If you haven't been here for the blueberry muffin sour then you have been missing out! But aside…read morefrom this stand-out sour, it's one of the best breweries in the east bay. The place is a good size with a small outdoor patio, usually a 2 table set up out there. It's very close to the bustling 4th street area and you can bring food in.

I have supported Great Notion for a number of years by buying their products but won't be after my…read moreexperience at this particular location. There was only one other customer present when I arrived and while I was there, yet one of the two bartenders kept hovering over me at the bar as I scanned the menu and decided what I wanted to order. It did not feel like a welcoming environment from the outset. It quickly became an uncomfortable experience when said bartender and another bartender started expressing some strong opinions out loud that did not sit well with me. Witnessing that behavior made me think they must just hire undergraduate and/or graduate students to work at this location due to their lack of maturity. There are too many other options -- and better ones at that -- in the craft beer world for me to spend my time and hard-earned money on a company that does not know how to respect or value its customers.

Good beer, great vibe, and industrial warehouse type design…read more Was able to try the Marine Layer Steam Beer, it was a good beer, hearty. Their lineup of IPA's and Belgians is impressive.

Gilman Brewing is on Gilman in Berkeley, they have a small parking lot and there's usually street…read moreparking on the side streets. I've had their beers a few times, ranging from lights to darks, from IPAs to ciders and I haven't been disappointed by any of them. They usually let you sample before committing and the staff are friendly about helping you make a choice the fits your want. I've mainly gone when my wife's organization, Vets in Vans, has hosted events there. Apparently the owners of Gilman Brewing are veterinarians/former veterinarians so they continue to support a lot of causes including animal welfare causes.

I just threw a retirement party for my dad at some reserved tables this past Saturday. It couldn't…read morehave gone better. It was a super busy day because of Oktoberfest activities; but when I checked in, the staff made sure our tables would be available in a timely manner. Attendees traveled from various distances and were of all ages, and I think everyone had a great time. My in-laws who are sometimes difficult to please food-wise loved everything they ate, and we especially love the Detroit-style pizza. My nephew said the pretzel was too salty but he is 5 and I do not trust him. I always love all the beers and appreciate that staff will make some good recommendations since there are so many to choose from. And I can't emphasize how grateful I am for lots of delicious non-alcoholic drink options. We ended up using a combination of bar tabs and table QR codes for ordering, and settling up was super easy at the end of the day. In my opinion the staff was above and beyond on such a busy day- they were super nice and fast and I know days like that are probably tiring.

Great selection of beers. Lately I have been enjoying the belgium line of beers a lot at fieldworks.read more

The first time I went to Cellarmaker I was post-ride -- the particular kind of hungry and…read moredehydrated that makes any beer taste like the best beer you've ever had, which is why I don't fully trust that first impression. But the West Coast IPA was good, genuinely good, and the pizzas coming out of the kitchen to the tables around me looked like pizzas made by people who cared about pizza, and the outdoor area was the kind of setup that welcomes bikes and dogs without making a production of it. I made a mental note: come back sometime for food. "Sometime" turned out to be yesterday, which is how it always works, the places you mean to return to in a week take three months, and the ones you expect to take three months surprise you on a random afternoon when you're starving and nearby and out of excuses. We'd taken the dogs on a long hike through Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, which if you haven't done it is one of those East Bay hikes that makes you briefly forget you live in an urban area -- redwoods and eucalyptus and creek crossings and the kind of quiet that resets whatever the week did to you. By the end of it we were the specific kind of famished where menu deliberation is impossible and you just point at things and hope. We sat outside and pointed at things and everything we pointed at was excellent. The baked sweet potato--a Japanese sweet potato under miso butter, chili crème fraîche, bacon bits, crispy onions, scallions, and pea tendrils--is the kind of dish that sounds like it was assembled by a committee of trendy adjectives but actually works as a coherent thing you want to eat. The miso butter does the heavy lifting, that sweet-savory bridge that makes Japanese sweet potatoes sing, and the chili crème fraîche keeps it from tipping into cloying territory. Fifteen dollars for a side dish at a brewery is a number that would normally make me flinch, but the portion was generous and the execution was real. The summer squash tostadas--roasted zucchini, cherry tomatoes, avocado, pickled red onion, salsa macha, queso fresco, cilantro--were bright and crunchy and exactly the kind of thing you want after four hours in the woods. The salsa macha brought a nutty, smoky heat that elevated what could have been a forgettable veggie tostada into something I'd actually order again on purpose. And then there were the pickled vegetables. Cauliflower, fennel, zucchini, carrots. Seven dollars. Who pickles zucchini? Cellarmaker pickles zucchini, and it's delicious, and I'm annoyed that I now have to rethink my entire understanding of what belongs in a pickle jar. I had the Diamonds & Gasoline, a West Coast IPA with Nelson Sauvin and Cascade Cryo hops. The menu copy promises white wine and gooseberry and diesel-y grapefruit funk. What I'd tell you is that it's dank. Good dank. The kind of resinous, piney, vaguely illicit West Coast IPA that California does better than anywhere and that Northern California in particular has turned into a regional art form. I drank it and thought about the fact that I've started using the word "dank" to describe beer unironically and that I voluntarily hiked through redwoods on a Sunday afternoon and that I'm sitting outside a brewery in Berkeley with two dogs at my feet eating a Japanese sweet potato with miso butter on it. I am becoming a Northern Californian. This is happening. I lament nothing. The pizza will have to wait for the third visit. Wednesday, maybe -- they do a $12 slice-and-beer special that sounds like exactly the kind of deal that accelerates the conversion.

Nothing like having a beer before dinner…read more This is a place for a beer before dinner or a place to go for dinner/beers. The beer I had was tasty. The pizza smells from the kitchen were delicious. There were tables inside and outside to sit. Server was very friendly and willing to give samples. Don't forget about the arcade games! Bring your change or don't, they have a quarter machine. **protip: they have their own parking lot! Definitely recommend.

Found this place as it was recommended for having a kids play area. Gotta admit the play Area is…read moredecent sized but my kid got bored very quickly. It's just a section but there's nothing to play with inside. It's an empty area with chalkboard walls and an old broken kitchen set. My 2 year old kid was not interested. There were a bunch of older kids in there around 6-12 years old but they were playing tag. We ordered a large spread. The standout was the pretzel. Wow, it was soft and sprinkled with just the right amount of salt particles. Your teeth just sink into it I. Such a satisfying way. It comes with a butter sauce and cheese. Both were great. I even got a second one !! The pulled pork sandwich was really good. Well seasoned and tender. My picky 2 year old doesn't usually like pulled pork but she had a good amount of it which says a lot. The burger was wonderful too. And the fries are GOOD. Fresh out the frier and well seasoned too. Seating wise , everything is outdoors. There's an adult only area where you can drink alcohol. There's also a little fountain that caught the attention of my kid but it isn't safe to play around and it's not meant for kids to play or dip their hands in bc the rocks are jagged. Overall if the play area was more interesting I'd come here all the time. It's a little too far for me to come here with a kid. The food is good though.

I was not that hungry when I met my friend for an early dinner. Luckily they had a delicious…read moreBiergarten pretzel which was just right. I got both the cheese sauce and mustard, which was nice for alternating flavors. The pretzel was soft and warm, definitely not microwaved! I ordered a ginger beer ($4). My friend got the portobello mushroom burger(?) sandwich (?). In any case she loved it. It was super messy but was piled high with her favorite arugula. We sat in the adults only alcove, which was nice and quiet. No little rug rats screaming. The whole space though is very sheltered and pleasant. You order at the front counter then find a table.

As many craft beer aficionados are aware, Trumer will unfortunately be closing at the end of May…read more2026. While their iconic pilsner will live on through Firestone Walker, the Berkeley location and brewery are about to become a piece of local history. Setting aside the state of the industry, I want to pay tribute to a brewery that always paved its own way. They championed lagers long before they were considered "fashionable" by the craft mainstream. Although this was my first--and likely last--visit to the taproom, I'll truly miss having them as an option in Berkeley. I much appreciate the staff for staying in such good spirits and handling this difficult transition so stoically. I've attended many beer fests here (particularly CCBAs) long before the taproom even existed, and it feels like the end of an era. They still have plenty of beer, so if you're reading this in time, head over to support the crew. Grab some merch as a souvenir of what was a brave and historic project. Trumer, you will be missed.

It's so amazing we just discovered this place! Love the vibe here. Its very casual and the staff we…read moredealt with were very nice. There's outdoor seating and its pet friendly. The beers are very tasty and a nice change from IPAs which I usually drink. We didn't eat here. Next time, we plan to since the menu had some pretty yummy looking options.

I visited Match Point Brewing on July 25, the last Saturday the taproom will be open. I've had…read moreMatch Point's beers a handful of other times before out of cans, but this was my first time at the actual taproom. The taproom had a nice variety of Asian inspired beers on tap, including a masala chai amber lager and Vietmanese coffee lager. Compared to Dokkaebier, another brewery that specializes in Asian inspired beers, I find that the beers by Match Point are much bolder in their flavors. Simon -- the owner of the brewery, and the other staff member working that day were both very friendly and knowledgeable about all the beers. The space itself is perfect for large groups. It's a real shame the brewery will no longer be around. Albany is really losing out on an incredible business.

Match Point is such a brewery gem. Simon, one of the owners, was working when I came in with my pup…read moreand was such a pleasure to speak with. I had a great time sampling the Mandarin Ale, Jasmine Lager, Vietnamese Coffee lager, season Plum, Hojicha Cream Ale, and Masala Chai Ale. I loved how fragrant and refreshing the beers were. It's also nice that it is attached to 310 Eatery , which has a variety of American and Asian dishes to enjoy with the beers. My favorite beers were definitely the Jasmine lager, Vietnamese coffee lager and hojicha cream ale. Sad they'll be closing on July 26, but glad there beers will be available at select locations in the area.

I have a personal goal to try all the beer places in the East Bay area. I've been to most of the…read morebreweries in Berkeley (Gilman, Great Notion, Fieldworks, Headlands), some in nearby cities (Match Point, East Brothers, Fraction), and I've been wanting to check out this taproom because of the good reviews online. I don't consider myself a beer connoisseur, but I like trying different beers and ciders so this place was right up my alley. I had a friend visiting Berkeley from out of town so we came here to hang out and catch up. One thing that stood out to me is this place, because it's a taproom and not a brewery, is open later than the other beer places in the East Bay. Many choices of beer and cider on tap. I tried the ginger peppercorn cider and it was very unique, I've never had a cider like this flavor, it's almost like a cross between ginger beer and cider. My friends enjoyed various beers on tap. The place is pretty small but very clean and cute. I like that you can choose from 10 oz or 16 oz pour, so people like me can try more varieties in smaller portion than just drinking one boring thing. I like variety. The all you can eat popcorn was a hit with our little group. The truffle flavor really elevates the popcorn and it goes well with beer! There's so much free parking in this area at night... super convenient... although it scared me for a minute when I couldn't find my car in the very empty street lot, before I realized I was another block farther down. This area of Berkeley feels pretty safe at night even at 11pm. Good place. I would definitely go again!

Came here for a quick little beer and it was exactly what I wanted…read more Walked in around 3:30pm on a Saturday and the place was so quiet - i loved that! It was the perfect spot to sit and think a bit before planning my next move. The bartender was great and friendly! I ended up with a delicious sour beer and sat and chilled. Cute little 20 minutes spent at Hoi Polloi. I'm sure ill be back when needing a little break from life to sip on a yummy sour.

Ocean View Brew Works on San Pablo in Albany, family owned by Scott and Vonnie Davidson. Named…read moreafter Albany's original name from 1908. Small batch beers brewed on site, rotating taps, the kind of place where the owners are usually behind the bar and actually want to talk to you about what you're drinking. Guava Lava sour was the move on my visit, Klolsch and the hazy IPA were both clean and well made. The Kitchenette counter inside does panini and bagels, which is the right call if you want something to eat. Dog friendly patio holds 50 or so people, kids running around, genuinely neighborhood vibe.

I went last night for my first time and had a blast. I tried one of their lighter beers and it was…read moredelicious. Friendly staff and friendly bar patrons. They had stuff available for drawing and painting and I drew something and that was fun. I will return for sure.

Great spot. Excellent brews. Beautiful facility design. Attentive and knowledgeable employees…read more Mellow and comfy. Laptops, dogs, and kids abound early in the day, in a "neighborhood" kind of way. Lots of locals and regulars. Our spot.

Didn't know this spot existed until now! Not a bad spot to hang out and catch up with friends…read more Decent amount of inside seating and a small biergarten outside as well. I noticed it's pretty dog friendly so be sure to watch your steps! Highly recommend using the public parking across the street. They have a good variety of options on tap. I went for their Pagan Rage because who could resist 13% abv beer?! Felt overly sweet but manageable. It's expensive though :')