Bayside Brews

Alright. So this is a beer and wine stand on the pier that serves plastic cups, therefore you are allowed to walk around the park with it. This is a spectacular thing. You are allowed 2 per person, much like a baseball park. They also serve snacks, like pretzels. For beer they serve bud light, Sierra Nevada, and blue moon plus a few others. For wine they offer a few in each type. I love them because they serve Bogle chardonnay. Yes. The only downside is there can be a pretty long line, it’s an awkward line up area, and it’s usually in the sun. Other than that, it gets the job done.

There aren’t many places to find a beer in the Disneyland parks, but Bayside Brews is one of them. While waiting for our kids to ride the carousel, I ordered a Seasonal brew by Karl Strauss Brewing Company. This is one of the relatively few locations where it can be obtained, so it was a priority to find it here. I wasn’t sure of the exact style — it was either a brown ale or a stout. Anyway, good quality beer, although I regretted that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have after getting a bit dizzy from theme park rides.

The thing with Bayside brews (and anyone who’s spent an absurd amount of time at Disneyland knows this) is that mid day on any given time this place can become a lifeline just when you think you can take no more. I have many a fond memory of slipping away while everyone else is either hitting a ride or searching for their next sugar coma, and I’ve taken refuge at Bayside Brews. I usually get two Karl Strauss IPA’s, find a table, drink the first one (thank the gods that someone invented such a beverage), double cup my second one with the empty cup, and then when I’ve mustered up the courage and energy; I go find everyone else, and I’m ready to handle the rest of the day.

The novelty (and it seems for some, utility) of being able to purchase a cold, frosty beer at the Happiest Place on Earth makes Bayside Brews a popular spot in this corner of California Adventure. In addition to Karl Strauss beers, they serve several other well-​known ales and lagers, along with a few other odds and ends like snacks.
Many folks seem to like the pretzels. They are good, but I believe a part of their attraction is the fairly reasonable price relative to other Disney eateries. For around ten bucks, your 21+ year old self can delight in a cold beer and a sweet cream cheese-​filled pretzel. Try doing that at the Angels game a few miles away.
Interestingly, the conspicuous Karl Strauss beer truck seems to be more crowded and better-​known… Hardly a line over on this side of the park, which may also be due to the KS truck being in the midst of the food court/​wharf area.
If you’re meandering about in the heat, somewhere between Goofy’s Flying School and the miscreant, brain cell-​destroying soundtrack of Ariel’s Undersea (Mis)Adventure… And you gotta’ fever for a cold adult beverage in a place decidedly designed for the kids… Bayside Brews has the amber elixir to slake your thirst. Only seven more hours until the park closes, dad… And I’m sure you DVR’ed the Colts game, right?

I literally just tried to buy a beer here and was denied the beer because my drivers license has a hole punched in it due to my last name change.(i was just at the DMV this morning) I was given an interim drivers license paper from the DMV until I get my new license in the mail. Noemi asked me for an ID without a hole punched in it, I told her why it had a hole and showed her the paper the DMV gave me to use in the mean time. She said she couldn’t accept it and I told her my DOB didn’t change. She refused to sell me the beer but still ACCEPTED my debit card to purchase a beer for my Husband… How does this make sense???

One of my favorite spots to grab a beer at. It’s perfectly situated so that I can grab one on the way to toy story mania and have a beer and pretzel while in line.
The line here is never long and the staff is friendly. They can tell you about the beers you are unfamiliar with and try to explain it’s taste. Usually, my go to brew over here is blue moon complete with the orange slice. The Karl strauss seasonal is also pretty good.
The mickey mouse pretzel is good and the perfect side to my beer. It’s sad that they don’t acknowledge the Disney pass discount, but it’s perfectly understandable.
I love the fact that ca adventure has alcohol and Bayside brews is always a beer spot for me once I hit this park.

Chinese New Year celebration at California Adventure park.
Ordered Tsing Tao beer, ginger milk tea, bbq pork bun and almond cookie.
Tsing Tao beer ($ 6.75): not sure if they usually have this here but basically it’s Chinese beer.
Ginger milk tea ($ 3.69): the tea was not strong enough but it was kinda good with a hint of ginger.
BBQ pork bun ($ 4.99 each or $ 8.99 for two): super expensive small bun for $ 5.00. I can get 3 buns for less than $ 5.00 at dim sum places. The bun was okay but maybe because I was starving. It’s also weird how it’s served with sweet chili sauce instead of regular chili sauce. The bbq pork itself was already sweet.
Almond cookies ($ 3.69): not your typical almond cookie from the supermarket. They were more like American cookie with almond extract and they were big and chewy. I kinda like how they use Chinese take-​out box for the packaging.
Funny how the pricing is different at California Adventure during Chinese New Year celebration. The bbq pork bun is $ 5.25 and almond cookies are $ 4.00 if you buy them from the cart vendor instead of Bayside Brews. They are only 30 seconds walk from each other and you get the exact same things.
QUICK TIP: NO ANNUAL PASS DISCOUNT FOR ALCOHOL.
3.5 stats!
Bayside Brews is kinda yummylicious!

I probably would never have stopped by Bayside Brews if I hadn’t know that this is the ONLY place in DCA where you can find the cream cheese-​filled pretzel treat. There are several other pretzel stands within the park, but you have to travel all the way down past Toy Story Mania and the Midway games to this location whenever you have a cream cheese pretzel craving … which I do, from time to time.
Others may frequent this location because of the beer (from Karl Strauss, Bud Light, etc.) and other delights, but I go for the pretzel alone. I’ve never really experienced a long line, as the Boardwalk area is pretty spacious and never super packed, like other areas of DCA are.
You can find other pretzels here, like the original Mickey Mouse pretzel, as well as the jalapeño cheese-​filled pretzel. I have tried the original Mickey Mouse pretzel before and it was yummy – if I’m getting pretzels, I prefer soft, chewy, fresh pretzels over the crunchy rods that you usually find in party mix – but there’s just something super addictive about the cream cheese-​filled pretzel. If I’ve got a craving for it, a regular pretzel just doesn’t satisfy.
This cream cheese-​filled wonder costs $ 3.79 but it’s worth every penny (and the trip down to the Boardwalk, which can feel very far if you’re walking from the «Soarin’ Over California» ride). You’ll get it immediately after you pay, and chances are, it’s been sitting in the warmer for a while with the other pretzels.
But all that doesn’t matter once you take one bite. You’ll get the soft, chewy, doughy pretzel exterior, and then you’ll taste that subtle sweetness of the cream cheese. Take another bite deeper into the pretzel and the thick – soft in consistency, but not super liquidy – cream cheese filling will start to ooze out, but it won’t be a mushy mess that gets all over the pretzel exterior. Rather, you get a nice blend of both in each, and the sweetness of the cream cheese doesn’t overwhelm the starchy pretzel exterior. What a great combo.
Just make sure, though – before leaving the Boardwalk – that you actually HAVE received what you ordered. Once, when the boyfriend and I ordered a cream cheese-​filled pretzel and started to leave Bayside Brews, he started chowing down … and immediately realized that his pretzel was NOT filled with cream cheese, but we caught it in time to make a switch and get a pretzel that had the appropriate filing. Never hurts to double check before you walk all the way back to the DCA entrance and realize that your pretzel has no filling!

Literally, a stones throw away from Corn Dogs Castle. Mmmmm beer and corn dogs. :)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a line here. If I recall correctly, they had a couple of the Karl Strauss beers on tap in addition to Blue Moon, Sierra Nevada, and Bud Light. They also offer pretzels to go along with that nice ice cold beer. So make sure you stop by to grab a cold one and be on your happy way to your next attraction in California Adventure.
Til next time, cheers!

Obligatory review for one of my second favorite parts of California Adventure. I always have to rush the last few ounces because daughter wanr to go on toy story midway mania… Beer helps my score. Proven fact.

Great to get a cheese filled jalapeño pretzel and a cold beer. No micro brew here but they have the standard Blue Moon, Bud Light, Wine and Sangria.
There is a seating area across from the stand where you can enjoy your beer or some benches behind it that look out on the «bay».

This is the place to pick up a beer to accompany your corn dog from Corn Dog Castle (
). Then grab a seat with a view under the Silly Symphony Swings (
) to enjoy your eats and drinks.
They have a nice selection of beers and wines, including Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA and Blue Moon.

Finally, a place at Disney where the pretzels are soft and fresh!
There seemed to be a semi long line but it went by pretty quickly and carries a decent selection of beer. $ 7 for a Blue Moon for a 16oz cup.

They have Blue Moon here.

I was shocked to see that beer and wine was being sold in Disney California Adventure… according to the friendly folks at Bayside Brews, DCA was originally designed for older folks, and as such has a liquor license throughout the park (Club 33 in Disneyland is the only place that serves alcohol there… and it’s only limited to that particular club). So, when I got my beer, I had to ask, «I can walk around with this?» And yes, you can… just as long as you stay within DCA’s confines. Automatic 5-​star!
Granted, the beer selection can be better (though they have Blue Moon — yes!), and it’s $ 7 a cup… but it’s beer in Disneyland! Bottoms up!

They have blue moon. What’s not to like?
Beers are 7 bucks a cup. Hey, it’s Disneyland… What do you expect?
This brew area is closer to Corn Dog Castle. You might want to chomp on on of those while drinking.
Service is always friendly.
–Give it a try!

Ultimate place for a beer and pretzel in the land of disney :) good selection and just so darn tasty.
Jalapeño cheese is my fav :)
Only wish they opened earlier ;)

You don’t get too crazy in terms of craft beers here. They have the standard set up of Sierra Nevada and your basic Shocktops offered up, but at around $ 8 a plastic cup, you’re essentially paying what you would at most clubs anyway.
Is it worth the cost to walk around Paradise Pier with a cold beer in your hand? Yeah, I think that it fits in line perfectly with it.
I stick to the Sierra Nevada Torpedo, it’s probably as microbrewed craft beer as you’ll get inside the Disney theme parks. Sure Karl Struass is over yonder, but I really dig the taste of the Torpedo over anything else offered.
Service is quick and there hasn’t ever been a time when I’ve wanted a beer here and there was a line past one person in front of me. So that should tell you that the service is quick enough that they can handle the demand. or maybe it’s just that this side of the pier is a bit of a ghost town and/​or most people don’t have much of a drinking problem that they actually need a beer while at the park…
Oh well.

Not sure if it’s like this all the time, but when I went the line was HELLA LONG. One of the workers had to swing the line around to the back of the place. I guess I should have expected it, because at Disney/​CA Adventure, there’s a line for literally everything.
But once I had my Blue Moon in hand, I felt a whole lot better. And it definitely helped with the nearly 2 hour line for Toy Story Mania. :D

Disneyland does not sell alcohol, Disney California Adventure does.
Bayside Brews is in Disney California Adventure Park with a simple menu: cold brew, soda, water, chips & pretzels. You will find BB next to Silly Symphony Swings and Corn Dog Castle on Paradise Pier.
As of November 2011, the beers on tap:
Sierra Nevada-​Pale Ale=$ 7.00
Karl Strauss-​Seasonal=$ 7.00
Sierra Nevada-​Torpedo IPA=$ 7.00
Blue Moon-​Belgian White=$ 7.00
Pacifico-​Cerveza=$ 6.75
Bud-​Light-​Pale Lager=$ 5.75
Cheers!