When you think of craft beer hot spots around LA County, Whittier might not be the first spot that comes to mind. But when you look at the neighborhood’s rich history of great craft beer bottle shops and beer bars along with the recent addition of some really solid local breweries, you’ve got a craft beer destination that stands up against many in SoCal. Here are three spots in Whittier we think you should know about.
The Cellar
6531 Greenleaf Ave | Whittier
More InfoOpened in 2014 on Greenleaf St. in Uptown Whitter, The Cellar is a bottle shop and taproom known for getting some of the best beer in the LA area. Their front retail space features several refrigerated coolers with fresh cans to-go alongside a well-stocked cellar area showcasing a selection of large and medium-format bottles of super rare beers from breweries like Cantillon, The Bruery, Lost Abbey, and much more. In the back room, you’ll find their cozy taproom area with 24 taps pouring highly sought-after beers from local breweries like Radiant, Brouwerij West, and Cellador as well as out-of-towners like Arizona Wilderness, Urban Roots, and Great Notion. For non-beer drinkers, you can take advantage of a glass of wine poured off their 12-tap bottle preservation system and if you’re hungry, you can bring in food from one of their several neighboring restaurants.
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More InfoWhittier Brewing Company
13002 Philadelphia St | Whittier
More InfoWhittier Brewing Company is Whittier’s first brewery and taproom, that was in planning for years and finally opened in 2019. The brewery and taproom are housed within the Poet Gardens food hall, conveniently located in the historic Nixon Plaza in Uptown Whitter. The family- and group-friendly space has plenty of indoor seating options alongside several different food stalls, with offerings that include tacos, pizza, ice cream, and a rotating lineup of limited pop-ups. Outside, you can enjoy your food and beer at an array of picnic tables that sit under canopies of tree leaves and bistro lights. The beer program helmed by head brewer John Kennedy is comprised of a diverse lineup of solid and approachable beers, with highlights that include their Greenleaf West Coast IPA and Friendly Pils, as well as a seasonal Helles and Märzen that were released last week.
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More InfoLa Bodega Brewing Company
6711 Comstock Ave | Whittier
More InfoWhittier’s newest brewery is also the hardest to find. That’s because La Bodega Brewing Company is actually a speakeasy in the back of a small meat market. But once you ask to “see the butcher” and pass through the meat locker door, you enter into a stylish, upscale eatery and bar area that’s serving up an elevated Latin-inspired American Grill-style food menu alongside an array of fresh beer options brewed up by head brewer Abe Mercado in the space next door. While you can find their most popular beers like Mala Suerte Dark Lager and Hazlitt Hazy IPA at large establishments like Dodger Stadium and Disneyland, you’re much better off coming straight to the taproom, ordering a 12oz Drunken Japanese Wagyu Steak, and pairing it up with their Highway 72 IPA, a four-way collaboration between neighbor breweries, Whittier Brewing Co, Brewjeria in Pico Rivera, and Angry Horse in Montebello.
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More InfoKeep Hopping
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