Love the layout of the bar, and we were there when they had live music, which is very cool. Service was excellent. We got the lobster roll and wings. The lobster roll was very good. My biggest disappointment was the wings- fairly pricey but out of the 9 wings, only 2 were the Drummetes. read more

Validation Ale - Lobster roll (good) and the wings- where 7 out of 9 were the boney 2nd joint. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I had the MOST amazing Spicy grilled Chicken sandwich. I wolfed it down. It comes with homemade potato chips. I washed it down with the Puppy Ale. My daughter enjoyed playing corn hole in the outdoor patio. read more

Validation Ale - Spicy Chicken Sandwich - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Came into Validation Ale on Juneteenth early in the afternoon and the place was completely packed. What blew me away was that there was only one person working behind the bar, and they were handling it all very well. They were pouring beers, making cocktails, taking orders, clearing glasses and empty plates as fast as they could, answering questions, and somehow still being friendly and patient with my wife and I who took forever to order. I don't know how they managed to keep their cool, but they did it better than most teams of three or four. It was impressive to watch and even more impressive to be on the receiving end of such solid service under pressure! Whoever that bartender is, they deserve serious recognition. But maybe give that person some backup next time. read more

Popped in today for a beer and a smash burger. Great service and a really great burger! Almost the perfect burger. Good job you guys!

Great brewery, great indoor outdoor seating. Self serve, go at the counter. Place orders and sit at your table. Didn't try any of the food but seems like typical bar food read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Stumbled upon this brewery/distilley and we're glad we did. Open with lots of seating and space to socialize or play corn hole. Kid friendly. We loved their beer options and a side menu of cocktails which I didnt get to try but will next time we stop in. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was really really good. Everything is authentic and made in house. I got the burger, the meat was so delicious. It was a smash burger so you could taste all the flavors. The aoli was so good. The fries were delicious as well. The food came out really quick, probably like 5-10 minutes after ordering. The service was okay, the man taking orders was not too friendly unfortunately. The ambiance had a fun vibe to it, they have games & lots of televisions. It's a great place to chill or start the night off. read more

This was a nice place to watch some football in the afternoon while sipping on some craft beers. They have a nice indoor space with roll-in windows along the street where you can sit inside with bar-style seating. These seats are western-facing so you can get a lot of sun in the afternoon (yes, even in January). There is a good variety of craft beers and a couple of creative seltzers, but the really interesting aspect of the beer menu over the bar is the real-time scoring of the validated beers versus the contenders. Definitely a great place to order a flight. Food was good, highlighted for us by the buffalo cauliflower that paired nicely with a light beer. You can order from your seat here and the servers will bring your food and drinks to you, but go up to the bar at least once to check the battle for validation. Be mindful that their online menu was not 100% up to date with the current daily menu. The day that we went we were looking forward to having some tots but got there and found they were not on the menu. The truffle fries were a sufficient stand-in read more

Validation Ale - Flight and strawberry-basil seltzer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food is great , salads , burgers , beer selection , ambiance and dog friendliness. A great spot , I like that they open for lunch on weekdays read more

Validation Ale - Burger during Indy's burger week - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We were exploring the funk zone and stumbled upon an artists fair out front of this place. Upon the artists suggestion we decided to go in for lunch. So glad we did! I got the warm butter lobster roll with house chips and hubby got the smash burger. They have a cooler beside the bar to get non alcoholic drinks in yourself and there is a tap outside of the cooler for water. You order and then sit. The food came out out in a reasonable amount of time and the flavor was so good! I wish the lobster roll came with a little side of butter but other than that tiny improvement it was a great experience. read more

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Went in on a Thursday afternoon during lunch as I was told the food here is great and they did not disappoint! The service was amazing as the staff gave us recommendations and made sure that we were comfortable wherever we sat. We ordered the Fried Chicken Sando, Truffle Fries, and the Karaage Nuggets and they were delicious! The nuggets and fries are shareable if you come with friends! 10/10! As for the beer, they have a great selection as my boyfriend ordered the Double Hazy IPA and he loved it. He said "it wasn't as IPA-ey as most IPA's so it can appeal to lots of folks". They also let you sample anything before you commit. Great spot for grabbing a beer, getting some good bites, or even just working with a great view of the Funkzone! Also plenty of TVs all around so you won't miss a game! read more

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Food and beer are just as chips as the atmosphere. Great spot. Whether you are a local or in town on vacation, you should definitely stop in for a drink. Who knows, you may get to see maroon 5 in a pop up concert. WE DID!!! Great service, great drinks, great location. read more

My wife and I were staying for 2 1/2 weeks in Carpinteria and took the 25 minute bus ride up to Santa Barbara and walked about 5 miles up the boardwalk to the pier and the harbor. I was ready for a break! We had never been to Validation, so we popped in. I ordered the Cold IPA to start off. I needed to make action happen, but afterwards the faucets were kind of cool. They had soap, water and a drying device all in one faucet. My wife said she saw them in that style in Europe. I digress. I ordered the tri-tip, classic style. So good! Get this. Solid meat with spicy, yet a hint of sweet BBQ. It is so good. Chips seemed homemade? I have been fooled before though. I ordered the hazy IPA after this. It was maybe a few more dollars than my Minesota mind expected, but it was definitely worth a visit. read more

Validation Ale - Tri-tip was delicious! - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great vibe, great beer, open air perfect SB EXPERIENCE. We had a server Sam who made our time here even better. Highly recommend!

This brewery has a fantastic location and when the sun shines in through those big windows and I'm holding a beer, life is great. Interior design is cool. The vying system up on the boards showcasing two contending beers isn't something I've seen elsewhere, and I appreciate it. The array of gender-neutral bathrooms rocks my socks. Staff are very friendly and helpful, and happy to provide a few tasters to assist in the decision-making process when ordering a drink. On my last visit, I tried the Belgian Dubbel and it was delightful. Strong and malty and a deep brown in color. I also really enjoyed the Mo Frosty cold IPA on a previous visit. A friend who had the Peppermint Stout said it was lovely. The variety of brews is great, meaning there's something for everyone. Hope the chai brown or IPA are pouring soon. What gets me down (read: why not 5*) are four things: - beer menu doesn't label which beverages contain lactose (though when I visited during the first few weeks after opening, I'd chatted with the manager about that and been told it was a change that would be implemented soon.) Being lactose intolerant, I'd really like to see this happen. - the TVs. Personal preference--I don't prefer places with TVs on as I think they detract from the ambience and are distracting. Major attention suck for neurodivergent and/or folx with wandering attention spans. - vegan protein. The food menu doesn't have any. - Finally, really hoping Validation will roll out their happy hour soon so I can enjoy bubbles for less! read more

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This is a fun place to grab a beer. It's a great atmosphere, and I would say in line with the atmosphere of Funk Town. It's fun and laid back. The beers here are the highlight. The beers are pretty good. There's a decent selection of styles, and all are pretty good. This is a nice place to relax and enjoy a drink. read more

We have always walked by this place on our way back to our car and have wanted to check this place out and finally we did. The vibe in here is fun the layout is nice and open and the pictures don't do its justice. We asked for some recommendations and the woman who helped us was quick to make a few recommendations including their new cocktails that started this weekend! Since my partner and I usually do beer and cocktails this was perfect. Love how friendly and nice the staff is will be coming back again :) read more

Validation Ale - Kettle Sour and Hibiscus Margarita - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We went to Validation Ale on a Saturday afternoon, and I'd say about 20% of the crowd was under the age of four. I'm certainly not complaining--we rolled in with six adults and four kids, and it was pretty ideal for us. There was this one restless one-year-old who kept toddling around, trying to pet every dog and go through every doorway, but, well, that was my son. Validation is a vibrant brewery in the Funk Zone with a ton of space and a nice, open indoor/outdoor set-up. It gets busy, but we had no problem finding a table for our large party, with room to park a couple strollers. We settled in next to the outdoor play area, where my kids entertained themselves in brief spurts with some large wooden dice and jumbo Jenga blocks. There was also a lawn with cornhole and other games for older children and adults. The brewery was decorated for the holidays with a tree and several oversized Christmas ornaments. My sixteen-month-old had many opportunities to deploy his three favorite words: "ball," "lights," and "dog." There was some kind of QR code system for ordering, with checks tied to our table numbers. Not my favorite thing, but easy enough, and we got our drinks fast. I was chasing my kids around and didn't interact with a single Validation employee except maybe to apologize for my wandering baby. The beers were great. My husband and I shared a mix of tasters and pints, and most of the brews we tried were winners. The Double Hazy and the CaraFull Hazy were delicious, as was the Mo Frosty IPA and the Amber Rye. The only one I didn't like was the Holiday Ale, which tasted like a mouthful of cloves, but it was still worthwhile to sample something different. We spent almost two hours at Validation, a successful visit with lots of good beer and zero baby meltdowns. I look forward to coming back for more fun outings with friends and assorted children. read more

My new favorite brewery in the Funk Zone! A fun interactive menu with a guest voting system that keeps things interesting. I can't help but to go for the underdog and then compare to the leading counterpart. My current favorite beer is the Dubbel of which I hope it remains and shall be rooting for it whenever I frequent next. Great atmosphere with large windows and seating that is perfect for a midday brew or an evening wind down. The food here is also very good with plenty of options to choose from. Can't wait to visit next and really enjoy the steal the glass option when closing out your tab. read more

Emma at the bar top was so friendly I didn't know what I wanted and she took her time to explain the different types of beers on tap and even offered her personal favorites. Great customer service and definitely will be coming back when I'm in SB read more

This is our second time coming to Validation Ale and it continues to be a hit! The beers rotate frequently depending on popularity but there always is a good selection. We love the tatchos (tater tot nachos) and the chicken wings are really good too. There's lots of TVs to watch games and outdoor seating as well. One of our favorite places to go in the funk zone :) read more

Validation Ale - Wings - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Bomb food, beer, and atmosphere! Our waitress Emma straight killed it. She made everything super easy and accommodating. We'll be back along with all of our peeps type shit read more

I was here for a private event but provisions were limited so I decided to step into Gen Pop and get some food and drink. It was also during NBA playoffs, so I wanted to check the tv screens. Ordered the burger and it was so damn good. Really impressed. And I'm not a yelp slut fanboy. I don't pimp food unless it's truly worthy. This burger was. Had a Pilsner to start and then went with some coffee flavored Guinness type concoction that was ..: immaculate. Very impressed. Lot of options in the funk zone. This one isn't quite as "intimate" as others may be. But they bring it. I'm not an SB local but I pass through frequently. I'd go back. read more

The food, staff and ambiance are great! Lots of fun live music! We love going to Validation Ale!

Great brewery to hit up with a group and kick back some beers in the Funk Zone. I really like the open floor concept--it's spacious and has a fun, energetic vibe. I had the flight, and all the beers were tasty across the board. It does get pretty packed on the weekends, so it's not the spot if you're after something more laid-back. But if you're in the mood for a lively scene with solid brews, it's a great pick. read more

On my way through - Seattle to San Diego. Great beer!!! - Right up there with the best in San Diego! Had a veggie wrap - also amazing!! read more

The food was great! Enjoyed the beer and cocktail. It was a nice place for lunch. Nice selection of beers

I'm a big foodie and I love trying new places. When I travel, I have to hit up everywhere on my list and I rarely, if ever, repeat. However, Validation Ale deserved a repeat. During our recent trip to Santa Barbara, we came here with our toddler and our baby in search for a family friendly spot with good food and drinks. This place fit the bill. The service was great, everyone working was incredibly friendly and helpful. The drinks were delicious. And food was awesome. There was great music. And cornhole was a fun game for our kiddo. Like I said, we went twice during our trip because in our opinion it was one of the best most family friendly places in the Funk Zone, and the food was great! read more

So much fun. We went for our daughter's birthday they had a 80's band. Had a wonderful time.

Have loved Validation Ale since it opened and have been here a number of times. Though the "validation" concept is a bit "different", the food and beer are very much good enough to keep me coming back :-) I really enjoy the "smashburger" even though they add jalapenos and they don't come with caramelized onions its still a very tasty burger and a good sized one as well. The shoestring fries are great but the potato chips that come with the burgers are just-so-so, so... spring for the extra fries or tots. Also, if you like your burgers more keto-style with a lettuce wrap (like my wife does), you may be a bit disappointed as its really just a burger (which is good) between two pieces of lettuce and near-impossible to eat like that so double check with them and be sure they give you some more greenery to handle the burger :-) Beer wise this place really shines IMO. They do it all from Pilsner style lagers all the way through stouts with some really creative things in between like a cream ale and a golden mocha light stout. The validation thing, where the beers that are most ordered stay on the board and the lesser ordered ones fall off means the hop-heads usually have plenty to choose from, but in fairness, they always seem to have something good and creative when I'm in, so there you go :-) Service is great with the classic "order at the counter/ get the food delivered" set up which works well and moves fairly quickly. However, if you're observant you may notice a small QR code plaque on the edge of your table. This will allow you to view the menu, customize your order and have it delivered to your table :-) Service was quick both ways though even on a crowded Saturday. Always a pleasant experience here :-) read more

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Great beer. Delicious food. Wonderful service. Fun ambiance. Don't miss this spot in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone

Me and my girlfriend went and we got the lobster roll which was good (3.5/5), tacos FANTASTIC 5/5! And Honey Beer pretty good too 4/5 :)

Solid choice for food and drink in SB! Located in Funk Zone, parking can be tricky. Great indoor outdoor venue. Cornhole and other lawn games available. Large tap selection with two styles of many different types that you vote on. Fast casual so order at the bar and get a number. All the food was tasty...burger, wings, wraps, tots, and fries. Friendly staff. Good energy and vibes. Overall worth checking out for sure if you are in the area! read more

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Such a great concept that not only encourages you as a patron to try something different, but helps local brewers try to break into the vast world of craft beer! And of course, Santa Barbara being very dog friendly I give kudos to VA using their left over grains to make little treats for everybody's fur children. read more

Just passing through looking for a place to grab a bite and came across this establishment. The lobster roll was sheer perfection. Perfectly cooked with a buttery juicy finish. And it's all tied together with the perfectly toasted roll. Highly recommend Validation Ale! read more

Validation Ale - Lobster Roll - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Excellent selection. We were offered all the samples we needed to find the best elixir for each of us. From IPA, to Red to a delicious brown ale. The open air tasting area was ideal. Can't wait to get back. read more

Validation Ale - Open air beers. We were early for dinner resos. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Was in SB for a few hours and wanted to grab a bite before heading home...love the location, the vibe not to mention the food and beer were great! read more

Fun Brewery great beers I'm not sure I've seen Validation Brewing here when we last visited but Santa Barbara needs more breweries. The wine tasting has gotten too expensive. Looks like they have some great food choices. Next time we'll eat here, but the beer was excellent! I had the Mo Frosty Cold IPA and my wife the hazy IPA. Both were great ! read more

Validation Ale - Mo Frosty Cold IPA - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Truly a great place to stop in have a bite to eat and some amazing drinks! My wife and I were in the area with my parents and it was 100°. We were looking for a spot that was big enough to not be crowded (and feel that body heat). So happy we walked past Validation Ale, this spot is amazing. They have a solid amount of tables, once more people visit they will definitely start using the outdoor space for seats =), we were able to secure a table next to the brewery tanks! I truly recommend anybody looking for a space that isn't too hectic, YET ;) to try Validation Ale! Drinks are awesome, staff is amazing and food is Phenomenal! Double thumbs up!! read more

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My husband and I love coming here on date night get a beer and some wings or even the poppers. Just like the area.