MacLeod is a standard-bearer for the San Fernando Valley beer scene. The place specializes in traditional English styles, and has branched out in recent months to a more eclectic variety of food as well, including on-site pizzas made to order.

Agoura Hills staple beer spot Ladyface hasn’t slowed down despite the increased competition nearby. The corner restaurant, brewery, and patio spot still turns out some of LA’s finest drinks, and all in a supremely cozy hillside environment.

With dozens of taps and plenty of hard-to-source beer, Glendale Tap has emerged as one of the city’s best beer bars over the past decade or so. The semi-hidden corner location also now welcomes in a variety of food pop-ups weekly, from pizza slices to burgers and beyond.

This ABC-backed brewpub has fit into the neighborhood nicely, pulling in mostly locals for sports on TV, lots of craft beer, and a menu of food that runs from vegan buffalo cauliflower to a 12-ounce ribeye steak. Brandon’s, the semi-hidden side bar attached to the restaurant, also draws its own crowd.

Pomona star Homage Brewing is playing to increasingly wider audiences these days. The popular brewery is drawing positive review for its Nosedive IPA and saison offerings, all poured from a sunny, modern taproom in the heart of Pomona that feels more like a beachy coffee house than some dusty old beer bar far from the action.

There may be no more talked-about new brewery in the past year than Border X, the Bell-based spot that leans into Southern California’s Mexican heritage. Be sure to snatch up some of the horchata golden stout.

Inglewood’s Three Weavers is on a massive expansion path, having teamed up with some of that city’s new developments to keep things locally-minded and fresh. The women-owned brewery is poised to lead not only Inglewood, but all of LA, into a new generation of craft beer greatness.

El Segundo Brewing’s offshoot restaurant is a rousing success, playing to lines out the door almost every day. Folks come through for beer, of course, but the inexpensive pizzas and friendly staff certainly help.

Hawthorne’s first true craft beer destination is a doozy. LA Ale Works sits just around the corner from the SpaceX facility, a short distance from the upcoming Inglewood football stadium, and is already a hit with locals eager to sample the variety of balanced beers from their open warehouse taproom — complete with rotating food trucks on property.

Longtime South Bay label Smog Brewing is consistently ranked as among the best places for beer anywhere in town. They’ve even begun expanding with satellite taprooms around town, meaning Smog’s stuff is now easier to find than ever before.

It would be easy to dismiss Naja’s Place as little more than a Redondo Beach watering hole with seaside views. The truth is, this boardwalk staple has helped to change the craft beer scene for all of Southern California, thanks to years of pulling in some unique kegs from other breweries and throwing massive tasting parties that promoted the scene long before anyone else.