Taking a break from Hollingshead's.

Good beers on tap but the kids attitude is enough to keep me out.

 

For a time they were the best game in town--partially by virtue of the fact that they were the only game in town. But largely because they had an intelligently curated tap list and bottle selection that continues to have some goodies seldom seen elsewhere.

When I first took an interest in better beer in the early nineties, the discovery of HH was magical. And they continued to occupy a special place in my heart for years, even after craft beer spots began sprouting like a chia pet. But a number of incidences over the years has caused their luster to fade in my eyes.

Perhaps most annoying is the condescending friendliness of Kenny. I don't know, it almost feels hostile. Second is how they handle some of their stock. Seeing two year old Winter Yule Smith marked up because it is "aged" just seems disrespectful to customers. If they honestly believe that it deserves a mark up because it's been sitting around at room temp for over a year, then it speaks poorly of their understanding of beer. Third is the boorishness of many of the regulars. I was in there a short while back to pick up some Nelson Shower and there were some men at the bar, old enough to know better, who were having a farting contest while Kenny is looking on, stupidly smiling. I quicklly changed my mind about having a couple beers at the bar. I used to go there about once a month; now I drop in a few times a year.

 

and sometimes earlier even though they close at 8 pm. LOL

 

Being the cheapass that I am, I called and HH Jr. answered, I asked how much a pint of a beer they were serving on tap was, his words were "if you have to ask, you can't afford it", then he hung up. After reading this thread might be the best choice to go to anyways.

 

One time I met a friend for his birthday there. I brought a bottle of something and out of respect, I offered the younger HH a pour so he took the bottle and helped himself to a pour that was larger than anyone else's. I was like "aww hell naw."

 

I mean, rest his soul and all, but the mentality sounds exactly like Stuffed Sandwich, in that the food is whatever but the beer and experience is what you're paying for.

That sort of snotty attitude may have been a-okay back in the mid 90's when the craft beer scene was small, but you can't keep a business floating off that in this day and age.

 

That guy was awesome! One time I was looking through their shelves and he walked by and said, "Hey! We don't make any money when you're just lookin'!" Classic.

 

Draft pours there are pretty damn expensive there too.

 

I agree that the sandwiches are way overpriced... but damn they're good. I always liked the "homey-ness" of the place, but I agree that the combination of overpriced food and a little abrasiveness can rub people the wrong way. I'll always have a soft spot for them as their Russian River tasting with Vinnie years back is really what got me into craft beer. I remember thinking, "Vinnie is on to something with this Pliny the Younger stuff. I can't wait until it's more readily available!"

 

He was, unfortunately he passed away. He'd always tell me about all the German beers he loved while I browsed the selection. One time he told my friend and I the story of how he met his wife, felt like your grandpa telling you a story. He was my favorite part of Hollingshead's.

 

I do not know the story behind the Bruery situation but if it is true I find it odd due to the fact Hollingshead was one of the Bruery's first accounts.

O well I always thought the place sucked.

 

I'm not a hater. I don't consider myself a regular, but I go there enough to know Ken and Mike. I like them. Maybe they're not for everyone. Always treated my wife and me well. Yes, their prices a bit above avg, I don't care, I like to support local small businesses. I think the food is great. But PtY day there is cray cray, I would avoid that.

 

Still the best place near Disneyland to go have a beer while the wife takes a nap with the kid in the hotel room. Sad to hear that the father died.