I am not much of a beer drinker. It does not fit my style. Plus, Emily Gilmore implied that it was nitwit juice and Buffy devolved to a Cave person after drinking enchanted beer so these quasi-after-school specials taught me that heathens and their kin drink beer. Of course, I kid, beer can be a wonderful thing, I just rather do cocktails and shots. So I went to Sugar Monkey Brewing because of a different pull: a power point slide show where friends pitch their single friends to strangers for a chance at love or romp. So I went in not knowing much of Sugar Monkey Brewing and I left with clear understanding that this place is an industrial beer oasis near the beach. The contrast of sand and blue on the horizon and the present aluminum lining made me feel like I was seeing a new uncommon mixture that proved that clashing environments can gel to delight. I found parking easily. It was a Saturday early evening, and about a 5 minute walk was where I discovered my spot. I honestly hated that I had to walk those 5 minutes but the walk uplifted my spirits for the weather was California crisp and the air and sky and atmosphere felt safe and proper. I wondered if i had the right place? The streets looked like too industrial. Like I had gone to one of those places that had a lot of factories in rows, but not much else. But I turned a corner and there was Sugar Monkey. Then I realized that a brewery would probably look like a beer factory so this place, with all its steel and pumps, had found its home amongst beach skies. As I walked back to my car, later that evening, I was in slight awe at the pale light blue and orange sky. It was serene, and vast and somehow beach appropriate. The water tower iin a picture I took was a nice touch as it reminded me of the Animaniacs, especially Wakko and Dot. I arrived after the first presentation was on its way. I started to listen intently to understand the dynamics because this all seemed so weird yet plausible. Like a dating auction turned fun not hokey or corny? The person was hyping up her friend J. Apparently, he spoke many languages, and hiked and did all these other stuff that were meant to induce attractions. Then she asked, What can he do? And she then explained how she was going to make a joke and that no one needed to fear going to hell if they laughed. And she then reveal that the thing he can't do is SEE because he was blind. The joke was in good taste. The joke, at least to me, carried disability pride. She had revealed that he was different because his sight was different to a crowd of would be judges and suitors. The strength of the duo was refreshing, dare I say, more than the beach breeze. Being witness to this moment made me feel like I had seen a beautiful moment and one I never imagine I would see. And for this reason alone, my trip to Sugar Monkey was more than fun, it was heart-opening. The place itself is cool. Their outside was a huge garden like setting. The place had pool, however, the patio is crowded so I am not sure how people can play if too many people are there. Another thing I saw- that is a credit to this place- is that it had a wheelchair elevator. So if someone was chilling in the patio and wanted to chill in their wooded floor area- where the bar was they could use the wheelchair lift, if they could not use their legs. The place had also had kind of like an off-beat personality. It had a British phone, an astronaut that seemed to have hit a space that painted him with grafitti flare, and beers with names like green means go. I think I would go to this place again, for the beer and the air and to Karaoke. I loved this place and the activity it hosted! read more

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We visited Sugar Monkey Brewing on the 4th of July to celebrate my husband's birthday with a few friends and our kids. Unfortunately, the service completely ruined what should have been a fun afternoon. The brewery was practically empty, we were the only group there so there was no reason for the attitude we received. One of the servers, a woman with bright orange/blonde bleached hair, was incredibly rude from the moment we arrived. Every interaction seemed to annoy her. She rolled her eyes when anyone in our group asked for anything, acted inconvenienced by the simplest requests such as ordering another beer, and made everyone at our table feel uncomfortable. The worst part was that her behavior upset my 7-year-old son so much that he ended up crying. No child should leave a birthday celebration feeling intimidated by a server. To top it off, as we were finishing up, she started loudly slamming chairs around, making it painfully obvious that she wanted us to leave, even though there was no one else in the brewery. We came to support a local business and celebrate a special occasion, but instead left feeling unwelcome. Based on this experience, we won't be returning. read more

The beer is ok, 3/5. Definitely a step behind the other breweries in area but a few options I do like. Food trucks are typically very solid, overall I would give food a 4/5. Ownership/service is about as bad as it gets. Overall service is pretty awful, not welcoming, catering to an odd crowd. I've been to sugar monkey about 20+ times over the last year, so this isn't a one off experience. We live local and go often but have slowly started just going to other breweries in the area given consistently poor service/rude servers here. I think there is really high potential here but they just swing and miss. read more

Sadly this place is not conducive to accommodating families with children who are mobile. Meaning, if your child walks outside of the 2 feet within your table, you will be talked (more like aggressively talked down to) about watching your child and not letting them play with games that clearly are bait for children (ping pong, corn hole, etc). We've tried giving this place now 3 chances but the last visit will be the last time we ever go there. Bummer because so many local families love patronizing our breweries in town. read more

Banana chocolate stout good and different. Others had IPAs and said ok. Outside is small but they had a large TV with a clear screen for game. Not impressed by the food vendor. Not sure I would return as I prefer other breweries in the area. read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Big TV for football outside - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

I had been here back when it was Upshift, and I've got to say -- the beers are even better now under Sugar Monkey. I stopped by in August when a friend flew into LAX. We wanted to catch up over a couple of beers, and Sugar Monkey got the nod since parking's easy on the street and there's plenty of seating. We grabbed a table outside and had a great time. The brewery itself is spotless, and the beers are solid -- very drinkable across the board. The guy working the counter was super chill, took the time to explain the different styles, and just had an easygoing vibe that fit the place perfectly. I really liked Sugar Monkey and definitely need to come back soon to confirm it's as good as I think it is. For now, an easy 4.5 stars! read more

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Solid beer in a great relaxing atmosphere. A great escape from the busyness of Los Angeles!

Have been here twice and each time I've loved it. watched the superbowl because we didn't feel like having a party ourselves. It was a great atmosphere and I love that it's family friendly. I don't drink much so it was nice to have non alcoholic options. I got the non alcoholic version of blood orange pomegranate seltzer and it was good. I think I've found one of my favorite place to spend a Sunday! read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Blood orange pomegranate non alcoholic version - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

Never met bartenders who have been less inviting and more consistently rude. Gave this place 5 shots, spent tons of money, and received nothing but rude service. Do not go here unless you would like to be a model of human behavior. They yelled at our kids 3 different occasions, our friend's dog. I have had my water bottle checked while sipping from beer to see if there was vodka in it. The pilsner is too sweet. The service is ratchet. Do yourself a favor and don't give money to a place that doesn't value how they treat people. They don't seem to know what comes with having a restaurant/ brewery that serves actual humans. (See Allie M's review as it's so much of what we felt). read more

I loved the atmosphere but the owner was such a people pleaser towards the white race. We got here at 1pm to watch the Mexico game and they changed the audio from Spanish to English. Mind you the crowd was mainly Mexican Americans. There were only 2 tables of England fans. On top of that there was one couple who arrived late and didn't get good seating so they asked the owner to take down the umbrella shades from the tables yo accommodate this couple. All while the sun was blazing hot. read more

Excellent patio area with karaoke on Wednesday. Come sing and drink good tasting beers. read more

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Let me start off by saying they have disposable puppy bowls for water! which I've never seen at another brewery they usually have the metal ones. It's a big establishment in an alley way. Entrance is to the left. Came here on a Friday and it wasn't too packed but it was about 93 degrees out. They have plenty of TV's which was playing hockey and baseball at the moment. They do have ciders and beer. There's currently a pizza stand on the side. There's a dj playing some house music. They have an indoor and outdoor area. read more

What a great spot this is. Really nice outside set up. We enjoyed the variation in beers, the chill vibe sitting outside was perfect for us. Met the owner he was really nice too. Highly recommend. read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

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We really liked that i had in and outside seating, with a great selection of beers. We were warmly welcomed and given recommendations from the staff. Great place to catch a game. read more

The Sugar Monkey brewery Green means Go is one of the best stouts I've had!! We travel all over the USA going to breweries everywhere we travel, I've had several dark beers however there are only a few i would have again. This one is a top 3 brew! Great job brew master! read more

Great brewery that has a good amount of outdoor space in the back. Good for groups! They have a nice selection of beers and serve flights too. A lot of the beers that I had were perfect for the spring weather and easy to drink. They also have food trucks that rotate throughout the week. They don't have parking so you'll have to find some street parking unfortunately but it wasn't too bad when I went. Service was friendly and knowledgeable about their brews too! read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Flight - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

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We enjoyed the brewery and the bartender was really nice. There is good indoor and outdoor seating and they had a food truck/tent. The beer: A Cole Day in Helles (great) Pour Attendance New Zealand Pilsner (excellent) Intrusive Thoughts Hefeweizen (not a Hefe or dirty lines as it was new...tasted like a hazy IPA) Toxic Positivity dark lager (great) read more

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There weren't many beer options, and I didn't like any from the ones I tried. They had a pool table, one dart board, and a ping pong table. The outdoor seating was nice with fire pit tables. I probably wouldn't come back here for the beers. read more

Sugar Monkey is the new joint that took over the space of Upshift Brewery. In my opinion the beers have improved. They have a little something for everyone plus some clever names for all like "Not Today Satan" for just water (can't beat that). They have weekly events and seem to be a favorite of party planners since there's always something going on in the patio. Overall a great place to have a few. read more

I stumbled upon this place on their last call. Last I remember this was downshift brewing Company formerly. I pulled up on a last-minute brewery, adventure, and stumbled upon this place after another. There was a taco catering service outside, which is good. The ambience is more than spacious and has heaters as well as mini bonfires. If you're in the El Segundo area, I urge you to try this place. It is a must. There's something for everyone as well as seltzers, strong, ales and IPAs. The servers were incredibly helpful and very sweet. It is a place I will definitely come back to. read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - There is a little bit for everyone here.. especially if you're a starting into beer, tasting or into seltzers - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

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Love love love this spot. The beers are great and the staff is always so nice and attentive. They have different food pop-ups and also let you bring in your own food in. Laid back vibe. Last time I was there they were broadcasting the football game. Great place to just grab a pint and relax and enjoy the night. read more

Good beer great outdoor seating located close to many of the aerospace companies nearby. The service was good and selection on micro brews was decent read more

Drinks, Food Trucks and Games. This place has everything to have the perfect hang out. They have billiards, ping-pong, foot soccer, mini golf stuff and more to entertain you and your friends. The have a good selection of beer so anyone can find something to thier liking. There are different food trucks at the location each day. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. I went on a Weekday so there wasn't many people but I'm sure it gets busy on the weekends. I do recommend coming here if your are looking for something that checks off a fun atmosphere and good beer. read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Black Cherry seltzer - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

Been looking for an outdoor place to drink beers watch games and play sports. Found it! Tommy, the owner, introduced himself while I was in line and told us he's aiming for an upscale bar that's more than just a sports bar. Beer is fire. I like modelo and their Monkey Si quenches that thirst. Girlfriend got a flight of crafted seltzers and light beer. Psyched to have found this place. I'll be back regularly. read more

Loved it, totally a calm and relaxing vibe. You can lounge outside or hangout inside, but either one is comfortable and inviting. Prices are fair, beer is yummy! They have a calendar that let's you know their upcoming events and food vendors. read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Seltzer Flight - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

Maybe my tastebuds were off today. But none of the beers were tasty to me. My husband didn't quite enjoy his ipa either. The Mexican lager was ok. The Japanese lager tasted like a familiar Vietnamese dish that shouldn't have been a beer, the nitro was quite flat, and the 3 bananas was probably the best one. A bit on the sweeter side but it wasn't overpowering. For a 10%+ abv, it was pretty solid. The service from Liz was great and the space is fantastic. I appreciate the clean bathrooms and the heaters placed all around. read more

This place is amazing! We had an engagement party here and rented out half of the patio, and they were so accommodating. The patio is super cool, they had darts, cornhole, ping pong, and a pool table. The owner is the best, he mentioned that they had an Xbox they could setup with Rock Band, it was like he read my mind. We had people playing guitar all night! For the rental he also set us up with a cooler full of NA drinks in addition to the great beers on tap. The standout beers for most of the party were their tropical shandy, and their rice lagers. Everyone on staff was on top of cleaning out empties and getting us new drinks super quickly, and they were all so nice and engaging. And on top of it all, the playlist they have is always solid. Interpol/Bloc Party are mainstays on the sound system, and they threw some emo on at the end of the night. read more

Absolutely avoid. Especially if you have kids. So many other great breweries in this area that deserve business. I frequent breweries maybe once a week or so and this I will be avoiding completely going forward. Have already told all my friends before writing this. The owner should be embarrassed and do some major trimming of staff. I took my wife, three kids, and mom here today. At first I got pushback from my wife on going here as the first time we went here a few months ago with other families was not a good experience, but I went for it as I wanted to give it a second chance. Mistake. It's not the place itself - which is nice and comfortable and good place to chill - but the staff that is the problem. First time we came we were scolded at least two or three times for our and our friends' kids dropping crumbs on the ground and our not instantly picking them up. Also for them being farther than arms reach away and us not controlling them and keeping them right at our table. Weren't even being disruptive, but just being kids. First time this has ever happened, which is incredible given how often we go to breweries given how easy breweries generally are with kids. Specifically, there is a woman employee here - maybe 5'9 or so with darker complexion, bigger build - who made us feel incredibly inferior during this first time and called us out multiple times unnecessarily and not in a kind way that I would expect from someone in the hospitality business. Then today, when we pulled up to check out what food truck was here and slowed down in front of the building, a white car behind us pulled up and blared their horn at us after we were stopped to literally seconds. Incredibly embarrassing. Literally we were sitting there for maybe 1-2 seconds when they did this. Then they proceed to stop and park in front of the brewery, and walk inside. Ends up it's the same exact girl who was incredibly mean and rude to my entire group the first time we were there. Incredibly rude. Who does that in front of their own employer? If any of the employees who work for me did that it would be a major problem for them. And then seeing how she, and the rest of the staff, treated patrons who take time out of their day to come here and spend money, is frankly pathetic. This has to be happening often for this to be the same experience both times we came here completely at random. Another male staff member scolded my kids for taking dog treats out of the dog treat bin right in front of me. Asking if they realized those were dog treats and asking if we had a dog in order to use (we do - she was with us and I told my boys they could get her a treat). Same guy also told my kids to get off the unused stage when they stepped on it for two seconds, saying it was a liability. Just ridiculous. My kids are very well behaved and this is uncalled for. Just chill a bit. Again, we go to breweries literally all the time and have never run into this sort of thing. I generally am very forgiving and don't write reviews like this, but this place deserves to know and people should know before coming. Go anywhere else but here. Give companies business who treat people kindly. Not like complete trash and like we're lucky to even be there. Happy to share more of my experiences with owner or anyone else. Kept to brief here. read more

Chris the manager is amazing great customer service. His two other staff (two women) are helpful as well. They have various pop up food vendors on specific days. You will not be disappointed.. calendar available online (social media) so you can plan ahead. One of my favorites night is west coast Wednesdays. They play west coast rap.. They also have beer trivia which is fun as well. read more

Such a cool spot! First time brining the fur baby here and this place is a vibe! The brews are fresh and crisp! They had a food vendor and they had a nice pulled pork sandwich that I got. Chris the bartender was the homie and knew his brews. So many bartender's don't know beer so it was a breath of fresh air! Be back soon! read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Taproom - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

Not a great experience. First of all, Yelp says they take cash and they don't. Also heard rave reviews about the nonalcoholic seltzer which apparently they don't serve anymore. And the nonalcoholic beer still has alcohol in it? That one has me baffled. Then they didn't have enough clean glasses for my flight. Then the gal who took my order got it wrong and my flight was incorrect. The outdoor area had a DJ with some blasting techno music circa 2004 that gave us all a headache. Definitely won't be going back. read more

I like to consider myself an 'irregular regular' at Sugar Monkey. I come often, but not quite enough! It's honestly a great brewery in El Segundo, bringing a fun vibe to the city. I love the fire heaters and bonfire tables--they really add to the atmosphere. Plus, there's plenty to do with games like cornhole, ping pong, shuffleboard, and, most importantly, a pool table. The beers are tasty and fairly priced. My go-tos are the Monkey Si, Monkey Deux, and Cheeky Monkey, but none of their other brews have ever steered me wrong. The bathrooms are clean, the space is well-maintained, and the staff is always super helpful. Major shout-out to Liz and Chris! read more

Sugar Monkey Brewing - Entrance - Brewpubs Near Me - El Segundo, California

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Casual brewery that's kid and pet friendly. Came here on a Saturday around noon and lots of tables were available. There's indoor and outdoor seating. There's also a ping pong table and cornhole, so you can stay active. They kindly gave some kid goodie bags to us to keep the little ones entertained. Street parking was easy. The food truck wasn't there on time as advertised so we opted for In N Out / Five Guys as those were nearby. Credit cards accepted. Overall, a chill spot to hang out. read more

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Came in to try out another local brewery and loved the CheekyMonkey (Japanese-Mexican Lager) and the Spanglish (Mexican Amber). I had the $5 Taster (5 oz) size servings as that's all I felt like this afternoon. Great location near the PCH and the hotels near LAX. Nice atmosphere. Danny was also a friendly server. read more

my friend Caron Had her holiday Soiree! at sugar monkey. And what a fun time we did have karaoke, delicious spirits, good company, and Kellie the perfect beer tender to help us with our needs. Spoke with the Owner for one moment and asked about how sugar monkey came about Love The nostalgia with the name Sugar Monkey, from what i remember his mother called the grandkids Sugar Monkey I believe this is the story behind it. Anyhow. So much. Going on last night. Thank you sugar. Monkey for having such a wonderful venue. We wish ((YOU)) Much success if anybody's thinking about having a holiday party. This is a great venue,, has all the bells and whistles blankets for if it gets Cold activities,games to play ,cosmic karaoke and much more.... They even had a barbecue vendor there, and it was delicious And plenty of room for company parties and more.. read more

Found this hidden in el segundo. A wide and unique selection of beers(like the Japanese/Mexican style lager). Bar tender was very friendly and there was plenty of cozy space with a big tv. Highly recommend read more

Sugar Monkey is a blast and the customer service was fantastic. We hosted a group event there during the week and coordinated logistics through the owner, Tommy and GM Chris. Our group enjoyed reserved seating at two of the fireplace tables, amazing drinks (totally recommend the hard seltzers), and the great atmosphere. Sugar Monkey recieved rave reviews from our group and we can't wait to go back, both as a group and individually. read more

This little brewery tucked in off PCH in el segundo is the perfect spot for a weekend mingling with friends. They have a variety of drinks (seltzers and beers) served in several size or the option of a flight! It's an indoor/outdoor with high and low tables, dim lighting and an array of games (pool, corn hole, and board games) there's often live music and food trucks! read more

I don't know where to start..... We fell in love with this brewery and one of the main reasons was that my toddler got a goodie bag from Liz. That was a huge plus for us. We had a party of maybe 25 people including kiddos celebrated my boyfriend bday and it felt like a backyard fam thing... Adriana is co-owner and was there with her kiddos and husband and business partner. We learned that sugar monkey was what her grandma used to call them as kids ( Adriana and her business partner) Our family and friends looooved the place as well. We are all of Different ages from early 20s to late 40's We will def be back again. And the beers were delicious. Also, as far as food goes we were able to bring our own sushi platter but they'll have a random food truck. Btw Marisol was Amazing read more

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Huge outdoor patio such a cool vibe. The bartender gave us a couple of tasters too since we were undecided. The beers were delicious and the ambiance is great. They had a decent happy hour deal too, we got here around 4 pm. They always have rotating food trucks as well. read more