Cool beer spot with a solid selection but what stands out is the local selection! They actually encourage you to bring your own food which is pretty cool, we were on our way to the Sharks game and were able to bring campus burgers inside and enjoy a nice meal before watching our beloved Sharks choke a lead into the 3rd period as usual... They also do mixed drinks! We ordered a few jaegerbombs and they made it no problem. Ambiance is pretty dim and lowkey and we almost thought it was closed walking in but I actually really liked it! Their bathrooms are pretty nice as well, and the patio is cool (I can imagine it being great for the summer months!). Can't wait to come back to fully explore the rest of the list, too bad I could only choose a few this time. read more

First experience was great. I myself am a cider gal, so I was able to try out the ciders before I purchased. My husband was also able to sample his choice of beer. We liked that they offered that. After I was done with my cider, I tried their margarita, which was really tasty and not overly sweet. This is a good cocktail to have for those who dont drink beer but are there with a group of friends who do. I liked that they had inside and outside seating, you could play games, or just hang out. Bathroom was clean which was appreciated. read more

When I asked for a 'pint instead i got about 1/2 that in a small glass for $10 each. Beer was ok temperature wise, but it's just strange to get such a small glass and the bartender didn't mention at all "By the way, I don't serve the size you asked for at all. This will be a very small serving". He just acted like it was totally normal to give a much smaller serving than bars normally serve and much smaller than I'd asked for. 2 homeless people came into the bar itself and tried to shake down everyone at the table for money. Bartender wouldn't do anything to kick them out. It was weird that I had to stand up for the whole table and tell the guys to leave us alone. That's absolutely the bartender's job, not mine. Bartender was doing NOTHING at the time. Literally nothing and I think we were the only table of people there at the time, so there was NOTHING else going on except that homelsss guy who SO OBVIOUSLY wasn't with us being really pushy, obviously just asking each of us over and over for money. It was really weird. (there's no chance that the bartender just missed it. He knew and just didn't care to protect us from that). Only plus was the beer was good quality, cold, glass was clean, chairs and table were nice, clean. Location is right downtown San Jose. We brought in food and were not hassled for that. No wait to get a beer because there was no one else there. I won't be back. read more

I used to come to ISO before it closed, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was a comfortable place where I would see familiar faces, so I wasn't sure what to expect from an all-new version. It's different but I enjoyed myself. My mixed drink was good. It's more of a date spot now, and the beer list is lighter than it once was. But I'll definitely be back. Perfect place to bring a date or a dog or both, and the patio is still amazing read more

See all

Tap room with a solid selection of beers on tap and available in the can. There were 16 on tap when I was in. Beers were listed by styles and ranged from light/easy drinking, to pale ales and IPA's, sours, darks + barrel aged darks, and ciders and what not. They don't do tasting flights but you can opt for some half pours, which is the route I went. They have a large outdoor patio with a lot of seating, unfortunately it was raining the day I stopped in so I didn't get to enjoy the patio as planned, but definitely will be back to check it out. It was pretty dark inside, kinda emphasized the gloomy vibes of the day. They had a bunch of board games you could grab so if the beer and company isn't entertaining enough, you have a way to pass the time. No kitchen on site so really liked that this spot is BYOF (bring your own food). There's quite a few restaurants around if you get hungry and want to bring something in with you. There's a park sj parking garage right behind the building that offers 3 hours of free parking, just about a minute or two walk from the front door, very convenient. Back to that front door...there was a homeless man sleeping in front of the door when we got there, so much so that his feet were blocking half of the working door and we weren't able to open it all the way. read more

See all

Good beer selection. Now full bar and Mojitos, Palomas, other similar drinks, even some drinks on tap. Much more swank now than a couple years ago. The coolers are gone but a really nice place with a big patio. Always a game on or some kind of sports. read more

Awesome service and great drinks and music. Manager was super friendly too. Highly recommend Juiceball! read more

ISO Beers - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

This is a great little brewery located in Downtown San Jose. They have a pretty large selection of what's on tap as well as serve bottled beers. Not only do they have beers, they also have ciders and kombucha drinks so everyone can pick whatever drink they like. We ordered two sours and one hazy IPA. I'm so sad that I don't remember their names but they were super refreshing on a warm day. I am a fan of sour beers so I was a big fan of the two sours we got to try during our visit. They have a good amount of seating inside but my favorite place to sit is at the outside patio. This patio is actually pretty large and shaded so you don't have to worry about getting hot or burnt on a warm day. There are plenty of trees that will keep you cool. Parking can be a little tricky since this place is located right in the heart of Downtown San Jose. We were lucky enough to snag a parking spot on the street. This breweries patio has gotten to be one of my most favorite patio areas there are just because of the seating and shade. I will definitely be returning here. read more

ISO Beers - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

A cold beer for me a cold beer for you I'll choose the cold one and I hope you'll have one too! They had a great selection of brews on draft for you to get your pour onto which was totally awesome as you can sometimes take forever when deciding on what brew is good for you. Of the brew choices I went with a fruity ale that was super yummy and just tasted awesome all the way through! Coming here I wasn't totally sure what I would find but it turns out they sell 6 packs for you to consume on site as well as all the draft selections making it easy to find a delicious beer with the many choices but that's not it the best part of coming here is that patio right in the middle of downtown just a chill awesome place to get your drink on! Overall it's a mellow little bar with a great brew selection you so can't go wrong so like always it's one more round and it's bottles to the ground! read more

See all

I love this place!!! I'll list some of the things I love about it. * the patio * the drink selection * the decor * the dogs * self-serve water The patio is AMAZING. There's a giant tree that shaded half of it so you can decide if you prefer to sit in the sun or the shade. And the patio is dog friendly! The beer selection is nice because for people who don't like beer, they have kombucha and a wide variety of ciders. As an avid water drinker, I hate harassing bartenders just for water. I love places that put out water for you to help yourself. And on a hot day, their water is nice and cold. read more

Disappointed. Visited some time ago, was asked for an ID and my driver's license had just expired and I hadn't gotten my replacement yet, but I had my passport (foreign passport). I was rejected and turned away by an employee who said "we don't take those". Not only is that illegal, they said it in a rude, slightly racist manner. read more

ISO, maybe as in "isochron," or as in "isomeric." Who knows? It's a beer bar, and there's no kitchen so they let you bring your own food. Dogs are allowed (and so are canines). They have bottles you can buy for drinking out, and 40 taps for drinking in. Ciders, sours, IPAs, lights, barrel aged drinks, Belgian, darks, and meads. Pick ya poison. The inside is cute, too. String lights for the ladies, COPS on flatscreens for the fellas. Or vv, I don't judge. This is my go-to place for meeting up with friends passing through San Jose. read more

See all

Here is an updated review! I still love this place!!!! They are great and always have a good beer selection. Located on Santa Clara, they are away from the Hussle and bustle of the chaotic nightlife. There is usually street parking, esp on 3rd. The guys working are usually the same guys, Anthony? There's another guy too, but usually Anthony is always there. One thing I love about this place is that they are constantly finding small breweries around the area. This is how I found out about mission trails! I even went to their establishment which was awesome! Thank you ISO for serving us over the years! I will continue to come back for my beers! read more

Had a great time here. Great discussion with Chris, great guy. Chris (bartender and local Bay Area travel aficionado) not only recommended new interesting beers from Bay Area breweries on tap that fitted with the flavor profile I like. But he went above and beyond by sharing local restaurants and additional breweries in the South Bay to try. I now have new ideas to explore for many weekend to come! Chris was dropping gems and knowledge! Dear ISO owner: Give this guy a raise, this is the kind of person you want on your team. For the bar and beer selection, clean bar with outside seating. Great beer selection. Plus Cash Only is across the street and MiniBoss as well. Highly recommend. Cheers read more

ISO is long overdue for an updated review from me as they've grown into their space and continue to curate one of the better beer & cider selections in the area. The variety is what shines here--all the styles can be found either on tap or in their fridge area, where you can swoop a single can/bottle or a full pack. I usually try to find something new on tap or grab the latest Alvarado St can release and crack it open on the spot. No hesitation. Weather permitting, the patio is where it's at. Spacious with plenty of seating and just a great place to chill while enjoying your brew brews. read more

ISO Beers - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

ISO beers is a great spot in downtown SJ for checking out some local taps. They have a huge selection of beers to go, the friendliest bartenders, and a great outdoor seating area for the hot summer months. No kitchen so you have a great excuse to explore some of the yummy places next door like MINIBOSS kitchen or HOM Korean Kitchen. read more

This is a great place to come and enjoy an cold drink on a hot afternoon! There is a wide selection of beer on draft or canned/bottled, ciders, and kombuchas so everyone can have a refreshing drink. The employees are also very helpful when you're looking for a specific type, and if they can't find what you're looking for, they recommend great tasting things instead. The patio is also large and spacious so there are plenty of places to sit. If you're lucky there may be some good latin/hip hop music playing at the club around the corner which will make to ambience more lively on the patio. Its also dog friendly, so bring your pups if its not to hot outside. read more

ISO Beers - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

On tap. Beautiful stainless steal taps. Simplicity and a scene of hoppy beauty. I come here to tap dancing away with an elegant and graceful craft beer as my dancing partner. Long tables where you can share and meet other lovers of the brew. You can order food and bring it in or deliver like we did! I love the craft beer bottle selection too. read more

ISO Beers - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Such a cute outdoor area! ISO is one of my go to spots for a beer in downtown SJ. They only serve beers but you are allowed to bring outside food in. Usually I just grab the Ike's sandwich next door. If you don't like the beers on draft they have a fridge with plenty of unique brands and styles. I'm a big fan of IPAs, especially Hazy. They have been serving pretty good ones recently. The vibe here is pretty casual and the place is big enough to host few big groups. I sometimes see people studying as well. read more

Heard through the craft beer grape vine that ISO Beers had soft opened today (1/30/14) and high tailed it over at around 5:45PM. BTW, ISO = In Search of: Beers I think... I was rewarded with some Deschutes Abyss 2010. They also had some Stone Woot Stout and other high end craft goodness. The shop is still being worked on but as far as I could tell, the seating was spacious with bar towards the back and various tables arrangements set up towards the front. They also had a patio that will be open for drinking that has huge potential. The crew so far was pretty cool and personable with great beer knowledge. My brief conversation with the owner was that his family owns a bottle shop elsewhere in San Jose. + Nice concept + Great beers + Knowledgeable + Great addition so far to the DTSJ beer community + Pretty sweet digs + Priceing was reasonable unline Farmers Union (Abyss 2012 was not over charged) + 40+ taps (eventually) I'd come back for the grand opening in a heart beat and would love to break in that patio later this spring! read more

See all

Outdoor area is ok but kind of Loud right in Santa Clara street! Fairly large selection of refrigerated beers But whether it's a tap brew or one from the frig I had to wait on a long line to make a purchase ! It's a decent concept but given the lack of food I can't see how they could stay in business very long. It's a cool hang with friends but it's has little to offer outside of a bench and tables to put your "outside" food and drinks on! I owned a shop with n the 80's with a similar concept in the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center ! Poof!!! I lost $250k read more

Better than a brewery? Why? Because they have the best beers from all around the United States, some international too but mostly domestic! They are always cycling through beers and usually have 40+ on tap and over 100+ different bottles of beer in the coolers! If you love beer, ISO beer is for you. The workers are knowledgeable of the beer available and will help choose the right beer for you! Average prices for craft beer but I would rate the selection of beer 5+ out of 5 stars! read more

After a nice Thai dinner, the Code boys wanted beer, but they didn't want just any beer, they wanted specialty brews. Well a quick look at Yelp told us that ISO beers was only a few blocks away on this chilly night. We made our way through town, chatting and taking pictures (Me), and then we popped inside. The cold cases were packed with Ciders, one offs and what have you, and of course Sour Beer.. that's what the husbeast drinks. He opted for a Lambec he's never tried before, and I picked up a Zombie Killer, and he got something from the tap too.. (The bottles were for later) To me, the tapped brew tasted like vinegar. It really wasn't for me. The other guys each got something and i chose not to drink, but the place was hopping. It's a place I could see a lot of my friends enjoying. read more

See all

Really nice chill dive bar before clubbing, I like the selection of beer and drinks, I wish they had a few more wheat beers tho. What is the coolest touch of the hole place was the restroom lol. My friends and I enjoy pretty good time in this place read more

See all

ISO Beers ISo iSO.... cool. Drinks - 40 beers on tap plus many more choices in the fridges to your left. What more can you ask for?! Range is $5-13 from what I remember, but it's worth it. Food - They don't sell any here but you are more than welcome to BYO from anywhere you'd like! Location - The number of times I have passed this place without knowing it is unforgivable. It blends in all too well.... but let me say if you're on Santa Clara St, it's to the right of Ike's. Ambiance - Industrial sleek on the inside... but boy, I can't wait until it's summer bc the patio outside would be prime. P.S. 100th review!!!! Boom. read more

ISO Beers - Beer fridge land - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

I love stouts and they always have an amazing selection that rotates when the keg runs out. No kitchen, but you can order delivery from anywhere your Ap allows. Beer is on tap or found in the fridges nearby. Stay Thirsty. read more

ISO Beers - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

This is a super fun place for brews and chatting! They had so many sours on tap when we went, and most were really good. You can get smaller pours for half the price so you can have variety without getting tired of any one beer. They also have an extensive beer fridge for some roadie beers (JK do not drink and drive). read more

Steely. Minimalistic. Clean. Varied. If I were to give "tasting notes" of ISO Beers, this would be it. On our bro's day out, Andrew T. and I, being newbie craft brew adventurers, made our first stop at the relatively newly opened ISO Beers. At approximately 5pm on a Saturday, there were seats abound. Only one large party and another table were occupied at the time. The rainy weather didn't stop the few and determined from our pre-dinner beers. After an extensive inspection of the 35+ offerings listed, we opted for B Nektar's Kill All the Golfers (mead) and Port's Board Meeting (brown ale). I've heard that if you think you don't like beer, it's likely you just haven't found one that fits your tastes yet. That's certainly true in my case! I don't have a favorite and I don't know too much of beer terminology/technicalities/tasting yet, but it was certainly fun to peruse the list and try new beers and learning about tasting notes, beer types, bitterness, craft breweries, etc. ISO Beers also has a fridge providing a number of their tap offerings and then some, so take a look if you want to grab a bottle. This is pricier than most other places, which is expected it being relatively new and located in downtown San Jose. I will be returning in the future to try out some new beers and to hang out outside once the patio is complete and the weather is nice. My only regret is my stomach and bladder are not bigger to accommodate more and different beers in one sitting. In such a case, samples and flights would be fantastic too, if offered. In search of (ISO) beer? Come here! YAY BEER! read more

ISO Beers - Board Meeting and Kill All the Golfers! Both tasty. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

This place is great. They have one focus...beer! They have a wonderful selection of beer on tap and by the bottle. This is a great place to go and try some new beers and just hangout and relax. This place is new and I am looking forward to see what new beers they might bring in the future. They have a nice selection of IPAs here, which is my favorite type of beer. Also, the bartender is really helpful in making suggestions. They have a nice outdoor space that wasn't in use when I came, but I think they will take advantage of it and I look forward to coming back and hopefully enjoying a nice brew on the patio. They do not serve food FYI. read more

ISO Beers - Delicious IPA - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

ISO Beers is like a bigger and fancier version of California Craft Beer in Fremont. Honestly, it's almost impossible for me to discern between the two.. Although if I had to choose, I'd pick ISO Beers any day for the following reasons: 1) Location is closer to a larger variety of food and other bars. Honestly, just order yourself a made-to-order California burrito from across the street and come here for a couple beers, thank me later :p 2) The beer selection is larger both on tap and in the beer fridge (# of beers AND of variety.) California Craft used to do a $8 any beer flight, but they don't do that anymore (or maybe only on certain days?) 3) You can easily migrate to another bar after ISO or wind down your night of barhopping here! 4) More seating, especially with the nice little patio out back. 5) Fancier, more intimate atmosphere/vibe here, even when it's a bit crowded. For a beer bar, ISO Beer definitely earns a near perfect score in my book!! read more

A great place to hangout with your friends, your dog, or watch a game when you are enjoying a great selection of craft beers. They have both in-door and out-door sittings. We came here on Sunday afternoon, and there were few Sharks fans hanging out until game time The beer selection is very extensive, from MI, ME to OR, brands that I never even heard before. The best part, for me, is they have barrel aged beer, my favorite! They don't have a kitchen, but you can order food from Ike's next door or HOM Korea Kitchen across the street. Overall, a great joint to chill and relax in Downtown SJ. read more

ISO Beers - Laughing Monk: Third Circle, Belgian Tripel (Front) Modern Times Beer: Black House Nitro (Back) - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

I have been coming here for about five years and it will always be one of my favorite taprooms. I love the variety of beers both on tap and in the coolers. I also really enjoy the fact that you can bring your own food here while you enjoy a cold one. The outside area is very spacious and is the perfect spot to just relax for a beer... or 5. Just stopped in last night to make sure i still love this place and I definitely still do ;) read more

I love this spot, and have added it to my list of favorite bars downtown. They have a great selection of beer... as one might expect from their name. Their selection changes from time to time, so coming back every week or so won't result in an identical experience. That's appreciated. Their bartenders know the selections well, and are friendly and approachable without being overly chatty. The interior is clean and pleasant. Even the bathrooms are clean and well kept. They really shine with their outdoor seating. It's lovely. A beautiful open air courtyard with tables and stone benches along the perimeter, there are plenty of spots to relax with a friend or by yourself. There is a bit of noise pollution since you are right next to a busy street - people, traffic, occasional sirens. You are also close to a club of sorts, and frequently when you're out there you are getting music and party-esque noises... which isn't a bad thing. I wouldn't take work calls out there though. The only bad thing about this place is that they have almost nothing to eat. They do have chips. Tiny bags of potato chips are available, and that's it. It's a bit random, really. If they had some actual food, or even more snacks than just tiny bags of chips, I think this place would be even more popular. As it stands, after a couple rounds you pretty much have to leave to find food. I suppose you might have to eat first for this place to make sense. I've been stopping by right after work though so for me the timing doesn't work out well and I always leave because I'm hungry. Management: nice place. Great beer. Good service. Please offer more snacks / food! read more

See all

Great little place that sells beers on tap and bottled beers in the fridge. My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday night just to check it out and grab some drinks. We looked around at the fridge selection but decided to go with what was on tap. We sampled some but apparently they don't like to give out more than 2 or 3 samples. Which was fine I guess, but makes selecting a bit harder. A couple of beers I wanted was out already (on a Saturday night? Really? Sigh.) I wish they sold beer flights or samplers. However, we ended up getting three drinks and spent time out in their patio. Great place to relax with friends on a warmer night and just talk. Or people observe. I'll definitely come back and will be bringing some snacks since I heard that was welcomed! read more

ISO Beers - Zombie Killer on the left and Weihenstephaner on the right. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

Great place to try beer! They give good pours of BIG beers (10% and up) which is not as common as you might expect. The vibe is really chill. There are two TVs that usually have any game or sport that's popular at the time on. Beer drinkers--there are no "tasters". You can get a "sip" of a a couple beers but you are better off knowing what you are looking to try before you head in. They usually have an AWESOME selection of beers though and if you are on Untappd they update their beer listing regularly. It's BYO food here which is cool, because there's and IKEs sandwich's next door which makes some pretty tasty stuff, and you can also bring that picnic basket from home if you're the Rachel Ray type. Overall we enjoy this spot for the outdoor patio and the selection of beer. Stop by if your in the SJ area. read more

Stumbled upon this place yesterday and had a great time. It's a large space and wasn't busy at all. Great selection of beers and the two guys that were working were awesome. Can't remember their names but they were knowledgeable about their beer and just overall friendly people. read more

ISO down to drink a beer here. This place is a fun/chill place to try some great beers. It doesn't get too crowded and there isn't anything fussy/fancy about this place. They have a good assortment of sours (yum). I tried a couple sours and a coconut porter and enjoyed them all. They have an indoor and outdoor seating area. The indoor area has high chairs and you order at the counter. They sell some chips and jerky. They do not sell non-snack foods but they allow you to bring in your own food. You can bring dogs to the outdoor space (even saw 1 in the indoor space). read more

ISO Beers - Trying the fog ripper - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

4.5 Stars! ISO is definitely a place you should consider if you are looking for a place to just meet up with some friends. Very little planning is needed if you want to meet up with a small group or even large group at ISO Beers. 1. Dog Friendly 2. Beers, beers, beers 3. BYOF - Bring Your Own Food 4. Outdoor and Indoor Seating 5. Close to San Pedro Square A really nice casual place in DTSJ :) read more

I've been in search of ISO:Beers' opening for seemingly forever and it finally happened January 30 with a super soft opening and soft opening to the public on January 31. To be honest, I feel like I'm cheating on a significant other (Original Gravity) when I'm here. But you know what? So long as places keep a great rotation of craft beer, I'm maintaining an open relationship. ISO owner Dee, of Bobby's Liquors fame, along with his wife Jen, built this place with love and passion, and that is what makes this beer bar extra attractive. About 20 beers and two wines are currently available on tap, though there are more to come in the near future to fully stock the total of 40 taps. There's a variety of beers ranging anywhere from imperial stout, pale ale, IPA, gueuze, and even a mead to keep your palate satiated. But wait, there's more... Also to come are bottled beers filling half a dozen or so refrigerators (picture Beer Revolution). But wait, there's still more... Biergarten to come in a few short months, just in time for spring and summer. One more thing for you sports fiends, two TVs will soon adorn the walls for your viewing pleasure. Just bear in mind that ISO will look and feel like an prolonged soft opening since their transformation will continue to take place for a little whole longer. Welcome to the neighborhood, ISO. You're definitely long-term relationship material. XOXO read more

ISO Beers - Hours of operation. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Jose, California

Best spot to come hang out and have a cold beer. The owner has the best employees ever super helpful, you don't know what to get just describe what you like and they will give you tastings to try. Always having different beers to try from not like more spots having the same thing. If you in the downtown area must stop by and give a try. read more