The cornhole, ambiance, beer, bathrooms, people and servers were pretty cool there!! Great experience. I ordered the stout.

What a beautiful place. Friendly staff and some decent beers on tap. I loved the beer fridge where you could just pick what you wanted as well. Great place to watch a game. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Brewery in the heart of the funk zone! I want to say they have about a medium size selection of beers to choose from in comparison to other breweries in town and a few bites to eat such as fries burgers and sandwiches to munch on. They give you the option to buy the glass of beer when paying for your bill. The fries beware...you can share, the portion is huge! We got the regular fries and the truffle fries, the truffle fires were too salty for my liking but the smoked ketchup that came with it balanced it out. The star plate is the validated smashburger. It's a smash burger delicious meat in a brioche bun topped off with aioli and bbq sauce. Double Patty! Did I mention it has bacon! It's a little more pricier than other smash burgers in town but it's still worth devouring. The place is excellent for big groups and pet friendly! The service is efficient and staff really friendly and helpful with questions on beer! read more

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Nico and Spencer are very nice guys. I cried when I took a sip of my beer. Thanks for everything guys, the hospitality and aura of these two is unmatched. read more

Awesome spot! Spencer and Nico were so helpful and recommended my favorite beer I've ever had. Exceptional service from these two. Wonderful gentlemen. Will definitely recommend this place to everyone. Awesome sauce. read more

Something for everyone here! Delicious beers and wines ready to go. Wide food menu as well. Great place to grab afternoon lunch while you stroll the Funk Zone. Dog and Kid friendly, so bring them all out. Lots of table seats available, even for that party event. Pour a glass and enjoy a lovely day. read more

Food was bomb - all of it looked incredible for a pretty reasonable price. Get the Parmesan fries, cauliflower, and salmon salad. They make all of their sauces in house! All of the staff were SUPER friendly too! They have a lovely open air brewery which is great for large groups and hanging out during the daytime! Beers were wonderful too - they have a voting system for all their beverages on draft. Very unique and overall such a lovely and calming atmosphere. Will definitely be returning again and again!!!!!! read more

Validation Ale - The east beach lager and truffle fries - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

An absolute masterclass in service from Emma. Have never felt so welcome at a local brewery. I will be patronizing this establishment exclusively moving forward - Sanders read more

Great atmosphere! Wonderful beer and good food. Loved the service. Would definitely return. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We stopped in here to sample some of their beers, and were treated to exceptional customer service and best tri-tip sammy I have ever tasted. The counter servers poured our flight with finesse and descriptions that were spot-on. We loved everything we tasted, but for the beer that tasted like mint & chocolate. That's a no-go for me next time. But the beers were cold and frosty, the place feels fun, and the lunch was exceptional. We'll be back! read more

Validation Ale - All kinda good stuff. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Always great atmosphere and awesome staff! It's nice to have such positive vibes in the heart of the funkzone. Thank you Emma and Alyssa for making our group's day! read more

Great beer selection! I had the honey blonde and a taster of the coffee. Hard to find breweries with the selection these guys have. Enjoyed what I had and will be back to try the rest. read more

WOW! This Brewery is on a different level. From the hydraulic folding windows, to the custom 3D printed tap handles. Someone isn't settling for the status quo. Now for the brew. Incredible. As a ale drinker exclusively and finding this place by accident the experience was over the top. The brewer here gets it. I had a few minutes to speak with him and knowing his back ground tells a story. But after tasting his " Cold IPA" ( Mo Frosty) we were sold on VA Brewery. A must visit brewery when in Santa Barbara. read more

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I'm not a beer person, but I give Validation Ale 5-stars! A place who's beer list is based on a guest voting system making the menu interactive!? Count me in! I first became interested after reading an article about how the owners, Brian and Briana Deignan, used to be in tech, and decided to bring a little bit of tech tact to a brewery by making a voting system and allowing patrons to decide which beers stay or go. It gives the atmosphere a fun competitive flare, making a visit sort of like a game where you can bet on which beers are best! I As for food; Chef Matt Marsit cooks up simple but good bar food in categories; Fingers, Hands, Bowls, and Specials. The vibe is pretty casual but positive, and to me, a way better value then some of the overpriced tourist traps you find within a stones throw. I ended up having the chop salad with cabbage, dried cranberries and bacon and added chicken, very tasty and about $14. The location is awesome, right next to the beach and in the heart of the Funk zone. There are open windows with long tables so you can look out and people watch while sipping on a beer. Staff is super friendly. This is a great place for a company happy hour, or casual meet up with a friends. read more

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Emma and Lilly were awesome. They made all the difference. Also loved the smash burger

Great service and good food. I got half mango habanero and half buffalo wings with truffle fries. I love the concept of seeing the different beers compete against each other. Open atmosphere so the sunlight is immaculate. Overall great vibes if you're a brewery person! read more

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Ok, ok, since I've been here more than ten times since they opened, since they now have the "promised" Wee Heavy on the list of available beer it's time to update my rating to Five stars!!! Every time I'm here the feedback of the guests sitting around me is quite amazing. Everyone seems to love the place. Today I sat with a local architect and she couldn't have been more impressed by the space itself! For me it continues to be the staff itself that makes it so enjoyable. read more

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Never have I ever been more excited to have tried a new place like Validation Ale! I, along with my friends, had to check out this amazing place and we are so thrilled we did! Validation Ale you have won our hearts and I cannot wait until I come back here again....and it will be soon! The space was gorgeous and lots of tables to sit at and enjoy the company. It felt very open and very modern which we loved! I tried out a beer flight and it was very refreshing and had wonderful flavor profiles! Their IPAs and Stout were a big win for me. The food.......the food was by far my favorite eats in the Funk Zone! Their Tri-Tip Sandwich Philly Style....you need to try this sandwich! We also sampled the Chicken Sandwich, Smash Burger and Totchos! The food here is amazing and I highly recommend eating here. The food was recommended by the owner Briana and we are so thankful for her and Brian being such amazing hosts! Thank you so much to the amazing owners with their recommendations and creating such an amazing space! Loved every minute of it and see you next time Validation Ale! read more

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I have come here a couple of times since the opening, and it is a standout in the funk zone. Not only is location excellent - the staff is also always so friendly and helpful (including the personable owners who treat you like family), the food is impressive, and they have a great selection of craft beers and wine. From the tastings I have enjoyed here, I really liked the hazy and imperial IPA, they are really interesting and nice to sip on. The owner, Briana, mentioned that there were a few beers that wine drinkers like, and I am more of a wine person, so I was curious to try them. One that she recommended was almost like a cream soda beer, I am pretty sure it was the spiced brown beer, but I forgot to write it down. I am sure they would know what you meant if you asked for a creamy beer, it was so distinctive. I really appreciated Briana taking time to recommend options for those who don't regularly drink beer - but truly if you don't drink beer at all they also have a fridge with kombucha and seltzer as well as wines. Foodwise, I have been able to try a few things here, and haven't been disappointed yet! Appetizer standouts have been the Karaage Nuggies (I personally enjoyed the sweet maple dipping sauce that paired perfectly with the savory chicken), Jalapeno "Poppers" (these are surprisingly spicy, but taste fresh and aren't fried which is nice), and the Tomato Crostini which accentuated by the flavorful goat cheese they pile on below the fresh tomato. For entrees, I have only tried their smash burger and WOW it can definitely compete with the local smash burger favs. Their beef is really good quality and the American cheese on the smash burger really added a good nostalgic flavor (think backyard BBQ growing up, but top-quality meat, bun, and toppings). The ambiance here is really open because of the large ceilings and open windows that overlook the funk zone. Another note is that they have contactless ordering, all you do is scan a QR code and a few minutes later your food or beers arrive right to your location, HOW COOL! Their staff is super friendly as well, which always makes a difference when you are trying to have an enjoyable time out. Alvin was especially helpful in picking out beers for my flight. I am so excited by this new spot and look forward to coming back soon! read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Validation Ale is great. I came here on a trip to SB. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is friendly and the beer selection is not bad at all. They have a rye Belgian ale that I really liked it reminded me of some of the dunkles I tried in Germany. They have a fridge next to the bar where you can walk in and select different 4 packs of beer and other drinks. Over all I liked it. Great place to hang out if you have a little ones too. read more

Validation Ale - German Lager (ze helles) - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Really good brews with a variety to match most tastes. I recommend the fried chicken sandwich! Not only a great spot for beers and food, but it's evolving into one of the best performance spaces in The Funk Zone! read more

Validation Ale - A fine glass of German Amber Ale (Alt Bier). - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great new brewery in funk zone, fun design, very modern and open air atmosphere. Love the look and feel of the space. Easy and welcoming place to spend a little time enjoying drinks and food with family or friends. Of course on our visit we had to sample all the Validation brews. Different and interesting flavors. Would like to have a more full bodied, hoppy IPA. Both the hazy and imperial IPA were too light and lacked flavor. The Oatmeal Stout good strong flavor but the Netflix chai a little to sweet finish for me. If you like that taste a wonderful choice. They do carry about five other draft choices from around the local area so there are plenty of choices. Husband had the Channel Island west coast IPA. Always a great full bodied choice. This brewery is definitely worth a visit. Note to owner: Please make sure prices posted on menu are same as what your register is charging. We were charged more for our flight then what was posted. Group and family friendly, with food and drink options, so check it out soon. read more

Validation Ale - Trying all that Validated has to offer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had a delicious fresh pretzel for October fest! The chicken sando spicy or grilled is delicious!

Validation Ale has a beautiful space. I got the lemon sour beer and my boyfriend got an IPA. They were both decent but nothing to really write home about. Would come back for the vibes alone. read more

Validation Ale - Beer and Plant Wall - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Validation ale has become a go to brewery for us to meet friends in the funk zone. They have an awesome mix of indoor and outdoor seating and much of the indoor seating is near the large open doors so it almost feels like being outside which is nice. They recently added some fake grass and corn hole which is fun for kids and adults alike! They have a decent amount of gluten free options for a brewery! They generally have a few hard kombucha and cider options. The tots and fries are also GF, and DELICIOUS! It's a very family friendly brewery, which those of us with kids definitely appreciate!! We recently discovered while there with our 1 year old that the bathrooms have a changing table which is so nice for families! read more

Absolutely love this place and I cannot wait to go back! I would dare say this is my new favorite place in the funk zone definitely has my favorite food. Truly a beautiful space. Very bright and open plenty of great seating options for groups large and small. The concept is very interesting and you as the customer decide the beer menu. The Validated beer is the current recipe and the Vying a new recipe that if enough people love and purchase becomes the next Validated beer option. Very cool! You can order directly from your table. The food and drinks came out quickly. The staff was so nice. I cannot say enough about the genuine great vibes from this staff. The owners Brianna & Brian definitely have a great team and wonderful concept. Everyone was very welcoming. The food here definitely won me over. Brianna recommended the Tri Tip Sandwich Philly Style and after seeing the amazing options my friends and I decided to split the smash burger and the original chicken sandwich. Brianna did not steer us wrong the Tri Tip Philly is phenomenal and perfectly made I don't even like onions typically and let me say there was no picking around we loved everything. The food here speaks for itself but deserves all the praise! I will for sure be visiting again. read more

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This is my new favorite place in SB. Great drinks, great food, great vibe, great concept. Bartenders were on top of it. Could stay there all day. 10/10 read more

I cannot rave enough about this place!!! I was fortunate enough to have met the owners, Brian and Briana, during my first visit, and both are truly wonderful and welcoming people (I want to be friends with them). Their staff was so attentive and quick, I had a beer flight in front of me before I even knew it. Brian came over to my group of friends and explained the whole concept of their place, which was really innovative and interactive. Basically, they have beers on tap that battle each other for a spot on their rotating menu. You can see in live time the sales for the day between the beer matchups. My favorite of the day was their oatmeal stout, and I can't wait to come back and try more. And while their beers were solid, THEIR FOOD IS PHENOMENAL. I don't think there was an item that I would say was "so-so." My friends and I sampled a little bit of everything. We sampled the Karaage nuggets and the Totchos to start (sadly, I don't have a photo of the nuggets). The nuggets were crispy and well-flavored and didn't even need the sauce in my opinion. The tots had a great crunch and the beer queso added the perfect amount of saltiness. After this positive experience, my friends and I decided to split the Validated Burger (smashed), the Fried Chicken Sando (classic), and the Tri-tip Sando (Philly style) on Briana's recommendation, and she did not disappoint. The Philly Tri-tip was the standout for my friends, but I personally am always biased towards a flavorful smash burger (but don't count that chicken sandwich out!). I also just want to point out the great lighting and layout of the space (very reminiscent of San Diego breweries I have frequented in the past), the ease of their online ordering system (I do think their staff is still figuring out which orders go where, but that's a kink that can easily be worked out), and the inclusive restroom layout (single stall user with a hand-washing station to the side). I wish this business all the success and hope it remains a staple in the Funk Zone for many years to come. read more

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Awesome new brewery in the Funk Zone! Good beer and a pretty extensive food, which I plan on trying the next time I'm back. Looks to be an awesome spot for Sunday football with plenty of tv's for game day. Plenty of space to sit and stand with open air windows. Looks to be a cool concept and definitely worth stopping in for a beer and more! read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Super cool concept brewery in a great location. The owners really put a lot of thought into the space. A collapsing glass window opens out towards Anacapa St and provides for great people watching. Looks like some things are still in the works (patio? Parking lot?) but I believe there were some delays in permitting which in this town isn't surprising. They offer beer and wine along with a selection of food. They make their beer onsite and have a list of "validated" and "vying" beers. If a vying beer outsells a validated beer, they'll switch it out. read more

Validation Ale - West Coast IPA & Margerum Rosé - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I usually go to Figueroa Mountain on Friday & Saturday nights between 7-10 pm, due to their great live music, & even more importantly, the exceptionally kind & courteous staff & owner...not only toward me, but my beloved canine companion. 2 weeks ago, during the band's break between sets, I went out to walk around the block with my dog, when she decided to lead me into Validation Ale, which is only a block away. I'd been there before, briefly, where the staff had been very nice toward both of us...but they had live music this time, so we stayed longer than I'd intended. The band was good, but too loud, for which we were already prepared with our earplugs from when we were at Fig Mtn, where it's also too loud. Being in the health care industry, I can't fathom why they turn it up so loud, & unlike us, most patrons don't protect their ears at all, exposing themselves to life-long hearing loss & tinnitus. This was when my dog went toward one of the servers, who was so smitten, she went to get her camera, by which time my dog had already been lured by someone else, so I let her know I'll make sure she gets a photo later. Soon, 2 very nice Canadian tourists sat at my table, & started asking me questions about my dog's exceptional behavior, & living in SB. As I was telling them how amazing & especially dog-friendly SB is, a man approached me, yelling over the loud music, rudely interrupting my conversation with the tourists, telling me that the music was too loud for my dog, & that she's clearly not happy. Stunned by his assumptions (& arrogance), I calmly & curiously asked him how did he conclude that? He said because her tail is tucked. This dumbfounded me even more, so I told him a) she was laying down & almost asleep, b) that's her tail's normal position, & c) I know my dog's behavior better than him (or anyone), & she's totally fine. As he walked away in a huff, this surprised the tourists immensely, not only because of what he'd done, but because of what I'd been telling them when he came over. I told them what they'd just witnessed was highly unusual, & not to judge the establishment nor SB by it...when the same server who wanted the photo earlier, came over & tersely interrupted us as well, telling me, point blank, that we had to leave the building, because I'm hurting my dog with their loud music. I didn't (& still don't) know what the connection was between these 2 people, but as I stared at her with my mouth agape, she added that I could sit outside if I want (where it was so utterly cold, not one person was there). But by this time, I'd had enough of this joint, & I told her calmly but firmly that I had NO intention of staying there another minute...nor would I EVER come in there again. Period. As I left, I told the tourists I was going back to Fig Mtn (which I appreciated even more than before), where they came shortly after, & we danced & had infinitely more fun than anyone ever could at Validation Ale. read more

These guys know beers. Love the whole vibe and what they are doing. 10/10. Nothing like any other brewery

Came here for a break in the middle of the day to watch some college football. While it was very busy and not many tables available, we sat at the main bar. The ordering was funny and you order off your phone and you get your food/drinks pretty quickly. The menu was quirky but was very helpful in helping select what beer to choose based off taste. I really enjoyed the wings too. You can also order beer any size you want which is nice because I didn't want to drink too much after a long weekend of drinking. read more

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Came here to compare thier smash burgers to 3rd window. We came around 4 so it wasn't too crowded. They do allow pets so bring your fur baby to drink some good ale. I still think 3rd window is better but if they were overly crowded I would come to validation ale. Validation ale's smash burger was tasty but too cheesy for me (usually I order burgers, not cheeseburgers- as a disclosure) I would definitely order the smash burger again, but would request just one cheese slice. The burger itself was nice and juicy from the wagyu meat, and even tho it says it has jalapeños, it wasnt spicy. They provide chips with the burger but no salsa or dipping sauce. I hope they change that or consider changing chips to tater tots in the future. The pickle on the side had a sweet but slight tang to it. The chicken wings were a good size and soft texture (not crispy) and the sauce is just your standard Buffalo sauce. We tried a couple different beers and they were very drinkable not bitter( red ales, pilsner and nitro). They do give you a small taster if you're unsure if you'd like beer or not. The service here was really good and the staff come by to check up on us regularly. When you pay for your meal, you have the option to take the glass home for $5. read more

Validation Ale - Tat-chos, wings - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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A fun newer spot to Santa Barbara, this brewery offers awesome beer, great food, friendly service, and a nice atmosphere. This spot continues to bring me back for all of these reasons. I have tried multiple items on the menu and they are all fantastic. The buffalo cauliflower is especially great. Their variety in beer is refreshing without being overwhelming. A nice touch is their walk in cooler that has a number of nonalcoholic options and other fun drink options. This spot has something for everyone with an outdoor area with bags, and a tv wall with many options to watch sports. Whether you are a visitor or local, this spot is a must see. read more

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Had a Mo Frosty cold IPA. Fresh, friendly, fun game spot outdoor or inside. Great place for Saturday night pop in and out

Very friendly staff they'll come in and check on you to see if you need anything else . They are able to take your order directly or at the counter. It's a super dog friendly place with plenty of room. read more

Validation Ale - Great place for the pups. Lots of open space and artificial grass rest area. The staff is very friendly. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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WOW!!? We came for the beer, but we got was entertainment from a local band (I believe they were from UCSB) called Mind Funk! Great music, great food (even though we only had the appetizers (tater tots and cauliflower with blue cheese) we had some very tasty beers. We might have been the oldest people there, we actually fit in. Lol read more

Solid beer variety. Great taste. Burger was great. Love the indoor/outdoor space. Would totally come back. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is one of my new favorite bars in town! I'm always on the hunt for breweries with corn hole and this one has two sets! I was surprised that there weren't too many people playing but we were able to get a little tournament going. They also had a great selection of beers, even kombucha beer. The bathrooms were all gender neutral and kept clean with fancy Dyson hand washing stations. I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California