Helia Brewing Company

I discovered Helia Brewery place in Vista only because I was invited to a wedding event that was hosted there. Location: tucked in an industrial business areas, however safe and nice. Ambience: Cozy both inside and outside. Casual, clean and inviting. Service: pleasant and friendly. I have lots of admiration for the team, behind the counter, who make the beer, advertise and manage the operation. They create life and warmth to this Helia Brewery. Quality: i tried 3 of their brewery choices, all were excellent! Love it! A great place to meet up before or after dinner with friends or whoever or just solo to chill.

Nice bohemian brewery with a large selection of fresh beer. I tried a flight with a variety of their beer from IPAs, Reds, Ales and porters and all were very tasty. Stand outs were the Hazy Jae and Ponytail Red! Welcoming environment and staff, art on the walls and ample space for seating inside and out. I'll be coming back!

4th stop is Helia Brewing Company. For starters, the place is visually spectacular. Followed by some bitchin' beers. All beers have plenty of head retention and laced our glasses. I recommend their Pale ale and Mexican Lager. Come pay them a vist!

Awesome vibe! I brought my laptop to knock out some stuff and the WiFi made it easy to do. Great outdoor fireplace. Indoor and outdoor seating, and ping pong for a stretch break. Staff is super friendly and beers are great. Plenty of parking!!!

Helia Brewing is amazing. The space is phenomenal and the beer is excellent. The Barrel Aged options are fantastic. It's a must see for Vista breweries.

I've been coming periodically for DiscoDaze rollerskating but the brewery is nice anytime! I love their Lo Tide beer to avoid that too full feeling you get from most of the heavier beers. Love the community and the friendly service!

Beer is good. Cool hipster vibes with plenty of space to hang out. Some games to play. Dog friendly. Next to a lot of other breweries. Definitely stop by this one on your way to or from the other.

Great new place. Hardly anyone there when we went. Food was somewhat of a standard but fries went well with the beer...and when does fried food not? Bathroom was clean and well cared for. Not the normal sticky and stained mess that can so easily come from a place that serves beer.

This review is based on the event space during a live concert here... Attended a rockin & spunky performance here by Jungle Poppins - a special needs rock band. Helia Brewing is a wonderful open space that has an industrial feel in this working brewery. Friendly staff, clean restrooms, table tennis option, outdoor patio. Food was provided by a food truck - at this event it was Ms. Potato - an excellent beer pairing! I didn't partake in the beer but my hubby enjoyed one of the recommended hazy IPAs, but needs to try more to reach a solid conclusion about the beer. I'll keep an eye out for future special events here when I'm in town!

This was my first time trying this brewery and it was excellent. We stopped in and tried the Mystic Sea Witch blueberry guava sour that I really liked, kinda hazy and not too sweet or sour. We then tried the No Street Express pilsner and Helia porter that paired nicely with chocolate cupcakes somebody brought. The service was great, the staff was nice and the ambiance was chill. I will be back again to try more beers.

Great find tonight. We stopped in and grabbed a couple of pints. Bar-masters were super friendly and it looked like they were closing but they kept it open and were really nice about it. The owner was there and super friendly. My dad had the Far from East IPA and really enjoyed it. I had the Mexican lager and it was a great summer beer. I also tasted the blueberry sour and me likey. It wasn't super strong/ sour. We will be back to try a few others, but the attitude was positive and the beer excellent.

Perhaps my favorite brewery in the county and I've been too, ahem, several of them. Literally never had a bad sip of beer here. Nice people, comfortable indoor/outdoor setup and never too crowded. Good prices on sixtels and owner/brewer Kolby is super-cool.

First time here for a homebrew club wort buy. My favorite get I tried here was the porter. Nice relaxing environment and good service.

For the people that know me you know I love a good beer. I've heard about this place a few times and I finally got the chance to check it out. I love the decor here I really didn't expect it to have such a cool vibe. Also the this place is pretty huge and has a couple outdoor patios. I met up with my home girl and we ordered a flight and sat outside. Okay so I love a good IPA and most of the beers here are IPAs which I thought was a little strange but no problem. So out of the beers we got nothing really stood out to me. There were some that I liked more than others. The main reason why I'm giving them a four star rating is because the cool decor, the huge space, and the outdoor patios. I would go back again to try more beers to see if they have one that I really like.

Enjoyed Helia Brewing Co very much! A newer brewery with a relaxed, bohemian, beachy vibe, slightly offset from the Pacific Ocean in a business park area with a few other breweries in the beautiful city of Vista. Not your run of the mill brewery when it comes to the aesthetics, which is refreshing. Parking was fine, not a huge lot or anything but between it and the street I can't imagine there being any issues accommodating max capacity. The folks there were very friendly, proud of what they've built and what they brew, and happy to chat about it with their patrons. The space isn't massive but it's got a good layout with what feels like a few different "areas" inside to kind of break things up, and a nice outside seating area with a stage. There's also an area in rear for food vendors which is always a nice perk when visiting a beer drinking establishment - nosh to pair! Dudht try the food, but it's good to know that it's there. In speaking with the owner it sounds like they are very active in hosting and participating in events and music, engaging and collaborating with the local community, which is awesome. Very good beers on tap, in an array of styles. As is common with most Southern California breweries these days, if not all breweries, the majority falling into some kind of "hoppy" category, likely due to the demand. Started with a flight of everything hoppy and was thoroughly impressed across the board - very drinkable and approachable in their execution, matching the overall vibe of the brewery. Nothing was over the top or in your face, for better or worse, and sometimes that's just what you need. Followed the flight up with a pint of their Jungle Bird which is a Sour - Cali Weiss - FANTASTIC! Tart, refreshing, incredibly drinkable light bodied beauty. Can't wait to come back!

Went to work and had quite the Monday and needed a nice cold beer after work and had a friend meet me here. Awesome ambiance that is relaxing and chill that you can bring your dog as well to join you. They have food trucks here sometimes and have such a great variety of beers for you to chose which one you are in the mood for. Ashley was so awesome and makes you feel like an immediate friend. Her dog Oakley is absolutely adorable and gives you a nice smiling greeting.

Great beer and environment. We took our dog and he loved chilling outside with us. Can't wait to go back.

Cool place To hang saw a live band, Cadillac fringe, grape and beer is good. Everything was pretty decent cool atmosphere, pink pong table.nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Best bar in north county hands down ! Great space super great beer all the time and brewed by women ran by women ! Women supporting women ! Our favorite place to be so welcoming and just super sweet great folks all around ! Beautiful space that hosts some great events all year long ! A place you need to experience again and again ! So go already yeah !!

No food unless there is a food truck that day. Excellent pour service and laid back cool surf ambiance. Games and awesome firepit.

Finally stopped by this spot. Hazy Jae has been one of my preferred IPAs of the last couple of years when I come across it in bars and restaurants, it definitely stands out in the sea of San Diego IPAs. It didn't disappoint having it straight from the source! The space is chill and has lots of little nooks to get comfortable in. I like the bohemian meets beach vibe and decor. Quality food truck on site today too (Aztec Sopes) which hit the spot. I didn't enjoy today's music selection (country music), didn't fit the vibe in my opinion. But I'm not a country guy and music is a big thing with me when it comes to vibe (DJ of 25 years). But hey, dealer's choice. I've run into country music at a few local Vista breweries lately, feels out of place to me but maybe I'm still adjusting to life in the 'burbs.

Really great beer! They have a fantastic beer list and a bunch of really great IPAS. I got an IPA flight which was great! The flight came in a really cool and decorated piece. The decor of this place was very beautiful as well and very unique. They also had a bunch of games to play and are dog friendly. The IPAs were the highlight of the night, they were very good. Service was friendly and fantastic as well. The only downside was the food that was there for the night. They do not have their own food so they have food trucks come by. I know it's not their fault but the food they hire for the night should also impress people to come back. It was unfortunately the worst mexican food I've had. The tacos were extremely dry and had zero flavor, and the rice and beans were extremely bland and cold. Really great beer I just hope they offer better food in the future.

Are you kidding me??? How is this jem hidden in Vista off a toad I take all the time?? So cool and beachy inside. Love the benches and tables and events they have! And don't forget the patio and games to enjoy while Drinking your beer. We enjoyed the Hazy IPA and it did Not disappoint. Friendly and inviting- looking forward to the summer beers and events from this brew house

This may be the prettiest brewery around and if not, it surely is the sunniest! Helia is the Greek word that represents the Sun Goddess, and the energy around the place is just that. A place for surf, suds, and decor that includes a salt lamp. I just completed a Hatha yoga teacher training early in the week and thought it might be the right kind of place to get some proper sun salutations in for the Mother's Day celebration. Tabitha was our beer-ista and we talked shop about work in the wine and wellness biz. Now, let's talk beer. My favorites of the day were Ponytail Red Ale and the Happy Pale Ale. I loved the toasty milk stout to end. I am not an IPA fan of any kind, so I avoid them. Tabitha and our dog became great friends (both gingers) it helped she had treats on hand. Every guest had a fur baby with them. It was Mother's Day and we were between brunch and a film. We wanted to go somewhere new, a place where our fur child was welcome between actives and we wanted to just chill (beer, on Mother's Day). Guess where I'm taking my husband for Father's Day? Helia has a variety of events such as paint nights and macrame making. I hope they contact me for an anniversary party, because I have this Hell-Yeah way to get the community involved. They have to like a little sand though. #HeliaBrewingCo #Hatha #PonytailRedAle #Gingers #SaltSudsSurf #GotSand #SunGoddess #MoreHashTags

What a pretty brewery! The brewery is big, has a lot of areas for groups, even an outside patio and a ping pong table. Definitely a hang out spot. The decor is also so unique and makes you want to relax. The beers were good! I definitely enjoyed my hazy IPA. The taste was clean and none of that tasting like pennies in a sink shit (what we normally experience from some small independent craft). They can make beers, if they keep this up and then started making some unique fun beers, I can see them being a big influencer in the community. Will definitely come back for some beers. It was nice chilling here with our pup and playing some board games.

Everyone at Helia is super nice but their beer is pretty bad. I've been here twice and have not had a decent beer. Maybe I've just gotten unlucky but I've tried 4 different ones and they have all tasted old and flat, one of them made my friend and I sick. 2 stars because their decor is on point!

Finally a chic brewery with great beers and great vibes! Not to say this brewery is girly by any means (trust me there were plenty of guys there) but the decor and attention to detail really set this brewery apart from others in north county. Despite the rainy May gray day, there was plenty of natural light and high ceilings which gave Helia a really welcoming feel. The art work is really cool and there are a wide variety of seating options including an outdoor patio. Even the bathroom was adorbs! I had been wanting to check them out for some time and finally had the opportunity via a macrame workshop...check their calendar, as they also do paint nights and I'm sure other events. I believe they also do private events (but don't quote me on that!). after the workshop I didn't want to leave so I perched up at the bar. The bartender, Maria was great and super helpful with the beer explanations. During that time I was also able to chat with the head brewer Kelbey, who you can tell is very involved in the Helia "community". Another thing to note is while they don't serve food, they do offer rotating food trucks and the one we had on Wednesday was delicious! Another thing to note is they don't (currently) have any gluten free alcoholic beverage options. I look forward to going back soon to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe catch a game of ping pong. There are no TVs either which I love- talk to each other over a nice cold one! Cheers!

I'm starting to love this place! The environment is calm and exciting at the same time. It's dog friendly which is great to bring your pup or meet cute doggies. My husband found a guitar and started playing for me . There's fire pits inside and out so you can be cozy all around and also a ping pong table. The sours are out favorite!

Stopped in to this place for a flight as I know they are a bit new in the area. I saw signs for the brewery posted up around Vista weeks before and even saw them mentioned in the San Diego Reader. I love the decor of the place with lots of wood and small cozy areas to nest while sippin on your drinks. Theres an outdoor seating area. They are dog friendly. They have a schedule of rotating food trucks that stop over. I got a flight of 5 tasters for $10 and they have some great beers. They serve the flight on a cool wood plate with their emblem carved into it. Nice touch. I think its a great place and I'll certainly come again on a sunny day when its not so cold out :-)

I attended the October 13th grand opening. The atmosphere was on fire and they really went all out in celebrating. Free pizza was provided from Bottaro Wood Fired Pizza, The HA were playing, and there was even a belly dancer! The space was huge and inviting, perfect for anyone who loves beer. There was plenty of seating both inside and out. The paintings and decor were gorgeous. I had an opportunity to try only two of their brews. The red ale was very traditional and quite delicious. I enjoyed the flavor tremendously. I also tried the golden ale. It was slightly more bitter than I anticipated but it was flavorful. I cannot wait to try more of their brews!

Major props to Danny and Helia Brewing for having us out to the Brew-venture (and for the FREE BEER!)! I'm gonna be transparent here, I don't drink beer, but the hubby enjoys it so we came out for him to enjoy the drinks. The featured beer was the Happy Pale Ale (and we were able to drink until supplies ran out). He is more of an IPA guy, but said he definitely enjoyed it! And the spot is pretty great. It's similar to the other breweries that are popping up, but we were digging the vibe! The painting and decor is awesome! When we were there they had a food truck so folks could soak up their brewskis with some delicious food. There seems to be plenty of space for the crowds to gather - complete with a front patio. And it's doggy friendly so Walt the Wiener Dog can join us next time! PS We saw a painting that they would be doing at a Paint and Pint (or that's what I'm calling it). Such a fun idea - even if my art wouldn't turn out anything like what's supposed to look like. Will definitely have to keep that as an idea for a date night!

Such a beautiful, relaxed, warm vibe. I was welcomed and made to feel right at home. :) good beer too!

In a world where beer bros and beards and dark wood brewery concepts reigned, Helia is/was a breath of fresh air, of vibrant light, renewal and rebalance. Named after the daughter of the sun god Helios they incorporated the cofounders love of surfing into the heart of it all. It's immediate that when you walk in and see hanging wicker baskets, lots of tile accents, bright colors, that it's warm without being oversaturated. The surfing roots aren't all "locals versus kooks versus hodads": but rather grounded by the ocean itself. Their designs are simple yet moving. Belly up to and you are greeted by the friendly staff or owners pouring their well named and tasty beers. I've been coming since the beginning and while I've seen many come and go, even my favorite blendables, but their core beers are excellent. Ponytail Red, Hazy Jae, Happy Pale Ale. Their porter is award winning and when they can get good barrels they'll age their stouts and strong ales. They work with many local restaurants and charities and clubs for a variety of events and the like. They have a nice firepit for colder nights and a variety of food trucks, but what i've really liked are the events they throw from comedy nights to multiple act festivals, skate nights, etc. There are other breweries with dedicated stages and music and stuff, but they are in a bit of a mold and Helia is thinking what's next. They were the first brewery on Keystone and now you have 2 more down the same street. It's a brewery so game changing that you'll see it's effects in the community and how others try and copy what they have, but you can't copy their energy.

The beer is delicious-plus when they host fun events like Aloha paint with Kathleen it makes it even better! Thanks Helia for above average beer and having the community spirit!

Helia is a sweet spot! Awesome beers! Indoor and outdoor seating. The staff is amazing. The Logo is freaking sick!

Cheers! Cool laid back vibe. Good beer and music. Ping Pong. Cheers! Cool laid back vibe. Good beer and music. Ping Pong

My husband and I stopped in here last night for a beer and some food. Unfortunately, the food truck had already left but we stuck around. First or all, the place's decor is really cute! It was very welcoming. Second of all, the customer service was great. The beer tender was also very welcoming and friendly. I ordered the pony tail red (I love ambers, reds, and browns) and it was such a great, clean tasting red! I loved it! Probably one of the best I have had in awhile! My husband ordered an IPA and he liked it as well. Best of all-- you can bring your dog! Our little doggy had a nice time. Another plus-- the doors were open but they had portable heaters indoors which was great for a chilly evening. We hope to return again soon!

Check this brewery out! The beer selection was on point Plenty of off street and street parking Industrial feel Friendly beer tenders Outdoor area with decomposed granite, seating, games Clean restrooms No food available You can purchase beer to take home or gift

Wanted to try a new local brewery and brought our corgi pup with us, it was a little before 8pm (online states they close at 9pm) and was ordering our beer while their dog (employees dog) sprinted towards our pup. Granted their dog was a puppy however was not on a leash. We asked multiple times if they can place the puppy on a leash and their response was "well when we are closed the puppy is off the leash" in a rude manner. As a dog parent it is respectful to be aware of other pets as we do not always know how they will respond to each other. Our dog has been attack multiple times and takes time to warm up to other dogs. The staff was unfriendly after that and was hostile towards us afterwards. We were uncomfortable and did not take more than 3 sips of our beers before we left. We wont be back and hope they show more respect to others who bring in their furr pets.

This is my go-to brewery. Every beer is great and the employees are super friendly - They remember what beers we liked after the first visit. The Ponytail Red and Cubano IPA are my favorites but both Pale Ales are amazing too!

I've always described this amazing place as the "jewel of North County". Beautiful decor, supportive of the artist community, events, music and food trucks are just a part of the experience. The beer is wonderful and there are always offerings outside of the usual IPAs we expect in SD breweries. The IPAs are great, love the stout and the amber! Kelby & the crew are always raising the bar. It's the first place I like to take friends from out of town.

Welcome to North County's newest brewery! Now Ive got to be honest, most everything was a solid "A-OK" experience on my first visit. Helia Brewing is just getting up and going. However for me, the work they put in on the tasting room bumped it up to that fourth star. The beer was good, great opening selection of pales and IPAs, with a few darker options coming along soon. The service was friendly, informative and great to chat a bit. The tasting room layout is deceptively large, offering everything from bar seating, cozy tables, an outdoor patio and even game tables. This is going to be a great place to hang out with the family and a few beers for sure!

We stopped by Helia brewing over the Thanksgiving weekend to check it out. It was a really great space with nice workers, and some tasty beers. I liked that you could find a spot somewhere that would fit the type of mood your party is looking for. There's a patio, some stand-up tables, a rail, the bar (of course), and some random seating in other spots. The place is decorated with surfing and Hawaii in mind. They're family and dog friendly, so bring everyone. The Beers. We ordered a taster of everything they had. The two IPAs were good examples of the style with one being piney and clean while the other was more dank and earthy. The ponytail red was right up my alley. It was malty and clean, not another super hoppy and acrid red. I wasn't a huge fan of the golden ale, but it was nice they had something lighter for beer drinkers that may like the more basic beers. This place has a cool vibe and is worth a stop for sure.

We were very impressed with this fresh new brewery. Lots of tasty low ABV beers. As well as your standard 7.0 ABV IPAs. For sure their Brewer has skills.

This is yet another brewery in the industrial area of Vista. But don't mistake Helia for being just like all the other breweries! The space is huge and stylish. The beer is delicious. The art is on point. I especially liked the decor and seating areas, they definitely stand out from the other breweries in the area. I liked all four of the beers I tried, but I was partial to the Helia IPA and Ponytail Red Ale. I went on a Monday evening, which is open mic night. I only heard a couple people, but they were all really good!

- Businesses operating during the pandemic, "Thank You" review #12* - Who: Helia Brewing What: I've been trying my best to support local breweries during the pandemic. Especially the smaller one's with limited distribution like Helia. They're doing delivery and pickup orders through their website so I ordered a Sunshine Combo of 2 6 Packs and 3 Crowlers. When: They don't really have set hours at this point. Just order through their site and you can pick a time or have it delivered. Additional: They're hazy Jae IPA is really the only IPA I like. If you haven't had it yet, there's really no better time than a pandemic to start. Am I right? - *As long as the world is in an unpredictable place with the coronavirus dictating our lives and schedules, I'm going to review businesses who are still operating to provide us some sense of normalcy, and this is one of those reviews. My reviews will be 100% positive when clearly indicated with the "Businesses during the pandemic" header and footer. Feel free to steal the format and do the same for the hard working businesses that you come across. - Danny W

Simple easy brewery. I came here with a couple of friends and the staff seems a little pretentious and not willing to help the younger customers. They seem very willing to help their loyal customers and the seating here around the space is hard and uncomfortable.

HELIA Brewing is an awesome new Tasting room in Vista. The vibe is awesome - just like the owners Thomas and Kelby. My favorite beer is the "HAPPY ALE" and the "Brewcadia". They also just finish brewing the "Cubano" It's also a family friendly place - my kids love hanging out there. Check it out

So I came on a Wednesday early evening and got to enjoy their awesome beer, the the live music by Helena Holleran and amazing food by Nomad Eats! Love the vibe here and the staff here are great! Can't go wrong here.

Helia Brewing Co. is amazing! We went there to celebrate with a group of 10 adults and 10 children. We had the side patio area to ourselves. There is a nice sized fire pit, picnic table and ample seating for our party. The kids enjoyed playing foosball, ping pong and running around on the hill adjacent to the building. The beers were delicious and there was live music inside. There was not any food available for purchase but we were able to order in pizza and everyone was happy. My only suggestion would be to have some small snacks and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.

Wonderfull friendly staff,great brews,try the grapefruit one. Fun relaxing atmosphere!!!

Chill environment good people and great beer. I will be back soon for more beer and fun

Heaven or Helia?? Hard to tell...the gorgeous minimalistic and beachy SoCal atmosphere, killer beer selection, sweet bartender, Sonsie, and impeccable Soul Food by Carolina Mike makes this place next level. Bless up, get right, and come here. Congrats Mike

Their Happy Pale Ale is really good! I'm 5'1" and a pint goes a long way on me. I took a couple of hours to nurse a couple of pints and enjoyed every minute of it! I enjoyed how there are many seating options available both indoors and outdoors from intimate small tables, some long tables with board games, and also some more game-oriented seating around a ping pong table. Staff are very friendly and helpful and I was obsessed with their basket lighting! So fun!

Very cool new spot to have a brew. My wife and I went on date night and LOVED the atmosphere. It is clear that someone spent a lot of time planning and designing this place. In the sea of breweries it quickly stands up to the competition. My only complaint is the lack of beer available. We'll be back, and when we are, if there are more beer options, they'll have 5 stars.

Love the Happy pale ale and the Porter!! Also think it's super fun to be able to chat with the brewer since I'm a home brewer. Atmosphere is chill with lots of space. They had a great food truck that complimented the beer. Kelby, the owner/brewer is obviously passionate about what he does and was gracious in answering all our brewery questions. I spoke to a few brewers from other breweries there, so I think that's the ultimate endorsement.

Award winning beer over here at Helia! Congrats Hazy Jae IPA & Cubano IPA are my favorites at the moment

This is probably my favorite new brewery. Each one of their beers is delicious in their own unique way. Not to mention the atmosphere is mellow, welcoming and has a great laid back vibe. The staff, especially the owners are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about their beer. Thomas and Kelby make you feel right at home when you walk in. Expect to be entertained expect to feel welcomed and especially expect to enjoy some delicious beer! Personally, I would recommend a Cubano. If you can make it to a night when they have live music from The Ha, then you are in for a great night!