Best Breweries In Orange County
Southern California is a haven for craft breweries. San Diego boasts a lot of good breweries, but you don't even have to leave the county limits to find great breweries. American Craft Beer Week is from May 11 through 17 and these breweries are great places to celebrate the occasion. Visit our complete list of the Best Breweries in Orange County for other great spots in the area.
Bootlegger's Brewery
130 S. Highland Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 871-2337
www.bootleggersbrewery.com
A lot of craft breweries have reached the point that they focus almost exclusively on IPAs. That's understandable because customers are demanding IPAs in vast quantities. Still, other beer styles are worthwhile, and Bootlegger's understands this as well as anybody. While the brewery does have some good IPAs like the Rustic Rye, it also has a good hefe weizen and a good golden Belgian ale. This brewery does well all year, but it can really can exceed expectations with its seasonal beers such as the chocolate mint porter, which is particularly enjoyable by a fireplace.
Noble Ale Works
1621 S. Sinclair St.
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 634-2739
www.noblealeworks.com
Noble is a brewery that only makes good beer. Hop-heads will find their heaven with the Big Whig IPA. Not only is this a hop-heavy beer, it also packs a pretty good punch at 6.8 percent ABV. Even if you're a hop-head, you need to mix in something lighter for those hot summer days. Noble has you there too with the Pistol Whipped Pilsner. This is a beer that goes down extremely easily especially on those days when you're barbecuing or some other outdoor activity.
Cismontane Brewing Company
29851 Aventura, Suite D
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 888-2739
www.cismontanebrewing.com
You don't think about much of anything being in Rancho Santa Margarita besides new homes. While this city does boast a lot of new homes, it also boasts a pretty good brewery. One of the great beers from this brewery is The Citizen. This is a great example of the California common lager, also known as a steam beer. The style isn't very popular, but when you get a good one, like this one, you want to stick with it. Cismontane also boasts a particularly good stout brewed with coffee and brown sugar. It's a great dessert beer and pairs well with chocolate.
The Bruery
717 Dunn Way
Placentia, CA 92870
(714) 996-6258
www.thebruery.com
The Bruery specializes in big beers. This is not just in alcohol content but in bottles. The creations here are put into 750 ml bottles, which makes them great for sharing with friends. This brewery specializes in styles that you don't find everywhere. The Loakal Red is a great red ale that goes down easily enough to make it dangerous. The Saison Rue is another unbelievable beer available all year. This is a place that also brews some great seasonal beers such as the Autumn Maple and the Christmas series based on The 12 Days of Christmas.
Tustin Brewing Company
13011 Newport Ave. #100
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 665-2337
www.tustinbrewery.com
The people at Tustin Brewing Company have mastered every style of beer they brew. Some of the beers you'll want to try here are Red Hill Red and the American Pale Ale. Both are great examples of the style, and both go down pretty easily. Tustin Brewing even has a light beer which is far superior to the light beers your friends probably drink. You'll also find seasonal beers here like the Oktoberfest, which never lasts long.
