One of the best breweries in the Bay Area. It is still relatively new, but they are busy. They had mostly sours, imperials, and NE IPAs, but there was a pretty good variety overall. Prices were reasonable at about $7.50 for most pours, but depending on the style it can either be anywhere from 13.5-16 oz. pours. Flights are $19 for 5-5 oz pours (25 oz total) which is pricey but you pay a premium for variety like at most breweries. Individual 5 oz pours are about $4. My friends and I liked all 10 of the beers we tried, but the sours were definitely the standouts. They have a lot of different 4 pack beers to go, some that are not on tap as well. Most are in the low $20s. They also do growler fills. They have food available but we didn't try any The only problem is the place is pretty small, both inside and outside. The patio is not covered and no heat lamps. It can get crowded. Mostly paid street parking, but you can park a couple blocks further away for free read more

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Was in the East Bay and I needed a spot where I could get some computer work done and I discovered Great Notion. Came in as a walk in during the middle of the day on a weekday and there were only a few people inside. Ordering at the bar was straight forward and there was seating along the bar itself as well as bar-style seating against the exterior facing windows. I opted to sit by the windows for the natural light and because there was an outlet there. I don't recall if they have wifi or not, I may have just used hotspot. Great Notion itself is very casual and cool with a neat beer list that features some unique ingredients. I opted for the passion fruit mochi beer which sounded super interesting and also happened to be two thing I enjoy the flavor of. The beer itself was incredibly juicy (it's a fruit IPA) with some nice roundness that I think comes from the toasted mochi and other ingredients. I was a big fan and even got a 4-pack to take home! Great Notion seems like a super cool and casual spot that I'd definitely visit again if in the area! read more

Fun spot in the former Sierra Nevada tasting room. I appreciated how they had a good array of hard seltzer and sour beers choices since I'm not really a beer person. Busy Saturday night. Service was friendly. My flight included Bubbs and Jules hard seltzer, Cantina, Mangossi, Tigers Blood. The cantina (the blue frothy one) was really good. I like most of the other ones as well very unique. Not a fan of the Mangossi it was very thick has oats so it was like a protein shake if you like that kind of thing. Overall fun spot. read more

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Went there last Saturday right when they open at noon. First time there but not first time to great notion beer. Grabbed a seat and ordered some beer. Must I say the beers were fabulous, location was cool but the bartender was a st8 di$k. Ordering a beer and asking a question, he had this look on his face as if he was tooo good to be there. One word answers and rolled his eyes most of the time. This review would have gotten 5 stars but due to the bartender it gets a 3. Sounds like there are other reviews of a shtty bartender. I probably won't be returning as I did not feel welcomed. read more

They have very unique alcoholic beverages. In theory they are beers but they're more like mixed drinks. I forget what the name was but I had one that reminded me of a sparkling piña colada. My friend had the blueberry my friend and, of course as everyone says, it is wonderful. They almost always have a food truck in the front too. I found the staff over the top courteous and complementary (in a good way) I spilled my drink all over the table and the staff came and cleaned it up and then asked if there is a world where a straw would be useful for me. Yes oh my God I love straws! I will definitely come back here. read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Food truck schedule - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

The staff are great and very friendly, especially Dom! The beer fantastic and the regulars are incredibly nice!

I really like this place. Been here a couple times and it has the feel of an old fashioned local gathering spot but with a young vibe. Amazing beer selection and super nice staff. Even better when there's a good food truck out front read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Rodents enjoying brew - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Best new brewery in my humble opinion. I found out about their beers during SF Beer Week 2023, and was an instant favorite. Their sours are the best I've tasted. The varietal IPAs, plus stouts, are delicious. Well actually, pick any beer from here and it will impress. read more

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Not subtly sweet smoothie beers are what brought me to Great Notion. We ended up buying 4 packs which are not cheap by any means. But the smoothie type beers are mostly unique to Great Notion and are undeniably delicious while being strong. The service was great even though it was packed, and the venue was a great spot for beer. One bonus was that they had a pop up restaurant that had one of the best steak sandwiches that I've ever had - we actually tried to get one more but they were sold out. We hope Great Notion will be able to ship to Nevada soon! read more

This Oregon based brewery is in the spot of the former Torpedo Room. It is recommended for fans of double IPAs and sour beers. There wasn't a lot on the menu to try in a flight if you aren't a fan of those two beers. There also weren't snacks for vegetarians on the day we went. I did like the beer that I had--it almost tasted like a cognac. Otherwise, it's a sun filled spot, always hopping (pun not initially intended) , right off the bike path and near Fourth Street shopping area. There us outdoor seating and a casual place to hang out for a while like you would in a café. I live in the neighborhood and would love to go more often, but I just don't enjoy extreme sour beers and double IPAs, and I do like having something to nosh on when having a strong beer. read more

Favorite brewery with sours flowing on tap! Blueberry muffin is a must & well as their strawberry shortcake. Friendly service means will definitely come back again & absolutely recommend to a friend! read more

So sad that this place gets more business than Sierra Torpedo Room did. Stopped by after the nearby beer fest, while waiting for the train ride home and the place was packed. Waited for the seat for 30+ minutes. Service was friendly, so that's a star up, but their beer IMO is just okay. Sure, hazy and kettle sour and pastries are what they do best, so obviously there's more appeal to the younger generation. However, there are CA and even local breweries that do those styles equally well, if not better. As far as the beer quality goes, GN is all hype if you ask me. But the location and pleasant service would eventually make me come back..to kill time waiting for the train. read more

Cool place beer is good but didn't have many on tap. One of my beers we from a can. Parking is kinda of crazy down there. The place was packed. Wife was trying to look at the shirts but there was a table in from of there merchandise. The staff was super friendly and nice. The beers are good and have ones to take home. read more

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I couldn't be happier to welcome Great Notion to the Fourth Street neighborhood! It's taken over Sierra Nevada's former location. As of December 2022, they're in their soft opening phase, but they plan to officially open on January 3, 2023. I stopped by after seeing tons of people enter the taproom on a Saturday. There was also a food truck parked outside. I tried the Tiger's Blood and Berzerkeley. Both were fantastic. The Tiger's Blood left a coconut flake-like aftertaste which is something I've never experienced with a sour beer. I also sampled the Blueberry Muffin (another sour I highly recommend). The staff members were very friendly. The taproom has a grungier vibe than Sierra Nevada (e.g., some whacky yet super cool art, different music, no more board games, etc.), but nevertheless, this is such a welcome edition. Apparently food trucks will be the norm, too, so I can't wait to come back to ring in the new year! read more

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Outstanding find Great beer: - the blueberry muffin was delicious The food pop up was awesome:"Rucolina Dining" -the steak sando was on point https://instagram.com/rucolinadining?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Noticed there was a bus tour bring ppl here. Gotta try that sometime! "Umbrella global transportation" read more

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I'm excited to have discovered Great Notion Brewery. Up until now, Fieldworks has been my go-to brewery in the area if I'm looking for a wide-variety of beers -- IPAs, sours, stouts, etc. On the day that I visited, the menu had an abundance of sours and stouts. My wife and I couldn't decide on a single beer so we opted for their flight instead, choosing $7 Bill, Double Stack, Fruit Monster (PTP), Orange Creamsicle IPA, and the Bourbon Barrel Aged -- Night Of The Living Squatch. Since the last beer was higher ABV, it resulted in an extra $5 charge on top of the $19 base price for the the flight. Not a big deal, since the bartender informed us beforehand of the charge and we happily accepted it. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the sours and I loved the dark stouts. Though there was food available outside, we didn't have a chance to try it since we had come from lunch not too long ago. Great Notion is very dog friendly both inside and outside. Definitely would recommend stopping by to try out their beers. read more

All the beers we got were good. Enjoyed the stout a lot. There was a food truck right outside if you wanted food. read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of my favorite brewery! We love their smoothie sour, sour ales, dark, and hazy ipas. We came here late afternoon on Sunday from our way from from Napa. It was pretty busy here. But we were able to snag a table. Not sure they have serve food here but there was a Smash Burger Vendor selling food. If you see Mellifluous (Batch 3), Blueberry Muffin, and Unbalanced breakfast sours, try them out. We also liked the Van beer New England IPA. They are so good! Some beertenders are more nicer to let you sample than others. Place is pretty aired out with open doors. Only street parking. read more

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Omgeee these beers, I think about them all the time. It's so yummy not basic at all they are thoughtful well made and full of flavor. If you haven't had an opportunity to grab q beer here run don't walk. read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Slushie - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sometimes you forget you're drinking a beer. I came here as a sour beer enthusiast after Rare Barrel closed down. The beers aren't super sour like RB but boy are they tasty as hell! Plus they release a new beer like very week! My fridge has no place anymore!! But my wife and I love coming here from the city. The brewery has a nice vibe and sometimes they play games on their screen. The staff are super friendly, I know almost all of them by name now It's definitely our favorite brewery right now in the area! read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - UBae - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went with a group to get a drink on a cold rainy day. Decided to open my mind and try a different type of beer- Sours. This place specializes in sour beers and they are by far the best sours I have tasted. I got a flight of sours and IPAs and I enjoyed all of the different beers. Would recommend to any beer lover. read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Flight of beer Mellifuous, Jammy Pants, Ruby Jammin, the Time Keeper and Ripe IPA - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Sweet spot that was packed on a Saturday night for good reason. The beers were all unique and tasty. I'm not a huge beer fan but the lager was perfectly crisp and hit the spot. Met some friends for a birthday drink and the vibe was spot on. Relaxed, not too loud and just fun and easy going. The guys pouring were awesome! Friendly, knowledgeable, gave me an extra little taste of the Ruby Jammin' that I loved. There were two food trucks outside that were tasty and easily fills the no food served void since they deliver into the bar. Would highly recommend this spot and will definitely be going back. read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Blueberry Muffin, Rise, Double Stack - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been ordering beer from this brewery via their app for a while now and was so stoked to hear that they were opening a taproom in Berkeley! I've been to the taproom multiple times now and have had a blast every time! It's a chill, smaller spot, and kinda out of the way from the hustle and bustle of University Ave and the bulk of West Berkeley. The inside and outside spaces are both great (and dog and kid friendly) and there's usually decent street parking nearby. The beer selection on tap is quite large and they do flights which is great. Plus they have a whole bunch of different cans to buy to-go and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the vibe and beers are just awesome. read more

I come here often and it's just a short walk away which is *chef's kiss*. I first visited Great Notion in Portland a couple of years ago and fell in love with their unusual styles and how on-point their flavor execution was. When they say a beer tastes like X, it really does. Where most breweries are afraid to go, they go there, and I love it because beer is not supposed to be snobby or uptight, it's supposed to be creative and constantly evolving. Sure, it's 4 main ingredients, but no one said it must only be 4 ingredients (except of course, the Germans). We have tried most of their sours and a few IPAs. Sours are one of my favorite styles. Their Blueberry Muffin continues to be my favorite, but a close second is their Jammy Pants sour. Every time we have visited, the beertenders are also super friendly, kind, and awfully generous. I also love their artwork and style. The portrait of the goat playing electric guitar near the bathrooms is my favorite. So glad that this was the brewery to replace the long-standing Sierra Nevada taproom. read more

Parked about a block away which was no issue. Small outdoor patio would be great on a warm weekend day. Beer selection was fantastic. Loved their SF Beer Week keg releases. Can't wait to go back for their Yelp Elite Event. read more

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Personally as a self proclaimed beer connoisseur I would put Great Notion as a top 5 of best hazy's and sours. At this point I'm sure I've visited at least 300 breweries, and Great Notion always has a top position. When I took a trip to Portland I went to every one of their tap houses, and had a sad clown frown when leaving the city knowing I'd be back to only enjoying them in a can. This Berkeley spot has the same happy-go-lucky attitude the Portland spots have. Colorful art, welcoming to everyone, doggo friendly, rotating food venders, and of course delicious beer. Berkeley has a lot of beer options that are stellar, do yourself a favor, and stop by Great Notion. After all, it would be a great notion read more

Wasn't really feeling the location, the beer was just okay and the music selection was not fitting for a taproom. Parking was also atrocious. read more

It was a little loud inside, so we sat on the patio so we could more easily converse. The beer was SOOOO GOOD! Our favorites were the mango fluff sour, the otter milk stout and the over ripe IPA (very juicy). They also had a food truck (chicken dumpling co) serving incredible dumplings! We will definitely be back! read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - My shirt was white when I got there... but then I spilled my beer on it - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love going to this place with my friends.They have a bunch of tasty IPAs and tart ales that they rotate regularly. This most recent visit, I ordered the GET ON THE BUS WEEK Flight, and it was amazing. 1. POG FROG: Tart Ale - 6% Passionfruit, orange, guava Delicious and light, perfect with Mexican food and grilled foods. 2. REEFERM MADNESS: Smoothie - 6.3% Strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, mangosteen, marshmallow SO good! This could have been my dessert for the night. It was thick as you'd expect of an alcoholic smoothie. 3. BICYCLE DAY: Tart Ale - 7.5% Peach, apricot, pineapple, orange Bright green color, and a beautifully crisp tart ale. This was my favorite of the bunch, especially for its bright color. 4. TRIPLE DANK SHARK: Hazy Triple IPA - 10% Strata, Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Galaxy 5. MERRIEST DANKSTER: Triple Hazy IPA - 10% Columbus, Simcoe, Enigma My friends and I ordered food from the Pickles n' Smoke, the featured caterer/pop-up that was working out of the Great Notion kitchen that day. We ordered the platter to ensure we could soak up all the alcohol. The food, by the way, was excellent. :) I love the chill people who work here, and who don't blink twice at my friends who tote their kid along for happy hour. They have a smallish indoor taproom, and patio seating outside that is perhaps a quarter of the size. It is a gem, and I hope they stay here for a very long time. read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Get on the Bus Week flight. :) - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

Beers are always on point. The only set back in my opinion is the seating... inside has a handful of tables and outside has a small patio. That being said, not really ideal for big groups read more

Great notion is my absolute favorite brewery in Oregon and when I found out they were opening a location in the Bay Area I had to go immediately. They took over the old Sierra Nevada torpedo room. Location isn't too big but does have a patio area for additional seating. Dogs are welcome. Their tap list did differ a bit from the Oregon location. Parking wasn't too difficult - street parking. Bartenders were great! read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great beer and service. A ton of sours and hazys, which was perfect for me and the hubs. Wish there woulda been a food truck or something but they did have poke bowls they sold out of, just not my jam. Nicely decorated and not too loud. read more

Cool sours, tons of beers that rotate throughout the year, funky decor, flights to try everything, cool merch, tv's playing sportson a street not far from a shopping center so there is stuff to check out in the neighborhood. Indoor no patio, I dont think there is a dedicated parking lot, closes early. Def worth checking out read more

We used to come here when it was Sierra Nevada taproom and was surprised to see the change. This is a great palce to get fruity beers. We have a lot of friends who don't enjoy the bitter IPA's so this is our new go to place. The staff is very friendly and they always have a rotation of 4 can beers to go. I wish they would fill growlers though which they do not offer. read more

It was a beautiful day grabbing a beer in their small side patio with the pooch and friends. Loved the idea of sour beer slushies, but wish they specified in the menu that #1 refers to 2 types of slushies. My friend and I ended up getting the same 1, even though I specified wanting the other kind. 2nd round, my friend specifically pointed and asked for the other 1 (which was much better), I didn't bother since the sour slushie didn't pique any interest and stuck with an IPA, where they shine. I went to 1 of their Portland locations months prior and loved it, can't really say the same about the Berkeley location, though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

So happy that Great Notion picked a great spot to put down roots in the Bay Area! Their food offerings are usually great, love Shmishshmash! Although the location was a good size for Sierra Nevada, GN seems to have a pretty packed house most of the time! Good to see but wish there was more space. The beer is great, there's something for everyone. The staff is knowledgeable and SUPER helpful. Mel goes above and beyond every time I'm there and does a great job running the trivia. Ian and Katy always provide good recommendations and great service, even when it's busy. read more

Good choices of beer to pick from . Love the local vibe. Service is good and staff is friendly.

Very few seating options. Very few options on tap. The tap menu was not displayed anywhere, though they did have it on a handout. The door makes an annoying sound every time someone walks in. Maybe those are issues related to being newly opened. We tried two beers. They were both ok. We won't be back because there are places nearby that have much better beer. read more

I've really enjoyed all the beers and seltzer I have tried here. The sour tart styles they carry are very impressive and actually taste like the claims. They have a nice selection of hazy style IPAs that hit the mark. If the timekeeper is on tap, make sure you get it. The stouts offered will please anyone even those (like me) who don't prefer this style. I hope to try more of their offerings as they rotate as I haven't been dissatisfied with anything here. One Sunday came and there was no food except chips and another Monday there was a taco truck. Hopefully they lockdown a food vendor who can have a menu as good as the beers. read more

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It was gonna be a good review until I had to sit there with no drink for 30 minutes. Beer is good. Staff was good until the guy in the overalls took over behind the bar read more

Great Notion - Berkeley - Brewpubs Near Me - Berkeley, California