Drake’s Brewing Co

Come here for the First Friday of the month where they have food trucks and their beer, live music and just bring your own chairs and kick back. Fun atmosphere and awesome food and drinks.

The Sau & Brau was good last night. Somewhat disorganized but all is well. Four of us showed up expectant, mostly for Saison and sow but it wasn’t on tap that night nor was the food ready but we loved the Orange Blossom on tap. Pulled up to the bumper, baby, expecting some chitlins’ and feet and crispy skin since they were featuring, «Whole Roasted Hog» but nope! Just the whitest meat of the pig which happened to be the driest.
I asked then begged then pleaded for dark meat – problem was, they had their bartenders who serve beer, not food, serving and catering; one could tell they were none too pleased. I heard one customer ask for a little more pig and was turned down flat with mumbling comments from a bartender-​turned-​tune-​out the customer fellow. And one guy who looked like he could spot out hops at midnight didn’t even know what dark meat was. Really? Why are you using your team to serve food when they don’t even serve food during business hours? The food truck was closed for the event so two hours of drinking and no tots made Mia a grumpy girl.
Suggestion: feed your staff two hours before you open not 2 hours during the «happy hour» which delayed serving paying customers. But, I’ll go back and take more people as I did this time. One bright spot on the night: Roy, the partner, walks up and promptly asks us how we liked it? I mentioned a lack of feet, seconded by a black couple behind me (I thought asking for chitlins too would be too demanding, so I demurred on that request.) who also was expecting all parts of the pig «from the rooter to the tooter» because in the south and in every Asian home and restaurant/​market I’ve guested in, that means everything-​ears (with hair), snout, feet, tail, skin, guts, shoulder, butt, tongue, belly, ribs, erthang means everything.
Roy showed true southern colors and hospitality when he came back with a big ass left pork foot for me which I politely rewarded with a big fat kiss on his lips and a promise to return. In fact, I got that foot in the oven in my kettle pot with some hocks right now with beer, cinnamon, garlic, lemon, cumin, onion, and various spices baking for a few hours (low and slow) to put me some 15 type beans up in that bad boy. I’ll be having beans and cornbread on Sunday, Jesus. And all is well.

For the 3^rd year in a row I went to the Hopocalypse release, and unlike the last few times, it was a disaster. The $ 30 tickets were fine (though I think this was the first time they charged), the beer was fine… but how do you run out of black label by 2:45, both on tap, and in bottles???
Every guest brewery was tapped out by 3:45 as well.
I know some people like to use the phrases «small batch» and «limited release,» but don’t charge for tickets if you know you’ll run out early. Then again, I’m sure they decided to charge for tickets because they knew they didn’t make enough this year.

Checked this place out about a month ago. A bit biased since i was never a fan of drakes brew before hand. The beer i mean. Crap service, i think they have some kind of thing where treating customers badly is part of there experience. I personally hated it. They insulted me and my wife and her sister. I noticed it wasnt a line they fed every customer. fuck this place. Crap beer mixed with crap service is a fail. There are two other amazing breweries within a 5 min walking– 1 min driving range. Why would anyone want shitty service.

I grew up in San Leandro, moved away, and Mr. President San Leandro decided it’s a good idea to open a craft brewery after I left. WELL shucks. I love this place! It’s tucked in the back of the Walmart so it’s a bit hard to find. I’ve been wanting to try this place forever!
And try I did. They don’t offer set flights but $ 2 – 3 tasters and $ 5 – 6 pints. To create your own experience, they give you a card to write down all your taster choices. You can scribble notes on each brewski in case you wanna take home a gorgeous growler of the liquid gold. If a growler isn’t your thing, there’s a fridge full of can packs (which is a better shelf life ;)
There’s outdoor seating but it’s pretty big inside. You sit and are surrounded by these barrels and they even have boardgames. We went during a chilly time and the heaters were on. Big plus.
⁵⁄₅ will be back again!

Came here with a huge group for my friends birthday and already was excited, who doesn’t get excited over breweries!
Beer sample was only $ 12? And the server was nice enough to give us some recommendations. Great setting and love the outdoor feel. For sure will be coming back!
Mind you, there’s no actual place to order food. You order from the trucks which is super yum and great, fast service!
Hard to find but once you’re in, it will not disappoint

There isn’t anything about this place I don’t love. The beer. The setting. The scenery. You name it, I love it.

Yes! Now where I live in Southern California, there’s a lot of Breweries and tasting rooms within walking distance, so I’m used to that kind of atmosphere. That being said, Drake’s is pretty high up there compared to all the ones I’ve been to! I had just eaten lunch, so I didn’t get to try any of the food, but the menu looked delicious. Just the fact that they served that type of food was awesome.
I also liked that when you order your flights, you can choose as many as you want, and they give you a little notepad to pick your selections and take your own notes on them. We had our own little tasting day; it was great. There are a few TVs around for watching the games, as well as different board games and decks of cards to play with your friends while you drink.
Since I’m in San Leandro frequently, I’ll definitely become a regular here!

How have I never been here before? With great beer, friendly/​playful staff, and lots of space what more do you need?! This is the perfect spot for a date or to grab a few beers with friends accompanied by live music and some snacks.
My cute date Lena decided to treat me out for a few beers and it was so much fun. We arrived around 8 pm and the lighting was a bit dim to set the mood. As we stared at the selection of beers, the bartender was kind enough to give us a few free samples/​tastings (Orange Blossom Honey Tripel, Milk Stout, and the Dry Stout) which I was a fan of. I started off with the Blonde and she had the Tripleito. Both were light and refreshing, just fantastic! Afterwards I had a glass of the Dry stout which was amazing! If you like the smooth rich flavor of Guinness, this is definitely a step up and I guarantee you will fall in love with it too!
The place looked really cool with all of the wooden barrels. We sat near the back where it was less crowded to enjoy each others company and to also enjoy the view of the beautiful Drakes Christmas Tree. So festive yay! Overall, Drakes has a very welcoming environment, with fun and knowledgeable bartenders, and some of the best beers around East Bay! I can’t wait to come back and try more. Thanks again for the awesome date!

All you need to know is the beer is good (a lot to choose from) and it is inexpensive. No complaints from me.
Met up with a group of beer thirsty moms on a Saturday night. One of the moms called in prior and reserved an area of the group of us (about 15) We had plenty of room, service was good by our waitress and she kept track of our separate tabs. I know that was a job on its own.
I’m not much of a beer gal. I tried the 1500 ($ 4.50) it was a lighter ale without a bitter after taste.
Place was busy with a Warriors game playing. It was a game they lost their winning streak on so not a happy ending night for most.
There is a food truck outside to help soak up the beer. The staff I interacted with were friendly. It’s a little hard to find when you come the first time.

The atmosphere here is awesome! It just screams come in, grab a beer, sit and chat with friends and have a great time. We were here with friends and all 4 of us really enjoyed Drakes. I had the Jolly Rodger beer. It was a dark beer with a coffee flavor. Wow, this is a great beer! For a snack we ordered the dirty tots. Oh my, these tots are addicting. They are tots covered in cheese and pulled pork. Yes please!!! A perfect snack while enjoying your beer.
We stopped by Drakes twice in one week, and will definitely be returning when we are in the area.

An excellent hidden gem! So glad this place has stayed true to its roots.
We had the chance to experience Drake’s twice in a week and both times were awesome! The industrial feel of the place mixed with the wood barrels is very welcoming.
As you walk in you are greeted by a long bar with all of the tap offering written on little chalk boards. The detail what they are, how many IBUs, and percentage of alcohol. The bartender will encourage you to taste any of the beers before you purchase an entire pint. Since i’m really more of an IPA connoisseur I tried the following:
1 — DRAKE’S IPA — West coast IPA — Alc/​Vol: 7% IBUs: 65
2 — DRAKE’S DENOGGINIZER — DIPA — Alc/​Vol: 9.75% IBUs: 90
Both were very tasty, but I have to say I preferred the Denogginizer due to the round body and great citrus finish.
They have a food truck outside that you can order food when you get you beers and then they will let you know when it is ready for pickup. (Very cool). I remember in the early 2000s we use to go to Caesar’s Chicken in Hayward and bring it to eat while we enjoyed their beers.
I’m a big fan and wished we lived closer so we could break away and kick back at Drake’s.

November 13, 2015 Friday — 8:15 PM for drinks
4 adults
Atmosphere — 5 star
Food & Drinks — 5 stars
Service — 5 stars
Background — At 21^st and I was told that Drake’s was around the corner. I thought about it, dinner or more beer. Okay more beer!
Atmosphere — I would never had found this place on my own. It is in part of warehouse complex and in the back. But it is so worth coming. It small cozy place with lots of taps.
Food & Drinks — They have a food truck in their parking lot. As we walked in I thought it was weird it had no name or menu. Well the truck is theirs, and you order at the bar just like you would order your beer. We had the dirty tots, which is basically pulled pork on top of the tops, yum. As for the beer I had to go with their double IPA, Quasar Imperial IPA. This is solid IPA and I highly recommend it for any IPA lover.
Service — All the guys behind the bar were helpful and knowledgeable. Recommendation on their IPA’s was great as they had many choices. I even got stickers to add to collection.
Future — Yes please.

Perfect venue to decompress with friends after a long work day. They have ample outdoor patio seating and romantic dim-​lit indoor seating. Drakes offers a cozy ambiance as the indoor seating area is lined with wooden beer barrels adorned with yellow Christmas lights.
My favorite drinks are the blond and drakonic. Blond is if you want something light, crisp and refreshing and drakonic is if you want some chocolately malty goodness.
Tip: If you want some snacks, Walmart is right next door.

We stopped here to wait out weekday traffic before heading back to the South Bay. I was skeptical at first because of the very industrial setting but we ended up loving this place! The bartenders very knowledgable about each of the brews and were friendly through out our entire visit.
We loved the Amber Ale, Aroma Flora and Hefeweizen. Though two regulars claimed that the Nitro Stout would put hair on my chin! Lol If you are hungry the food is also delicious– a limited menu but everything was great. We shared the pulled pork sandwich with garlic tater tots! Can’t wait to stop by again. We are already planning a return visit with a bunch of friends!

Drake’s oh Drake’s.
My first time experiencing a brewery in San Leandro, and I was pleasantly surprised! Came here on a Saturday afternoon and it had just the right amount of people. Not too crowded and not too empty.
Not knowing what type of beer I wanted, the wonderful bartender suggested a light beer for me. AND OMG, it was great! The hefeweizen hit the spot. With the perfect half-​pint size, the small-but-fun-and-I’ll-still-be-able-to-enjoy-myself size.
I will definitely be coming back soon! And I am extremely excited to check out their Oakland Drake’s Dealership beer garden location as well!
See you soon Drake’s!

BEER TASTING?!
12 DOLLARS?!
10 kinds?!
This place was great! I went here with my coworkers after work for my boss’s birthday. It was a great bonding experience because we got to really try different types of beers.
Theres many different kinds. I can’t remember all of them but the denoganizer was definitely my favorite! The pricing for the beers vary because each beer is priced a little differently so definitely go during the weekday because the bartenders will really go into depth with the beers and how they are prepared.
ALSO:
Get the garlic fries because they are bomb dot com…

Another great brewery in the area. I think we drove through a Walmart parking lot to get here. Anyways, it’s much more established. Inside is big and full of tables and decorated with wooden barrels and twinkly lights. Also they have sports projected on a huge screen on the wall. There’s only one bar where you order the food and drinks. And plenty of outdoor sitting. People even brought their dogs. We chilled outside, watching the sun set and then it got colder and moved inside. It’s kinda dark inside and is considered mood lighting I guess.
Anyways I like that they offer different sizes for their drinks. Since this was our second bar stop, I didn’t want a full pint. So I was able to try their half pint of the Hefe. And since I’ve never had sour beer before, I tried a sampler size of the sour beer. Sorry I can’t recall it’s name. But I really liked it. I would get it again next time. I was up there with two other friends so our bartender was nice enough to split the sampler into thirds so everyone could try it, without us asking. Also near last call, one of the staff came around with samplers of an IPA. I also didn’t catch the name but free beer — I’m in. Great atmosphere and tasty beers.

This is a continuous party place that I enjoy more of each time we go. Last trip was really just for the tater tots. We had a craving and Drake’s just happens to have very good tots in addition to all the great beer to be had!
Drake’s Brewing is well hidden in SL behind the Walmart store which makes it really cool since it is so tucked away. It is so nice just to sit outside at one of the tables and hang out with my wife and have a beer here. The people behind the counter are very quick and friendly. The beer selection is very good and I get the really hoppy IPA type beers and try something new each time. It is just a very relaxing, casual environment.
The last time we went on a Friday night it was a total party including the fire throwing spectacle, live music and some people dancing, in addition to all the tater tots and great beer! Lots of people lots of fun energy! We end up here almost every week or two now. It just gets better and better!

First time at Drake’s Brewing on a Sunday at 12:30 p.m. I almost couldn’t find it at first because it’s located in the far back corner of a strip mall past the Walmart. So if you see the front of Walmart, walk past it on the right and you’ll see Drake’s kind of hidden father down.
Once you get here, it’s actually a pretty big space with both indoor and outdoor seating. They were already getting busy when I arrived, so if you like beer tasting during the day like me, I would recommend getting here right when they open.
There are no stools available at the bar (like at Berryessa Brewing Co), so you have to order your beer and then grab seating elsewhere. Tasters are $ 1.25/each and come in 4oz glasses. Here is what I thought of the beer:
Liked:
1. 1500 (Hoppy American Pale Ale) — favorite
2. IPA (West Coast Style Imperial Pale Ale)
3. 7×70 (Unfiltered West Coast IPA)
Indifferent:
1. Aroma Therapy
Didn’t Like:
1. Denoggizer Imperial India Pale Ale
Didn’t Try (Year-​Round Beers):
1. Hella Helles
2. Blonde Ale
3. Hefeweizen
4. Amber Ale
5. Black Robusto Porter
6. Red Eye Ale
7. Dry Stout
8. Drakonic Imperial Stout
Didn’t Try (Seasonal Beers):
1. Hopocalypse Imperial India Pale Ale
2. Alpha Session
3. Aroma Coma India Pale Ale
4. Aroma Prieta India Pale Ale
5. Exxpedition Imperial Red Ale
6. Jolly Rodger Ale (changes annually)
Come check them out to see for yourself!