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    Docent Brewing

    4.7 (114 reviews)
    ModerateBrewpubs, Burgers, Tacos
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Docent Brewing Photos

    Business Info

    DOCENT BREWING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Docent Brewing

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    Prosecco and a flight of mainly Ipas
    Cynthia M.

    Dont let the small entrance deceive you. Almost like a cigar room vibe walking in. We were surpised how spacious the place is. Table to play some cards, nice leather chairs, then you have the outdoor space. Some tables and benches. Food is ordered out back. Wish they advertised that more. We had a flight , mostly of their IPAs. They were easy to drink, lighter ipas than others ive had. Nothing bad to say, but nothing exciting. They also offer Proseco, Cider , Kombucha and wine. So there is something for everyone. I did have a glass of the processo and it was perfect. Ill definitely visit again when im in Cbad

    Docent Bowl is as very fresh and delicious. The housemade kimchi is excellent.
    Craig W.

    Yes, this is a brewery but, goodness gracious, please come for the excellent food and the great atmosphere. The food is legit, the employees are outstanding, and the atmosphere is pure fun. The beer is good, too, if that matters, after all that. Park for free on the street or in the free City lot directly across from the brewery. The place is much bigger than it looks, with seating inside, a large back patio, and seating along the side patio. The menu offers far more food selections than just about any brewery anywhere and you will quickly notice the Korean influence on the menu. Everything we tried was excellent. The tacos are big and delicious (I preferred the pastor taco over the birria one). The Docent Bowl was incredibly fresh and probably healthy (don't miss the excellent housemade kimchi), and the chicken salad sandwich with tots on the side was delightful. This is real restaurant food and it is very good. The beers are served in these gorgeous goblets and they do flights with very generous pours. I liked all of the beers I tried, especially the darker and boozier ones. When your food order is ready, you receive a text, and then head to the back left side of the rear patio, where the kitchen is located. A small sign here would be helpful because I have to admit I wandered around for a bit looking for the food pickup spot. All of the employees we encountered were extremely helpful and friendly. This is a sign of a business that cares about its workers so thumbs up. Kid friendly, good music on the sound system, plenty of seating, good beer, great food, and free parking. I'm a fan.

    Deviled eggs and birria taco
    Megan S.

    I was with a big group so we all got to try a few food items and everything was good and flavors were unique. Good selection of beer, N.A. options and a couple wine options. You order everything at the counter and it went fairly quick but there seemed to always be a line. It wasn't a problem for us but hopefully they have more than one register for busy days. It's a cute place that used to be a house so there's indoor/outdoor seating. Dog friendly and since there aren't TVs people were actually talking which is nice. Lots of seating options for different size groups

    Tina S.

    Tuck away on state street on the south side is this cool local brewery. Once an older home now a nice place to hangout and grab some food and a beer or cider. It was early afternoon and not very busy. We found a table outside on the patio. You order food and beverages at the bar. I was a little disappointed no one greeted us upon entering and advised what the protocol was, but we figured it out. I had one of there IPA's and it was pretty good. I also tried the birria taco. It had a crisp cheese shell which was good, the meat was tender, but no birria consume/sauce. The verde taco was delicious! Same crispy cheese shell, both tacos topped with onions and cilantro. Overall a very nice place with good food and beverages.

    Elisa G.

    This is a very cute brewery in Carlsbad and they have some healthy snack options but nothing gluten free as far as beer . They allow dogs and it's a great hang with lots of space and comfy couches! They also have an outdoor area so it's good for large parties.

    Smashburger, sesame chicken salad, grilled cheese
    Stephanie B.

    Nice, casual spot to enjoy some drinks, food, and live music! We went on a Friday and they had live music, which was a nice touch. They have indoor and outdoor seating and are dog friendly. They also have food, which was pretty good. We got the grilled cheese with fries, smash burger with tots, and sesame chicken salad. The smash burger was good, but I could've ate two. The grilled cheese had a punch to it with the mix of cheeses. Fries were crispy and well seasoned. The salad felt like it came from a package and wasn't our favorite. My husband enjoyed the beers and the laid back atmosphere.

    Smash burger and non-alcoholic IPA
    Stephanie C.

    A good brewery to go to while pregnant since they have some non-alcoholic options :-) The non-alcoholic IPA was really good. My husband tried four different beers and enjoyed them all. The food was just as tasty. The smash burger was SO good. One of the best I've ever had. The fried chicken sandwich and french fries were also 10/10. The staff was chill and friendly, and the ambiance was nice and relaxed with a mixture of friend groups, dates and families. Would love to come back soon.

    Felina V.

    Docent Brewing in Carlsbad is an excellent choice for a beer and a bite. Their patio seating is expansive and dog friendly. Service is always friendly, even when they're busy. I'll surely be back time and time again. Thanks, Docent!

    Kelly B.

    Super cute house that's turned into a tasting room, beers were delicious and they have a variety of options that aren't beer and NA options as well, didn't try the food but it looked delicious

    Docent bowl
    Pete S.

    I grew to love this brewery and have made this place in my top 3 must breweries to visit in OC. No, you won't find the frat bros here from Golden Road nor will you find hopheads from Monkish. Rather you'll find beer geeks that loves a multi variety of beers, delicious take on your food, and impeccable service. Inside this new location, there's an indoor as well as an outdoor section. Wood interior reminds me of a cabin and the outdoor patio benches along with single stall clean bathrooms gives out a hint of camping. I had their wheat beer, Luna, really solid loads of flavor. Uncle bert i thought was just okay, I usually drink their super tonic for a stout. You pretty much can find all styles here. For the food we had their smashburger which amazingly tasted like a big mac but much much better. It has a lighter bun with non of those preformed patties. We also got the docent bowl (kind of like a take on Korean bowl) with pork belly, brown rice, kimchi pickles. You have to give your number and you get a text and pick up towards the back. Sort of just like their SJC location setup. We were a little tired that night and wished we could've drank more. But you'll find me here at their OG location I'm sure soon!

    Chicken salad sandwich and tots
    Anna C.

    Docent is pretty decent! Cute, minimalist cabin vibe. Tried their nitro beer and N/A Mexican lager (Capacity, canned) - both were good. Food is okay, but definitely not what you come here for.

    Beer menu
    Steve C.

    Great place downtown nice patio and dog friendly. Walk up service at bar for drinks. (No servers) Will def return

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    2 months ago

    Quick service, great food. There are no TV's around. It feels much more like a lounge than restaurant and a needed change up in environment.

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    11 months ago

    Great beer and wonderful food highly recommended stop for a good time. Miss the Rube I must say.

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    10 months ago

    Awesome brewery! So glad they are dog friendly. Great drinks and food. Very friendly and loved the atmosphere.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Docent Brewing

    Is there a phone number for this location?

    Is this place dog friendly?

    Yes, the side and back patio are perfect for dogs

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Carlsbad Brewing Company

    Carlsbad Brewing Company

    4.2(319 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    What a fun place. They have an amazing selection of beers but they also have a yummy and varied…read moremenu. They had great specials on the Saturday night we went. It has a bit of a sports bar atmosphere but it is not truly a sports bar (they have the t.v.'s on playing sports but it doesn't have the sports bar feel. We saw families and dogs and friends and couples - so it is a place for all people. I love that it has two big openings to the outside so it doesn't feel stuffy inside. Our server was very friendly and patient but could have been a bit more attentive once we got our food as we ran out of napkins and water and had to flag her down. I had the lamb burger special and it was truly to die for. If I hadn't worried about being too full I could have eaten another because it was so good. I think this should be a regular menu item. It was cooked perfectly and it was truly mouthwatering with all the toppings. Usually I hate buns but this bun was so soft and squishy and NOT dry that I gobbled it down. It came with a side and I was a little disappointed because it lists the sides on the menu and a side salad was one of them but when I got the bill it was extra for the side salad. When I asked she said there is an upcharge for the side salad (which was not noted on the menu). But the salad was great too so no problem! One friend had the pizza which I would not rate as an amazing pizza (I am an East Coaster so I am a pizza snob) but my friend loved it. They had some very cool toppings for their pizzas too. If you are going to go for a really good pizza I wouldn't go here. Come here for the other stuff on the menu. My other friend had the fish and chips and loved it. The portions were all very good sized. I am looking forward to returning - especially if I can get that lamb burger again.

    Carlsbad Brewing Company boasts a wonderful spot to grab a drink and a great meal. With its open…read moredining area there plenty of seating available for small and large parties. Came here for lunch with a coworker and he was raving about the Wagyu sliders so I just had to try them. And yes, they are truly amazing as you can have them cooked as you like it. The bun was fresh and paired well with a generous slider patty of 100% grass fed New Zealand Kobe Wagyu Beef and topped with cheddar jack cheese. You can really taste the quality and juiciness of the patty. The sliders are pretty filling and will leave you stuffed. I opted for the onion rings and I am glad I did as the batter was crispy and onions thick cut, very delicious. Service was great and attentive and I recommend any burger or slider fans to try the Kobe Beef Sliders, they are very tasty and worth the visit to Carlsbad Brewing Company.

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    Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Birria Beef Deep

    Karl Strauss Brewing Company

    4.0(2k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    We had an awesome time on the patio with our server Corinne. She gave great recommendations and…read moremade it easy with all the kids we brought. Food was great on top of it all. Thank you

    We visited on Wednesday after spending the day at Legoland. I purposely held off on writing this…read morereview because I wanted to see if I'd feel differently after having some time to reflect. Unfortunately, after thinking it over, I still feel the same way. Our family decided to come to Karl Strauss Brewery for dinner since it was close by. We were looking forward to relaxing and enjoying a meal after a fun day at the park. When we arrived, the hostess was very friendly and got us seated quickly, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, that's where our positive experience ended. The restaurant was extremely busy, and it took quite a while before our server came to greet us. We were able to order waters, but even those took a long time to arrive. After another long wait, we finally ordered our appetizers. Our original server, who I believe said her name was Noemi or Naomi, came across as overwhelmed, stressed, and like she didn't enjoy her job. While I understand restaurants get busy, her attitude made us feel like we were an inconvenience. She wasn't very attentive, especially to our kids, who had been at Legoland all day and were extremely hungry. She never came back to take their food order, and we found ourselves waiting longer and longer without any communication. Eventually, another server took over our table. She was incredibly kind, friendly, and apologetic. We explained that we had already been waiting a long time and just wanted to place our food order to go so we could get our hungry kids back to the hotel. She handled the situation professionally and did her best to help, which we truly appreciated. If you're dining with young children, I'd keep in mind that service may not be the best fit if your family needs an attentive server or timely service. Waiting extended periods without updates can be especially difficult for tired, hungry kids. It's disappointing because the restaurant itself seemed nice, and the hostess and second server were both wonderful. Unfortunately, the experience with our original server left a bad impression. While I understand busy nights happen, the lack of attentiveness and communication made for a frustrating experience, and because of that, I don't think we'll be returning.

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    Karl Strauss Brewing Company - View from the open patio area

    View from the open patio area

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    Viewpoint Brewing - Wedge salad - thick and juicy bacons with chopper eggs

    Viewpoint Brewing

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    14.0 mi
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    This is probably my favorite brewery in all of San Diego as the views here are pretty sick and you…read morecan spot some cool birds while enjoying a beer and some food. I wonder if this is a location on eBird. Yes, I am a dork. I came here years ago while on a business trip and randomly found this place and loved it here. So when a date suggested we come here, I took a look at the venue and remembered what an awesome brewery this is! Date gets some brownie points for chosing this spot, maybe this could go somewhere haha. Parking is a situation here. But if you go past the restaurant, there is some parking on the road and in small lot meant for those enjoying nature. I felt bad taking one of these spots. There is paid public parking on the corner before the restaurant and valet is available at this brewery. I need to figure out another way to get here... On a Sunday afternoon, place had people but it wasnt mobbed. Baseball game and Del Mar horse races were showing on the TVs. But, don't come here to watch TV, look outside! I saw some very good bird action, including an egret doing some weird strutting in the lush greenery. I am bummed I forgot to bring my binoculars but I will be back here again soon with binocs ready! I started off with a hefeweisen and that was good, date had a Mexican lager x 2. I had the ceviche (pretty good) and had the aioli on the side. Date had a sandwich of some kind and copious amounts of fries. It took a lot of will power for me to not have any of those fries, they looked so yummy! I also had a watermelon beer, this had hints of watermelon flavor and I enjoyed it. Great spot for large groups too as there were a few large parties sitting in the "outside" space. Hostess initially asked if we wanted to sit "inside" or "outside," and I was confused as it all looked like outside to me haha. I guess this is SoCal, everything is open air. This is a nice spot to have convo, very spacious, lots of nice tables, we sat at a high top. I love perching higher up, kinda of like a bird haha! Waitresses here were all very good, some very cute too (eye candy is always appreciated). Overall, a really fun way to spend a Sunday summer afternoon! I'll be back!

    Seven of us had dinner at Viewpoint last night, reservations for a table right by the lagoon, and…read morethe view was really pretty. Valet parking for $6 on site was easy and smooth. The restaurant is really loud when crowded and you can only talk to the person right next to you, but that worked ok in a group of 7 anyway--we just had multiple mini conversations. If you're planning a large group gathering, you might have to play musical chairs to catch up with everyone, unless everyone has naturally loud voices that carry. Most of the people in our group ordered beers, but I ordered a nonalcoholic prickly pear hibiscus ginger beer which was ok--pretty subtle, but it quenches the thirst all the same. I ordered the Farmer's burger (black bean) with added avocado and a side salad which comes with a lemon vinaigrette. I had to eat it with a knife and fork after removing the top bun. Very tasty. My daughter ordered crispy shrimp tacos which she really enjoyed. Most people ordered the backyard burger which looked pretty good--choice of fries or side salad. Freddy our server was friendly and helpful. Overall a good dining experience!

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    Viewpoint Brewing - The bar area with the TV

    The bar area with the TV

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    Burger - came with their homemade sauce that has mayonnaise so we had it on the side.

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    Pure Project - Vista - Beer Flight:  (L) - (R): Cherry Limeade, Tropical Mist, Brass Bell, Mango Bramble & Uncovered Roots

    Pure Project - Vista

    4.9(354 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Eco-friendly

    We recently utilized the private rental space at Pure Project for an anniversary party, and it was…read morevery much worth it. The atmosphere was great. Casual, modern, and mostly secluded. Our guests loved it, perfect for everyone to mingle easily, private bathroom and easy access to the bar. The staff and event coordinator made the process super easy. They were incredibly accommodating during planning and highly attentive throughout the night. The beverage selection was excellent as always. Only things to pre-plan is that they don't have any dedicated tech for the rental space, nor do they offer any food options other than the food trucks that are independent of the brewery. They are open to bringing in outside food sources, which we did. Also, we brought our own little projector and screen as well as a music source. Easy. I highly recommend this option for larger groups that want some privacy for a special occasion.

    In every age, some names endure. Megan is one of them, the Eternal Champion of Pure Project Vista…read more While others pour beer, Megan turns every visit into a story, welcoming guests with warmth and uncanny precision in finding the perfect pint. The beer is exceptional--bright IPAs, crisp lagers, rich stouts--each crafted with care, and somehow even better in Megan's hands. If there is a guardian of this hall, it is Megan, ensuring every guest leaves happier than they arrived. Return tomorrow or years from now, and Megan will still be there, raising a glass. Pure Project Vista brews extraordinary beer. Megan makes it legendary.

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    Colab Public House

    Colab Public House

    4.5(194 reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Colab Public House recently and it did not disappoint. Easily one of the best Old…read moreFashioneds I've had in North County--perfectly balanced and smooth. The vibe here is always on point--laid back, good energy, and a great place to hang out. Really excited to see Mexico City Cuisine back too. The food was excellent--fresh, flavorful, and definitely worth coming back for. This spot just keeps getting better every time I visit.

    Honestly, what a terrible experience…read more We are new to the area and decided to try this winery this past Friday, hoping we had found a place we could enjoy and return to. The wine was good, and the redheaded bartender was genuinely kind and pleasant. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. A woman with curly hair came storming over to her husband, screaming and cursing at him in front of everyone. Then, as if that wasn't enough, she turned her attention toward the couple he had been talking with and started yelling at them too. It completely destroyed the atmosphere. We came to a winery to enjoy some wine and relax--not sit through someone's loud, aggressive public argument. It was embarrassing, uncomfortable, and incredibly disruptive. I couldn't believe this was happening. What should have been a nice Friday evening turned into an extremely uncomfortable experience. Good wine and a nice bartender don't make up for an atmosphere like that. We are new to the area, and unfortunately, this was our first impression. We won't be back and definitely won't recommend this establishment.

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    View from the loft area.

    Docent Brewing - brewpubs - Updated August 2026

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