Golden Road Brewery is proof that if you brew it, they will come – even if your establishment sits wedged between multiple industrial buildings on large dirt lots and less than 100 feet from a railroad track. Made conspicuous only by the large, brightly colored walls with the words “The pub is this way” stenciled across them, we were surely not the first to be confused by this location.

Stepping inside the gate, however, is a Narnia-like transition into lush green hedges, an open patio laced with Christmas lights, tons of lively people and a diverse set of enjoyable and upbeat sounds.

Location: 5410 W San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Parking: The brewery’s parking is very Los Angeles-esque, in that it is nearly non-existent. The street parking is limited – even on weekdays – but there is valet parking for $10. We chose to park down the street, knowing that $10 fee was better spent on the food that we would need to walk off later.

Seating: Golden Road is first come, first served, which means a potential wait. However, with some dedicated scouting, we spotted a table within fifteen minutes of arrival.

What’s special about Golden Road?

Firstly, it was named LA Weekly’s Best Vegan-Friendly Brewery 2012. With a menu featuring vegan starters, entrees and desserts, I was determined to push myself to the limit in the name of research. The menu contained at least thirteen vegan food options, as well as handy little indicators (tiny hops) to make the search fast and easy!

I went with the fried cauliflower tossed in michelada spice ($7), the beer battered avocado tacos with chipotle cream ($9) and the vegan chili cheese fries ($10). The portions were all good for share plates and the prices were fair considering this is high-quality pub food in LA.

Secondly, all of the beer is vegan-friendly. That’s right! No researching anxiously online as you stand at the bar-top to place your order, you just go ahead and point at any of those taps and pour yourself some of that liquid gold. Though some of the staple beers by GRB are offered at my local Bevmo, the brewery has twenty on tap on any given day, so I decided to go with a flight of four beers that are not readily available to me:

Go To Helles (4.9% ABV) a smooth, golden lager, El Nitro (4.2% ABV) an Irish style stout, Berry Guava Wheat (4.8% ABV) a fruity wheat ale infused with guava and strawberries and Man-Go-War (5.0% ABV) a fruity wheat ale with blueberries and mango. The flight came out to just a little over $9. All were amazing, but the Man-Go-War is a must-try.

What I loved?

Golden Road makes an effort to be all inclusive, from their plant-based brews and easily decoded menu to their all-gender bathrooms and dog and kid-friendly spaces. The prices are reasonable considering the location, and the staff is efficient and friendly. This brewery is unique, lively and perfect for my vegan comrades.

Until next time,

The Vegan Brewja.