DRAFT Magazine

We’ve scoured the country from Alaska to Hawaii and Portland, Maine to Portland, Ore., to find the bars where you’re guaranteed to sip unmatched suds. Romantic or boisterous, scuzzy or dressed to the nines, the flavor of the places where fine brew is served runs the gamut. Here, the 150 places where craft is king and fun comes in all fashions.

Today: California

The Alembic
San Francisco
This contemporary, candlelit place is where San Fran’s inimitably cool crowd hangs. Owner Dave McClean is the mind behind nearby brewpub Magnolia; here, he stretches into not just an imaginative beer list featuring tempting Belgians and beautiful American crafts, but further into selections from Brazil, Scandinavia, Italy, and beyond. Equally inspired is the list of incredible whiskeys, tequilas, bourbons, and cocktails. Pair your choice tipple with small plates like locally sourced quail eggs or bone marrow to complete the experience.
1725 Haight St.

Blind Lady Ale House
San Diego
A new find this year, Blind Lady has some big shoes to fill in San Diego’s beer scene, but we think this place’s got pluck. With 24 taps and a tantalizing bottle selection of limited runs like Russian River’s Consecration, plus rotating casks, the beer’s nothing to scoff at. The pizza’s divine and done up almost entirely with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. This is a fun stop in S.D., and one we plan to visit for many years to come.
3416 Adams Ave.

Blue Palms Brewhouse
Los Angeles
Catch a show at Blue Palm’s next-door neighbor, the popular Music Box at Fonda, then pit-stop at the Palms for delectable bar food and any one of 24 brews on tap (plus one cask). With original terrazzo floors from the ’20s and retro décor, it’s a little piece of old Hollywood with a smashingly current beer list with hits from Oskar Blues Ten Fidy to Firestone Union Jack IPA.
6124 Hollywood Blvd.

The Daily Pint
Santa Monica, California
The Daily Pint is a diamond in the rough, a tousled dive bar that thrives in tinsel town. Come for the pool and shuffleboard, stay for Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale on draft and three beer engines serving cask-conditioned ale. Heck, linger even later at the long bar for one of the largest Scotch selections in the city. It’s a low-key L.A. hangout for those looking to dodge the bright lights.
2310 Pico Blvd.

Father’s Office
Santa Monica, California
As one of L.A.’s original beer bars, this tiny, loud, and totally awesome pub pours out nearly 60 of the finest brews found in Cali. And then there’s the burger: First timers shouldn’t miss the namesake Office Burger topped with caramelized onion, gruyere, maytag blue cheese, arugula, and applewood-smoked bacon. Returning fans should venture further into the sublime menu.
1018 Montana Ave.

Hamilton’s Tavern
San Diego
The crowd’s friendly, the décor’s just right (exposed brick, big rooms and tap handles that hang from the ceiling like Christmas ornaments) and some of the world’s best brews are served with a smile. Jumpstart your weekend on a Firkin Friday before diving headfirst into nearly 30 taps with one-offs from regional breweries like Green Flash, Alesmith, and Stone. The adjacent café touts its Hop Sausages (homemade with hop leaves) and eight varieties of gooey grilled cheese.
1521 30th St.

Hopmonk Tavern
Sebastapol, California
Nestled in scenic wine country, this brewpub opened in 2008, but the gorgeous building dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. It’s a beautiful brick-and-timber edifice, replete with a beer garden for outdoor imbibing. Sixteen thoughtful taps run from a house kellerbier to hop-bomb Pliny the Elder, and excellent bottles from across the world round out the list. The lovely setting, farm-fresh food, and live, local music make this place truly special.
230 Petaluma Ave.

LA TRAPPE Café
San Francisco
Near Fisherman’s Wharf, La Trappe’s cute bistro and cozy basement Trappist bar transports patrons across the Atlantic to the quaint side streets of Belgium. Located in a circa-1920s building that’s been everything from an Italian restaurant to a dance studio to a Prohibition-era storage space for bootleg wine, the focus today is clear: world-class Belgian-style beer. Nineteen rotating taps pour everything from De Ranke XX Bitter to Val-Dieu Grand Cru, while a few hundred bottles round the list out at 400. Traditional mussels and fries are the standard fare, but those in the know go for the rabbit slow-cooked in Gulden Draak.
800 Greenwhich St.

Library Alehouse
Santa Monica, California
TV-free and friendly, this green-minded L.A. bar delivers a handpicked selection of 50 crafts, 29 of which are on tap. The beer lines are more American (like Lost Coast Apricot Wheat), while the bottles are heavily Belgian, and both are thoughtful selections. A chalkboard beer list and sleek bar make this a cozy-but-contemporary sort of place, while the welcoming outdoor patio is ideal for warm Cali nights. Select something light from this un-barlike menu: California cuisine with Latin touches pair well with the entire experience.
2911 Main St.

Lucky Baldwin’s
Pasadena, California
This Pasadena haunt, though tucked away, has drawn more than a little attention through the years. British owner David Farnsworth brings a piece of his homeland to his pub, with expat décor, fish and chips (the best in town), and a Euro-leaning beer list (63 taps, 100-plus bottles, rotating casks). He’s been such an advocate of Belgian craft, he was inducted into the Belgian Brewers Guild in Brussels. That doesn’t mean this place shirks American brew; there are vertical series of Sierra Nevada’s Big Foot, plus the bar hosts a handful of festivals each year.
17 S. Raymond Ave.

Naja’s Place
Redondo Beach, California
Stroll down the boardwalk in Redondo Beach and you’ll bump into Naja’s, a no-frills spot for the laid-back beer lover. Eighty-eight taps wrap around the bar and kegs are strewn along the floor, but if for some strange reason you can’t find something you like on draft, the bottle selection’s not to shabby: nearly 200 bottles, including a selection of aged brews, from Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier to Yeti can sate your sun-soaked palate.
154 International Boardwalk

O’Brien’s American Pub
San Diego
Aptly dubbed “the hoppiest place on earth,” this low-key bar is easy to miss inside its blasé strip mall. While it doesn’t woo with décor, it’s a palatial playground for the tongue. Owner Tom Nickel is a lauded member of the San Diego beer community who worked as a professional brewer, and he has built a beer list like few others. Loaded with West Coast stunners including exclusive unveilings from local breweries like Pizza Port, cask beer, and Belgian delights, O’Brien’s is a must-visit for anyone serious about beer.
4646 Convoy St.

Toronado
San Francisco
Arriving at Toronado for the first time is a religious experience for beer people. For those not so in-the-know, however, it’s likely to present itself as a divey, even seamy spot. Don’t come for aesthetics, friends, come for beer. If you lead with your palate, you will see why the half door on Haight Street’s been likened to the pearly gates. For more than 20 years, the nearly 50 rotating taps have poured the best craft beer in the region hands-down, and the bottle selection hosts more than a few rarities. Come for highly respected events, like the annual Toronado Barley Wine festival, and get a real feel for what being into beer is all about.
547 Haight St.