Telegraph Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very small and cramped, especially when it gets a bit busier on a weekend evening. Can be too cool and breezy because the garage door is rolled up. But, the air is not nearly as cold as the "Ms. Thang" that waited on us. Brutally icy. While her service was prompt and available, she maintained an air of pomposity and contempt despite my continued efforts to engage her in warmer discussions of the tasters she was pouring for us. She needed a Proctologist to remove that stick that was implanted in her ass. I did have a meaningful, yet relaxed discussion with the brewer about Prime Merididan, one in a lineup of five beers on their tasting list.

The beer is decent, but you need to be a Belgian fan to enjoy it. Too much Belgian spice in each of their beers regardless of whether it's a Porter, a Pale Ale, or a Blonde. The quality of the brews is above average, I'm just not in love with Belgian styles. For instance, the Prime Meridian, once allowed to settle and warm a few degrees, demonstrates a lot of compexity, seemless transitioning, and balance.

I won't go back, but I'm happy to have experienced it.

If you can find this small brewery on a side street and catch them while they're serving (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), you're in for a treat. They use the forklift to move enough pallets outside so you'll have room to enjoy their offerings. Chances are good you'll have to stand, but that's OK. You'll be standing among the tanks and kegs, where you'll probably find yourself chatting with other beer aficionados.

The available beers rotate each week, so you never know for sure what they'll have on tap. Great beer, good people, unique atmosphere.

This place has a intimate atmosphere. You are right inside the brewery in a room filled to the ceiling with stainless steel tanks. The bar itself is very small but contains the best of Telegraph's offerings along with their seasonal brews on tap. The employees are cordial and helpful and the hot dog stand that occasionally comes around seems high-end if you're looking for some quick food to go alongside the refreshing beer. Growlers are filled here as well as bottles. Overall it is a nice place to grab a tasty beer with friends that is not too far from downtown.

Small taproom just off the freeway near downtown Santa Barbara. Very small bar area, patrons generally stand near and around the brewing equipment and at a couple small tables. It seemingly gets crowded often, as it was on our one visit. The staff was great, very helpful and friendly. Crowd was having a good time.

They only had 3-4 beers on tap but they were solid. We had the Reserve Wheat and the Stock Porter. Prices were reasonable, about $5 for a pint. Good beers, not outstanding but definitely not mediocre. Would have been nice to see more things on tap.

It's basically set up right in the brewery itself, an old warehouse, where they open the doors in the afternoons on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Nice atmosphere. Lots of locals stopping in it seems. They did have a couple bottles that I've not seen distributed for sale along with growlers available.

It's right off hwy. 101, so definitely worth stopping in if you are driving up or down the coast.

From my hometown of Santa Barbara we have the Telegraph brewery, owned and ran by three cool dudes. Nestled in a small street off the Garden St. exit you wouldn't know it was there unless you were looking for it. They are only open weekend hours so you have to plan accordingly. The place is essentially a wearhouse converted into a brewery with about 4-5 large tanks with a small bar with barstools off to the side. They only serve their beer and pretzels-no food. Each time I've been there they have had the Golden Wheat-not my favorite, California Ale-their flagship ale, Stock Porter-also good and the Oatmeal Stout-a seasonal. If you're looking for good decent locally made cheap beer this is your place. A growler fill is only 10 bucks and each time I've brought a growler for others to share I've usually received positive reactions. If you're looking for complex barrel aged monster stouts, IPAs and geuezes then keep looking-this place won't impress you. Though to their credit I have seen them experiment with a few beers over the last few months popping up at festivals and anniversary partys in Southern California. Since I've discovered them 3 years ago they have hardly changed up the brewery at all. If you've been there before don't expect anything new. While I like the guys that work there and their beer is decent, Telegraph needs to do a better job keeping up with the fast pace of craft brewing. But then again its part of their charm.

Visited on Friday 2/4/11.

Went during tasting room hours. Very small bar area in the actual brewery where you can do tastings, fill growlers, order kegs, buy bottles and other merchandise (hats, shirts, etc.). There were 4 staff people who were very helpful in greeting us and making sure we were taken care of during the tasting. They had 5 of their beers on tap: White Ale, Golden Wheat Ale, California Ale, Brown Ale, and Stock Porter. In addition they had some bottles for sale, including Rhinoceros and a special brew called Petit Obscura.

Prices were as follows:
10 oz. = $3.50
16 oz. = $5.00
5 taster set with a 10 oz. of what you liked best = $7.00
Growler = $15.00
Growler fill = $10.00
Most regular bottles = $5.99
Rhinoceros = $9.99
Petit Obscura = $7.99

Very laid back, very down to earth people, and an overall great experience. One of the guys talked to me about some special releases I was curious about (Gypsy Ale).

I would recommend seeking this place out if you are ever in the Santa Barbara area.

Visited August 20, 2010.

The brewery is in an industrial area a few blocks off State St. Pretty basic set up: small bar area with several stools in the warehouse that holds the brewery. There were a few people when we got there, but it got crowded pretty quickly.

I started with a pint of dry-hopped Golden Wheat Ale on cask. When would I have the opportunity to try that again? Probably never. I followed with a glass of Reserve Wheat Ale.

The people working there were very friendly. They described their beers, provided some interesting conversation, and offered a few dining recommendations to out-of-town visitors (that would be us).

Pints were about $4 and bottles to go were $6. I don't know the growler pricing.

Bowls of pretzels on the bar counter.

A: Put into a warehouse blocks away from State Street is Telegraph. Went here on a Spring day back in 2008. Walking in you can the equioment to the right and off to the left is a small little bar where the nice guys from Telegraph serve it up. There are other small chairs about at the tasting room to hang out. You may end up standing too

Q: Every beer I have had from them has ranged from good to very good

S: Guys are nice and talkative. Good service.

S: I believe they had 5 beers to choose frm with growlers and bittles to go

F: Pretzels