Private Press Brewing
332 Ingalls St
Santa Cruz, California, 95060
United States | map
privatepressbrewing.com
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.52/5 rDev +3.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
4.52/5 rDev +3.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Despite getting pooped on by a bird as I walked in to the Swift Street Courtyard, this place has a one of a kind vibe.
Although it's open air, featuring a fully visible interior through it's little patio to endless passersby visiting all manner of shops and restaurants, it somehow manages to feel cozy and private. As they legitimately spin vinyl from the proudly displayed collection behind the bar, flipping or switching between slow, deliberate pours for patrons walking up to the bar, I feel like I'm in the studio for the Price is Right waiting to be called up. The fact that the high ABV pours seems to discourage the kind of giant crowds that Humble Sea encourages only seems to enhance the mellow 1970s waiting room vibe--the only thing that's missing is a permanent cloud of cigarette smoke (thank god).
That said, they still do have one on-site only crusher of a lager, which is well worth the try, but the real draw here is their barrel aged wares, which are every bit as top tier as they get. If you want oak, they've got it. And malt for days. The draft selection is small, but they offer several other bottles on-site, as well as plenty to-go that may not be available to pours yet. You can even sit amidst or walk by their barrel room to get to the fittingly trippy hallway to the bathrooms.
Oh, and the fact that they serve all of their black gold at ideal temperatures? Forget about it!
May 04, 2026Although it's open air, featuring a fully visible interior through it's little patio to endless passersby visiting all manner of shops and restaurants, it somehow manages to feel cozy and private. As they legitimately spin vinyl from the proudly displayed collection behind the bar, flipping or switching between slow, deliberate pours for patrons walking up to the bar, I feel like I'm in the studio for the Price is Right waiting to be called up. The fact that the high ABV pours seems to discourage the kind of giant crowds that Humble Sea encourages only seems to enhance the mellow 1970s waiting room vibe--the only thing that's missing is a permanent cloud of cigarette smoke (thank god).
That said, they still do have one on-site only crusher of a lager, which is well worth the try, but the real draw here is their barrel aged wares, which are every bit as top tier as they get. If you want oak, they've got it. And malt for days. The draft selection is small, but they offer several other bottles on-site, as well as plenty to-go that may not be available to pours yet. You can even sit amidst or walk by their barrel room to get to the fittingly trippy hallway to the bathrooms.
Oh, and the fact that they serve all of their black gold at ideal temperatures? Forget about it!
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