Ventura County options

I loved the Barrelworks, so if I were you, I would go there for sure. Los Angeles...I would only go to Smog City (must visit if you're in the area) and Monkish (nearby) from the breweries. There are of course other awesome beer spots too, but those are just the breweries.

 

In Camarillo, there's a great brewery called Institution Ales. I was skeptical at first, but they've been putting out some consistently solid beers.

In regard to bottle shops, there's a little store called Sam's Saticoy Liquor off of LA Avenue. There's also Pat Holden's Liquor off of Oxnard Blvd. Probably the two stores in the Ventura/Oxnard/Camarillo area with the best selections. Up the hill in Agoura is Wade's Wines, with a decent bottle selection and a nice taproom attached.

The drive to Barrelworks from Camarillo is definitely manageable, and there's some beautiful scenery all the way up. Barrelworks sells the Proprietor's Series bottles -- Parabola, Sucaba, Stickee Monkee (if they're re-upped recently). You can probably still score some Bretta Rose as well (edit: saw that you won't be here until July -- would most likely be out of Rose then). They sell older vintages of bottles as well, though at a steep price. The brewpub sells swag and most of FW's year round offerings. The food is...ehhh in my opinion. I'd rather head down to Santa Barbara and eat something. The brewpub has been closed for renovations however -- I am not sure if it's reopened yet.

Up in the same general area of Barrelworks you can find Figueroa Mountain's brewery. In Goleta, there's Hollister Brewing. In Santa Barbara, Figueroa Mountain also has their newly opened taproom, and there's a little bottle shop on north State St called San Roque that's a little more pricey than other shops, but has a healthy selection.

In downtown Ventura, a brewpub called Barrelhouse 101 has pretty good food and a large tap list (101 taps). If you happen to find yourself traveling north of Ventura into the Ojai area, be sure to check out Ojai Beverage Company. Good food, usually a nice tap list, and a good selection of bottles. Ask for George, and he might have some gems stashed in the back.

 

Barrelworks and their tap room are separate, barrelworks beers are flowing freely.

 

Second Barrelworks and Hollister. Also Surf in Ventura is worth stopping at for tasters IMO.

 

Don't forget about the sneaky little spot in Camarillo called Darryl's Couch - no, I'm not kidding. Usually always CA-only on-tap. Chill place.

Edit: Oh yeah, no food. BYOF or order in.

 

Institution is my favorite local brewery.
I'd recommend checking out Ladyface, Wade's Wines, and The LAB. They're only about 10-15 minutes from Camarillo. All 3 are within 2 miles of each other on the same street, pretty low key local places, all 3 make beer onsite, and Ladyface and The LAB both have really good food.

You can't go wrong driving up the coast to FW, Figueroa Mt., and Hollister as others have mentioned either.

I personally wouldn't recommend going into LA unless there was something in particular you were really wanting to see/drink aka Beachwood BBQ.

 

Definitely hit up Barrelworks & if you get a chance Ojai Beverage Company.

 

Check the outlets, they have a discount liquor store that sells whales at cost.

JK, go to Institution.

 

Nope

 

I think Beachwood stops official distribution at ValleyBev in Sherman Oaks. Nothing northwest of that receives bottles, although I know of one store in Ventura county that drives down to Long Beach and buys cases during bottle releases and then resells them at the shop....

 

If you want to see what's in the area, check out the Venture Ventura Beer Map! I'd personally recommend a few that others have mentioned, plus more.

In Camarillo:

• Institution Ale Co
  
• Old Town Tavern (brand new, just had Firestone Walker Parabola and Agrestic on tap not long ago)
  
• Darryl's Couch
• Beer Cave - Village Commons (great bottle shop)
• Best Buy Wine (another great bottle shop)
• Liquor Shop (good selection)

Outside Camarillo, but still close:

• Enegren Brewing Company
• Wades Wines
• Ladyface Alehouse
• Public School 805
• Barrelhouse 101
• Island Brewing Co
• Yardhouse (awesome happy hour food specials)
  
• Custom Melt (amazing grilled cheese + craft beer)
• Draughts
• Ojai Beverage Co
• The LAB

I'd be happy to grab a beer with you when you're here. Camarillo resident myself.

 

If you want to see what's in the area, check out the Venture Ventura Beer Map! I'd personally recommend a few that others have mentioned, plus more.

In Camarillo:

• Institution Ale Co
• Old Town Tavern (brand new, just had Firestone Walker Parabola and Agrestic on tap not long ago)
• Darryl's Couch
• Beer Cave - Village Commons (great bottle shop)
• Best Buy Wine (another great bottle shop)
• Liquor Shop (good selection)

Outside Camarillo, but still close:

• Enegren Brewing Company
• Wades Wines
• Ladyface Alehouse

This guy is right on the money, right up the hill and will gladly join you at Daryl's couch or draughts

 

Cool map, never seen it before.