Ever been stuck on jury duty in DTLA and wished you could just get out of there? Well, I have good news for you! There’s a way to make jury duty actually enjoyable: take a LA brewery tour in Downtown LA!
That’s right, you can learn about the history of brewing in Los Angeles, sample delicious craft beers, and explore various sites in Los Angeles. It’s the perfect way to pass the time and have some fun!
In this blog post, I’ll share my experience taking a brewery tour in Downtown LA while on jury duty. I’ll tell you about the different breweries I visited and the beers I tasted. I’ll also give you some tips on how to plan your own brewery tour in Downtown LA while on jury duty.
So if you’re dreading your upcoming jury duty assignment, don’t worry! Just take a brewery tour in Downtown LA and you’ll be sure to have a great time!
Trial
In October 2022, I was selected for jury duty at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Downtown Los Angeles. The trial I was selected for was a high-profile case that took place on the 9th floor, where all the high-profile cases are held. The trial lasted until the middle of December 2023, and it took place at the same time as the Harvey Weinstein and Danny Masterson trials were taking place on the same floor.
It was a very interesting experience to be a juror in a high-profile case, and I learned a lot about the legal system and the criminal justice process. I also met some interesting people and made some new friends.
What made it even more interesting is it allowed me the chance to explore breweries in the Downtown Los Angeles area.
If you’re ever called for jury duty, I encourage you to take it seriously. It’s an important civic duty, and it’s a great way to learn about the legal system and how it works.
Golden Road Brewing
Golden Road Brewing is a large and popular brewery located in Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, as well as a nice food menu. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, making it a great place to meet up with friends or just enjoy a few beers by yourself.
I visited Golden Road Brewing and I had a great experience. I tried the Right Said Red Ale and I really enjoyed it. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they had a great sale on 6-packs to go. I picked up a couple to enjoy over the long holiday weekend.
The service at Golden Road Brewing was excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive, and they were always happy to answer my questions about the beer.
Here are some pros and cons of Golden Road Brewing:
Pros:
- Wide variety of craft beers on tap
- Casual and relaxed atmosphere
- Great food menu
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Convenient location in Grand Central Market
- Outdoor Dining
Cons:
- Can be crowded on weekends
- Parking can be difficult to find, there is a garage at the Grand Central Market you can use
- Food can be a bit pricey
Overall, I would highly recommend Golden Road Brewing to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles. The beer is excellent, the food is good, and the service is top-notch.
Angel City Brewery
Angel City Brewery is a brewery located in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. They opened in 2016 and have quickly become one of the most popular breweries in the city. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including IPAs, stouts, porters, and sours. They welcome outside food and have food trucks visiting often.
The atmosphere at Angel City Brewery is casual and relaxed. It’s a great place to go with friends or just to enjoy a few beers by yourself. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they’re always happy to help you choose the perfect beer.
Here are some pros and cons of Angel City Brewery:
Pros:
- Wide variety of craft beers on tap
- Casual and relaxed atmosphere
- Local restaurants and food trucks
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Convenient location in the Arts District
- Dog-friendly
Cons:
- Can be crowded on weekends
- Parking can be difficult to find
Overall, I would highly recommend Angel City Brewery to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles. The beer is excellent and the service is top-notch.
Arts District Brewing Company
Arts District Brewing Company is a brewery located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. They opened in December 2015 and have quickly become one of the most popular breweries in the city. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including IPAs, stouts, porters, and sours. They also have a small food menu that features items like burgers, sandwiches, salads, pretzels, nachos, and french fries and tater tots.
The atmosphere at Arts District Brewing Company is casual and relaxed. It’s a great place to go with friends or just to enjoy a few beers by yourself. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they’re always happy to help you choose the perfect beer.
The service at Arts District Brewing Company was excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive, and they were always happy to answer my questions about the beer. I also appreciated the fact that they had a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages on tap, so my designated driver could also enjoy a drink.
Here are some pros and cons of Arts District Brewing Company:
Pros:
- Wide variety of craft beers on tap
- Also serve cocktails and wine
- Casual and relaxed atmosphere
- Great food menu
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Convenient location in the Arts District
- Skee-Ball!
Cons:
- Can be crowded on weekends
- Parking can be difficult to find
- Food can be a bit pricey
Overall, I would highly recommend Arts District Brewing Company to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles. The beer is excellent, the food is good, and the service is top-notch.
Homebound Brew Haus
Homebound Brew Haus is a brewery located inside Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. They opened in 2022 and have quickly become a popular spot for craft beer lovers. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including IPAs, lagers, saisons, and sours. They also have a small food menu that features specialty sausages, pretzels and more.
The atmosphere at Homebound Brew Haus is casual and relaxed. It’s a great place to go with friends or just to enjoy a few beers by yourself. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they’re always happy to help you choose the perfect beer.
I recently visited Homebound Brew Haus and I had a great experience. I tried the Guv’nah Brown Ale. I also really enjoyed the food at Homebound Brew Haus. It was a nice way to spend a little time, explore Union Station and try out a new beer.
Overall, I had a great experience at Homebound Brew Haus. The beer was excellent, the food was good, and the service was top-notch. I would definitely recommend this brewery to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles.
Here are some pros and cons of Homebound Brew Haus:
Pros:
- Wide variety of craft beers on tap
- Casual and relaxed atmosphere
- Great and unique food menu
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Convenient location inside Union Station
- Family-friendly
- Plays Dodgers games
Cons:
- Can be crowded on weekends
- Parking can be difficult to find
- Food can be a bit pricey
- Difficult to find – not directly in Union Station
HiDef Brewing Co.
HiDef Brewing Co. is a brewery located in Downtown Los Angeles. They opened in 2019 and have quickly become a popular spot for craft beer lovers. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including IPAs, blondes, lagers, and sours.
The atmosphere at HiDef Brewing Co. is casual and relaxed. It’s a great place to go with friends or just to enjoy a few beers by yourself. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they’re always happy to help you choose the perfect beer.
Overall, I had a great experience at HiDef Brewing Co. The beer was excellent, and the service was top-notch. I would definitely recommend this brewery to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles.
Here are some pros and cons of HiDef Brewing Co.:
Pros:
- Wide variety of craft beers on tap
- Casual and relaxed atmosphere
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Convenient location in Downtown LA, really close to Crypto.com Arena
Cons:
- Parking can be difficult to find, I found street parking right across the street
Overall, I would highly recommend HiDef Brewing Co. to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles. The beer is excellent, the food is good, and the service is top-notch.
Mumford Brewing
Mumford Brewing is a brewery located in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. They opened in 2016 and closed shortly after I visited on January 1, 2023.
It was in walking distance to the courthouse and I showed up right after they opened one day after court and I was the only one there at first, but a few other showed up later on. I looked at getting some beer to go but the options were limited and seemed pricey.
Tirebiter Brewery
Tirebiter Brewery is a small, independent brewery located in Downtown Los Angeles. 2017 is the year they materialized their dream for a brewery. They have a wide variety of craft beers on tap, as well as a food menu that features pub favorites like graze board, fried pickles, onion rings, corn dog, fries, and nachos. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, making it a great place to meet up with friends or just enjoy a few beers by yourself.
I recently visited Tirebiter Brewery while I was on jury duty. It was my last day of service so it was time to celebrate! I was really impressed with the beer selection. They had something for everyone, from light and refreshing beers to dark and malty beers. It was a little early in the evening and the owner’s father stopped by and brought me a couple of beers to try with him. The homebrewer in me was exited to get the oppurtunity to ask him questions on how him and his daughter ended up getting into opening up a brewery.
The service at Tirebiter Brewery was excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive, and they were always happy to answer my questions about the beer. I also appreciated the fact that they had a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages on tap, so my designated driver could also enjoy a drink.
Overall, I had a great experience at Tirebiter Brewery. The beer was excellent, the food was good, and the service was top-notch. I would definitely recommend this brewery to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles.
Here are some pros and cons of Tirebiter Brewery:
Pros:
- Wide variety of craft beers on tap
- Serves a nice selection of wine
- Casual and relaxed atmosphere
- Great pub menu
- Excellent service
- Live music venue
- Close to the 405 just south of LA, great place to stop if the traffic is driving you crazy!
Cons:
- Parking can be difficult to find – They do have a small parking lot they share with a few other retailers
- Not exactly in DTLA
Overall, I would highly recommend Tirebiter Brewery to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy a few beers in Downtown Los Angeles. The beer is excellent, the food is good, and the service is top-notch.
Additional Breweries
Unfortunately my trial ended before I could try all the local DTLA breweries. Here are a few more to add to your list:
Boomtown Brewery: This brewery is known for its old-world ales with a modern twist. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including IPAs, stouts, porters, and sours.
Highland Park Brewery: This brewery is located in the Arts District and is known for its creative and experimental beers. They have a rotating tap list, so you’re always sure to find something new to try.
Benny Boy Brewing: This brewery is located in the Fashion District and is known for its approachable and sessionable beers. They have a great selection of IPAs, stouts, and pilsners.
Bonaventure Brewing: This brewery is located in the Financial District and is known for its Belgian-style beers. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including blonde ales, tripels, and quads.
Homage Brewing: This brewery is located in the Arts District and is known for its California-style beers. They have a focus on IPAs, but they also have a great selection of other styles on tap, including stouts, porters, and sours.
Karl Strauss: This brewery is located in the Fashion District and is known for its German-style beers. They have a wide variety of beers on tap, including pilsners, bocks, and doppelbocks.
Summary
It was a very interesting experience to be a juror in a high-profile case, and I learned a lot about the legal system and the criminal justice process. I also met some interesting people and made some new friends.
An added benefit to my service on the jury is it afforded me time to explore DTLA and experience the different breweries in the areas I normally would not get the chance to try out. I looked forward to researching the next one to try out when my schedule allowed for it. I was surprised to find that there are so many great breweries in the area, and I had a lot of fun exploring them. I tried breweries like Golden Road Brewing, Angel City Brewery, and Arts District Brewing Company.
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