For Father’s Day, my wife surprised me. She drove down the 405 South, and I initially thought of Long Beach, but we soon entered Orange County. After heading west from John Wayne Airport, we arrived at Green Cheek Brewery in Costa Mesa. Green Cheek is one of my niece’s favorite breweries, and I was excited to try their brews.
OC beer mavens know about the SoBECA district in Costa Mesa. It is home to Gunwhale Ales, Bootlegger’s Brewery, Salty Bear Brewing, Brewing Reserve, and Green Check, the latter being the most recent addition to the area. Green Cheek is named after the loud, red-crowned green wild parrots. Like the birds, owners Evan Price (brewer) and Brian Rauso are very social.
In addition to craft beer, the SoBECA district is home to The Camp, a retail subdistrict featuring shops that support an active, healthy lifestyle mindful of environmentalism, and The LAB (Little American Business), an “anti-mall,” an open-air destination with businesses supporting lovers in art, music, fashion, and hip cuisine.
The large outdoor patio is the place to chill, with picnic-style benches and tarps to provide shade. The taproom is designed with efficiency in mind. The counter has four stations with two sets of taps to minimize movement. As a result, a team of four whittled down a line of 12 customers in about two minutes. Impressive!
I enjoyed “Beers With Dad”, a hoppy, clean IPA with lots of citrus flavor. “Flying South” is a smooth Mexican lager perfect for beginners. I was fortunate that their English-style Brown Ale was available that day as it received gold at last year’s World Beer Cup. Smooth and caramel is the best way to describe it. Beers are pretty reasonably priced, from $6-7 / pint.
The kitchen doesn’t play second fiddle here. The burger is made from freshly ground brisket and chuck topped with caramelized onions, mayo/miso / black vinegar, ketchup, and garlic blend. The smash burger is crisp on the edges, and the sauce blend gives it a nice umami kick. The tots are super crispy and nicely seasoned.
Meats, plants, sides, and add-ons organize the menu. When my daughter bit into the “Hexagon Supreme,” she excitedly proclaimed, “This is a Crunch Wrap!” and was thrilled with the taste experience. She was tickled pick that Green Cheek elevated Taco Bell’s creation. Grilled Chicken Breast with fresh produce comprised the Cobb Salad.
The quality of the food and beer is top-notch, making it an ideal destination for a date, a group of friends, or even your family. Both times I was there, families enjoyed the back patio. You can also do a weekend getaway to SoBECA, where you can do a beer crawl or experience many small independent eateries, shops, and galleries.
Green Cheek, 2957 Randolph Ave Unit B, Costa Mesa; 714.760.4995; greencheekbeer.com