Craft beer fever continues to spread across the country and thankfully the San Fernando Valley hasn’t been immune. The Valley is now home to several noteworthy breweries covering a wide variety of beer styles. Whether you’re a fan of classic British cask ales or trendy (and more importantly, tasty) barrel-aged sours, the Valley beer scene is sure to please casual quaffers and connoisseurs alike.



Ladyface Ale Companie

29281 Agoura Rd.

Agoura Hills, CA 91301

(323) 477-4566

www.ladyfaceale.com 29281 Agoura Rd.Agoura Hills, CA 91301(323) 477-4566 Since 2009, this Agoura Hills favorite has established a devoted fanbase thirsty for the brewery’s award winnings beers like coffee-forward Picture City Porter and ultra-hoppy Chesboro IPA. While you can’t go wrong with any of Ladyface’s core-offerings, their seasonal “eclectic” ales are always a treat, especially if they’re aged in wine barrels. If you’re planning a trip to the alehouse, try to arrive around sunset, grab a pint and enjoy the spectacular view of Ladyface’s namesake mountain.



Cellador Ales

16745 Schoenborn St.

North Hills, CA 91343

www.celladorales.com 16745 Schoenborn St.North Hills, CA 91343 Dedicating your brewery to producing 100 percent oak-barrel fermented beers is a lofty ambition, but for Cellador co-founders Kevin and Sara Osborne, that risk has certainly paid off. Over the past three years Cellador has received plenty of well-deserved accolades for their complex yet oh so addictive wild ales often highlighted by the use of locally sourced ingredients.



While the brewery’s North Hills facility is currently closed to the public, their reasonably priced bottles are available at select local beer purveyors. But be warned, Cellador’s offerings tend to fly off the shelves, so if you see a bottle, grab it!



MacLeod Ale Brewing Co.

14741 Calvert St.

Van Nuys, CA 91411

(818) 631-1963

www.macleodale.com 14741 Calvert St.Van Nuys, CA 91411(818) 631-1963 You don’t need to book a flight over the Atlantic to experience quality traditional British ales. MacLeod offers a refreshing change of pace, eschewing hazy and adjunct-heavy trends and instead focusing on classic stouts, pale ales, and milds that are executed flawlessly. While the brewery does offer limited bottle distribution, it’s definitely worth traveling to the source for some cask-conditioned pints and a relaxed pub experience, Van Nuys-style.



Verdugo West Brewing Co.

156 W. Verdugo Ave.

Burbank, CA 91502

(818) 841-5040

www.verdugowestbrewing.com 156 W. Verdugo Ave.Burbank, CA 91502(818) 841-5040 It took long enough but Burbank finally has a brewery to call its own. Verdugo West established itself as a local destination out of the gate, serving up satisfying suds that cover a variety of styles. Standouts included the roasty What Plane? oatmeal stout and Lankershim Ranch, a tart and refreshing fruit-forward peach sour that is the ideal summer sipper. Insider’s tip: Stop by on Sundays, when Verdugo West offers discount growler fills.



San Fernando Brewing Co.

425 Park Ave.

San Fernando, CA 91340

(818) 745-6175

sanfernandobrewingcompany.com 425 Park Ave.San Fernando, CA 91340(818) 745-6175 A list of best breweries in the San Fernando Valley wouldn’t be complete without including the San Fernando Brewing Co. Their always popular brewpub offers a laid back atmosphere and, of course, some tasty brews. Newcomers are encouraged to order a flight and experience the diversity of their offerings which range from your conventional stout, red ale and IPA to bolder options like the IPA Cubed, which weighs in at an impressive 10.1 percent ABV, and the inventive Beer Margarita which is fermented on tequila-soaked oak chips and brewed with fresh lime and mint.



If you can’t make it to San Fernando, fear not. Bottles and draft offerings of San Fernando Brewing Co. are available at liquor stores and bars throughout Southern California and the Central Coast.

By David Klein