Wursthaus

Downtown Santa Ana becomes a little more hip with this excellent sausage and beer establishment. An easy walk from such attractions like Good Beer Company and Native Son Alehouse, Wursthaus is easy to find off 4th Street. While there is parking nearby, expect to pay a small fee for its use.

Walk inside, approach a small counter, the kitchen, and twenty "hello, how are you?" taps. The seating and bar are in a separate room, which gives off a rustic wooden feel. Just after 6pm, I was the only customer inside, but a few people did start to arrive just as I was leaving. The bar has maybe 10 seats, the perfect place to enjoy its attractive happy hour ($5 smoked bratwurst, $2 frites).

So there are 20 different taps, nearly all of them leaning towards the German/Belgian side. Beers from Aktien, Malheur, Tripel Karmeliet, Chimay, Weihenstepahner, Franziskaner, Wittekerke were available, however three of the selections had tapped out. Drafts aren't cheap either, with many small pours and many hitting $7-9 territory. I will say that despite the price, the quality is the beer is well kept and not too cold, and each beer is given its own branded glassware (Malheur glass for the Malheur 10, Wittekerke glass for the Wittekerke).

Staff was very welcoming, and the smoked bratwurst with frities was outstanding. Sausage makes much of the menu, some venturing into the exotic category featuring wild game.

In many respects, Wursthaus reminded me a lot of Los Angeles' Wurstkuche, another excellent sausage, frites, and beer establishment. I think Orange County has its own version here, and being a much shorter drive for me, will host many more visits in the future.