Greer's OC

Beer lovers in Orange County, mark your calendars. Ambitious Ales, the Long Beach craft brewery known for its handcrafted lineup and small-batch and seasonal releases, is opening its first OC location at The LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa on Oct. 24 and 25.

Opening weekend runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Expect a full tap list, limited-edition merchandise and DJs spinning vinyl. Smoked & Salted Barbecue will be on hand with food Saturday, and Hamburgers Nice takes over Sunday.

The brewery and tasting room will have indoor and outdoor seating, and families and pets are welcome. It’s shaping up to be an easygoing spot to catch the game, join in community events and enjoy a world-class pint.

For co-founder Danny Karpinski, The LAB was an easy choice.

“As an independent craft brewery, we couldn’t be happier to open at The LAB Anti-Mall, which is based on fostering small businesses and creative brands,” Karpinski said. “We know Orange County, and Costa Mesa specifically, is full of craft beer lovers who will appreciate our approach to beer, creativity and our strong sense of community.”

The feeling is mutual. LAB owner Linda Sadeghi said the brewery is a great fit for the center’s small business collective.

“We’re excited that the Ambitious Ales guys are also becoming LABsters. They are ‘ambitious’ for sure,” Sadeghi said. “They will add great craft beer, energy and an awesome patio experience to the LAB.”

The brewery’s roots are in OC. Five high school friends founded Ambitious Ales in 2012 after a trip to the Oregon Brewers Festival sparked a passion for craft beer and inspired them to try brewing their own. They spent years tinkering with their process before opening the first Ambitious Ales in Long Beach’s Bixby Knolls neighborhood in 2019.

The hard work has paid off. The brewery took home a gold medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival for its hazy IPA, Professional Human Being, and a bronze medal at the 2019 festival for its coffee beer, Central Perk. It has also earned multiple awards at the California Brewers Cup, cementing its place among the best breweries in the state.

Ambitious Ales is in The LAB Anti-Mall at 696 Randolph Ave. in Costa Mesa. For more information, visit ambitiousales.com, email info@ambitiousales.com.

Ambitious Ales co-founders from left to right: Jon Cuthbert, Juan Carrillo, Jerome De Leon, Garrett Carroll, and Danny Karpinski.