We came here with friends after they have recommended it. They have been here before and they liked it so decided to come back. I'm really impressed by this place and how big it is. Their parking is interesting but they have multiple entrances so you can get in from the shop or the main door, etc. They only have one sour beer, which I did not like so I did not end up getting beer. However, their food was good. We had multiple salads. The pesto chicken was good, we also had the barbecue chicken, bacon salad, but without the bacon. It came with a bacon and I asked Alex and they ended up making a new one without the bacon, which was really good. I have to say this is my favorite one. We also have the Carne Asada pizza, veggie pizza, tri-tip pizza, soft pretzel. Food was good, good atmosphere, good service despite being really busy. I highly recommend this place and will definitely return. read more

Institution Ale Company - Caesar salad and barbecue chicken bacon salad - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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My friends and I have been coming to institution for year and we come couple of times a year and have always had a good experience, which is why what happened during our most recent visit was so disappointing. My friend had an open tab and realized once we got to the parking lot that he had forgotten to close it. He immediately went back inside. It was only around 11:05 PM, about five minutes after closing, and there were still other customers inside the establishment. When he asked to close out his tab, he was told he would be charged an additional fee because the tab had been left open and they closed at 11:00 PM. I understand having a policy for tabs that are actually abandoned, especially if someone leaves for the night and staff have to close everything out after everyone is gone. But that was not the situation here. He had not left the premises, came back in immediately, and there were still customers inside. Charging someone an extra fee under those circumstances felt unnecessary and unfair, especially over a matter of five minutes. My whole group has been repeat customers and have always left satisfied, so it was disappointing to be treated this way over something that could have been handled very easily. Unfortunately, this experience definitely changed our impression of a place we previously enjoyed coming to. Especially considering we come here to celebrate birthdays many times a year! read more

Really liked it... -Sitting options outside were good, family friendly - bar area was good - some games in the back were fun -Only Beer & Wine FYI read more

Santa Barbara location--I wanted to bring a very strange experience from tonight to management's attention. My wife, dog and I came in around 5 PM for the Yankees-Red Sox game, and everything was great for the first couple hours. Around 7:45 PM, I went up for another Mexican lager. I brought my two-hour-old glass with me and said, "I brought my glass up so you guys don't have to waste another glass, here you go brotha." The employee, Aaron, immediately responded, "Of course I'm gonna use your glass, what else am I supposed to do?" He then stared at me for several seconds and said, "Should I give your dirty glass to someone?" I explained, "I was offering because I saw someone else get a new glass earlier when I got here, and some breweries bring out new beers and don't refill the same glass, so I thought I was being generous." He brought the beer back, handed it to me, and told me, "Go ahead and take this glass exactly where you were sitting." I went back to my table, but he continued staring at me from behind the bar for a good five seconds. I was so baffled that an employee seemed to have a random issue with me after I had simply tried to do something considerate that I finally said, in front of the other customers, "What's the issue, man? You're still staring at me. Are you drunk on the job? That's the only explanation. What's your issue?" I also want management to be aware that the employee working with him, wearing a Red Sox hat, appeared to be repeatedly taking shots of beer directly from the tap throughout the three hours we were there. I cannot say for certain what was in the glasses or whether Aaron had been drinking, but given what I witnessed, I think management should review the cameras. I only had two drinks over roughly three hours and was completely aware of what happened. I'm not looking for a refund or anything for my ~$40 tab. I've never complained about a restaurant or bar before. Please roll the footage and look closely at this entire interaction. I have genuinely never experienced anything remotely like this from an employee in any industry. The level of hostility over something as trivial as me bringing my own glass to the register was completely shocking. After reviewing the footage, I would strongly encourage management to think seriously about whether this is the type of behavior they want representing Institution Ale Co. to its customers. I'm not asking you to simply take my word for it -- please watch the footage and judge the situation for yourselves. read more

Institution Ale Company - Aaron, the miserable bartender from SB location - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

This is a great brewery. Beers are phenomenal with a good selection. Pizzas were also great and way better than you would expect at a brewery. Large, beautiful patio outside and a large amount of seating inside. Bartenders were nice and knowledgeable. When the line got long, they came out to start working on orders for people in line. read more

Institution Ale Company - Blackberry tart - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

Go crazy and try Institution Ale with beers like Sedation. Original theme borrowed from the Camarillo Mental Institution that evolved into a state college. We've seen the brewery evolve as well with the welcome addition of the outdoor Beer Garden. The service at the inside counter is always friendly and they serve delicious thin cracker crust pizzas, salads & pretzels. Food is good and Institution has made a name for itself in Camarillo. The ownership continues to produce excellent craft beers with seasonal offerings that can compete with the best breweries. You can also find Institution Ale in Santa Barbara on State St. read more

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I was really pleased with my first visit here! We got a flight to share and really appreciated the great recommendations. The pretzel is fantastic on its own, but even better with the cheese dip and mustard. The pesto pizza was also excellent, with plenty of toppings in every bite. We loved the game area too--they have free basketball games where you can shoot around and compete, which was super fun. Such a great hidden gem before heading to the outlets, and we can't wait to come back! read more

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This place was much bigger than I originally thought it would be! They have a large area inside, outside and even an adults only section that is not really enforced since there were kids in there as well. The beer was pretty good, I had a couple of different varieties and they were all very tasty. The letdown was the pizza, I was kind of expecting close to the quality of Fluid State but nope, not even in the same league. It was actually bad, the crust kinda reminded me of when the kids were little and we took them to Chuck E Cheese. Regardless, the beer was good and even though it was packed Saturday night, we didn't have any issues finding a table. read more

Meeting a buddy for lunch. Wanted someplace informal and casual. Based on Yelp reviews, Institution Ale seem to fit the bill. 1:30 on a Wednesday and no problem getting a parking spot in their lot (which is pretty big). I have a fairly large patio out back. Despite the room being fairly cavernous, there were only a few tables inside to choose from. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. We decided to share the chipotle barbecue chicken pizza, full size. ($23). The pizza is New York style, thin crust with oil dripping off it. If you like New York pizza, this one was quite good. read more

Institution Ale Company - Chipotle, barbecue chicken pizza - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

Came here on a recommendation from a friend, and it turned out to be a great find. The location is conveniently just off the freeway, making it an easy stop. The place has several different seating areas, which gives it a relaxed and flexible atmosphere depending on where you prefer to sit. They also offer a solid variety of drinks, giving you plenty of options depending on your taste and preferences. In addition to drinks, the menu includes food options, mainly salads and pizza. The pizza was surprisingly very good. I tried the Hawaiian pizza, which was flavorful, and the bread itself was delicious. Overall, it's a nice spot if you're looking for a place to grab a drink and enjoy a casual bite to eat. read more

Institution Ale Company - Flight of beer - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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Institution is always a good time. Some of the best pizza in Ventura County, good brews and good vibes. There was no seating available outside on this Tuesday evening. No sports events, not a big night - just busy at Institution per usual My wife ordered the Blueberry Pecan Salad today without onion - said it was good and fresh. Dressing was good. She's a sucker for a salad with nuts and blue cheese crumble. Would order again even though it came with onions. Tried the Spicy Honey Bacon Pizza. Very good. Has a ton of flavor - doesn't need ranch. Crispy crust, filling and delicious. Would order again. Beer is always good. I always start with the traditional Institution WC IPA. My wife loved her sour and would definitely go back for it. Only complaint - lack of seating outside and in the main room which is fine but the brew room/game room was stupid muggy in there. I understand there's only so much that can be done about that on a warm summer night but sitting in that felt like a swamp. read more

Institution Ale Company - Tart Cherry Sour Blonde & Institution IPA - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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Institution is (pun intended) now a Camarillo institution with unique named beers, breakfast burritos, live sports, Oktoberfest events, open spacious areas, just a great place to enjoy football Sundays, catching up with friends, or even a brunch just for fun in the sun! This is a great place that I can't recommend enough! The latest was trying the carne asada pizza with strong flavors, good amount of topping, yummy sauce, I had to pace myself before I ate it all and I was supposed to share! read more

Institution Ale Company - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

This is my absolute favorite brewery! Great beer and delicious pizzas and salads. Their menu changes often, which keeps things exciting, but there's a always a few staples you can count on. Kids and dogs are welcome (dogs outside on the patio only) and there's plenty of space even for a bigger group. Seating is first come first serve. There are several tvs inside that usually play some sort of sports game and an area designated for 21+ only where you can play darts or one of the basketball arcade games. The staff is always friendly and they sell crowlers and growlers to go. We live about an hour away, but come here any chance we get. read more

Institution Ale Company - Loaded potato pizza - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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Their Oktoberfest event is in need of improvements. 1. Having pre-made bratwurst on a pretzel bun with the condiments in little plastic cups as pretty much the only German food item is narrow at best. 2. Play some Oktoberfest music. In fact play almost all Oktoberfest music. If I wanted to hear rock and country songs I'd go to a bar and listen to them there, not at an Oktoberfest event. 3. Make a dunkel German style beer. 4. Leave the pets and strollers at home. Nice try but needs work! read more

As out-of-towners we stumbled upon this place to watch some football and carb up ahead of the Malibu Half Marathon. We were really impressed with the food, beer and ambiance of this place. A really cool family vibe but a place for friends to gather as well. The pizza and salad were superb. We will be back next year when we race! read more

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Highly recommended! First time here and the beer and food was fantastic. We ordered a Institution IPA-and Mexican lager beers. Both were absolutely yummy. I could easily drink the whole menu. Great craft beers. The place was clean and had a fun modern feel. We ordered the antipasto salad along with the barbecue pizza. All really good and well portioned. Limiting photos as I see so many already on here. Good service and inviting. This place was Outstanding. Thank you. read more

Institution Ale Company - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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Service is usually great and courteous, beer is mid. The outdoor space is great for catching up with larger groups of friends! read more

Institution Ale Company - Bar area - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

We had Mexican Lager and RX pilsner plus Cesar Salad and veggies pizza. The place was packed on Saturday 630 pm. Excellent beer and efficient service. Perfectly executed establishment. Kudos to the owner and staff! read more

Tried this place for the first time. Walked in and was impressed with the atmosphere Overall chill spot. But to be honest. Their beer selection. Needs improvement. They have creative beer names. But zero description on what their beers are. You have to choose what beer to order without any explanation on what ingredients the beer has. Would like to come back and try more. But I would like to know what their beers have included ingredients Also. They need a separate line for closing tabs out. The line at the middle of the night was 20-30 people long. Too long of a wait just to close out a tab. read more

Institution Ale Company - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

Walking into the main entrance there is a small storefront, and once you walk through the door leading into the main space I was quite surprised to see such a spacious space. Definitely a family friendly business, as there were quite a few kids but they do have a designated space for over 21 only. The outdoor beer garden was just as big, and had many tables. They offer a wide selection of beer and even more amazing food. Although I'm not much of a beer drinker I do enjoy the tasting flight. The staff was very helpful and recommended a few based on my preferences. When it's busy parking can be a little difficult as the lots are small, I ended up parking across the street. For a first time I definitely had a good experience, and will certainly be back soon! read more

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We were excited to explore Camarillo for the first time and Institution Ale was the perfect welcome to Camarillo. Large outdoor patio with 3 types of seating and lots of shaded areas on a hot day. Very busy at lunchtime on Sunday but plenty of seats for all. Clearly a community favorite. Enjoyed two of the best beers I have had in ages. I'm impressed! Their Tart Cherry Blonde is a sour beer - the perfect summer drink. Refreshing and sour and delicious! Their Nitro Frantic is a coffee oatmeal stout - smooth and creamy with a terrific richness Staff was all very friendly and helpful. I was underwhelmed by the pizza. read more

Great service and foos. Took my son for his 21st birthday here and the food and atmosphere were terrific. Love their Ales and Pizza. Had their shrimp scampi pizza and meat lovers. Also tried their pretzel. Gotta come back for loteria night. read more

We stumbled upon this brewhouse while taking our little one to volleyball practice, and what a great find! The place is huge--nice, clean, and wide open with plenty of space to relax. The staff is very knowledgeable about the beers they're pouring and happy to make recommendations. Happy hour is excellent, and the pizza is amazingly delicious--way better than we expected! This place gets a big thumbs up from us and comes highly recommended. We'll definitely be back! read more

Institution Ale Company - Spicy Honey Bacon Bbq Pizza - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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This is a lovely place with good vibes and variety of seating between near the brewing area, bar, and impressive outside beer gardens. They have variety of beers but mainly tasty IPAs. A big bonus is they have amazing pizzas to go along with your beer. One nice touch with the beers is smaller sizes that help you try variety. read more

I've been here a few times and it never disappoints. The food is good, the beer selection is excellent, and it's a great place to hang with friends. Service is always top notch. read more

May be one of the best Breweries in California. Was helped while waiting in line by Brody. Very impressive and great customer service. We were then helped by Joe. Both were kind and 10/10 service. Tri Tip Pizza was off the hook One of the best Pizza's I have ever eaten. Beer was excellent 10/10. Ambiance was peaceful and lots of space. Two negatives are no Hazy IPA's on Menu and one urinal in Men's Bathroom. Well done Lads ! read more

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Lots of excellent innovative beers on tap, which are naturally the focus. But the pizza is good, it complements the beer. Service is friendly though orders are taken from the counter. The outside patio was popular, we couldn't find a seat and had to eat inside. read more

Beer is great, pizza is best in county! Staff is even better. Definitely my go to spot.

Don't let the nondescript industrial building fool you, this place is awesome fun! Recently hosted a large group of colleagues here and we had a wonderful time. Plenty of indoor seating. Large cozy patio with fire pits and heat lamps for cool evenings. Various activities and music nights add to the festive atmosphere. Did I mention the beer? Plenty of beers on tap. Delicious food available on site. Staff is very quick with a pour. Definitely recommend this location for your next meet up! Happy Trails! read more

Seriously, this place is awesome. The pretzel and beer cheese were top notch. The pizza was delicious. Ben and the rest of the staff were super helpful. P.S. if you like dark beers, the frantic was read more

As someone who has been coming to Institution since day one essentially, I have to start this off by saying how awesome it is that they have continued to thrive and grow the brand. There is some serious talent throughout this team and it shines through in excellent, consistent service and beer/food. Although I no longer live in the area, I make it a point to stop in when I am in town or driving through. To start, the pizza here is great. Prices are reasonable, pizza is sizable and the amount of toppings is just right. The Meat Pizza is a favorite, but if you're not feeling like pizza, grab their pretzels! Equally fantastic and a great beer drinking snack. When it comes to the beer, they brew some of the best beer in Ventura County, and stack up well against the best breweries in California IMO. Their IPA's are always bright and fresh, White Walls being my favorite. I also really like Restraint (Brown Ale) and RX Pils (Pilsner). There is always an interesting seasonal beer or two on draft as well, and are worth trying alongside their core beers. Since the old facility on Calle San Pablo (which was small, but cozy) to the current location on Mission Oaks (huge, with a wonderful patio), they have always felt welcoming, and service has always been friendly and prompt, even when the lines are long. Cheers to Institution Ale Company, and can't wait to stop in again soon read more

Institution Ale Company - Been an Institution Ale Company fan since the early days! - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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AUG2024 Cool spot to meet up at. Service was helpful with any questions, everything was order at the counter. Line can build up quite a bit. Water self serve. They had a good selection of beers, and a large back space outside to hang out at. The noise can get somewhat loud but it is what it is with that many people. I did like that they had a little fire pit to sit around, and there was an outside register also to get a smaller selection of beer if you didn't want to brave the line inside. read more

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Tried this place for the first time a few weeks ago, got the Hawaiian pizza to go and the Mexican beer for my guy. He said the beer was really good . The cans have awesome designs and you get 4 cans for $15 and the pizza is about $23 for 8 pieces. Tonight tried it again and got the tri tip pizza that the guy in the front recommended, brought it home and my guy loved it. Their pizzas have a pretty good taste. I will try the bbq chicken next time. I really like this place and great location in Camarillo. They have a Merch. Section in the front, you should check it out. It's a cool spot! Forgot to take the photos before we ate the pizza try this brewery, you'll like it! read more

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Always great garlic sticks Good drink Best thing Always Romper Room They had a full blown game going on until some kid got a broken nose Employees running to get ice for the kid Boy kept yelling I can't feel my nose!!! I guess romper room is over Poor kid I guess your parents should have supervised you better read more

Having barefoot birdies at institution is a game changer!!! I want to see them every week! Great beer, great pizza and golf is my happy place and that is institution to me read more

I don't usually write reviews, but I felt this was worth sharing. I genuinely enjoy Institution Ale. The food is always good, the portions are solid, and the prices are fair. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back and continue ordering takeout. What has become frustrating, though, is the experience I have almost every time I pick up my food. Whenever I ask for something simple like a bag, utensils, or any other basic takeout item, I'm often met with eye rolling, annoyed looks, or an attitude that makes me feel like I'm inconveniencing someone. As a paying customer, I'm not asking for anything special--just the basics that usually come with a takeout order. After experiencing the same reaction multiple times, it starts to feel less like a bad day and more like a pattern. I want to be clear: this isn't about the food. The food is great, and that's why I keep coming back. I just wish the customer service matched the quality of what's coming out of the kitchen. I'm sharing this because I'd like to see the experience improve. Institution Ale has a lot going for it, and a little more friendliness at the takeout counter would go a long way. read more

Loved our initial impression of Institution Ale! Stopped by for a quick beer and pretzel and pleasantly surprised. The pretzels were generously sized and came with a delicious mustard dip and spicy cheese dip. The beer garden had tons of seating, great for bigger group gatherings or even a causal hang for a small group. Will definitely be back to try more beers and some of the other tasty looking food! read more

Institution Ale Company - Beer garden menu - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

Institution has been, and probably will always be, my favorite brewery. The food, the beer, the staff.... All unmatched. They've got great beers on tap, from some of the best West Coast IPA's, to an amazing mosaic. You truly cannot have just one lol If you're hungry, I couldn't recommend the pretzel enough! It's one of my favorite things to eat while there. It comes with mustard and cheese sauce, both amazing. If you're looking for a meal, their pizzas are freaking awesome! Just pick one. You can't go wrong with any of them. I love the inspiration for the brewery and that the decor rings true to that. They've got some pretty rad images/paintings on the walls. I wish we lived closer! read more

Institution Ale Company - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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It had been a long time since I visited institution. I'm happy I came back. The beer menu seems to have expanded with lots of options for all beer drinkers. I tried the red hybrid ale and enjoyed the crisp and full flavor of the ale. Pizza and beer is the best combo and they have lots of interesting pizzas. I split the BBQ tri-tip pizza. It was surprisingly good and had a good kick of heat! I was very impressed with the renovations they've completed over the past couple of years. There is plenty of seating and there is a stage area for live music inside. There are TVs to view a game from anywhere and the service is quick and easy. Institution solidified itself as the best brewery in the Camarillo and Oxnard area in my opinion. read more

Institution Ale Company - BBQ Tri-Tip Pizza with the red hybrid ale "California Common" and a pale ale "Somewhere Golden" - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California

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Was in the area picking up Hatch Chili's so came by for some beer and pizza. They have a large outdoor, dog friendly patio that is shaded in areas so we grabbed a table as they were already busy at 1pm on a recent Sunday. Went for their Sour Cherry Blonde which was tart and excellent. Oatmeal Stout was also very good. They have an indoor area (only the front part is air conditioned though) with tables and a large bar. In the back there is a pop-a-shot and shuffleboard games in a gated section that reads 21 and over. Was pretty hot there though with no A/C. As for the food, the pizza was pretty good even though the crust was razor thin. Toppings were generous and you can mix and match or create your own masterpiece. Lots of folks went for the soft pretzel. This place will become an institution for us whenever we are in Camarillo (as it's at least 10-15 degrees cooler than in Woodland Hills). read more

Institution Ale Company - Large Patio - Breweries Near Me - Camarillo, California