Being sandwiched between the craft beer cities of San Diego and Los Angeles could be intimidating, but if Orange County brewers feel that way, they sure don’t let it show. Anaheim is one of the fastest-growing beer destinations in the state, with 20 breweries and counting.
Anaheim Breweries
Four of the city’s most notable breweries are Bottle Logic Brewing, known for its highly sought-after barrel-aged stouts and inventive small-batch releases; Unsung Brewing Co., a comic-book-themed spot pouring creative, hop-forward beers; Asylum Brewing (try their Lobotomy light lager), a small, experimental brewery with a neighborhood feel; and Noble Ale Works, one of Anaheim’s early craft pioneers, celebrated for its classic West Coast IPAs and easy-drinking staples.
San Clemente Breweries
Elsewhere, the options are numerous and varied. San Clemente has been a beer lover’s go-to for years, with its Left Coast Brewing Company, the largest craft brewery in the county by volume, and relative newcomers Artifex Brewing Company and Docent Brewing—where the food menu features such enticing items as a Korean reuben and crispy grilled tacos—are standouts as well. Another welcome addition to the San Clemente scene is Rōm Beer Co. (formerly known as Delahunt Brewing Co.), where the focus is on lagers, IPAs, and dark beers.
More Orange County Breweries
In Placentia, try The Bruery’s award-winning ales and wheat beers. The brewery is run by the Rue family, hence the name; fans of high-ABV stouts and porters in particular will love their beer menu, as they have more than a dozen of them to select from. In the hills of Rancho Santa Margarita sits the simply named (and simply loved by locals since 2014) Laguna Beer, while Flashpoint Brewing Co. offers a sleek, modern taproom experience in Huntington Beach.
Other reliable beermakers to try: Tustin Brewing Company, one of the pioneers of the scene, brewing in Tustin since 1996; Hopscotch Craft Beer & Whiskey, housed in the Mission Revival–style former Pacific Electric Depot, in Fullerton; and a pair of spots in the city of Orange: Green Cheek Beer Co., with more than a dozen beers in its taproom, including Salty Message, a German-style sour with pink salt, and Everywhere Beer Co., which has earned national attention for its meticulously crafted small-batch releases.