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Institution Ale Company

4.5 (928 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Institution Ale Company Breweries Photos

Business Info

INSTITUTION ALE COMPANY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Institution Ale Company

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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.

Beer Garden Patio
Robin W.

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.

Flight
Serinee T.

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!

Chipotle, barbecue chicken pizza
Stan C.

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.

Jonathan K.

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!

Loaded potato pizza
Jennifer E.

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.

Tart Cherry Sour Blonde & Institution IPA
Daniel A.

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.

Chris L.

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!

Todd M.

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.

Carne Asada Pizza
Diana L.

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!

Spicy Honey Bacon Bbq Pizza
Margie

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!

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Institution Ale Company Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Institution Ale Company

Do they have sample size beer glasses or offer a variety of sample size beers?

Yes they do offer tasters and tasting flights

Im 20 years old would i be able to enter?

Yes, you can. They only check your ID at the bar if you order beer.

Are dogs allowed?

Only service dogs allowed. I wish they would change that, but it isn't their thing. Enegren in Moorpark allows dogs.

Do you have wine?

We do have wine! Please ask a bartender for our current wine list. Cheers!

Is it still open during Coronavirus?

Yes for takeout only.

Are there vegan options?

No food vegan options. Most are beers are vegan, others are listed with lactose or other adjuncts.… Read more

Do they have a happy hour?

As far as I know, they don't have. However, their price is very reasonable and it's quite busy sometimes.

Is this place kid friendly?

We allow children and see lots of families in here. There isn't any entertainment for children, so keep that in mind. Our game room is 21+ but kids are allowed in the main tasting room and patio areas, as long as they are supervised and well… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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If you're going to hang your hat on the speakeasy aesthetic--dim lights, hushed tones, whispers of…read moreexclusivity--then understand this: you're entering into an unspoken pact with your patrons. We expect a certain standard, a level of care that borders on obsession. So when I catch Evan Williams--respectable, questionable, but barely twelve bucks a bottle--making an appearance behind the bar, it feels like a breach of trust. A quiet betrayal under low lighting. The illusion only works if the details hold up under scrutiny... and that pour? It broke the spell. And then comes the real offense: discovering that your Old Fashioned--the crown jewel of any respectable cocktail program--are built on bottom-shelf, dust-collecting bourbon. That's not just a letdown, it's a slap in the face. A cocktail like that deserves reverence, not shortcuts. And as if to twist the knife, there it was--a massive can of red maraschino cherries sitting shamelessly atop the bar, like some relic from a dive that's given up on finesse. It wasn't just a misstep. It was disrespect. In a place claiming the speakeasy mantle, details like these matter. They're the difference between theater and parody. The cocktails did not warrant the $15 price tag. Moreover, I would have paid more had I know the class of bourbon upfront. What ultimately redeems the space is its ambiance. The low flicker of the fireplace, the soft embrace of worn leather sofas, the curated hum of music floating just above conversation--it's seductive, even soulful. The room itself is small, intimate--the kind of place where you're bound to recognize a face, or at the very least, feel inclined to invite a stranger to share the sofa and maybe a story. And then there's the setting--tucked beneath a historic relic, a basement bar built into the bones of old Americana. The building dates back to the early 1900s, echoing with a past that deserves to be honored, not phoned in. That's exactly why I expected more from the cocktails. A place with this much atmosphere shouldn't fall flat when it comes to what's in the glass. It's a mismatch--a beautiful stage, but a script that doesn't quite rise to meet it.

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My family has been here before, but this was my first time at Wagon Wheel Brewing Co and I…read moreautomatically loved the energy and ambiance the moment we walked in. We were immediately welcomed by Juan, and from the start he was incredibly inviting, smiley, and gave off such good vibes. He genuinely made us feel welcomed the second we walked through the door. I'm not sure what his title is because he seemed to do a little bit of everything, but he explained how everything worked, let us know we could sit and come back up to order when we were ready, brought us our food, and even gave some great menu recommendations. He was so kind and attentive throughout the entire experience. The food and beer were also very tasty, and the portions were great too -- definitely worth it. Everything added to the overall experience. Being someone who works in customer service and food service myself, I take good service seriously, and Juan truly went above and beyond. He had an amazing attitude and work ethic, and he's exactly the type of person that brings people back to places. Great service leaves a lasting impression, and he absolutely did that. Loved the experience and will definitely be back!

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Institution Ale Company - breweries - Updated May 2026

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