Introduction

Long Beach, California, is more than just a coastal city with sun-kissed beaches and historic piers — it’s a thriving hub for craft beer culture. Over the past decade, the local beer scene has evolved from a handful of experimental microbreweries to a dynamic network of bars that prioritize quality, innovation, and community. But with so many options, how do you know which ones are truly worth your time? Not every bar that calls itself a “craft beer destination” delivers on that promise. Some rely on gimmicks, limited selections, or inconsistent taps. Others? They’ve built reputations through dedication — sourcing rare pours, training knowledgeable staff, and fostering relationships with local brewers.

This guide is not a list of the most popular bars on Instagram. It’s a curated selection of the top 10 craft beer bars in Long Beach you can trust — venues that have proven themselves over time through consistent quality, authentic offerings, and deep roots in the regional beer community. Whether you’re a seasoned hophead, a newcomer to craft beer, or a visitor exploring the city, these ten establishments offer something real: transparency, variety, and an unwavering commitment to the craft.

In this article, we’ll explore why trust matters in the craft beer world, break down each of the top 10 bars with detailed insights into their offerings, provide a side-by-side comparison table, answer the most common questions, and conclude with why these venues stand apart from the rest. No fluff. No paid promotions. Just trusted recommendations from years of local observation, firsthand visits, and feedback from Long Beach’s beer-savvy residents.

Why Trust Matters

In the world of craft beer, trust isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s the foundation of the entire experience. Unlike mass-produced lagers brewed in billion-gallon facilities, craft beer is defined by small-batch production, seasonal ingredients, and creative experimentation. This means quality can vary wildly from one visit to the next — especially at bars that don’t prioritize proper storage, tap line cleanliness, or staff education.

Trust is earned when a bar consistently delivers on three core pillars: freshness, variety, and authenticity. Freshness means beer is served at its peak — not sitting on a shelf for months or exposed to heat and light. Variety means the bar rotates taps regularly, supports local and regional breweries, and doesn’t just stock the same five mainstream craft brands. Authenticity means the bar understands the story behind the beer — the brewer, the style, the ingredients — and can communicate that to guests.

Many bars in Long Beach claim to be “craft beer destinations,” but only a few have the systems in place to uphold these standards. Some rely on trendy decor or celebrity endorsements. Others use buzzwords like “artisanal” or “small-batch” without backing them up with real sourcing practices. The bars on this list have been vetted over time — through repeated visits, customer feedback, and industry recognition. They don’t just serve beer; they honor it.

Trust also extends to the staff. A knowledgeable pourer can elevate your experience by recommending a sour you didn’t know you’d love or explaining the difference between a West Coast IPA and a New England IPA. These bars invest in training, not just signage. They encourage curiosity, not just consumption.

When you walk into one of these trusted venues, you’re not just buying a pint — you’re investing in a culture. And in a city as diverse and dynamic as Long Beach, that culture is worth protecting. This guide exists to help you find those rare spots where passion meets precision — and where every sip tells a story worth listening to.

Top 10 Craft Beer Bars in Long Beach

1. The Ale House

Open since 2008, The Ale House is Long Beach’s longest-running dedicated craft beer bar. Located in the historic Belmont Shore neighborhood, it occupies a converted 1920s bungalow with exposed brick walls and a cozy, unpretentious vibe. What sets it apart is its unwavering commitment to rotating taps — typically 24 to 30 beers on draft, with over 80% coming from California-based breweries. The selection leans heavily toward IPAs, stouts, and sours, but you’ll also find rare barrel-aged releases and limited-run collaborations.

What you won’t find here is mass-market beer. The Ale House doesn’t carry Budweiser, Coors, or even popular national craft brands like Sierra Nevada unless they’re part of a special event. Instead, you’ll discover small-batch gems from breweries like Strand Brewing, Societe, and Bootlegger’s Brewery. Their tap list is updated daily, posted on a chalkboard near the entrance, and includes tasting notes and ABV for every beer.

Staff are trained in beer styles and often host monthly meet-the-brewer nights. The bar also offers growler fills and a small retail section featuring local bottle shops. No food menu — but they encourage patrons to bring in takeout from nearby restaurants. It’s a purist’s paradise: no TVs, no loud music, just good beer and quiet conversation.

2. Long Beach Beer Lab

Founded in 2015 by a team of homebrewers turned professionals, Long Beach Beer Lab is both a brewery and a taproom — but the taproom operates with the discipline of a dedicated beer bar. Located in the East Village Arts District, the space is industrial-chic with high ceilings, concrete floors, and an open brewing system visible from the bar. What makes it a standout is its experimental ethos: they release over 100 unique beers annually, many of which are one-off batches never repeated.

On any given day, you might find a passionfruit kettle sour, a coffee-infused imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, or a lager brewed with native California hops. The bar offers 16 taps, all dedicated to their own creations, with a few guest taps reserved for neighboring breweries like Beachwood Blendery and Smog City. Their tasting flights are meticulously curated — not just by style, but by flavor progression, guiding you from light and crisp to bold and complex.

They also run a “Beer Lab” membership program that grants early access to limited releases and invites to private tasting events. The staff are brewers themselves, so they can explain fermentation techniques, yeast strains, and hop profiles with authority. This isn’t a place to grab a quick drink — it’s a destination for those who want to understand beer at a deeper level.

3. The Hoppy Monk

Located in the heart of Downtown Long Beach, The Hoppy Monk is a cozy, dimly lit bar that feels like stepping into a beer lover’s private collection. With only 18 taps and a focus on quality over quantity, every pour is intentional. The bar specializes in Belgian ales, German lagers, and English cask ales — styles often overlooked by other craft bars in the area.

What makes The Hoppy Monk exceptional is its cask ale program. They’re one of the few bars in Southern California that regularly serve unfiltered, naturally carbonated cask ales — a traditional British method that produces a smoother, earthier flavor. Their cask selections change weekly and are often sourced from UK microbreweries like Magic Rock and Kernel Brewery.

Their bottle selection is equally impressive, with over 200 labels available for purchase to-go, including rare imports from Belgium, Germany, and Japan. The bar doesn’t have a kitchen, but they partner with local food trucks that rotate weekly, offering everything from gourmet grilled cheese to artisanal tacos. The staff are deeply passionate about beer history and often host mini-lectures on beer styles during slow weekday afternoons.

4. Beachwood BBQ & Brewing

Beachwood BBQ & Brewing is a Long Beach institution — a rare blend of top-tier barbecue and exceptional beer. With two locations in the city (one in Belmont Shore, one in Downtown), the original Belmont Shore spot opened in 2012 and quickly became a benchmark for what a craft beer bar should be. Their in-house brewery produces over 20 core and seasonal beers, all brewed on-site using a 15-barrel system.

What sets them apart is their balance — they excel in both hop-forward IPAs and rich, malty porters. Their “Bacon Fat Washed Bourbon Barrel Stout” is legendary, and their “Hazy IPA” consistently ranks among the best in Southern California. They offer 12 taps dedicated to their own brews, plus 4 guest taps featuring other regional innovators like Monkish and Three Weavers.

The food is equally important. Smoked brisket, pork belly sandwiches, and house-made sausages are crafted to complement their beer lineup. The bar is lively but never chaotic — the staff are trained to pair food and beer with precision. They also offer brewery tours on weekends, where you can see the brewhouse and taste beers straight from the fermenter. This is a full sensory experience — not just a place to drink, but to savor.

5. The Local

Located in the quiet, residential area of North Long Beach, The Local is a neighborhood gem that punches far above its weight. Opened in 2017, it’s a small, unassuming bar with only 12 taps — but each one is a carefully chosen highlight of the California craft scene. The owner, a former homebrewer, sources almost exclusively from breweries that produce under 10,000 barrels annually.

Here, you’ll find obscure but outstanding beers from Santa Cruz, San Diego, and the Central Coast — places most bars overlook. Think: a raspberry lambic from a tiny brewery in Ojai, a hoppy saison from a farm in Paso Robles, or a dry-hopped lager from a garage operation in Ventura. The bar doesn’t advertise its selection heavily, so many visitors stumble upon it by accident — and return because of the authenticity.

There’s no food menu, no TVs, and no loud music. Just a counter, stools, and a wall of beer glasses. The staff are friendly but not pushy — they let you explore at your own pace. They also host a monthly “Hidden Gems” night, where they pour three rare beers that aren’t available anywhere else in the city. If you’re looking for a quiet, unspoiled beer experience away from the tourist crowds, The Local is your sanctuary.

6. Brew & Brew

Brew & Brew is a unique hybrid: a craft beer bar that doubles as a live music venue and art gallery. Located in the Arts District, the space features rotating local artwork on the walls, live acoustic sets on Friday nights, and a carefully curated beer list focused on sustainability and innovation. They have 18 taps, with a strong emphasis on low-ABV session beers, natural wines, and non-alcoholic craft brews — a rarity in the region.

What makes Brew & Brew special is their commitment to inclusivity and environmental responsibility. They partner with breweries that use solar-powered facilities, compostable packaging, and water-recycling systems. Their tap list includes several zero-waste beers from startups like Re:Collection and Good Karma Brewing.

They also offer “Beer & Art” pairing nights, where a local artist discusses their work while you sample a beer designed to match the mood of the piece — a citrusy wheat beer with a bright abstract painting, for example. The staff are trained in both beer and art history, making the experience educational as well as sensory. It’s not just a bar — it’s a cultural hub.

7. The Hop Shop

The Hop Shop is Long Beach’s only craft beer bar that operates as a bottle shop first and a taproom second. Located in the Los Altos neighborhood, it’s a narrow, well-organized space with floor-to-ceiling refrigerated shelves stocked with over 500 different bottles and cans. But the real draw is the 10-tap system in the back, which features exclusive releases only available on-site.

They specialize in rare, hard-to-find beers — think: limited-edition releases from Russian River, The Bruery, and Cellarmaker. Many of these are sold out within hours of release, and The Hop Shop is one of the few places in the city that gets direct allocations. They also host “Bottle Release Parties” monthly, where brewers come in person to pour new creations.

What sets them apart is their transparency: every beer on tap is labeled with its batch number, release date, and ABV. Staff keep detailed logs of what’s been poured and when, ensuring freshness. They also offer a “Beer Passport” program — collect stamps from 10 different rare beers, and get a free growler fill. It’s a haven for collectors and serious enthusiasts who appreciate the rarity and provenance of every sip.

8. The Pour House

Founded in 2014, The Pour House is a modern, minimalist bar with clean lines, natural wood finishes, and a focus on precision. Located near the Long Beach Convention Center, it attracts professionals and beer tourists alike. The bar features 20 taps, with a rotating selection that changes every 72 hours. Their motto: “No beer older than 14 days.”

They maintain a strict temperature and sanitation protocol — all lines are cleaned daily, and kegs are stored in a climate-controlled room. This attention to detail ensures that even delicate styles like pilsners and wheat beers taste as intended. Their selection leans toward German lagers, English bitters, and Japanese rice lagers — styles often neglected by other craft bars.

The Pour House doesn’t have a kitchen, but they offer a curated snack menu of artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, and house-made pretzels designed to enhance beer flavors. Staff are certified Cicerones and often lead “Taste & Learn” sessions on weekends. The atmosphere is calm, quiet, and refined — perfect for those who want to appreciate beer as an art form.

9. Beachwood Blendery

Beachwood Blendery is Long Beach’s only dedicated sour and wild ale bar. Located in the Bluff Park neighborhood, it’s a converted warehouse with high ceilings, exposed ductwork, and a barrel-aging room visible through glass walls. They specialize in spontaneously fermented beers using native yeast and bacteria — a technique more commonly found in Belgium than Southern California.

Here, you’ll find tart, funky, and complex beers aged in oak barrels for up to three years. Their “Lemon Verbena Gose” and “Peach & Blackberry Flanders Red” are cult favorites. They offer 12 taps, all dedicated to their own creations, with a few guest taps from other sour specialists like The Rare Barrel and Jester King.

Beachwood Blendery doesn’t serve food, but they offer complimentary water and small tasting plates of local cheeses and dried fruits to cleanse the palate between sips. The bar is intimate — only 30 seats — and reservations are recommended. This is not a casual drinking spot; it’s a pilgrimage site for fans of sour and wild ales. If you’ve never tried a barrel-aged lambic or a Brettanomyces-fermented IPA, this is where to begin.

10. The Taphouse

Located in the bustling Pine Avenue corridor, The Taphouse is Long Beach’s most accessible and consistently excellent craft beer bar. With 30 taps, a welcoming atmosphere, and a staff that remembers regulars by name, it’s the perfect blend of neighborhood hangout and beer connoisseur’s haven. Their selection is broad — IPAs, stouts, lagers, pilsners, sours, and even meads — but every beer is chosen for quality, not trend.

They source from over 70 different breweries across California, with a strong emphasis on Long Beach and neighboring cities. Their “Local Hero” tap is always reserved for a brew from a small Long Beach-based brewery — often one that doesn’t have its own taproom. The bar also runs a “Tap of the Month” program, where they feature one brewery in depth, with special events and discounts.

They have a small kitchen offering elevated pub fare — truffle fries, smoked brisket sliders, and vegan jackfruit tacos — all designed to pair with beer. The staff are trained in beer pairing and often suggest combinations based on your food order. The Taphouse is the most balanced entry on this list: not too niche, not too commercial — just reliably excellent.

Comparison Table

FAQs

What makes a craft beer bar trustworthy in Long Beach?

A trustworthy craft beer bar consistently serves fresh, well-maintained beer from reputable breweries. They rotate taps regularly, train staff on beer styles, clean tap lines daily, and prioritize local or regional producers. Trust is also built through transparency — clear labeling, knowledgeable staff, and a commitment to quality over quantity.

Do any of these bars offer non-alcoholic craft options?

Yes. Brew & Brew and The Taphouse both offer high-quality non-alcoholic craft beers and low-ABV options. These are brewed using the same techniques as traditional craft beer but with reduced alcohol content, offering complex flavors without intoxication.

Are reservations required at any of these bars?

Reservations are recommended only at Beachwood Blendery due to its small size and popularity. All other bars operate on a first-come, first-served basis, though some may have limited seating during weekend peak hours.

Can I buy beer to-go from these bars?

Yes. The Ale House, The Hop Shop, and The Taphouse all offer growler fills, crowlers, and bottled beer for purchase. The Hop Shop specializes in retail bottle sales, while others focus on on-premise consumption with limited take-home options.

Which bar has the most diverse beer styles?

The Taphouse offers the broadest range of styles, from lagers and pilsners to sours, stouts, and meads. Long Beach Beer Lab and Beachwood Blendery are more specialized, focusing on experimental and sour ales, respectively.

Are these bars family-friendly?

Most are welcoming to all ages during daytime hours. Beachwood BBQ & Brewing and The Taphouse have outdoor seating and kid-friendly menus. The Hoppy Monk and The Local are more adult-oriented, with quieter atmospheres better suited for mature patrons.

How often do the tap lists change?

It varies. The Ale House and The Pour House update daily. Long Beach Beer Lab changes every 3–5 days. Beachwood Blendery rotates weekly, while The Hop Shop only changes when rare releases arrive — sometimes monthly.

Do these bars host beer events?

Yes. Nearly all host events: tap takeovers, brewery meet-ups, pairing nights, and educational tastings. Check their websites or social media for monthly calendars. Long Beach Beer Lab and The Hop Shop are especially active in this area.

Is there a dress code?

No. All bars on this list have a casual, relaxed dress code. Jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers are the norm. No one will judge you for showing up in flip-flops.

Why don’t these bars carry big national brands?

These bars prioritize craft beer culture — which means supporting small, independent brewers who innovate and experiment. National brands are often mass-produced and lack the complexity, flavor diversity, and community connection that define the craft movement.

Conclusion

Long Beach’s craft beer scene is not defined by its size or volume — it’s defined by its soul. The ten bars listed here have earned their place not through marketing, gimmicks, or location alone, but through years of dedication to the craft. They are places where beer is treated with reverence: stored properly, poured with care, and paired with knowledge. They are spaces where strangers become regulars, where brewers are celebrated, and where every sip carries the story of a small team working with passion.

Trust in a craft beer bar is earned slowly — through consistency, transparency, and humility. These ten venues have proven themselves not by how many taps they have, but by how well they use them. Whether you’re drawn to the funk of a wild ale, the crispness of a German lager, or the bold hop character of a New England IPA, you’ll find it here — and you’ll find it done right.

Visit one. Then another. And another. Let your palate guide you. But don’t just drink — listen. Ask questions. Learn. These bars aren’t just serving beer; they’re preserving a culture. And in a world where authenticity is increasingly rare, that’s worth raising a glass to.