Ocean Avenue Restaurant and Brewery is located at one end of a fairly generic long one-story building with a partial brick facade on a side street just two blocks inland from the ocean in Laguna Beach. The feeling is somewhat more upscale/resort area than typical brewpub, but the space is very nice and comfortable and we had a perfectly good reception at the bar.

In the front is a covered outdoor patio adjacent to the sidewalk paved with quarry tiles and separated by a low brick wall with inset wrought iron railings and pillars topped with potted plants.

Inside is a fairly dark, reasonably large room with quite a few dark wooden tables and chairs. A very long wooden bench runs along one side wall. The other side wall has the bar and the small brewery (copper-clad mash tun and brew kettle; not enclosed in glass). The bar itself is wood and has multiple angles, a dark gray marble top, and is lined with a row of black padded stools. The floor here is also quarry tile and the ceiling is very high with exposed joists and rotating fans. A large projection TV hangs on one wall.

There were four house-made beers, as well as Chimay, Stella, Bud Light, and Guinness pouring on our visit. The Red Sunshine Amber and the Ocean Pale are always on/local favorites and the other two (Watchtower Wheat and Honey Blonde) rotate with the seasons. The Ocean Pale has well made but not particularly memorable.

The food is fairly upscale. The Frutti de Mari (clam and mussels with garlic-y tomato sauce) we tried was quite good.

reviewed on: 2012-04-18 15:14:57