Validation Ale - Santa Barbara, California

Steph H.

We found Validation Ale from a recommendation on a walking tour in town. It was amazing! We had two flights of great beer. A huge variety for everyone to enjoy. We had the most delicious pastrami Rueben!!! And the smash burger was so good even in taco form. The prices were very reasonable for the quality. Great customer service. Everyone was helpful and friendly!! Don’t skip this stop on your trip to the Funkzone.

Harrison S.

Short Version
HIGHLY recommend Validation Ale for any events or if you’re looking for a cool venue to hang and have a drink with friends

Long Version
We were looking for a place that could host our Welcome Party for our wedding weekend. However, we weren’t certain on how many of our guests would show up, so we needed a venue that was flexible. Brian told us to not worry and he would take care of it. He was so chill and easy to work with that it felt unreal. Day of—the staff was incredible, drinks moved quickly, and we received countless compliments on how great the welcome party was.

Alan M.

Good place to get a beer or try their tasty and refreshing meade.
They also have food - try the delicious smash burger.
Friendly staff, nice atmosphere with corn hole games outside to keep it fun.

Cowabunga I.

Great location, fantastic live bands, and good service overall. However, I’m removing one star for a few reasons. The bar often has a fishy smell due to the seafood items on the menu, which can be off-putting. Additionally, the bartenders added gratuity to my bill without informing me, and they made cocktails at the back of the bar with their backs turned, so I couldn’t see what they were putting in them. Cocktails should always be prepared in view of the customer to build trust. It’s a good spot, but these issues need attention.

Nerissa K.

Just walking through the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara and came across this lively place. The atmosphere is welcoming and the beers that we had were delicious. Too bad we only had time for two beers but those were quality and we would come back again. My husband liked their Thai lemongrass saison and I loved the golden coffee ale! It smelled like coffee and tasted like coffee and beer with some sweetness and a smooth mouth feel. 🤤

Steve H.

Excellent beers, cool space, great service, and a clever concept! This was a great find during our trip to SB…looking forward to coming back. And bonus points for being super dog friendly!

Living I. S. B. -. K. G.

Lively brewery in the Funk Zone Santa Barbara! Lots of different, tasty beer varieties with daily ratings. There is a patio with games. And the bar food we had was good too.

Brian L.

I love the concept of letting your beer order count as a vote for that beer. The Schwarzbier was one of the best beers that I tried while visiting the Santa Barbara area. The smash burger and pastrami and Swiss sandwiches were also very good.