From the patio at 29281 Agoura Road, you can see the mountain range that gives Ladyface IPA its name, and that beer is now pouring inside. It comes from Malibu Brewing Company, which opened its second taproom in the building in August 2026, about 20 months after the last owners poured their final pints.
A brand from the coast could have taken a building with this much history and wiped it clean. Malibu Brewing went the other way. Nearly every opening detail it announced ties back to the building's past: the beer names, the brewhouse it kept running, the character of the building itself. Agoura Road has a new tenant, but the building is still a brewery.
Three names, one brewhouse
The building has been one of the Conejo Valley's beer landmarks for most of two decades. Here's how it got to this point:
- November 2009. Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie opened at 29281 Agoura Road. Conejo Valley Guide calls it the Conejo Valley's first microbrewery and brewpub.
- 2020. New owners took over and renamed it Tavern Tomoko and Ladyface Brewery. They paired Japanese small plates and American pub food with Ladyface ales.
- December 22, 2024. Tavern Tomoko and Ladyface Brewery served its last day.
- August 2026. Malibu Brewing Company opened its Agoura Hills taproom. A ribbon-cutting was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on August 25.
The 2020 change kept the Ladyface name in the title. The 2026 change carries it into the beer list. Each owner has kept some of what came before, and the brewing equipment has stayed in use through all of it.
Conejo Valley Guide's opening report says the on-site brewhouse "has been modernized and remains a centerpiece of the experience." It describes the property as having a "long history as a place where beer is brewed and enjoyed on site." The Visit Conejo Valley listing, published after the opening, says the taproom is "built around a fully modernized brewhouse at the heart of the experience."
The beers that point back to Ladyface
The company announced two beers to mark the opening, and both refer to the building's past.
Ladyface IPA is named for the mountain range you can see from the taproom windows and the outdoor patio. Visit Conejo Valley calls it a West Coast-style IPA. At opening, it was announced on draft and in 16-ounce four-packs sold only at the Agoura Hills taproom. It's still listed on Malibu Brewing's website.
Overly Ambitious is a Belgian Dubbel inspired by Blind Ambition, a beer poured in the same building during the Ladyface years.
The name is a nod to the old beer without copying it. If you remember Blind Ambition, it's an easy way to pick out what the new owners kept from the old brewpub.
One caution on both beers: the four-pack exclusive and Overly Ambitious were announced for opening. The brewery's current site doesn't show whether the four-packs are still Agoura-only or whether the Dubbel is still pouring. Call ahead if either is the reason you're going.
The rest of the tap list comes from the Malibu side of the business. Visit Conejo Valley names Sand & Sea, Canyon Rose rice lager and Wild Grove alongside Ladyface IPA, plus rotating seasonal beers, cocktails and a wine list. According to the company, its beers have won 41 medals across 11 beers, including "Best of Show" at the 2026 California State Fair, and its brewing includes a gluten-reduction process.
What the remodel kept and what it changed
The space had what Conejo Valley Guide calls an "extensive remodel." The details show the same approach as the beer list: Malibu brought in its own coastal look and kept parts of the old building.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total seating | 190 seats |
| Bar | Central bar with 22 taps |
| Bar top | Reclaimed bowling-alley wood |
| Bar surround | White brick, carried over from the Malibu taproom's design |
| Patio | 115-seat all-weather patio designed for live music and community programming |
| Brewhouse | Working on-site brewhouse, modernized |
The guide's write-up says the warm woods and indoor-outdoor design "preserve the character of the historic building while reflecting the brand's coastal California roots."
The patio is the change regulars will feel most. A 115-seat outdoor area built for year-round use and live music fits the old brewpub's view and the area's weather. Before opening, the company said it planned brewmaster tours, tastings, seasonal beer releases and special events. As of early October, I haven't found a published recurring calendar for music nights or tours. For now, treat those as plans rather than a set schedule.
The menu, with a few local nods
The kitchen serves Malibu Brewing's coastal and Southwestern-leaning pub menu, plus some dishes made for this location. The opening announcement included:
- MBC Smashburger, Santa Fe Short Rib Sando and Fresh Catch Tacos. These are established dishes from the Malibu taproom.
- Agoura BBQ Pub Burger. A new dish for the Agoura Hills location.
- The Tan Pig. A ciabatta sandwich with pulled pork, black truffle aioli, coastal coleslaw and chile crema.
- Fish & Chips. Made with beer-battered local red snapper.
- Pink Lady Salad. Poached pear, burrata and prosciutto, named after the Pink Lady of Malibu mural in Malibu Canyon.
- Weekend brunch. A Monte Cristo sandwich was among the opening brunch dishes.
The Pink Lady Salad follows the same naming idea as the beers. The mural it's named for is on the drive through Malibu Canyon, the road between the brewery's two locations.
Where the Malibu side comes from
Malibu Brewing is a young company that has grown quickly. Conejo Valley Guide says it was founded in 2020. Its first taproom is at Trancas Country Market, 30745 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that it officially opened on September 6, 2022.
By the time Malibu Brewing poured its first beer in Malibu, Ladyface had been brewing in Agoura Hills for almost 13 years. The newer company took over the older building, and it chose to keep the older name on a beer.
The company also started in Agoura Hills with a local gift. Patch reported that it would donate 20 percent of opening-day sales, up to $2,500, to the Southeast Ventura County YMCA.
Before you go
As of this writing, the Agoura Hills taproom page lists these hours at 29281 Agoura Road:
- Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The earlier weekend opening matches the brunch service. I couldn't confirm a published policy on kids or dogs on the patio. If you're planning a family lunch or bringing a dog after a hike, call first.
If you used to sit at the Ladyface bar, start with the Ladyface IPA. If the Belgian Dubbel is pouring and you remember Blind Ambition, order that too.
Kevin Godley follows openings like this along Agoura Road because a building's history is part of what a neighborhood remembers. If you have a question about Agoura Hills or the communities around it, Kevin Godley is glad to help. Let's Connect.
