Arcana Brewing Company - Carlsbad

Here's what is good--really good--about Arcana: they make a lot of different styles of beer and they make them very well. I can appreciate a good IPA but when a beer menu is filled with 90% IPAs, my eyes roll. Arcana has IPAs, but they also make pilsners, stouts, sours, porters, braggots (beer/mead hybrid , and other styles. Fortunately, if you're the adventurous type, they offer flights so you can try many of their offerings. Just look out: some of these brews are high on the ABV scale (as in over 11% . They can lay you flat. I passed out about a half hour after my visit here. I found the braggots particularly good. They're definitely on the sweeter and boozier side, so look out. The brewery is located inside a warehouse-y space but they've done a nice job of making it feel homey inside. There is a nice TV and snacks for sale, although you can bring in outside food. They also have some seating under a tent in the parking lot. It's 18 and up only here so no kiddos. I like family friendly breweries myself but that won't stop me from returning when the beers are this good.

Wonderful atmosphere, great beer, and awesome bartender. Loved that they have a variety of beer and not just a wall of IPAs

Daniel has some great tasting beer here, especially the sour options are amazing!

Great little local brewery where the Owner serves them up himself awesome spot! They sell to go's as well!

The absolute best beer I've ever had. For someone that prefers Belgian ales and Braggots more than IPAs. I'd have to say Dan's IPAs are well balanced. IPA lovers will thoroughly enjoy. The Braggots he makes are my favorite, and nobody else seems to make them. When he makes a Belgian Ale, of course I can't wait to try. His ales are spectacular. He has a mug club, where each customer gets to pick a beautiful mug from his potters collection. They are really quite little works of art. There are a number of perks that you get as a member. I go to events with my significant other who is a member. For munchies he sometimes has a food truck or you can always enjoy some varied types of bitchin sauce w tostada chips. And there are varied potato chips to snack on. And he always has something on the big screen TV that his guests enjoy. When in Carlsbad, go meet Dan the proprietor, who is quite an interesting, personable, and engaging guy, and knows a thing or two about the science and art of brewing beer. He has set the bar high for me and my relationship with beer. His brewery is tucked away off El Camino Real in a business park. Love this place!!