A microbrew pub that brews its own beer is harder to come by in the city of Angels than expected. Speaking with Suzanne Melson, the Director of Operations at the Bonaventure Brewing Company, I was trying to conjure up some esoteric reason as to why they are one of very few local restaurants that brews their own. The answer was simple: "We've been in business for 10 years this December, and that was the original vision of the owners," she said. I assume it's a more complicated process to brew your own beer than to get it elsewhere. But, for crying out loud, it's worth it! Bonaventure has some of the best brews south of San Francisco. And for those of you a bit further on, in Long Beach, they have a sister company, Belmont Brewing Company, founded by the same owners. You can taste the difference when a beverage is freshly manufactured on-site and hasn't been shipped around in kegs for a fortnight.

The choice of microbrews, currently 4 beers, is small, but gives you no want of selection. Kim, the beautiful and personable bartender, hooked me up with a Taster Set (for $6!), 5 ounces of each microbrew and one "guest beer." First, there's the Pale Ale, which reminds the friendly manager, Michael, of tonight’s “guest,” the Fat Tire. "It's my personal favorite," he pointedly interjected. In my opinion, it beats out the Fat Tire easily. The succulent amber orange color and Cascade hops (which beer buffs tend to prefer) make this drink a special treat.

Up for something different? The Hefeweizen, at 4.5% alcohol, is a bit on the exotic side with its banana aroma. My personal favorite was the Strawberry Blonde, tasting lighter than the Hef but actually packs in 4.8% alcohol—after a round or two of 23 ouncers, the beer goggles sneak up on you, so be careful. Similar to a Central European pilsner, another visitor favorite is the Bonaventure Blonde Ale. Boasting a rich copper tone, it goes down easy, and has the same amount of alcohol as the Strawberry Blonde.

Besides the brews, the pub provides a wealth of fancy drinks to make you feel like you're on vacation. Can’t afford a trip to Hawaii? “Gilligan's Island” will remind you of tropical paradise—I’d say what's in it but the mystery’s worth discovering yourself. Come at happy hour from 3:30 to 7:30pm, Monday through Friday, and you can get munchies from as cheap as $1.99 to go along with your chosen booze. Michael told me they get a large amount of investment bankers and lawyers on a regular basis, being so close to the financial center. Despite its upscale vibe, I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the prices were, and would encourage even the most frugal to bring a hot date to this place.

For eats, I had the appetizer sampler, which runs $12.95, and it filled me like a stuffed duck. The dish served hearty portions of calamari, artichoke spinach dip, and bruschetta, and was obviously meant for more than one person—but don't worry, I handled it well. I look forward to trying some of their scrumptious looking salads and soups.

Bonaventure thrives as a bit of a secret, so pardon me for spilling the beans. There's a four-story trek to pub's door, but you're rewarded with an intimate interior and a handsome outdoor patio with a gorgeous view of downtown. A mere 8 blocks from the Staples Center, check it out before the Lakers game! One young lady from Detroit told me it was her special L.A. spot, and she didn't want me to tell too many people about it. But I wouldn't feel right keeping it from you, dear MetroWize reader.

Bonaventure Brewing Company
404 S Figueroa St # 418A Los Angeles, CA 90071 - (213) 236-0802

Hours
Mon-Fri 11am-1am
Sat & Sun 5:00pm-1am