Stumptown Brewery & Smokehouse

Brewery, Bar, Eatery

15045 River Rd
Guerneville, California, 95446
United States

(707) 869-0705 | map
stumptown.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.58
Beers:
9
Ratings:
44
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.46
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
22
pDev:
10.69%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Wakey:
Photo of Wakey
Reviewed by Wakey from California

2.98/5  rDev -13.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 2.75 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 2
I gave this place 4.5 for atmosphere because there's a deck overlooking the Russian River. On a nice day, it's hard to beat sitting outside drinking a beer and watching a river. If you have to sit inside, though, the atmosphere would drop to a 3, though maybe it's better at night.

I gave the food a 2 because I had a lousy BLT. Really, you have to try to screw up a BLT. But they put too much bacon on it (really), and the bacon didn't taste that good.

As for the beer, it's okay. There was a time when house-brewed beer like this was something special, but there's so much good beer around these days that you have to wonder why Stumptown bothers.

Just have a couple of pints on the deck and don't think too hard about it all.
Mar 14, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.2 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Apr 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.44 by heymikew from California

Aug 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.68 by pioneer13 from Minnesota

Jul 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by gr8fulbeerhead from California

Apr 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.27 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jan 31, 2017
 
Rated: 3.96 by HippieDave56 from Arizona

Jun 01, 2016
Photo of artdob
Reviewed by artdob from California

3/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 2.75 | selection: 2.75 | food: 3.25
Points for a great location on the river. Outside patio has covered and open seating, several tables overlooking the river. Modest food menu with mainly burgers and dogs. We got the two veggie selections on the menu. About four house brews on the menu and a few outside brews on tap. Tasty vinaigrette and really enjoyed the veggie pita sandwich. Service is a bit different - not at the table. You order food at one spot, drinks at the bar, and it's cash only. Beer choice was Blimey the Wanker IPA. I had to get the beers as my wife thought the dudes sitting around the bar were also a bunch of wankers - LOL.
May 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.57 by windowside from Germany

Feb 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by crewfan1952 from Ohio

Nov 12, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by define333 from California

Oct 24, 2014
Photo of craft_shannie
Reviewed by craft_shannie from Indiana

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
stumptown isn't looking to compete with nearby russian river, lagunitas, and bear republic & that's just fine. very relaxed place. one of the best decks i've ever been to - expansive arrangement of picnic tables, plenty of tvs for sports on one side, the russian river on the other. shady, chill, and comfortable. although their beers may not be the best, they have a very solid guest list including death & taxes.
Sep 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ELECTRONICAnonymous from Massachusetts

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Apr 01, 2014
Photo of Seanibus
Reviewed by Seanibus from California

3.3/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3
There is no way to put this delicately: this place is a dive. More so even than it looks from the outside, which is pretty dive-y. The place is dark and dirty looking. The bathroom is this side of yucky.

And yet, the beer is pretty good. The Rat Bastard is a mild pale ale with a sharp, pleasing bitter bite.

The staff is friendly, the food is adequate, and the back patio overlooking the river is quite pleasant, even if it is noisy and the tables are filthy.

But they do not take credit cards, so bring cash.

Can I recommend? Maybe, if you're not looking for a gastropub, or you're looking for a dive bar with better than average draft beer. Yes.

You want some other kind of place? Keep going.
Jul 15, 2012
Photo of colonelforbin
Reviewed by colonelforbin from California

3.53/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3
This place is totally worth checking out for the awesome outdoor patio they have in back. Wraparound bar is great too, it starts inside and snakes it's way around to the back patio. The atmosphere here is top notch for this reason alone, one of the best brewpubs in this regard. Huge patio overlooking the Russian River and you can take the stairs down to the river, which is great.

Beer, on the other hand, is severely lacking. Three house beers both times I've been and none has been very good at all. Had a Blimey the Wanker IPA today and it just doesn't cut it. Too bad really, as this place would be awesome with higher quality (even a little bit) beers.

Service was just fine. Seems like a lot of locals stop in here, as there were many watching NFL games today and drinking beers.

This place is well worth stopping in for the vibe, the view, and the incredible patio. Unfortunately, do not expect much at all from the beer.
Dec 05, 2011
Photo of tdm168
Reviewed by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
My wife and I stopped in here while travelling the Russian River area on our honeymoon. The décor was interesting. Dollar bills stapled to the sealing, sayings written in sharpie on the woodwork, and stuffed animals stuck to the walls. There is a large outdoor seating area that overlooks the river, and a decent amount of bar seating as well. My drank mix drinks from their full bar, and I sampled their draft list. They had 2 of their own beers on tap, an IPA and a pale ale. Neither were spectacular, but hey, when in Guerneville… They also had Alaskan Amber and Moonlight Death and Taxes on tap which were both good. My wife and I both had burgers and fries. You have to place your own order at a separate register and they give you a metal bucket with napkins and condiments in it. The food was good though, and the two bar tenders there that afternoon were both personable and quick to fill a drink. It’s not a high class establishment and their own beer isn’t amazing, but it’s worth stopping into if only to quench your thirst with some of their other drafts.
Sep 21, 2011
Photo of coldriver
Reviewed by coldriver from Texas

3.26/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
Stopped by this place on a beer crusade to the Russian River area. They had a nice outdoor deck area overlooking the river. We were informed by the bartender that only one of their beers was currently available, the Rat Bastard Pale Ale. It was decent, but certainly nothing special. On a day of visiting Lagunitas, Bear Republic, and Russian River this one wasn't really worth the time to drive out of the way as a destination brewery, but would be a good stop if you're visiting the Korbel winery or the coast.
Jul 30, 2011
Photo of AylwinForbes
Reviewed by AylwinForbes from Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Slightly surprised that there are only three reviews for this place; but there again, it does lie very much off the beaten track about 14 miles west of 101; casual visitors will not stumble upon it. A sage we met at Russian River had recommended Stumptown as a place to hang out in the evening and enjoy a pint by the river. We put him to the test and learned happily that he was hundred percent accurate about that. We enjoyed the visit with a young couple we had met at Lagunitas who also happen to hail from Chicago - my Darklord shirt giving away my origins.

Location is shaded, wooded and tranquil; the river wends its way silently about two hundred yards from the raised deck, and one can walk down the steps and walk to the bank. Locals bring their dogs for a walk. The atmosphere is one of unhurried ease. The place is simple and wooden, having a relatively small dark interior with a large patio and the single bar wraps around to serve both equally. Beer selection is relatively small (six to eight) consisting of regionals, and their own brews which are variations on the theme of rat and bastard. Food is pretty good, above the norm of bar fare, and reasonably priced.

No worries about this place being packed; we left at about eight and it was almost deserted, having been busier when we had arrived in the late afternoon.
Mar 21, 2010
Photo of VegasBill
Reviewed by VegasBill from Nevada

4.14/5  rDev +19.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
I really liked this micro. You enter into a bar, sort of a dive bar, and small dining area and then proceed out onto a large deck. The bar is a wraparound type so half is inside and half is outside. The deck overlooks the river and has wooden partitions so it can be closed off in cold weather.
As for beer they brew three of their own, I tried the Rat Bastard, which was very good. They also have guest taps which included Racer5 and Death and Taxes.
The bartender was super friendly and gave me a lot of info on the bar and area.
As sort of a side note we had lunch just a few minutes from Stumptown at the Russian River Pub which has been featured on the TV show Diners Drive Inns and Dives and had their
'famous wings". Dont waste your time with this place, the wings were average at best, just stay at Stumptown and have a meal.
Mar 28, 2009
Photo of Murchmac
Reviewed by Murchmac from California

3.9/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Went here late on christmas eve on vacation. This place is fantastic! First of all they had, lagunitas, russian river, moonlight, bear republic, and pabst on tap, along with their own beer. The atmosphere is hysterical. Dead racoons stapled to the ceiling, aliens with rubber nipples, and a good jukebox. The locals could easily be extras in a david lynch movie, but were all very friendly and interesting even though we were from out of town.

The food was not so good, but it was the only game in town for christmas eve. I loved this bar, the back beer garden had a beautiful view of the russian river, a pool table, and you could hear the jukebox.

Hop into you amc gremlin and get over to stumptown if you make it to guerneville, much better than the bullpen on main street.
Dec 25, 2007
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

3.03/5  rDev -12.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5
Strange little dive bar/brewery that seems like a haven for local biker types. They are located in the little Russian River town of Guerneville- beautiful area and definitely worth a stop. The brewery has very little parking, but no place in town is much of a walk from anywhere, so thats no big deal. The inside of this place is a real dive- dark and dingy with various local characters giving you the once over as you walk in. There is a very small bar on your left as you walk in, and this is where they dispense the beer- as well as a window facing out back. The real place to drink is the "beergarden" out back. This is a couple of decks with tables overlooking the Russian River about 75 yards away. A great place to hang out on a nice day. The brewery also appears to own the land below this bordering the river, and it is here that they hold their bbq and beer festival in August with lots of other breweries in attendance. The quality on the beer seemed fine, but there seemed to be only a limited selection of their beers. The beers overall are pretty tasty. The service was brusque and a little unpolished, but effecient and not unfriendly. Not my top pick in the area, but definitely worth a quick stop.
Aug 22, 2006
Stumptown Brewery & Smokehouse in Guerneville, CA
Brewery rating: 3.58 out of 5 with 44 ratings