Stopped into Salty Bear Brewing Co. while I was in Orange County on a business trip, and it turned out to be a fantastic find. The IPAs were excellent -- fresh, flavorful, and well-crafted. Great variety, too. Whether you like something hazy and juicy or a more classic, hop-forward profile, they've got you covered. Everything I tried was balanced and easy to drink. The bartender was fantastic -- knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely engaging without being over the top. You can tell they care about what they're pouring and about the people sitting at the bar. The overall vibe is just right -- a chill environment where you can relax, have a real conversation, and enjoy quality beer without any pretense. I ended up having some great conversations with good people, which made the stop even better. If you're in Orange County and appreciate solid IPAs and a laid-back atmosphere, this place is absolutely worth a visit. I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

Stopped by Salty Bear Brewing in Costa Mesa on a Monday afternoon and had a solid experience. The tasting room itself is nice, but the real highlight is the massive outdoor space. It's set up nicely to hang out, and I could see it being a great spot when the weather's nice. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which always makes a visit better. Pricing is affordable compared to some spots, though I'd say it's still a little high for a brewery. Nothing mind-bogglingly shocking, but worth noting. Heads up tho: there's no food served here, but they've got options nearby if you get hungry. I didn't mind since I was just there for the drinks. I tried a few things and was pleasantly surprised. All the seltzers tasted great. Every one of them. Crisp, flavorful, and refreshing. The fresh peach seltzer was my favorite of the day. The strawberry blonde was also worth a try too; smooth and easy drinking. Major bonus points for being dog-friendly. They were so accommodating to patrons with pups, and it's clear they've put thought into making the space welcoming for everyone. It was near completely empty when I visited (Monday afternoon/evening), which made for a chill experience, but I could tell this place probably gets busy during weekends or holidays. Wouldn't mind coming back with a group when there's more energy. read more

Pleasantly surprised with this place. Every beer I tried was excellent, and I took home a crowler. It was a cool and open atmosphere in a unique location. I wish they had food there, that's the only negative, being that I was super hungry at the time. Give it a shot! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Crowler of their tasty Pilsner - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Went around 7:30pm on a Sunday, no wait, quite empty, and chill vibes. Music wasn't too loud, they were playing a Lakers game, and the blonde ale I got was great! No complaints here. read more

We found this place while visiting The Camp and stopped in for a beer with our dog and watched some football. It's a clean spot with plenty of seating, great beer, and a friendly bartender. They also have picnic tables outside, which is a nice bonus. We'll definitely be back when we're in the area! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Bar area - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I refuse to live for the weekends and local breweries come in clutch for some midweek spice. I convinced a few friends to do some *light* bar hopping on a Thursday. We started at Salty Bear and indulged in live music, street tacos, craft beer, and several card games - Guillotine, anyone? This place is perfect for large groups. There's a huge indoor area, as well as a vibey patio with live music. The DJ playing last Thursday had a great mix of hits from the 70s-current. Our group of seven easily snagged one of their many outdoor picnic tables and ordered several rounds of beers. My personal favorite was their light Mexican lager. Beers are affordable too. Pours ranging between $5-8. While they don't offer food, there's a number of nearby businesses that offer takeout. Plus, on special occasions they have a pretty yummy taco truck outside. read more

Cute brewery area right next to Booth by Bryant! I made a quick stop with my boyfriend to grab a drink on our date and it was a great way to end the night. I got the Bear Moon White Ale and it was great as expected. Enough seating at the bar and small tables around if you wanted a spot to chill with friends! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Bear Moon White Ale (Right) - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

At first, I was a little bummed they didn't have ciders, not even in a can, but the seltzers are the bomb!! Me and a friend got their right at open, the doors were open, the breeze was beautiful, and the playlist was superb. It's kinda cool, because you can order food from other spots at The Camp and since they don't serve food, it gets brought to you here. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - seltzers and sunshine - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Cute, small brewery to come with friends! I'm not a huge beer drinker but I liked that they had two types of seltzers. I had the California Citrus Seltzer which was on tap. The flavor was tasty and it wasn't too sweet. The second seltzer was a Strawberry Lemonade which comes in a can. This also was really refreshing and not too sweet. They have a fairly large outdoor table seating area here as well. They had a vendor making pizzas on a Friday night, so that food is an option! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Strawberry Lemonade Seltzer - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Attended the live music yesterday and it was such a cool vibe. Parking was a hot mess express but that's cause it's apart of the camp in Costa Mesa. Outdoor and indoor seating available. Restrooms for customers. They don't have food onsite but there's restaurants within the camp that you can take in. They had a pizza vendor yesterday and it was really delicious. I had a strawberry blonde and it did not disappoint. Definitely coming back! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Outdoor seating - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Salty Bear is a perfect spot to start your bar hopping night at. They have a relatively small indoor seating area but outdoors is where it's at. Easy access to the parking lot and surrounding bars, and can get very packed starting on Thursday nights. The bartenders might pay more attention to a customer of the opposite sex, but overall they'll treat you well and answer whichever questions you have. It's a staple you can't miss at the Camp, whether it be a weekday or weekend. Make sure to stop by and have a drink or two! read more

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We came in for a couple beers after Speakeasy at CAMPOUT Costa Mesa. This brewery is spacious and cozy with indoor and outdoor seatings. They serve tacos outside and customers can order food from a few other restaurants here. We tried a dark beer and a seltzer. I have to say that seltzer had to be one of the best I've ever had! So tasty and refreshing. The service was fast and friendly as well. A solid brewery to try tasty beers and hang out! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been to the Camp many times but didn't know there was a whole other world that existed behind it! Salty Bear Brewing is one of those businesses. It's a small brewery with a bigger open area with tables and bar tops for guests. I tried the pineapple lychee seltzer and it was light, refreshing and perfect for the summer heat. Menu was small and unfortunately didn't have any cocktails. We came on a Thursday and they had a taco vendor that served up pretty legit al pastor quesadilla. You can also order food for pick up or delivery from nearby restaurants. Service was quick and friendly. Parking is tricky, you can park in the small lot or at the camp and walk over but at least it's free. read more

Excellent selection of beers and a great pet-friendly place to hang with friends and hang out over a brew. Layout is perfect for a quick meeting, pop-in with friends and plenty of food in the area for a little outdoor picnic with friends. Comfortable and tucked away. Staff is super friendly and helpful. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Friends and Brews at Salty Bear! - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First stop on our Friday night's brewery tour! I never come to The Camp at night so my friends introduced to what they call "brewery lane". Salty Bear seems to have a handful of fruity seltzers and lighter beers on their menu. Your group has the option of sitting in the well lit inside area or sitting at the dim and relaxing outdoor tables. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Really solid brewery option. Big fan of an option space with high top and regular table options, which they have (in addition obviously to seats at the bar). The bartender was attentive and nice. The beers had a good variety, especially of IPAs, and each of the IPAs we had were pretty tasty. Love that it has such easy parking. The table we grabbed was also big enough for us to commandeer a board game, which is always appreciated. This will most likely become part of our rotation for board game/brewery collection. read more

Would have scored higher if it had more than one dark beer. Another long overdue review - came here in a self created brewery tour for my article - https://www.travelingwellforless.com/costa-mesa-breweries/. Great laid back, California decor. Lots of IPAs for the hops fans. Good service. read more

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Awesome little brewery with a small beer garden in the lab. We went there as we waited our turn for folks pizza. I tried a few different pints. All great. Live dj. Taco stand outside. Amazing vibe. Will be back again read more

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I absolutely love Salty Bear! I've celebrated a few friends' birthdays there, and it's always a blast. They've got great beer, live music, and the coolest part--you can order food from nearby restaurants, and they'll bring it right to you while you hang out. They even sometimes invite fun outside vendors for something different. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just chilling with friends on a random weekend, it's always a good vibe. Highly recommend for both the big celebrations and the laid-back hangouts! read more

Came here randomly since we were in the area doing other things. Stopped in and was quite surprised in the variety of beers on the menu. They have a good Wit, and Black Lager. Aside from that they have seltzers, lagers, ales, porter, pilsners and the list goes on. Really good variety on the menu. I'd say it's one of the most diverse menus I've seen in a while. The decor is what you'd expect for the area trendy bougie no overly done though it still has a brewery feel to it. I would say there's plenty of seating both inside and out, parking on the other hand good luck unless you come on an off day and time. Service was cool, exactly what you'd expect from a bar tender at a small brewery. Would I come back? Yea for sure. If I'm in the area you can bet I'll stop by. read more

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I had a pretty mid experience. It was a Saturday evening and the place was nice and full. I think it was just a tad too bright in terms of lighting. The music was also a tad too quiet. Earlier when we had walked by the outdoor area was nice and sunny with live music. Might go back for those vibes another time! Also, their house beer (I had a Pilsner) was pretty good and at a very good price. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - bar - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I absolutely love Salty Bear! It is one of my favorite breweries out there. The beer is fantastic, as well as the service! They even have super cute merchandise. The outside patio is such a chill and relaxed vibe. When they have live music, it sets the tone even more. It is a great place to come and hang out with friends and I love that it is nearby to so many other drink/food options. Highly recommend! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We like salty bear! -- great location in Costa Mesa. It's next to other breweries and restaurants that are walking distance. Chill environment. Parking can get tough but you're bound to find a spot. Two big screen TVs, typically a food truck outside and you can order food from surrounding restaurants that will deliver to salty bear. There's outdoor and indoor seating. Multiple beers on tap and right now, two seltzers. Sometimes we'll bring cards or a game to play while we grab a drink. Service has always been good. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Raspberry lemonade seltzer and Full bloom west coast IPA - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Great vibe. Great place to hang with some friends. Cool live music sometimes. Good indoor and outdoor areas. Well lit. Overall, just neat The gnarwhal blonde was my favorite -- I really liked it actually. We were there yesterday and I'm still thinking about how good it was. Good location, bad parking, but still a net positive read more

Nicely decorated with all the typical fixins of a hip brewery, it's biggest downfalls are the beer selection, (absent) food selection, and rude bartender If you want amazing beer or a great selection... don't come here. They have a few of the staple choices like lagers, IPAs, and seltzers but there's nothing too exciting scrolling up and down looking at the list. I ordered 4-5 of these and they were all "decent". The bartender was also very unfriendly, curt, and didn't talk much, and didn't give any great suggestions when asked. He was polite for the most part but just left a bad taste in your mouth after most interactions. There is lots of seating and the outdoor area is really refreshing to just hang out in. There's also no food here but we got a togo pizza and fries next door! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Cool spot with indoor/outdoor spaces and delicious beers and seltzers. They were playing country music with a random K-pop song on a Sunday evening. Service was fine, not particularly friendly. Parking can be limited. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

It's a nice place but the beers aren't that amazing. Just Ok. Will I be back? Only if my business has happy hour here again and I'm obligated to go. But not non my own. read more

Salty bear brewing is cozy with great vibe and real beer my favorite beer is hazy IPAs I highly recommend to try it read more

Great drinks and beer! Great service and the ambiance was amazing! ‍‍‍‍‍ I would come back or recommend. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Hip and lively open space on a Friday night. Came here for a late birthday and there was a long table near the bar on the inside section that was able to accommodate our group of 13 people which was really nice. There was also more tables on the outside patio area which could also accommodate large groups. You order your beer at the register and you can decide to either open or close your tab. Got the Ube ale which was unique and I have never tried a beer that had a touch of ube in it. It was very subtle but what really stood out the most to me was the foaminess and creaminess of the beer too as you sip on this drink. I would definitely order it again. To my knowledge, they didn't serve any food at this location but they were kind enough to allow us to bring our tacos from another restaurant inside and eat it there. Overall a positive experience, would definitely recommend to friends/family. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Ube Ale - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great place for a relaxing afternoon. The beer is good and the outside patio is lovely. Live music and plenty of shade. Lots of dogs! The staff were friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was fun and upbeat. read more

Very yummy beer. No real bears. The beertenders here are incredibly kind and welcoming--they truly make this place feel special and are a big reason we keep coming back. The rotating food pop-ups, especially the tacos, are always delicious! Great space to come and read, or meetup with friends! read more

Great beers, friendly staff, awesome outdoor patio area with fantastic live music. Good times!

Great vibes, friendly staff, and tasty craft beers. Perfect spot for a chill night out!

This is a decent brewpub in a mixed light-industrial section of Costa Mesa which has several brewpubs. The place is fairly nice inside, with some very comfortable seating including a couple sofas and easy chairs. It has just bright lighting. The decor is otherwise kind of pseudo light industrial but overall nice with some plants, etc., to give an overall pleasant ambience inside if it's not too busy. There is also some outdoor seating in back. I tried three different beers and all were just ok. They were one-dimensional and characterless and not great examples of their styles. Firs,t I had a pilsner, then a red ale, and then a stout. The stout, which is still ok, was the best of the lot. They also served the beers too cold. Service was mixed, with the server on the first visit at about 8:30 already packing it in and rudely telling me that he would not serve me even one beer, despite the fact that there were still several customers drinking and they did not close until 9 that evening. The next night, they were open till ten and the server, a different person, was friendly. They do not have food, but food trucks or vendors in the back. read more

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Salty Bear is a cute little brewery located across from the anti- mall in Costa Mesa. Overall the vibe was great but it was crowded on a Friday night. The outdoor patio feels like you are camping with long picnic benches and little stage for live music. The staff were all friendly and helpful when it came to choosing the right beer. Being an avid IPA drinker, I opted for their hazy which was just ok. Overall a fun place to hang out but the beer wasn't anything spectacular. One perk is that you can get food delivered from the camp next door! read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Hazy IPA - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I can't say enough about this spot. It's located in The Lab, Anti-mall area of Costa Mesa. First, all of the staff is pleasant and gorgeous. The vibe of this place is so incredibly chill. The decor is tasteful and you can tell there was a great deal of thoughtfulness in the design. Their patio was super cute and provided live acoustic music on a Saturday afternoon. Their beer selection was unique. They had a rye ale which is pretty uncommon- interesting taste, not my favorite but worth trying. The amber lager was very tasty and the red ale was tasty as well. Parking is a bit messy, definitely carpool or ride share if you can avoid the parking. read more

Salty Bear Brewing - Some very good amber and red beers - Breweries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I am actually not a fan of beer but this place changed my mind! I normally can't finish any beer because I don't like the taste. I had the tropical punch hard seltzer and family vacation strawberry blonde. Both were great and hid the beer flavor I don't like. I was able to finish both and enjoy them. They're definitely light beers but they were still enough to get be buzzed and I would not consider myself a light weight. You will probably get buzzed faster if you are drinking on an empty stomach since don't serve any food here. There's a lot of restaurants nearby though if you wanna eat at those restaurants or bring take out here. I like that there's plenty of seating inside and outside. The outside is really nice because there's lights, trees and picnic benches. There is a small parking lot here so you might get lucky and find a spot. I also love how clean the restrooms are. I think I only saw one server the whole night but she did a great job of taking care of everyone and the bar! read more

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Amazing ambiance and fantastic fruit punch seltzer! The overall environment and decor was beautiful and I would certainly return

A great micro brewery that isn't a typical SoCal IPA-centric brewery. They do have a West Coast style IPA, which is tasty, but they are so much more than that one trick pony. Salty Bear has several styles of beer that are worth trying. They also have a couple of Seltzers available too if you are more into those. The service was friendly, and you can see the brewhouse equipment from the bar in the tap room. They also have a large outdoor space for those good weather days. read more