My Craft Beer Week in Review, Part 2

Well, I'm back to tell you how the week finished up.  When I last left off, I said I took Wednesday off, but after I thought a little harder about it, that just isn't true.  I met my buddy Steve at The Brewhouse for dinner.  We hadn't seen each other in a while, and The Brewhouse is the perfect place (for us, at least) to catch up.  I had an Elephant Seal Double IPA, which has become my go to of late.  It is very citrusy, and I think it is an excellent example of a very drinkable double IPA.  Yes, it's strong (7.7%), but not overpowering.  Just full of flavor.  An excellent start to the evening.  For dinner, I had Caribbean Jerk Chicken, which is a favorite of mine there, but really, everything on the menu is good.    It just depends on what you are in the mood for.  I slowed things down with an El Citra Session IPA (4.6%).  This beer is also full of citrusy goodness.  Apparently,  I was in a citrusy mood that day.  Dinner was good, the beers were good, the evening was excellent.  It was very nice to catch up with my friend.

Taps at The Brewhouse

Thursday was the night I took a beer break.  Now I remember.  Got it.  Moving on to Friday.  Friday, I went down to Carpinteria, CA to play volleyball with some friends.  And any trip to Carpinteria must include a stop at Island Brewing Company.  I used to live in Carpinteria, and I've been coming to this place for years, and so has everyone else in town.  It is always crowded.  Recently, they started getting food trucks to park there for the evening, so that has only helped get and keep people there.  Usually, I go for the Paradise Pale Ale, but lately they have been having many more seasonal brews to try.  A new one that I really like is the King Tide.  This is a very hop forward double IPA that comes in a 9.6%.  It packs a punch, and costs a little more than the regular beers on tap, but I think it is a nice beer on a typically perfect, sunny Carpinteria day.  I like coming here, not only for the good beer, but also because I know I will run into a bunch of people that I enjoy talking to and sharing a couple beers with.  It's almost like Cheers.  Everyone definitely knows your name.

Taps at Island Brewing Co.

I finished off my week by stopping at the recently opened "Cottage" in Los Olivos, CA.  This is Figueroa Mountains' newest establishment, and it is perfectly positioned right in the heart of it all in downtown Los Olivos.  This was actually my first stop ever in Los Olivos.  I don't usually travel on the 154 highway.  Normally I stick to the 101 for my trips up north, but I went out of my way to stop this time.  I really wanted to see the place, and I'm glad I did. There was live music playing, and the gentleman playing guitar and singing was very good.  I took up a spot just outside the back door, and enjoyed the deck on the warm afternoon.  From here, I could hear the music, and catch the end of the Angels game on TV.  I also got to enjoy a Shark Lips beer, a collaborative effort between Figueroa Mountain and Port Brewing.  This Imperial Red Ale had a very definite malty backbone, which was a nice change from all the extremely hoppy stuff I had been into all week.  For some reason, I didn't take a picture when I was there.  So, just imagine a small place, with a bar and TV's on the left, a guy playing guitar and singing in the front right corner, and me straight through on the back deck.  It was another great beer from Fig Mountain in a very nice setting.  I really enjoyed seeing their new place.  I will definitely be back soon.  Cheers!

The Brewhouse

229 W. Montecito St.

Santa Barbara, CA  93101

805-884-4664

Hours: 11am to 10pm Daily. Open at 10am on the weekends for brunch

www.sbbrewhouse.com

Island Brewing Company

5049 6th Street

Carpinteria, CA  93013

805-745-8272

Hours: Monday-Friday 2pm to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 9pm

www.islandbrewingcompany.com

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company

2446 Alamo Pintado, Suite C

Los Olivos, CA  93441

805-694-2252

Hours: 11am to 9pm Daily

www.figmtnbrew.com

One of my favorite places in Santa Barbara to get a great beer

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