the history of making beer, the making of Angel City beer and a whole bunch of interesting things you never knew were in your bottle of suds.
Eagle Rock Brewery
3056 Roswell St.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 257-7866
www.eaglerockbrewery.com
Named after the city it's located in, Eagle Rock Brewery opened in 2009 and was the first brewery to do so in decades. Family-owned, this microbrewery produces small batch artisanal year-round and seasonal beers like Manifesto, Revolution, Equinox and Unity. The brewhouse tour happens every Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. No reservations are necessary and it's free. Eagle Rock Brewery does not serve food, so tasting is not recommended on an empty stomach. They have expanded to open Eagle Rock Public House, which is a full service restaurant a little ways away.
Golden Road Brewing
5410 W. San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(213) 373-4677
www.goldenroad.la
Golden Road Brewing is one of the larger brewhouses in LA with 16 tanks. Using an automated brewing system for consistency, Golden Road produces 62 different flavor styles a year with no less than 15 in the making at one time. The free tour takes you through the brewhouse and into the canning facility where you can see the end product. The tours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:30, 2:30 and 4 p.m. Just sign up with the bartender a little before that, and you'll be good to go.
LA Craft Beer Tours
Serving Los Angeles and the Surrounding Area
(323) 819-4298
www.lacraftbeertours.com
LA Craft Beer Tours is the only tour in Los Angeles dedicated to the California beer culture and finding the best breweries and beer bars. Led by two guys who love the brewing process, the tour takes you to three breweries and a brewery tour. The tour lasts about 4.5 hours and you get to pick where you go from a list. Some of the brewhouses to choose from are El Segundo, Monkish, Smog City Strand, Absolution, The Dudes, 3 Weavers Breweries and Phantom Carriage. As the popularity grows, so will the list. Private tours are available and the bus seats about 14.
Smog City Brewing Co.
1901 Del Amo Blvd., Suite B
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-7664
www.smogcitybrewing.com
Smog City Brewing Co. is owned and run by a beer loving family. Priding themselves in quality craft beer with flavors you'll love, Smog City beer is on the rise and expanding. The taproom is family-style and dog friendly with a knowledgeable staff. Food truck fare and complimentary popcorn are available. The tour is sort of an on-the-spot thing. If the taproom is slow, simply ask one of the staff for a tour of the facility. If you time it just right you might get to taste some of the experimental brews before they hit the taps.
Related: Craft Beer Industry Is Really Hopping In Los Angeles
