Southern California is no stranger to great craft beer: some of the most iconic breweries call SoCal home. When I found myself flying into SNA though, I realized that most of the SoCal breweries I was familiar with were closer to San Diego. To fix that, I compiled a list of every single brewery located within a 15-minute drive of John Wayne Airport so I could hit the ground running as soon as I landed.
Sharing this list with you is my way of paying it forward. Now go forth & enjoy some great local beer!
Green Cheek Beer Co. – Costa Mesa, CA
I had to stop here first after getting multiple recommendations for this brewery. In addition to well-executed classic styles, Green Cheek’s Costa Mesa location has a large outdoor patio & the best burgers among the taprooms.
The selection & quality of the beers at Green Cheek are excellent, and we ended up coming back here to pick up pale ales to bring home.
Gunwhale Ales – Costa Mesa, CA
Gunwhale Ales is literally right across the street from Green Cheek and offers a more intimate setting. With a small indoor area and a patio that often features a pop-up food truck menu, this brewery had the most character of the bunch.
Gunwhale’s Instagram doesn’t allow embedded pictures (and I only have videos from my visit), but you can check them out at: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYxQTFiPa7G/.
Salty Bear Brewing Co. – Costa Mesa, CA
No more than a block down the road from Green Cheek & Gunwhale Ales lies Salty Bear. The indoor area featured TVs & tables of varying sizes which made it perfect for watching sports with a group.
The outdoor patio is large & surrounded by plants to help you forget that the brewery is located in an industrial park’s parking lot. The patio was also home to an outdoor food stand that was just starting up as we were leaving for the next spot.
Bootleggers Brewery – Costa Mesa, CA
Around the corner from Salty Bear lies the final of four breweries that are all within walking distance of one another. Bootleggers gives off a modern farmhouse vibe, and beer flights are served in mini mason jars.
Bootleggers Brewery also serves food now, and the patio is a great spot to enjoy some beers & bites.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company – Costa Mesa, CA
The venerable Karl Strauss, which originally hails from San Diego, has a handful of brewpubs sprinkled around southern California. The Costa Mesa location is just north of the rest of its peers (on the other side of 405).
You can expect solid food & classic West Coast beers here. Karl Strauss probably has the best distribution network out of the breweries on this list, so spring for something special (like their seasonal or barrel-aged beers) if you visit.
Left Coast Brewing Distillery Smokehouse – Irvine, CA
San Clemente-based Left Coast Brewing Company didn’t just open up a new taproom in Irvine: they created a new destination complete with a kitchen & cocktails. Speaking of cocktails, they also produce their own craft spirits on-site.
This is the place to come if you have someone in your party who isn’t the biggest beer drinker but still wants to enjoy a fun time out.
Hangar 24 Craft Brewing – Irvine, CA
Redlands-based Hangar 24 opened up a unique taproom just across the interstate from SNA. It’s located on the first floor of a business park & faces a venue courtyard (there was a swing dance party happening when we arrived).
The aviation-themed brewery produces solid beers, and the chef-inspired kitchen offers more elevated fare than your typical bar food.
Santa Ana River Brewing Company (Santa Ana, CA
This brewery just barely squeezes into this field because it’s exactly 15 minutes away, but Santa Ana River Brewing Company offers enough unique beers to warrant a try. While a majority of the menu features IPAs & pale ales, their milk stout with Vietnamese coffee is a popular choice.
