The beers churning out of this Highland Park spot have put it on the map with Southern California heavyweights such as Pizza Port and Homage. Though they’re best known for their dedication to IPAs—they execute both West Coast (Hello, LA) and hazy styles (DDH More) very well—don’t sleep on their funky, experimental saisons and farmhouse ales. And they make a pretty great pilsner that we like to drink in the shower.

Monkish has reached cult status for a reason. Their releases are so popular that new cans usually sell out within hours. You’re going here for Monkish’s IPAs and pale ales, which frequently push one hop variety until they move on to their next favorite. For instance, we thank the beer gods for beers like Glamoro, an all-Citra double dry hopped DIPA. Or Life Is Foggier, a DDH IPA with Citra, Nelson Sauvin, and Galaxy.

Tucked into the Port of Los Angeles, the brewhouse is a former U.S. Navy warehouse built during WWII, and the space is simultaneously cavernous and stunning. You’ll feel like saying cheers to your 300 new friends scattered amongst the long tables set under string lights, and there is enough seating both indoors and out for the entire port. This is a family friendly space churning out complex but highly drinkable takes on Belgian-style beers and pilsners. Plus, beloved hazies and West Coast IPAs.

Pomona is about as far east as you can drive and still be in Los Angeles County. Many city dwellers will scoff at you for trying to visit Pomona. Don’t listen to them — Homage is worth the drive, creating some of the most inventive brews in the region. With its unique blends and DIY ethos, Homage focuses on experimental, blended takes on barrel-aged varieties, saisons, and lagers. The brewery also has a deep love for dank hops and adjunct-laced stouts. Oh, and they're making natural wine.

No trip to Long Beach is complete without a visit to Beachwood. The Los Angeles brewery has two locations and we’d highly recommend checking out both if time permits. But, if you must choose, we’d send you to the blendery where all sorts of funky wonders go down. We highly recommend seeking out a brewery that is consistently blending pitch-perfect beers.