Absolutely love Institution Ale in downtown Santa Barbara. It's a great place to stop in for a short visit or to take your time as you wander down gorgeous State Street. The atmosphere is top tier with big beautiful windows covering the front of the brewery giving you sweeping views of the tree lined State Street. Modern and clean inside, shiny concrete counter tops surround the large bar area and there's a good sized patio out front if you want to enjoy the breeze. There were so many beers that looked delicious that we opted for a flight so we could try as many as possible. They let us build our own flight and our favorite turned out to be a Thai chili infused brew but their IPA selection was really good too. They've got good happy hour deals and pretty cute merch. We opted just for drinks but their pizza looked pretty good on our neighbor's tables. This is a must visit for brew lovers when in downtown Santa Barbara. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Institution Ale's sweeping views of State Street. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Food was delicious service was just as good and you had views of the neighborhood and football games on the TVs. Plenty of Inside seating and some outdoor. They also have seating in the back that has arcade games. Definitely a place worth visiting will be back for sure. read more

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While in Santa Barbara, my wife and I stopped in for a beer. Then we saw "Wagyu/Bleu Cheese Pizza". Ok, gotta try that, right? I asked Gibson, our host, what to pair it with. Gibson said their signature beer was their 'Maple Brown Ale.' Ok, 1st off, I've eaten pizza all over the world. To date the best I've had was a simple pizza (dough, olive oil, mozzarella and seasoning) in Taormina, Sicily. Until today! Truly, this is the best I've ever had. The dough was perfect, as was the cheese and Wagyu. And the arugula really added that perfect element of soft bitterness. It's crazy how delicious the pizza was. As for the beer, the maple brown ale tasted just like those caramelly central German beers that are so delicious. Faust beer comes to mind. Gibson later told me this beer is a multi-award winner, and I can see why. And we ate outside in the beer garden, while added a nice touch to lunch. We look forward to our next visit to Santa Barbara! read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Wagyu/Bleu Cheese Pizza - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Mexican lager was solid and great place to watch sports on their TVs. Love that it is dog friendly and plenty of seating inside and outside. Service was great and let me sample the beer before purchasing it. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Mexican Lager - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

There's a ton of TV's and we came in specifically to watch the Dodgers. Tyler changed the Tv right in front of us to World Cup soccer. I let him know that we were watching the game that was almost over paraphrasing, "World Cup only happens every so often and dodgers are every day. I understand the World Cup is on. But there are a ton of TVS and he could have been more apologetic. Not customer friendly at all. I drink beer everyday but today I'm not tipping today read more

Great place to sit and enjoy the weather over some beers. Watched football while waiting for my wife to shop. Beers were great. We decided to eat here. The bbq chicken pizza was some of the best I've ever had. Really liked it. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Bbq chicken pizza - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I'm not big on beer but my boyfriend is a big Guinness fan. They have a coffee stout here that he said was absolutely delicious!! Their happy hour has good deals and the energy here is super nice and social! I'm glad we stopped here for a little drink while walking around read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My favorite spot in town. Went for their twelve year anniversary party and had the special beer . Sat in the beer garden at the fire pit listening to music. Best pizza and salads in town also.! read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We took a weekend trip to Santa Barbara and our friends recommended this place! We visited on a Friday night and there was lots of seating, they even have a back room. They have a bunch of tv's playing sports games, clean bathrooms, and board games for people to play. Very dog-friendly too. We ordered a couple beers (I forgot what they were named sorry) and a full pizza. We were able to do 2 types of toppings, the chicken sandwich and the hot honey bacon. This pizza can easily fill 3 people, it's really heavy! It was delicious though, and their ranch is really good. Their service was also good, kind employees who checked in on us often. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Pizza - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is a great place on State Street. Love this location and how the windows are completely open to the street. Great vibes always. Order at the counter. Tons of seating front back and beer garden. Beers are very tasty. Pizza is like tavern-style and very good. Legit place for after work beers, late night beers, just really anytime beers to be honest. We will be back. read more

- Locale Destination - It's on E Costa st and State st in Santa Barbara. Ambiance: open, modern, casual Menu: bunch of beers and pizza Service: quick - Gluttony Expedition - White walls: citrus, smooth, nice body - anyone who isn't fond of too light beer, this is great! - Conqueror's Deduction - They offer good quality! There are so many breweries, but this is a good one! I wanna try more. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - White walls - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Stopped by Validation Ale on a warm fall night with friends, and it was just what we needed. We tried their IPA, which was crisp and flavorful, and enjoyed the laid back vibe. The friendly staff and cozy outdoor seating made it a perfect spot to relax. Definitely a place I'd visit again. Check out my visit @sosalicious805 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBu9lwlRHq7/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came here as I hit the different breweries in SB. Located right on the strip, which is convenient at the expense of there being a lot of tourists. I could've done without the latter; at one point, like 10 girls walked in, used the bathroom, and then walked out without buying a thing even as the staff heckled them. Speaking of staff, there were a crapton of people around. Not particularly knowledgeable (they were mystified by the cask ale behind the counter) but whatever. The vibe was a little bit weird which is why I ended up not getting food. Beer itself was quite good. I did a flight and while the IPAs they're heavy on did nothing for me, the darker stuff (including a brown ale and a porter) was quite good. I would've taken something home however I already had enough beer, and I did prefer the stuff I got from 3rd Window which was special. Not a terrible place however probably won't stop in again. read more

I can't say enough about this place. My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner here with 25+ people. The manager made the process of booking so easy, we rented out the back room and placed our food order prior. Everything went SO smoothly and the service was amazing we had a bar tender just tending to us. The food was bomb and drinks were definitely flowing! We will definitely be back just to hang! read more

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It's a great little spot, nothing spectacular, but worth going to if you're a beer fan. Highly recommend the IPAs. Service was friendly enough! Nice patio outside to sit out on and enjoy your beer. read more

It was my first time at Institution Ale in Santa Barbara. The service was fine, and the ambiance was very basic and simple--it would be better with a more interesting design. The beer wasn't bad, but nothing special. We had heard that the food was good, but we didn't get a chance to try it. Overall, it wasn't bad, but there are better places. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Garbage! Pizza is the worst in Santa Barbara! Save your money and go elsewhere!! We Bought a pizza and it was paper thin Full of Greece and went directly into the trash can after a homeless man didn't even want it! That says A LOT. read more

This is the 2nd time we've been to Institution Ale SB, although we've been frequenting Institution since they first started in their teeny space down near CSUCI. The SB staff are always incredibly friendly which always makes for a great experience. The atmosphere of the SB location has a nice chill feel where you can just truly relax, breathe in that salty ocean air, enjoy a bite to eat, and sip on some of the best beers in California. They have a nice beer garden adjacent to their building, but if you choose to sit inside, the windows are all open so you still get that fresh air. They have some fun arcade games in back and a shelf with boardgames up front. There's a cooler with 4-packs ready to go as well as a Crowler / Growler fill station. Merch selection is also on point as always. We love all of their beers, but yesterday I was particularly digging their California Common; so much so that I had to leave with a 4-pack. If you haven't been to Institution, you're missing out! read more

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Nice open space on Main Street. There is seating outside in the front, inside and space in the back that was having a party. We ordered the pretzels, 2 Mexican Lager and Tri-Tip pizza for $65. The pizza was spicy and the beer was clean. I really enjoyed the pretzels even though I asked for double cheese instead of the mustard but didn't get it. Decklen was serving and doing a great job. read more

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Good for bringing young kids, delicious pizza and a good selection of drinks. Nice view of vibrant downtown.

Navigate the Maze!! loved this beer so much we came back for a second visit. It is everything you want from a beer on a hot summer day. We like the establishment and the food choices although we didn't eat there. The pretzel was tempting so NEXT time we will definitely give it a whirl. Parking is easy and that's a bonus. read more

Excellent time on a Sat night! Drank Institution IPAs and enjoyed live music on a Sat night. Munched on warm pretzels too read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Love institution ale, it's a great central location in the heart of state street and downtown SB. Great beers, food and staff! Good for sports on weekends and people watching, also has a great side patio with live music sometimes. read more

Very chill and laid back. Good beer and food and vibes. Service was helpful and the staff was friendly.

Always good time at Institution Ale. Great beer and good food. Awesome staff, friendly, service oriented, with a smile and conversation. Great job on orienting your staff: Institution Ale Corporate. Today Octoberfest celebration with music and bratwurst. Always something fun going on, check website for events, live music schedule. Love the open air indoor and outdoor seating. Don't forget they also have Football Sunday, open at 10 am. read more

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I always come here to get beers so my review is about beers and not about food. It' was hot day today,my bf and I were walking around the State street and got beers. We ordered " keys for door that don't exist". It was good. It's powerful and a little bit sweet, goes down easy. The place is very open concept. There are 6 TVs and showing baseball games and football games. There are many seats and also outside seating too. Dog friendly. The other space is isolated so maybe good for family who have kids. read more

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A warm day in Santa Barbra and walk bye this brewery. Walked in for Happy hour and got a beer. Got a nice mango wheat beer. Nice place to stop by for a beer on a warm day. Nice service too. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - A nice cold bear on a nice warm Santa Barbara day. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Fun place to watch the game. Basic hangover food and yummy beer! Plenty of tv's so you can watch any game.

Institution had a very industrial and open concept of a brewery. The inside was very well lit and cooling for such a hot day in Santa Barbara. They had a great AC! My partner and i had the raspberry ale someone had recommended to us off the tap, it was Light and very flavorful as far as fruit ales go. I would have it again! They do offer a flight beer sample if you want to try a few of their selections. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Raspberry ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Friendly service, affordable prices, board games, and chill ambiance. You can tell this is a local favorite. My favorite was the mango tart, but only if you like sours. We ordered a pretzel and they were very speedy with bringing out our order. This is worth a try!! read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came by as part of my brewpub crawl. Met up with a friend. I ordered their lunch special of a pizza and a beer for $12. I ordered their carne asada pizza as a staff member recommended it. Pizza came out timely and at the right temperature. Food and beer was very good. Man, that carne asada pizza was very good and their lunch special is a great deal. Will definitely be back for their lunch special. Staff was friendly and welcoming. There is inside and outside seating. Food: 4.5 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 Value: 4 read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Cheers - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Very good beer, way above average. Tried 5 and liked them all. Cheese pizza also great. Cool vibe, servers, and atmosphere with an arcade in the back. Nice big open airy space. Seemed cleaned and well organized- the manager deserves kudos. This place is rad. read more

This is an awesome downtown brewery! Institution absolutely nailed it with this location. Super large, bright venue, with giant windows on three sides, patio seating, and a massive four-sided bar right in the center. It was decorated modern/urban and included some holiday decorations. I did not initially realize that they have a large back room which has video games and an additional bar. Super cool vibe. There was an abundance of staff, and all were attentive. We were helped by "ON," I hope that is how you spell it? He was gregarious with personality for days, he made our experience all the better. He also had great beer recommendations after I walked him through some of my favorite brews. When we arrived, the bar was nearly full, but we found a perfect area on the bench seating inside. It was perfect because my group played "UNO" the card game, which they had onsite. The location has various card/board games which can addd to the fun. The beer is the showstopper, all excellent, they know how to make an IPA. I hope this place does well. I will most definitely be back soon. read more

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I always find myself coming back to this place every time I'm in town, especially now that I discovered this pizza! The meat pizza is absolutely delicious! I paired with the crisp RX Pils and it's the perfect combo. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is our "Go To" Brewery when in Santa Barbara. The food, service, and ambience is 100% They've got it all! Delicious food. Good beer. Great service. Video games in their back room, board games, TVs, music, you don't need to leave. The guys taking your order are always friendly. They have a nice beer garden too, with a bar to order from, stringed lights and picnic style tables. "It's a vibe!" We love it here! Situated on State Street, public parking in the back. Recommend!!! Cheers! read more

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Great beer and flatbread off of State Street! Happy hour starts at 3pm on weekdays for a discount on pints. I got the White Walls which is a Citra IPA. It's close enough to a hazy which is my preferred beverage of choice. Their flatbread is great too and the bartender was very attentive to detail, giving us another one since the first one was made too small. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Cheesy Garlic Sticks - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The beer quality was standard. We ordered "the white walls" and "on these bones". There were a few things that raised my eyebrows and made me skeptical on the professionalism of the staff and business. When we arrived we tried to order at the bar but were redirected to order from the main kiosk which was not an issue at first. Later we sat down and as we were enjoying our drink other people arrived and they were serviced several times at the bar without having to go to the main kiosk. Also, the bathrooms for men and women are in completely separate sections. When inquiring on the location I was told there were no women's restrooms as the staff giggled. This made me feel uncomfortable as she was another girl and told her male coworker "that was a good one" while giggling. I am from out of town and was really looking forward to the experience and unfortunately it was not good. read more

Great Beers! We also really enjoyed our pepperoni and pineapple pizza and pretzel. The BBQ Chicken salad was very fresh and delicious. This is a fun place to hang out, have a beer and play shuffleboard with our kids- we'll be back! read more

This was another stop along our mother/son excursion. This was one of our final stop for the day. We had to place our order inside and found seating outside which was perfect for people watching. I'm not sure what kind of beer I had (my son ordered them) but they were good. We also had a vegetarian pizza which was excellent. I really enjoyed sitting outside with the drinks and food. read more

Institution Ale - Santa Barbara - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I have been at this place a few times in past years and I have not had THE worst experience here. I get the soccer game was on (it was over as well) but to have the music on SOOOOOO loud that I'm screaming at the people I am with to have a conversation is NOT good!!!! I don't think I will EVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN!!!! I'm disappointed. read more