Lisa McKinnon

lisa.mckinnon@vcstar.com, 805-437-0244

Company's coming for the holidays, and that means finding stuff to do with friends and family members visiting from out of town. One suggestion: Offer to be the designated driver for a tour of the growing number of craft breweries in Ventura County. Here goes:

CAMARILLO

Institution Ale Co.: After moving to a larger location in June, the family-operated brewery includes a taproom, a back patio and a kitchen that serves house-made pizzas and pretzels. A growler-refill station was recently installed just inside the front door; enter through the side for the most direct route to the taproom. Open daily (3841 Mission Oaks Blvd., 805-482-3777, http://www.institutionales.com).

MOORPARK

Enegren Brewing Co.: Launched in 2011, this friends-and-family owned brewery moved down the street and around the corner to its current, 7,000-square-foot brewing facility and taproom in January 2015. Schedules for food trucks and live entertainment are posted on the website. Open Wednesdays through Sundays (444 Zachary St., Suite 120, 805-552-0602, http://www.enegrenbrewing.com).

OXNARD

Casa Agria Specialty Ales: Locally grown fruits are featured in the farmhouse brews and barrel-aged wild ales created by this microbrewery located in a business park. Some limited-production beers are for members only. Others are available by the taster, pint and growler in the taproom. Open Thursdays through Sundays (701 N. Del Norte Blvd., 805-485-1454, https://casaagria.com).

Red Tandem Brewery: Described as a "nanobrewery" by its owners, this Oxnard Shores spot is part taproom, part gathering space (it serves as the starting location for a community bike ride at 1 p.m. Sundays). Beers are on tap for tasters, pints and growlers, and for pairing with pizzas and/or baked goods purchased at neighboring businesses. Open Wednesdays through Sundays (1009 Harbor Blvd., 805-832-4023, http://www.redtandembrewery.com).

VENTURA

Anacapa Brewery: Open since 2000, the county's longest-running craft brewery includes a full-service restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating. Settle in at the counter for a view of the tanks. Open daily (472 E. Main St., 805-643-2337, http://anacapabrewing.com).

MadeWest Brewing Co.: Owned by Ventura natives, this brewery opened in January 2016 is the largest in the city, occupying a remodeled, 14,000-square-foot building surrounded by business and industrial parks. Schedules for food trucks and live entertainment are posted on the website. Open daily (1744 Donlon St., 805-947-5002, http://www.madewest.com).

Poseidon Brewing Co: This brewery owes its oceanic theme to co-owner Brian Oliver, who retired as a diver for the Underwater Construction Team Two at Naval Base Ventura County shortly after opening the business in August 2014. Food trucks make occasional appearances. Open Tuesdays through Sundays (5777 Olivas Park Drive, Unit Q, 805-477-0239, http://www.poseidonbrewingco.com).

Surf Brewery: Launched in 2011, this brewery located in an industrial park features a family-friendly taproom and a supplies shop for homebrewers. Food is BYO; food trucks also make regularly scheduled appearances. Open Tuesdays through Sundays (4561 Market St., 805-644-2739, http://surfbrewery.com).

Topa Topa Brewing Co.: Named for the mountain range, this brewery opened in downtown Ventura in June 2015; it added a Santa Barbara taproom this October. Food trucks, art events and live music are regular attractions. Open daily (104 E. Thompson Blvd., 805-628-9255, http://topatopa.beer).

Ventura Coast Brewing Co.: The region's newest brewery debuted in October at what was built in the 1930s as a grocery store (locals will also remember it as a Goodwill and, more recently, as the combination bakery, wine bar and restaurants My Florist and blu orkid). The sheltered patio is dog-friendly. Check the Facebook page for news about food-truck appearances. Open daily (76 S. Oak St., 805-667-8640, https://www.facebook.com/vcbcbeer).

If you're feeling ambitious, add this trio of breweries located just over the county line in Westlake Village: Figueroa Brewing Co. (30770 Russell Ranch Road, Suites E & F, http://bit.ly/2f2mYp5), Five Threads Brewing Co. (31133 Via Colinas, Suite 109, http://www.fivethreadsbrewing.com) and Westlake Brewing Co. (31111 Via Colinas, Suite 200, http://westlakebrewingcompany.com).

And stay tuned: At least three additional microbreweries are in the pipeline for sites in Camarillo and Ventura.

Lisa McKinnon is a staff writer for The Star. Her Cafe Society column also appears in the Sunday Life section. For between-column updates, follow 805foodie on Twitter and Instagram and "like" the Facebook page VCS Eats.