Welcome to Tenma Beer Project
At the Tenma Beer Project, nestled in Oakland, California, craft beer enthusiasts can savor a unique brewing experience. This cozy brewpub, once home to Novel, exudes an authentic vibe with dedicated owners and skilled brewer Brennan at the helm. Tenma specializes in a rotating selection of small-batch beers, featuring crisp pilsners and hoppy IPAs that resonate with both newcomers and seasoned connoisseurs. Patrons enjoy a welcoming atmosphere where friendly recommendations flow as freely as the beer. With a focus on community engagement and a nod to nostalgia, Tenma invites guests to indulge in quality brews while appreciating local flavors nearby.
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6510 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608 Hotline: (510) 922-9974
Welcome to the Tenma Beer Project, a hidden gem nestled at 6510 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA. This unique brewpub has quickly garnered a reputation among craft beer enthusiasts for its vibrant atmosphere and quality brews, all brewed on-site.
While many breweries can be lost in the hustle of trend-driven offerings, Tenma Beer Project embraces a more authentic, community-oriented vibe. The space is small but inviting, with a taproom where the magic of brewing is palpable. The brewer, Brennan, comes with a wealth of experience, ensuring that each beer not only meets but exceeds expectations. Dive into a changing lineup that offers several small-batch creations, allowing you to discover new favorites with each visit.
- Standout Brews: Customers rave about the variety on tap. Highlights include the Depends on the Question German-style Pilsner—a smooth, crisp option that challenges the notion of bitterness. For those seeking hoppy goodness, the West Coast IPAs, particularly Pulsewidth Modulation, have received high marks.
- Special Touches: One of the charming quirks of Tenma is their complimentary Smarties candy, a nostalgic treat that adds a fun, lighthearted flair to your visit.
- Friendly Service: The bartenders are known for their knowledgeable recommendations and warm hospitality, making each visitor feel valued and at home.
- Community Events: From trivia nights to sip-and-draw events, Tenma fosters a strong sense of community. It's a place where friends gather, and memories are made over a pint.
Food Scene: Although Tenma doesn't serve food, they actively promote a selection of local eateries, encouraging patrons to bring in food to complement their drinks. The occasional food trucks, like Don Taco, provide an approachable option for those looking to pair a meal with their beer.
The Tenma Beer Project is more than just a brewery; it’s a welcoming community space where the love for craft beer shines through. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, make it a point to drop by for an experience filled with genuine warmth, top-notch brews, and a bit of fun.
For expert beer selections or just a cozy atmosphere to unwind, Tenma is worth the journey across the bridge. Don’t miss out on what this delightful brewpub has to offer!
Dropped by while in the area and had a decent experience. I was a bit disappointed that there were no sours on the menu, though not entirely surprised since another nearby brewery didn't offer any either. I'm not much of an IPA or bitter beer fan, so I leaned toward the lighter, crisp options. The bartender recommended "Depends on the Question," a German-style Pilsner. While it had a slight bitterness, it was also smooth, grainy, and subtly sweet. Even though I typically prefer sours, this one broadened my beer palate in a pleasant way. Bonus points for the glass full of Smarties candy... never really see breweries offer free candy. I'd definitely stop by again whenever I'm in the city.
Checked this spot out based on a Reddit recommendation. Great beer, nice vibe. It's an easy and nice walk from Ashby BART as well which makes it convenient even if you're not local. Would recommend getting a taster flight for your first time as their lineup changes pretty frequently. Not every beer I tried was my favorite but none were straight up bad and the price was very reasonable. Not sure if I'd make a deliberate detour to go here again since it's not near me at all but it's definitely worth trying at least once.
Always good beer and a great time! Love the owners! Good dog patrons, too! Not missing Novel.
Located at the intersection of Oakland, Emeryville and Berkeley, Tenma is easy to get to no matter which direction one is coming from . Without any exaggeration, this is currently my favorite brewery in Northern California. The space where Tenma found its home used to belong to Novel and is on a smaller side. Especially knowing that the whole brewing operation is in the back. The front of the room is reserved for the taproom operation with Dana always ready to answer any questions or give recommendations. The brewer Brennan is no stranger to quality craft beer, with ton of experience behind him. If you like the smell of wort, then this us is the place for you as every time we stopped by, there was magic happening in the brew house. While Tenma's hoppy beers are top of the line, I was very impressed with their pilsners and lagers which were all ultra crispy and could easily stand on their own next to the best German or Czech examples. Due to the size of the operation the only place where I can find Tenma's beers (at least for now), is right at the source. While it would be nice if they could expand a little and start distributing, in case it stays this way, I don't mind making that trip across the bridge every few weeks....The secret is out, Tenma's beer is truly worth that drive!
Lots of rotating beers, always something new every time I visit! The beer menu must have many small batch creations. I especially enjoy their IPAs while I've had other great drinks as well! The customer service is great and the staff can provide their expertise if you have trouble choosing a drink! They do not have food available, but they offer suggestions on nearby food that you can bring and eat while enjoying a nice cold glass. I usually bring my take-out to eat with a beer here!
Perfect score, they let me take as many smarties as I wanted told me they'd toss on Slayer next time I come in and the beer is great.
Remember when things weren't so corporate and Instagrammable? Yeah, it's hard to imagine. But, Tenma is that throwback. It's a small brewery in a little garage across from my favorite sushi restaurant, Mujiri. And the beer is good. I didn't love the rice lager, but I did love the New Zealand pale ale. They have what looks like 8-10 varieties going at a time. My husband walked away with a few six packs, so he enjoyed it. They have menus available for local spots, if you're hungry, along with a few snacks like chips and such for sale. I see people comparing it to Novel, the previous brewery which I mean, c'mon, that one isn't standing, this one is. Support small businesses. Seemingly, most nights they have some sort of community oriented programming from trivia nights to sip and draw nights. Most recently, we popped in for a pre dinner beer and we were able to catch a round of their Thursday night trivia, and it was so fun. Overall, Tenma is bringing those friendly, casual, authentic vibes while serving up some solid beer. If you're looking for more of a brew pub, this is not it. A big score if you live in the 'hood.
Visited yesterday and was greeted warmly when we arrived! We had looked forward to visiting for some time so it was exciting to final be drinking their beer! The bartender was friendly and let my partner try a splash of something. We got the What Once Was Timeless Pilsner (which was really delicious, smooth) and Onward from Yesterday pale ale. Both were great! We also had their West Coast IPAs and I loved the Pulsewidth Modulation! All of our drinks were the short pours, which was just enough beer! They had a food truck, Don Taco, which had good and affordable food. The space was small, but welcoming and felt like a place you could go to with friends or hang out and have a beer with a book. Highly recommend it!