Oakland United Beerworks

This brewery started in 2009 as Linden Street Brewery. The brewers describe it as the first community-based production brewery in Oakland since Golden West Brewery closed in the 1950s. When the Linden Street building was sold, they moved to the Jack London waterfront and renamed it Oakland United Beerworks in 2017.

The taproom is on two levels, with a view into the brewery and a mezzanine with a shuffleboard table. Outside there are picnic tables, two fire pits, some covered tables, and standing room by the roll-up door. Dogs are welcome inside as well as on the patio. Kids are welcome too, and their drinks are on the house.

One detail only a regular would know: Oakland United makes 'Lucky Dog' custom cans with customers' dogs on them.

Lager is the reason to come. The 14 taps lean malt-forward and crisp. New Oakland Glow is a 4.4% pilsner, and East Bay Nights is a black lager that won a GABF silver in 2022 in the German dark lager category. For the hop crowd, there's a West Coast IPA (Drink Beer, Slay Dragon) and a hazy (Bay Shore Fog), and the seasonal list adds amber lagers, fresh-hop pales and a Mexican-hot-chocolate imperial stout in winter.

There's pub food in-house, plus a pop-up or food truck once a week. The brewery doesn't list a phone number, so check its site or Instagram for the week's events. It's also a Valkyries bar, so expect a crowd on game nights. Original Pattern is a block and a half away.