Hello there, and welcome to Mr. Brew Review! Since this is my first post, I thought I'd start off with talking about one of my favorite places in Santa Barbara to get a really great beer, The Brewhouse. The Brewhouse is located only a couple blocks up from the beach, and right off the freeway, making it very easy to get to. That being said, the place is, for the most part, full of locals and regulars. Out-of-towners do find their way in, of course, but they seem to have lived in Santa Barbara at some point in their life, or a friend of theirs recommended it to them. This place isn't on a street you would just be strolling down. It's just enough out of the way that you have to look for it. The train station is close...very close, but town and the newly revitalized Funk Zone are in the opposite direction when getting off the train.
Ok, enough of all that stuff, let's get to the beer already! The Brewhouse has a regular selection of about 10 different beers that are for the most part, always available. If they ran out of one of the staple beers, it's because it was a big weekend in town (Summer Solstice, Fiesta), and they just got cleaned out. A good problem to have. They also have about 4-6 selections that rotate seasonally, or are new, one off creations from head brewer and brewmaster Pete Johnson. Pete can usually be found in the back making beer on their seven barrel system, or out mingling with the customers. He's always ready to answer any questions you might have about any of the beers. It's pretty cool having the brewer around while you are sipping on his beers.
My personal favorite beer at The Brewhouse is the Nirvana Pale Ale, made with Cascade hops, which give it a flowery, citrusy smell, and a slightly bitter taste of grapefruit. It's a very drinkable (5.5% ABV) beer and goes great with just about everything on the extensive menu. Another, and probably more popular choice, is the West Beach IPA. This unfiltered, dry hopped IPA offers a bit of a kick (6.9% ABV), and there is no mistaking that this is a serious IPA. This is a great beer, but if you are going to have more than a couple of them, I recommend you are either walking home or heading around the corner to the train station to get you there.
Lately, Pete has had a relatively new beer out, El Citra Session IPA. At only 4.6% ABV, this wonderfully citrusy IPA is a beer that you can sit down and have a few of while watching a game on one of the many flat screen TV's The Brewhouse offers. As you can see in the picture above, there is a beer here for just about everybody and every occasion. I've had them all, and they are all top notch.
So, for my money's worth, in an area of town where places to get a beer aren't at shortage, The Brewhouse gets my vote 9 times out of 10. I love coming here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the menu has just about anything you could want, and the beer is excellent. So, if you are in town visiting, or just looking for a new place to grab a great beer, give The Brewhouse a shot. I don't think you will be disappointed. I know I never am.
The Brewhouse
229 W. Montecito St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-884-4664
www.sbbrewhouse.com
