Institution Ale Co. - Santa Barbara

We loved Institution Ale! Great variety of beers and great Carne Asada pizza, among others! The toppings are delicious, and the thin crispy crust is so good. We watched the Super Bowl here, and it was very busy, but the service was still great!

Institution Ale Co. in Santa Barbara is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Located on State Street in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, this bar, food, and restaurant establishment offers a laid-back atmosphere with a wide selection of craft beers, delicious food options, and a welcoming staff. Whether you’re looking to grab a drink with friends, enjoy a meal with family, or simply relax and unwind after a long day, Institution Ale Co. has something for everyone. Their beer menu includes a variety of options so I’m sure everyone will find a beer they will enjoy. They serve freshly made artisan flatbread pizzas and soft pretzels. I can’t comment on the food since we didn’t order but it looked very inviting. I heard they also have live music and I’m sure this is a great place for it. We got to hear a local musician out in the street from the venue and it was a delight. The spacious layout of the establishment makes it an ideal spot for larger gatherings, whether you’re celebrating with friends, hosting a party, or simply enjoying a night out. The combination of great beer, tasty bites, and live music creates a vibrant and memorable experience for patrons.

Definitely the best brewery in Santa Barbara! Great selection of beers and especially West Coast IPAs, The Surgeon in particular. Everyone who works there is very friendly. Highly recommended! You won’t be disappointed 👍

Joana was the beer tender and she took care of us recommendations were amazing and she related to me with having a new born told me where to visit I was extremely happy and felt relieved You hired a great employee not many places have employees like this 10/10

We stopped in this craft brewery on a whim and what an awesome experience! The staff were so friendly and helpful, the drinks were perfection, and the food was incredible. If you're a pretzel person--GET THE PRETZEL! Even if you're not a pretzel person--GET THE PRETZEL!! You can't go wrong with anything here!

I love sitting outside in the beer garden courtyard, and the BBQ Tri-tip pizza is the best pizza I have ever had! Watch out it has a bit of a spicy kick! And their ranch dressing is good!

Great beer and a wonderful environment with wide open doors and a view of the entire main strip of Santa Barbara. This brewery that only has a great selection of local beer, but also serves pizza and has ample indoor and outdoor seating. This is a great spot to come and enjoy beer and people watch or enjoy good food in the middle of the day. The great thing about this brewery is that on the menu, they differentiate between those beers with are lighter and more refreshing, and those that are more sour or hoppy. This makes it super easy to order and if you have company that doesn’t like IPAs, they can pick beers that are more accustomed to their taste. When we came in the middle of the day on a busy weekend, it wasn’t crowded and we got served immediately. You shouldn’t have to worry about long weights and the bartenders are very fast and friendly and are willing to explain things to you or let you try beer before you buy it. We felt super welcomed and didn’t feel pressured to leave at all, we actually stayed for a little bit and hung out and really enjoyed the experience. If you’re looking for a good beer, a good environment and somewhere to just stop by during your busy day in downtown Santa Barbara, I highly recommend coming here to get a taste for local Santa Barbara beer and vibes.

True craft beer mecca. Fabulous bar. Staff were great, friendly and helpful. Superb beer range. Lunch pizza and pint deal phenomenal. Beer flight was brilliant.

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!

- 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Rude people work here. We have been coming here for at least a year. Never have I been approached to take my French fries elsewhere. There is not a sign indicating that. Terrible. So many other places to buy beer.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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==

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.

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!!

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.

Delicious flights and great beers. Quick service in a fun location close to all the SB happenings. Enjoy sports on the big screens or play some arcade games! Really enjoyed my special flight all great beers

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.

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.

This place is perfect for weeknights, hanging out with friends or just watching the game. They have an amazing beer menu as well as fantastic food. The pretzels and carne asada pizza and pizza are our favorite, but you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Everyone who works there is so nice and the service is great as well.

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.

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.

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

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.

always have had good experiences here but today was overcharged for 2 extra beers. bartender "corrected" it but couldn't supply a receipt as proof. posting review as receipt in case the charges aren't accurate

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.

cool microbrewery on State Street. they have amazing IPA and brown ales are alright, but IPAs are where it's at here. their service is pretty quick even when they do have large crowds during peak hours. Ambiance is always pretty lit too so you're in for a fun time here

Fantastic service, Declan was the best server and overall guy we could've asked for. Came here twice on our trip just to hang out with him, ambiance was great and their honey pizza is something to drive 3 hours for.

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

Institution Ale Co. in Santa Barbara is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Located on State Street in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, this bar, food, and restaurant establishment offers a laid-back atmosphere with a wide selection of craft beers, delicious food options, and a welcoming staff. Whether you're looking to grab a drink with friends, enjoy a meal with family, or simply relax and unwind after a long day, Institution Ale Co. has something for everyone. Their beer menu includes a variety of options so I'm sure everyone will find a beer they will enjoy. They serve freshly made artisan flatbread pizzas and soft pretzels. I can't comment on the food since we didn't order but it looked very inviting. I heard they also have live music and I'm sure this is a great place for it. We got to hear a local musician out in the street from the venue and it was a delight. The spacious layout of the establishment makes it an ideal spot for larger gatherings, whether you're celebrating with friends, hosting a party, or simply enjoying a night out. The combination of great beer, tasty bites, and live music creates a vibrant and memorable experience for patrons.

The carne asada pizza was just ok. Topping flavors were good but the crust was not - crust makes a pizza and this one was poor.

Great beers. The Jalapeño one is definitely unique. Not spicy but a huge jalapeño flavor. Fun place with arcade games and shuffleboard in the back. Beer tenders were great and allowed us to try different beers.

Came to Institution Ale to watch some football then came another time for a special event. Both experiences were good. I think the ordering line is a nice thought but when I have a nice seat and don't want to lose it, being forced to get up and go get in line is a little meh. Either way the beer and pizzas have been outstanding. I haven't seen live music here yet but it is on my to-do list!

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!

My husband thought this was the best craft beer on State Street. Pizza was equally amazing. Solid service and great ambiance. We came here everyday of our 4 day trip and while full with people we were always able to get seats at bar and waited on quickly.

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.

I love institution ale--in the winter it's all cozy with the windows closed, and any other time all those windows open with the breezes coming in is delightful. Carne asada pizza was really really good. Would not have been my choice but the person i took there ordered it-i am glad! Always get the pretzels--ate too fast for pic. And "of wind and waves". My gawd. A true west coast ipa. Delish. Service is always great. Some ppl dont like counter ordering and runner bringing the food, but these guys do it right, runners and bartenders are very attentive and friendly.

Looking for a brewery that serves great beers and pizzas then Institution Ale is your spot!!! Let's start with the beers! There is a wide variety of beers, especially IPAs, on the menu. Personally I would prefer more lagers available but they usually have at least one or two available. As far as the price it's probably one of, if not, the best in town at around $5 for a pint. Onto the pizzas! They have about ten pizzas on the menu which are all delicious! I would recommend the carne asada, veggie, Margherita and the olive oil, sausage & herbs pizzas. These pizzas are all staples on the menu but they do rotate in new combinations every now and then. On top of beers and pizzas, Institution Ale is a solid place to watch sports. With six televisions in the front and a couple in the back room, they do play a couple games for Sunday football. Overall, you can not go wrong going to Institution Ale for a beer and everything else is bonus.

Billy and Elena has great customer service and smiles super bright when they see their customers. Very helpful on the insights of beers and knowledgeable on what my tastes are. Highly recommend !

Great place to grab a beer. They have a large selection and I like the open concept building. It's also dog-friendly so bring your furry friends!

A few hours here was the perfect way to spend an afternoon. It's a large spot with front and back patio seating, ample indoor seating and a large central bar. We grabbed a few seats at the bar and it was hard to get someone's attention to order at times despite lots of staff behind the bar. There's also an ordering line for those who are seated at tables. It didn't look like they had waiter service. They have LOTS on tap in the categories of hoppy, malty and light with hoppy being the largest category. I can't remember what I ordered but I went with 3 different strong brews and really enjoyed all of them. They have a small menu with pizza comprising the bulk of it. Some pretty creative pizzas are offered but we kept it simple with the pepperoni and really enjoyed it. I would come back any time I'm in the area.

I love this place! We came here with a group and sat at the patio on the side of the restaurant. It was nicely shaded on the hot day, there was great music and beautiful decor. The all around architecture of this place is fantastic and everything is kept so clean. They have a little shed on the patio where they serve about 20 of their beers, which I think is just the coolest idea. Then there's the tables out front and corn hill, the inside bar and tables with an open vibe and a back room for families with a row of vintage arcade games, so there's a spot for everyone to enjoy this place. My fiancé had the day dreamin' beer and LOVED IT! Then we all shared the spicy bacon honey pizza which was alright. And played a game of Catan until the boys couldn't fit anymore beer. Great spaces like this create great experiences and great memories!

Better service needed. We went to have beers and munchies at 5pm happy hour time..when NOBODY WAS THERE! (Maybe there was like 5 people there)..not busy at all. We went to the register counter to place our order, and the guy behind the counter went out of his way to IGNORE us. WTF? He came up to the register twice to wipe the counter and ignore us.. he was too busy talking to his friend.. after the second time coming to the register he ignored us yet again to talk to his friend on the opposite side of the bar.. bye boy.. we left and had great service at another place..

Super chill spot for some brews. I highly recommend the tart blueberry blonde, its a pretty sour blonde with a great fruity taste. I also tried the flight and they allowed me to customize which beers i wanted. Fast service and busy atmosphere.

I really like Institution Ale, and always stop by when I'm in Santa Barbara. Great location, with ample seating - indoors and out, large beer selection, and good food. The front patio is great for people watching, and is dog friendly. The margherita pizza is surprisingly delicious, as in much better than I expected, and the garlic bread was extra cheesy and delicious. I'm a big fan of the Tart Cherry Blonde ale, but also tried the Jalapeño pale ale which was great. Dogs had a good time, and service was excellent. Order everything at the bar, there's a line/order area to the right.

Institution is on the main drag that's closed to vehicle traffic so it's become a nice promenade. While there are a few spots on State that fit the bill Institution has large roll up windows that makes it pretty inviting. I had a dog with me so it was patio seating. I had to tie him off and walk inside to order. The bar inside was large, almost too large. There were two bartenders and it wasn't super busy but they had a lot of ground to cover and since it was such a large bar it was hard to see where the stanchions were directing you to. The beers on tap were good-good enough that I went to buy beers I hadn't tried to go. If I had had more time I would have stayed longer-ordered some food and hit up their arcade in the back.

This was a fun place to go on a Saturday with the family! Plenty of seating; inside, back room, and outside areas. We grabbed an Oktoberfest beer and stein as well as pretzels and a cheese pizza. While we waited, we sat at a table facing State Street. Boys enjoyed people watching and my husband and I watched the games on TV (there were a ton of them throughout the restaurant). The food was great! My boys ate three slices of pizza each! The pretzels were fresh and tasty. I will say the dips didn't wow me which was too bad. Overall, great place to visit with friends and family.

Good beer selection, fun environment, great for game days! Good amount if seating, front and back, both with tvs! Super friendly staff! Came in a couple days before my birthday and the girl gave me my drink for free!! Great stop as you're walking down the strip!