Institution Ale Co. - Santa Barbara

Fantastic beers and atmosphere. Loved their coffee IPA! So delicious. Super clean and open atmosphere. Great beer garden too.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Declan was a complete jerk and he seemed bothered because I asked to switch out a hat. I was excited to find this spot and we enjoyed the food, beers, and service. Thought I’d support the spot by repping a hat out of state, where I live. But his attitude completely ruined the entire experience I had with my family.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 2

Pizza was great and the retro arcade area is awesome. Plenty of seating for groups too.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is amazing. Try the carne asada pizza. Service is friendly and timely. Come here every time we are in Santa Barbara and have never had a bad experience

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Yep. 5 stars all around. Good beer, good food, good atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Beer- 10
Food -10
Atmosphere -10
Wait staff -11 !!!
The staff and service was outstanding.
I wish all restaurants could take lessons from this establishment.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Spicy Honey Bacon, Balsamic Salad

very low quality not a good spot

Don't miss this! White Wall....delicious! Pizzas...so sorry good. Lunch special...a bargain!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Friendly staff and good beer. Exactly what you want from a local brewery.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

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 👍

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beer Flight

Really good beers. Many pizza choices, and not the standard run of the mill toppings. They have created some very unique flavor profiles. Definitely a do over.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

⚠️Horrible! Definitely Do NOT Recommend🚫
The customer service is Terrible, their employees are very rude & the tables in the back are absolutely filthy.Never coming back ever EVER again. P.s - I never knew you guys don't ID minors? Such professionalism to not ID people who you "assume " look "old enough" to drink.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I went to go have a relaxing and fun time with my family & we came all the way from Bakersfield to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and scenery then I tried to order a beer & the bartender said "No" because I don't look "old enough" & because my I.D. unfortunately expired on that day but I tried to show him my proof of age & that I am officially and Legally 25 years young and I've also have had NO other problems Anywhere in Santa Barbara even here at Institution before because I've been here many many times & it USED to be my favorite spot in Santa Barbara but Now it's nothing but a joke!! They even went as far as to insult my family & sister, they kicked us out before we could finish out food, Such disrespect. Best Believe we're never coming back to that excuse of a
Bar/ Restaurant. Institution has their rude employees to thank for that but Never have I ever been so harassed just because of a simple I.D. even though I was of age & I as a former bartender I personally would know how "things work" I also know that Institution has sold to Minors before because I've personally seen a tall 6ft slender looking employee that has a Justin Bieber haircut serve My Younger sister & Did not ask for her ID right before my very eyes solely because he claimed to me that she "does not look under age" even though she was and had no ID. You say you ID Everyone but got fooled by a female minor that was only 20!! Such a wonderful job you are doing. If you don't believe me, Institution! Check the camera footage of the 11th on March, 2025 around 4:30pm-5:15pm. Your welcome for saving you the trouble.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

They treated my family badly, I asked for a Serbesa and they didn't ask for an ID but my relatives aren't very racist in this place. Women don't ask for ID but men do and I have a son with autism and he was playing and he got scared because they kicked us out, it's not fair 😔 how sad that place is.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1