The Most Flavorful Breweries in Oakland

Hapa's Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 4.4 (456) • $$

"Location: San Jose, off Lincoln.Ambiance and Decor: Brewery factory style, with both inside and outside sitting. Restrooms located in the hallways of this huge factory spot. Children and dog friendly. Occasional food truck parked in front of the brewery. Outside food welcomed. Service: Service with a smile and welcoming. Drinks: Hapa has tons of choices of beers that they brew, as well as seltzers and non-alcoholic (It's call anti-fade).During my visit with my corgi I ordered the Pesky Penguin and Experience Idaho. (I like ordering drinks with a 7 or lower IBU) Pesky Penguin taste so much like Rasberries. Nice tart flavor with a touch of bitterness.Experience Idaho was amazing with no bitterness at all. I could have drank more, but I was already lit. lolOverall: 5/5 totally worth the visit. Prices are inexpensive and the local crowd makes everyone feel like home."

Ballast Point

★★★★☆ 4 (92) • $$

"Date: Wednesday, June 12th, 2024Time: 6:15pmParty of: 2Meal: Dinner before a concert at ChaseReservations Made: via OpenTable the day before*16oz California Kolsch ($9)*Belgium Pretzel Bites ($15)*Broiled Deviled Eggs ($12)*Spinach Artichoke ($16)*Garlic Parmesan Fries ($12)*16oz Longfin Lager ($9)*Surcharge ($3.65)A girlfriend and I were going to the Janet Jackson concert at 8pm. We figured we should meet up for some food beforehand. I looked around and this was the only place offering reservations at a time that worked with the concert and was after work hours. I would highly recommend making a rez as it was busy when I got here.You scan the QR code on the table and order everything online. You can't request glasses of water or anything, so make sure to remember to ask when your drinks and food are delivered. No one checks on you or anything. I still tipped 20% since I just do that automatically, but there's really no service in the traditional way here if you think about it.The food was fine. Just your typical bar bites. Tho the fries were my fav. Very garlicky and savory. Definitely the best dish. The pretzel bites were too fluffy and chewy in the wrong way. I wanted the texture to resemble a carnival soft pretzel. The cheese was also too thin. The beers were good. I'm not much of a beer drinker if there's liquor around, but it's easy to sip on. They were out of the beer that reminded me of a belgian witbier, so I picked the ones above.Convenient if you want to grab some drinks and food before going to Chase Center where a 16oz beer runs $16. Definitely better on my pocketbook. REVIEW #3454"

Bartlett Hall

★★★★☆ 3.7 (981) • $$

"While on a business trip, I had the pleasure of dining here for dinner. It was so good I came back a second time (twice in four days). I liked everything about BH from the ambiance to the service to the cleanliness to the food. I ate at the very large bar both nights, and my bartender, Bruno, was excellent at his job. On two nights, I had the grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad and the shrimp po boy. Both were excellent and tasted fresh and flavorful. It is evident that they have real bartenders who care about the drinks they make. Well done! I enjoyed the Perfect King, but my favorite was the Pineapple Express."

Woods Island Club

★★★★☆ 4 (46) • $

"I can't believe this place doesn't have more reviews. Actually considering how few people visit Treasure Island and the limited opening hours, I am not THAT surprised. Let's get some of the could be betters out of the way:- Very limited food - only empanadas and chips- Very limited hours - I think they are only open on weekends and from 12-6 PM. We wanted to hang out longer after getting there about 5:15, and we just made it for last call. Why it is great:- The views. Literally million dollar views of the bay. - The mini beach and chairs. They have chairs so you can chill on a tiny man-made beach with some music jams and a few beach games. Or you can just sit at the tables outside (not in the sandy area). - Some yummy beer, wine, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinksOverall, a chill spot where you can kick back and enjoy a $7 drink and million dollar views."

Woods Cervecería

★★★★☆ 4.1 (234) • $$

"Quaint vibe with a deep funky bass line. I came in serenades by 80s times from the cure, to Bikini Kill to Joy Division. A Pilsner accompanied the DJ/bartender's excellent choice of tunes. Excellent service. Sitting along the great window and having a mushroom empanada rounded out the evening. Turning a lugubrious day into light and laughter."

Ocean View Brew Works

★★★★★ 4.6 (86) • $$

"Here tonight for BINGO! 3/23/23. So fun!!! The BINGO host was funny. The crowd was quite loud (in a good way) they seem to have a pretty fun size crowd. The beer beertender was super helpful & kind. The guava sour was great and my bf had the pilsner then a porter...my friend won a free beer at BINGO. The food next door was great. We had 2 avocado bagles w Brussels sprouts, 3 hot dogs, smoked salmon -no bread, n the tator tots!!!"

Line 51 Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (117) • $$

"Cool and unassuming spot over by all the warehouses in Oakland past Jack London. Plenty of street parking and there was a corn hole tournament or practice happening when we arrived. It was pretty family friendly and despite the "adult only" signs on the pool table, we watched little children wipe their sticky hands and toss the billiard balls around. Great selection of beers - everything from lagers to IPAs to porters to Czech and German pilsners. They also have a kitchen serving hotdogs. Great fast, friendly and efficient service and lots of bench and round tables to fit your party."

21st Amendment Brewery- Taproom

★★★★☆ 4.1 (417) • $$

"I came here before a Giants game, which seems to be the tradition now!We were seated quickly and ordered some of our usual delights, including, for me, the cheese curds and the sishito peppers.The food took a while to get to the table, as it was a busy place at that time. Yet, the benefit was that the food was hot and fresh. The peppers were just out of the cooker, so to speak, and the cheese curds were also the hottest I remember. Very nice. The peppers were a good size, very large compared to what I have found elsewhere. The cheese curds were not so large, and it seems the serving size gets smaller each time we visit, every year or so. Check out my past reviews for comparison photos. Still, they were tasty.The service was spot on, friendly, courteous and professional . . . Overall, still a good meal for the price, ambiance, and food quality. Can't wait 'til the next game day!"

Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (442) • $$

"All the stars for this go towards the unique indoor and outdoor ambiance, plus the very friendly owner/server. My husband and I were in the Half Moon Bay area and he wanted something hearty to eat, so we found this place. We went during lunch so the line was a little long, but I don't remember waiting for a long time. The cashier/owner (I think) was also very friendly and helpful with regards to asking to refill napkins and the like. My husband and I aren't big drinkers, so I don't have much to say about the drinks unfortunately, but I do have some stuff to say about the food.The food is why I have 3 stars. I think my husband liked the burger and fries that he got, but I did not really like the fish tacos and nachos that I ordered. The nachos just probably needed to be reheated to be honest - my husband and I decided to eat outside that day when it was a bit chillier, and so naturally the melted nacho cheese cooled down and I personally don't like cold, melted cheese - so I did not finish that side. The fish meat in the fish tacos did not taste very good. They also included some sauces to go with the taco, but I can only use so much sauce to make up for the unpleasant taste in the fish meat. I would be open to trying something else on their menu though, it's unfortuante that the fish taco did not taste great."

Blue Ocean Brewing

★★★★★ 4.9 (22) • $$

"This place was a huge pleasant surprise. It was a rainy/windy day and we were over in the area because we were just kind of driving the coast. We didn't expect much in this area because we were coming from the somewhat industrial looking side, but decided we wanted to look for a brewery. We googled and ended up trying this place out. Because of the weather, we didn't think there would be anyone else in here and didn't have super high hopes. We were so wrong! When we entered, there was a duo playing live music. They were enjoyable to listen to. There were also quite a few people in there of all ages and seemingly, different walks of life--always a fun thing to see. I ordered a flight and every beer on it was nice and crispy cold--the only way to enjoy beer in my opinion. And the flavors of every one were so impressive. We both love beer and are very impartial to our own local breweries in the town we live in--but coming here made me wish this was in our town! My husband ordered a pint of Sea Wolf and he really enjoyed that. I had the Love Boat on my flight which sounded intriguing to me. It was SO GOOD. It was an ill Ali eery and graham cracker sour. I'm not always a sour lover, but it was the perfect balance. I would say that and the Sea Wolf were my favorites. The gal working, Lauren, was incredibly sweet. We asked for some local suggestions of places she liked for food, drinks, etc. and she was really helpful--gave us lots of great insight. She also chatted with us about her dog and ours...overall just really cool vibes. This will definitely be a go-to spot on all our future visits to the HMB area!"

Seahorse Brewery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (86)

"Stopped by this gem on our Pacifica date to take refuge from the windy weather. Upon entering, we were greeted and seated immediately.We ordered the smokehouse burger and BBQ ribs plate. When I say this was the most tender mouth-watering burger and rack of ribs we've ever had..... WOW!!! You have to stop by to experience it for yourself. The ribs plate comes with a side of refreshing garden salad and potato salad which paired nicely with the smokiness of the meats. Definitely recommending to our friends to stop by!"

Elevation 66 Brewing Co

★★★★☆ 3.8 (661) • $$

"The food was a 4. I ordered fish & chips, and Honey Spicy wings. The fish was a 2. The batter to fish ratio was off because the batter was thick. It did arrive with crispy ends, but the batter across most of the fish was softer (not mushy just softer) than the ends. It was also visually oily when handling so much so that I could see the oil secrete from the batter. There wasn't much ventilation in the container so there was some condensation insider the container. The batter had a mild flavor, but was complimented by the well seasoned fries. The fries, again, were well seasoned and cooked somewhat to my liking. The condensation in the container may have soften them a bit. They were definitely the best part of the fish & chip duo: a solid 3.5. I wouldn't order the fish again, but I'd definitely include the fries as the side of another dish. The chicken was the best part of my entire order. Again, the container was poorly ventilated resulting in some condensation and softening of the skin. The flavor was fantastic. I will definitely order this 4 star chicken again.This restaurant is definitely worth trying. If not for the fish and packaging, I'd be able to give a higher star value."

Out of the Barrel

★★★★☆ 4.3 (231) • $$

"My wife and I love goto the pruneyard for date nights as they have some of the coolest restaurants (Luna, Orchard City Kitchen, ect.) Whenever we goto Luna - there's generally a 20-30+ wait when we arrive so we usually make our way next door to Out of the Barrel for a drink. This place is a small but super cool taproom. There's limited seating inside but the outdoors have plenty of bench and table seating. It's a very friendly and informal environment which makes it very approachable and enjoyable when hanging with great company over a craft beer. Every time I've visited, the bartenders have good and positive energy and will seek you out even through a busy crowd. I used to be an avid beer drinker - primarily IPA's but I have transitioned mainly to wine and whiskey over the last few years. This place sources from independent craft breweries so you'll find some hidden gems that you won't find at your local grocery store. For the wine lovers - while there is a limited selection, I'm just happy that they offer an option for us. They essentially offer one of each type of wine (Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, ect.) We ordered a bottle of red wine - Cabernet Sauvignon. It was fairly priced and delivered for its priced point. I will point out that red wine typically needs to be stored around 55-65 Fahrenheit. When we got the bottle, the temp felt like it was stored with the beers, just something to note for ownership.Overall, always have a great time here. Perfect place to enjoy company over some drinks and even catch a sports game. They also have craft beer you can purchase to go. Come check this place out!"

Brix Factory Brewing

★★★★★ 4.9 (32)

"Great beer, great spot. This is the perfect spot to come before/after Baller games Note as of early July, there's construction being done right by the brewery which makes it difficult to get to the accessible ramp (you have to go all the way around the entire warehouse to get to it)."

Enterprise Brewing

★★★★★ 4.5 (19) • $

"Enterprise Brewing takes over the old Cellarmaker Brewery space, and it's a welcome addition to the area! If you've ever frequented Cellarmaker before, you'll notice the interior design is the same, and the good neighborly and warehouse vibes are all still here! Right now is soft opening, and I went on a Sunday, so it was definitely quieter than usual but I could see this place really buzzing once grand opening happens on August 5.I highly recommend the Cellarprise, a hazy IPA collaboration with Cellarmaker. The IBU is pretty low for a hazy, which made it even more enjoyable than I was expecting and could see myself sipping this all day."

Fieldwork Brewing Co.

★★★★☆ 4.3 (708) • $$

"Fieldwork Brewing has a lot of outdoor and indoor seating, provides large pours (too much for me, but I'm a lightweight) on their beer flights. The Detroit-style (toppings to the edge/crispy cheese edges) pizza was appropriately cheesy and saucy with a good dough and topping ratio. A woman at the counter steered me right with the choice of an oat stout (Dark Night?). It was a 50/50 chance since they only offered 2 dark beers. IPA not so great for many of us one we hit 40's. Feel me? Add more stouts and maybe a porter?"

Oakland United Beerworks

★★★★★ 4.8 (87) • $$

"I have walked by in the past and never dropped in. I decided to visit after being impressed by their Black Lager (at Zachary's pizza), and was glad I did. Surprised too, as I soon realised that the brewer had previously been Linden Street Brewery. I'd have come sooner had I known that.I tried a 6-beer flight, my top 4 ranking being (1) The Abbey (2) New Oakland Glow Pilsener, (3) Zapatos Mexican Lager, and (4) the East Bay Nights Black Lager.The bartender was friendly and informative, she told us a lot about the beers themselves.We'll be back!Suggestions: (1) Indicate outside that this was the Linden Street Brewery, with one of the old signs? (2) Let Amtrak riders know that that there is a brewery nearby. In the unlikely event that an Amtrak train suffers a delay (:=) ."

ManyFriends Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 4.4 (57)

""Oh Brave New World that has such People in it," I exclaimed as I drove into this cute town. By accident, I happened to park directly outside this little brewery. My car is smarter than me, and always knows how to find the local brewery.Street parking can be tight, but there are parking lots close by. Of course, parking is free. The brewery is on a cute street, and after your beer you can stroll around checking out the shops.Wow, what a treat! The interior is cleverly designed in an eclectic fashion. There is a jigsaw puzzle, piano, and of course, darts. There are also cute messages written on the wall. I'm not sure if patrons are supposed to add new, custom messages to the montage.The beer selections are clearly marked to the left side of the bar. I settled for a Czech pilsner, which was just perfect.The owner, Ted, gave me a history of this brewery, which has been open about a year. Everything sold here is made right at this location. You can easily see the brewing tanks right from the bar. If you join the beer club, you can get discounts on beer.Don't miss all the cute flags on the walls. If you're a good customer, the owner might explain which countries have flags that are not rectangles. This is really a hidden gem. I had a wonderful experience and look forward to visiting again."

Drake’s Dealership

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"We came here for a friend's birthday on a Saturday night. We were able to make reservations. Parking was confusing for a while and the surrounding area didn't feel that safe to park on the street, but eventually we found out that there's a gated ACE outdoor parking lot (entrance is across from an ACE garage, there's also a separate sign that warns about towing). Drake's is a little bit hidden deep in this parking lot after you pass some apartments. We were able to park just a few feet from Drake's entrance when we went around 5pm. It was $3 per 15 minutes, daily maximum $30, and with validation from Drake's became half off for us.Finally we entered Drake's. There's a large outdoor space that actually feels kind of indoors because of the lush trees and warm electric heaters overhead. The floor was gravel and there were lots of benches and tables. Dogs and babies were welcomed. There was a live DJ playing popular songs--nice lively vibe but slightly loud for us although still able to have some conversations with louder voices.We weren't too hungry so shared the burrata appetizer which was refreshing and served with pesto and warm bread slices that were crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. We also got the sausage with sauerkraut meal which was good if you're in the mood for that. But my favorite dish of all... dessert. The s'more's bread pudding was to die for! When it came out warm, the textures were perfect, it's not too sweet, and went really well with the whip cream. For only $8! I would come back just for this. I got greedy and then ordered another dessert--the pumpkin Oreo cheesecake with cranberry compote. It was interesting, but not as good as the bread pudding. I still ate pretty much all of it. I didn't do any research about the place beforehand so the parking was a little stressful. But now that I know, I wouldn't mind coming back for bread pudding"

Laughing Monk Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.4 (153) • $$

"Had a couple tastey brews here last night.Brother Star Dust is a hazy IPA with lot's of good flavor.And an IPA from row 1, column 2; it was good too.Eclectic music is here! Walked in yesterday around 1pm and there was a full on chamber music with seven member stringed instruments going on. Love it.Warehouse with high ceilings; very good customer service.Only con: no sandwiches or hot food.Could be sketchy at night time."

Narrative Fermentations

★★★★★ 4.5 (109) • $$

"One of the coolest local breweries in San Jose. Constantly rotating selection of creatively-imagined craft beers from Pilsners, IPA's, sours and stouts. This is both a blessing and a curse. If you find a brew that you like, chances are that it won't be available for more than a month or two. For instance, there was a rice lager that I really liked and would probably have been a signature beer for them, but they let it circulate out. Haven't seen it since. The location is south of downtown San Jose in a relatively safe area. There's plenty of parking and seating most of the time. They usually have a choice food truck such as Smashburger in the parking lot as well. They post the rotating food popup on their Instagram page. Much of the tap room is crafted out of wood, including the bar and tables. There are board games available to play with friends. It's a great spot to hang out with friends and visitors from out of town."

47 Hills Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 4.3 (324) • $$

"There's a lot going for this place, they just need to work on a few things.First off, it's like a maze to find this place.The Birria tacos were flavorless. My coworker hated the salsa and chips and pushed it aside. The chips were great, the salsa was weird tasting. Grainy sour green liquid. I have no idea what kind of salsa it's supposed to be. The birria sauce was on the bland side too.The cheeseburger was decent and the clear winner here. Big enough to split. Just an all around regular double cheeseburger. It would be nice if they seaoned the meat more.Great selection of beers of you drink.The real winner were their garlic and truffle fries (yes you can ask for a mixture of both to be added). They were crispy and light and flavorful. Really good fries and worth the upcharge."

Strike Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.4 (174) • $$

"A great little brewery to spend a couple of pleasant hours. We walked in and the bartender immediately showered us with many samples of the different beers . He was also very knowledgable about each and every type of beer . They brew everything in house and we eventually decided to go with the hard seltzer and their sour , French-inspired beer. Both were really good !We will likely come back again !"

Faction Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.3 (697) • $$

"Such a cool atmosphere to spend an afternoon catching up with friends. The space is huge inside with plenty of spacious seating outdoors as well. I'm new to beer and I'm always trying to get a feel for what I like, this also means lots of questions. Even with a growing line the bartender was patient and gave me a few options to try. They were also hosting a market on this particular day, with local vendors displaying their goods.With beer, good service and ample parking, Faction is a must visit!"

Headlands Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (64)

"Absolutely a smash hit! Beer was fantastic! We got a kolsch, delicious! The lager was really well done as well! I hesitated when I was told it was in a can not out of the keg, but the server was correct, excellent!The smash burgers are delicious! I dont typically order smash burgers, but i would come back for these! The pretzel is excellent, light, tasty and has a great cheese sauce! Outdoor seating was great. Totally casual and a lot of fun. Great for kids, families or couples. We will definately be back!!"

Magnolia Brewing - Haight

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$

"Scrappy, chaotic, fun. The Salsa Smashburger is amazing, the fries are on point, and the servers are in love with the place and the work. Seriously, our server was here *on his birthday*, and the place was crazy, and he didn't mind. I think they just reopened. You should go!"

Ghost Town Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.3 (189) • $$

"I recently visited Ghost Town Brewing, and I have to say, it was a pretty solid experience! The beer and cider selection is fantastic, with a variety of options that cater to different tastes. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, ready to help you navigate their offerings and suggest something that suits your palate.The outdoor seating area has a great vibe--very hip and dog-friendly, making it perfect for a casual outing with friends (and pups!). The local atmosphere is inviting and adds to the overall enjoyment of the place.As for the food, there were definitely hits and misses. The pretzels, kale Caesar salad, soup, and flautas were all standout choices and really delicious. However, I found the yucca fries to be a bit disappointing compared to the other items.Overall, Ghost Town Brewing is a great spot with excellent drinks, a welcoming environment, and some delightful food options. I'd definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the area!"

Original Pattern Brewing Company

★★★★★ 4.6 (217) • $$

"Cool vibes from the loft! I love OP beer but never have made it out to the brewery until now. The beer is crisp as ever. The bartenders are incredibly nice and welcoming. They even have pizza being sold at the front which looked amazing. definitely will be stopping by next time in Oakland."

Clandestine Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.4 (125) • $$

"First time being to this brewery and I really enjoyed it! I found out about this brewery from a vegan junk food pop up event I had seen on Facebook. I'm not much of a beer girl, but they also had hard seltzer on tap. I tried the Butter Rum Pecan and the Apricot Mango flavors. Both were absolutely delicious and i was quite impressed. The food was from a separate vendor(and i guess they have different ones all the time) called Venture foods. I had their vegan chili fries and fried corn. Super yummy! The bartender was friendly, but wasn't able to give me any further info on the seltzers such as calories or sugar content. It was kind of a small place, but they have indoor seating as well as outdoor seating. Lots of people brought their dogs too which is always cute. :) I wanted to take some seltzer to go in growlers, but the bartender told me that those are the only ones that can't be to go. Something about them being to carbonated I think, but overall I had a great experience. Hopefully they have vegan food vendors there again soon!"

Ghost Town Brewing - Laurel

★★★★★ 4.5 (163) • $$

"Ghost brewery has a good selection of beer from Hazy IPA, Sours to Pilsner. What stands out from this place is their amazing food selection! I recommend you try their salads and sandwiches paired with delicious beers. Ambiance - I love how open the patio's are, very inviting! Can't miss the skull decoration, after all it's called "GHOST BREWERY" Service - Hands down! Friendly staff, I recommend asking them for beer choices.Thank you GHOST B!"

Alpha Acid Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (151) • $$

"Genuinely fantastic beers of all styles, and frequent guest food options stop by.Their IPAs and sours have always been great, and their stouts are very popular."

First Street Taphouse - Mare Island Brewing Co

★★★★★ 4.5 (105) • $$

"My husband and I stopped in about 40 minutes before closing because we were peckish and wanted a snack.We shared a Corn & Jalapeño Mac & Cheese and the The Taphouse Burger.The mac and cheese wasn't my favorite; it was fine but wasn't spectacular for me. Hubs really liked it.The BURGER, however, was magnificent! New favorite burger and I have OPINIONS about burgers! :D I want to eat this every day. I want to BATHE in the combination of garlic mayo, fig jam, caramelized onions and brie. It is RIDICULOUS! The only thing "bad" about the burger is it's slippery due to all the yummy goodness inside so it's messy to eat. I am ok with this!!!The kettle chips that came with the burger were also yummy.The service was nice, attentive and pleasant. Our server suggested a beer upon my request and suggested I sample a couple to make my decision which I appreciated!!Definitely coming back for this delicious burger! I desperately wish they delivered as I am injured and have a hard time driving right now! :(Love this place. Please set up delivery! :P :D"

Trumer Brewery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (75) • $$

"When we moved back to the bay I was a big Stella Artois fan. Trumer is not only local but a lot cheeper and perhaps more of a cleaner crisper finish on the palette. So I switched. I'm a wussy boy around beer. Y'all can have those fancy pants weirdo custom ales. IPA in my book stands for insanely, pungent and acrid. And to steal the great Anthony Bourdains' take on beer or wine, "if it takes the server more time to explain the drink than it takes to drink it, then it must be one of those weirdo concoctions that history has proven aren't worth the $$ nor the calories." Wise words.. RIP AB! Ask me why do I like Trumer? Got you stein ready? On your mark... get set...Go! start chugging. My answer "Because it tastes good! "Oh still drinking? I rest my case! Now they do have flights of various concoctions, that you can try. Yesterday being my first time in the tap room and I saw heaven forbid... choices of beer... made me cringe. This complicated with a variety of yummy looking food items, big screens all tuned to the niners game, an ample indoor and outdoor seating areas to hang with friends or make new ones, a sign with a list of how to order all made me hyperventilate! Choices? Damn it! I just want some Trumer pils to go. Fortunately one of the beer tenders must have seen the anxiety on my face said"Hey bud what can I get for you?"I put the two placards down, one with food the other with beer and simply asked "can I get some pils to go?""Sure! cans or bottles, six pack or case?"I sighed in relief! "Bottles and a six pack please."Content there would be no other questions In less than 10 minutes I was in and out. Unfortunately the Lions scored in the 10 minutes I was there... But I totally get the added curriculum of food and beer. You could grab a cat by its tail and swing it 360° and hit a plethora of microbrews: Gilman, fieldwork, are just a couple. So the competition is steep. Especially for the hipster crowds who claim they all like the variety of IPAs, light n dark lagers, ales, blah blah blah; and can quote you hints of this and notes of that. Yet whenever I go into these places, not one, not a few, but everyone I've seen drink these weirdo concoctions emotes the same way. Their faces contort as if they just consumed battery acid followed by that ice cream head ache reaction, then once it's cleared there gullet, they look at the glass like a sommelier, looking for the "legs" in a glass of red wine... but in this case, the very telling expression of " wow that shitza was nasty but I gotta maintain my cool as I contemplate a smart knowledgeable quip, or find the strength to down the rest of this!I wish them much luck and success and hope while they expand to meet a variety of choices, are successful with the tap room. But please stay Trumer- to you.For those who want to know what 99% of folks reactions or faces look like who've imbibed in a Trumer Pils; here we go.I get home pop open a bottle and take a healthy swig. My face, like 99% of folks I've seen drink their beer...A content, refreshed, satisfied look wafts over my face, I too look at the bottle... half of its amber contents happily heading down my throat, Audible to my wife upstairs "Ahhhhhhhh!"And I think to myself...Damn... that's a good beer! Please don't change!"

Armistice Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 4.3 (208) • $$

"I've tried many times to like their beer. The location is walkable from the cribbage. They have great indoor and outdoor seating. The staff, is pretty chilled and helpful. Even a food truck perpetually parked out front. They have these Thai roasted peanuts that r to die for. If you like Belgian style beers great! I'm a Pilsner dude, aka Bo, (east Brothers) Stella ( as in Artois) Amstel, Pilsner Urquell, Heineken, Trumer. Even their light beers are too bitter and most others too hoppy and or bitter. The fact they create an endless list of limited edition and specialty beers, is really cool, creative, and Fun. But that's all lost on me. Beer for me is definitely social, but if you can barely down one; nursing it as if it ages in the glass is somehow going to change its bitter bite, or the alcohol will dull the sharpness of your palate. Yeah who goes to a brewery and has 1 beer??? It is essentially the local marina bay social spot. All my neighbors go there, and that's a lot considering the neighborhood continues to grow and flourish with new housing etc. I really want to love this place. I can't justify hanging and drinking seltzer water. But once in a blue moon I do it... to be social."

Two Pitchers Brewing

★★★★★ 4.5 (113) • $$

"As a new resident of Oakland I'm such a fan of this brewery. I love how there's indoor and outdoor seating for those warm summer days, as well as a burger joint connected to it for when you need a bite to eat. Just make sure you come early cause that line can get quite long. They are known for their fruity radlers which are some of the best I've had. My favorite one is the Nordic jam. It's light, fruity, and refreshing. Some other favorites would have to be the radler and weekender. I've been here multiple times now and have enjoyed the vibes and the staff are great. Another great brewery in the bay."