There are few things as satisfying as a well-earned meal, washed down with a tasty craft beer. And believe me, we earned it. We had just hiked the Beaudry Motorway Loop in the nearby Verdugo Mountains, and were looking forward to visiting Golden Road Brewing again.
Our first visit was a year ago, when our friend Kolby was visiting from Oregon for a private screening of the JMT documentary, MILE…MILE & A HALF (are you sensing a theme?). The food and the beer was excellent, and we were long overdue for a return visit.
Golden Road Brewing is a relative newcomer to the LA-area craft brewing scene. It’s only a few years old, but they are definitely doing something right. Their pub is adjacent to their brewery in Atwater Village, and it’s huge. Plenty of seating inside or on the covered patios. There are a few flat-screens with sports, a ping pong table and foose-ball. They even hosted a morning yoga class.
We placed our food and beverage orders and settled in. Even though we had just hiked six miles, we didn’t feel at all out of place. The vibe is very relaxed.
The Beer
Joan ordered a flight to sample a number of their standards. All were good, but she was surprised to find that she really enjoyed Golden Road’s Point the Way IPA (she typically doesn’t like IPAs).
I chose one of the two cask beers they had available — an off-menu pale ale called Homebrew. Not only was it brewed here (as all of their beers are) but Golden Road actually grew the hops for this smooth pale ale on the premise.
The Food
The pub offers a wide range of snacks and meals. Some of it your typical pub grub, but with a tasty, fresh, locally-sourced and diverse spin. I opted for the Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich with fries. Vegetarian friendly and really tasty, even to a life-long carnivore.
Joan had the Pulled Pork Sandwich, which is braised in Golden Road Brewing Hefe and wildflower honey. It was so good, I didn’t even get a little taste.
Golden Road Brewing is currently our favorite craft brewery in LA. The beer is excellent. The food is fantastic. The location is perfect. And there’s free parking along the street. What more could you ask for?
Yoda says: “Drink the IPA, you will.”
Golden Road Brewing
5410 West San Fernando Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
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