Headlands Brewing

What a gem! I was skeptical after hearing Westbrae Biergarten was no more and something new was in the space. But..after hearing it was Headlands Brewing, I was intrigued and also excited after a little research.We first visited the Lafayette location and now are frequent to the Berk location. Delicious smash burgers (served with a special yet hush hush sriracha sauce), crisp, light, and dangerously delicious beer, and awesome staff. Such a friendly environment and outdoor digs that are kiddo, wallet, and doggy approved. Can't wait to try other items from the menu including the sausages, nachos, and if you've been following my recent reviews..the pretzel and beer cheese hits home! Would love to bottle it up!I love a local and community gathering hub, and that's exactly the look and feel I get from Headlands. Quality beer, solid food, and an approachable/friendly vibe to stay for one, or a while. The Berk location has TV's and love the Lafayette location's mini fire pits.Excited to follow this spot with their East Bay expansions on the horizon and mission-forward brews.

Yes, you read that right--you can bring the kids! This spot makes enjoying a night out with friends so much easier. With a dedicated play section for the little ones, I was able to hang out with my girlfriends for hours while my daughter happily played with other kids. Bonus points: my dog was perfectly content chilling under the table, hoping for leftover snacks to come his way.The food did not disappoint either. The smashburger was absolute fire, and the aioli for the fries? The perfect match.Headlands Brewery is a win for the whole family--kids, dogs, and adults alike! The ambiance is perfectly set and there are fire pits to keep you warm in the evening fall nights.

This is one of the most amazing brewery I been to in CaliforniaAmazing staff with the most amazing characters.The food is super amazing

Headlands Brewing is a go-to spot to unwind for myself and my company! Before this new business, we used to frequent the Westbrae Biergarten. Glad to see that the business is doing well and I enjoy supporting them.The beer garden is all outdoors and is similar in layout to Westbrae. Open seating with plenty of communal picnic tables and beach chairs. Here you make yourself comfortable and get to know those around you. The fire pit, kid area, and the fact that it's dog-friendly is appreciated! I love walking my puppy here for a sip and bite. She loves it too--more so for the attention, treats, and seeing other dogs. The service is friendly and all smiles; especially when they recognize me and my pup. It makes us feel like we're a part of this close-knit community. Ordering is done at the front for both food and drinks or through the QR code. Everything is brought out to you.This time around, my companion and I came and shared the Seasoned French Fries. They're super seasoned, it's a party in your mouth, and hard to pinpoint the exact flavor profile. We thought the texture and size reminded us of In N Out fries. The price felt decent for the portion given. I'm interested in trying the sandwiches.I love frequenting local dog-friendly spots with friends and family. Headlands Brewing will continue to be on my rotation as it's always a chill but fun time. The beer garden is easy to find off Gilman with residential and street parking around. I'll be back soon!

The pros:Big outdoor space, thoughtfully designed, with picnic tables, umbrellas, fire pits, and a small park for kids to play. They have a varied drink menu, with a bunch of local beers on tap from the brewery; some wines, including organic varietals; and a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages, including Martinelli's apple juice. Headland's brewery also serves food - a very limited menu, but it includes burgers, chicken fingers, and a few veggie options. They are open until 9 PM, so you can wander over after work for a beer. On a nice day, including any random Wednesday, there's a line for food by 5:30 PM.The cons:This is the place people who have no idea how to say "no" to their dogs - let alone their kids - apparently come to hang out. As someone who loves dogs and kids, we were surprised to see kids climbing on the tables and running around screaming while dogs barked their heads off and tried to eat everyone's food. This place gets so loud you can't hear the person next to you talking. The wait in line to order food is also abysmally long. They need a few more folks behind the counter during rush hour to meet the demand. If you want a peaceful drink and shorter lines, show up at 8PM when the kids are heading off to bed. (That's when these photos were taken - nice and empty!!)All told, Headlands brewing has incredible promise, but they need to set some rules in the yard so that it's less like a schoolyard at recess and more like a place you'd want to hang out and relax. Otherwise, it's a great venue!!

This is a review for all of the parents or friends who have friends with kids that want to suggest a kid friendly place that's not obnoxiously loud with kids running around and pinball machines in every corner. The beers are good! The smash burgers are good! Kids meals are awesome. They're pretty quick too, even on a busy sunny Saturday! I will be back with a variety of friends with or without kids for the charming outdoor energy. A big plus for several nonalcoholic options too. Something for everyone but for sure those parents in need of some social time but don't want to spend $100+ on a babysitter.

Came here for a friend's birthday on a Saturday evening and enjoyed our time here!Staff and Service:- Order at the counter and take your number to a table (tables are on a first-come, first-served basis)- Staff will bring your drinks and food to your table from your number Food and Drinks:- Smash Burger: this was better than I thought it would be. Good flavor from the sauce and the pickle spear I got was nice and crispy- Veggie Sandwich: good, but a little pricy- Ciders: I got the standard apple cider and the cherry cider. Both were good, with the cherry cider being more on the tart side Miscellaneous:- Parking is available via street parking- BART is nearby for those wanting to take public transportation - Seating is a mix of picnic tables, chairs, benches around fire pits, and lawn chairs- We arrived around 7 and had trouble finding a seat initially. Around 7:45, the place started to clear out a bit, so that's a good time to come if you have a larger group- Good for groups, families, etc.

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!!

Headlands Brewing's new Berkeley location on Gilman Street takes over the old Westbrae Biergarten space by the BART tracks. It's fantastic that they preserved the set up allowing lots of casual hanging out with friends, kids, and dogs. Apparently the owner lives in the neighborhood and missed the old beer garden. Creating an opportunity for him to expand Headlands Brewing to a second location. It looks like Walnut Creek will be the third location.Went over for a Friday evening happy hour with beer and food served up in the sun - it was a delightful opening day! Everyone was in good spirits and the taps were flowing and the food orders are flying, albeit from a limited opening menu. Their beers are well crafted. 14 on tap and a few in cans. Mostly served as full pints, but some stronger beers are poured in smaller glasses. Large steins are available if that's how you spell biergarten! Great selection from Headlands. I loved the Haná Helles Lager and the Pt. Bonita Pilsner was pretty tasty too. Other breweries are represented, which fills in the selection. As a dark beer lover, I was glad they had the absolutely delicious and very smooth Faction Nitro Oatmeal Stout - a 13oz pour. Most beers are $9 but a few are $8.I'd say the food is more than satisfactory, although Brazil offered a few options that were even better in the previous incarnation. As I mentioned, Headlands started out with the limited menu for opening day. I can't wait to see the full menu and I certainly think the food is very solid for beer garden, where, first and foremost, it's about the beer!Michoacano Sandwich - delicious pulled pork on perfect Acme bread. Or at least I would put it in the "much better than your average bar" food category. $14.50 Westveggie Sandwich - the Acme bread was fantastic, but the humus quite unsatisfying as the base for an unsubstantial sandwich.Add Fries for $3.50 - pretty good. Not amazing or anything, but get the fries. A full order is $6.50 and a basket $9. Churros - a sweet ending, with caramel dipping sauce. $6.50Fantastic service even with many customers queued up. I heard that they hired some of the old Westbrae Biergarten staff - classy move. I saw the old manager and said it was nice to see her. But as much as anything, this place is about the space and the sunshine, at least until the fog rolls in.

This place is truly a hidden gem that I can't recommend enough! After visiting twice, I've had the pleasure of being served by Minerva, who is simply the sweetest. Her outstanding service made my experience unforgettable, and because of her, I will definitely be returning. Thank you for the amazing food and wonderful vibes!