Hi folks, I’m traveling cross-country in July and will be stopping in Bakersfield before arriving in San Francisco. I’m coming in from Albuquerque and this seems to be the closest to a mid-point. After half a day of driving I am sure I will be eager for a couple of beers and some good eats. Sounds like Lengthwise is the best game in town. Since I’m driving and it’s my last stop I’ll have room for a few sixers and bottles. Where’s the best place and what’s the best price to get Kern River in town? Is this something I can easily find in the bay area? Thanks!
Definitely, Kern River is not easy to find in the Bay Area. I would recommend the hour drive to the Brewery from Bakersfield. Bakersfield/Kern River Brewery/San Francisco mapped: https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...DH_rXbwZxNQSg&oq=san+francisco&mra=ls&t=m&z=7
It's not a hard drive, but be prepared to encounter people who don't know what turnouts are. Seriously CA drivers, why don't ANY of you know how to use turnouts? It's embarrassing. Ahem, I'm not totally sure that the trip would be worth it, as Kern is literally the only thing there, and that's in-season so you'd have higher rates at hotels (of course, you could just camp, if you're into that kind of thing). If all you want is to drink some Just Outstanding, you can probably find bottles in Bakersfield. And as Commanche said, it's really difficult to find Kern in the bay area. City Beer had JO once, and I've seen 5th Anni a few times, maybe Class V, but only rarely and usually following events that they did up here.
Lengthwise is the best bet, been there and I like the place. I hope you don't mind hot, Bakersfield to put it mildly is a frickin oven during summer. Way too hot for me.
Lengthwise has great food, but their beer is mediocre at best. If you're looking for great food and craft beer I would suggest Eureka! burgers. As far as bottle shops, we have a few... Imbibe - great selection but their overhead causes their prices to be a bit on the higher side for some stuff (read: gouging). They ocassionally have some sort of food offering, depending on the night. GM liquor - smaller selection than Imbibe, but he's very reasonably priced and very knowledgable. Westchester liquor - moderate selection and great pricing. Stock tends to get old, so be see to check bottle dates. All three will always have a decent selection of KRBC offerings. The brewery itself is about an hour drive outside of Bakersfield and up a windy two lane mountain road. Their food is incredible, the atmosphere is great and you will ocassionally get a beer on tap that is limited to brewery only. Class X is in barrels, and Citra is sometime soon(ish). What days are you coming in? It will be blistering hot during the entire month of July.
Albuquerque to SF in one day? that's brutal. The better beer shops in town, I usually hit up Country Club Liquor when I'm passing through, should have Kern beers for about $5 a bomber.
I'm actually coming from Texas so I know a thing or three about hot. I imagine it's going to be brutally hot but this gets me away from LA traffic. And there seems to be more in Bakersfield vs. Barstow or some of the other small towns along the way. (Although Barstow would be great for the obligatory Fear and Loathing reference.) Looks like I'll just be stopping to grab some bottles and get some rest more than anything else. Anything else I should look for that doesn't make its way to the bay area?
All I can recommend is NOT to go to Toronado while in SF. I never would have said this before until my experience on Friday afternoon. I know I have read complaints about people who work there before, and never quite understood them...until now. I was with my girlfriend and sister, and the bartender (old lady with long dark hair) was unbelievably rude and unpleasant toward us. I mean, the way she was speaking and talking down to my girlfriend for no apparent reason was absolutely ridiculous. I was wanting to have a few beers there, but because of her actions, we had our one beer and left. City Beer was much more enjoyable and the staff was far more friendly and personable. I recommend grabbing drinks there while you're in SF. As for finding Kern River while in SF, I have personally never seen it. Cheers!
redwood city at some german beer joint would be your best bet near the city. i forget the name but the did have citra dipa and the winter rye for sf beer week. might be worth looking into edit in reply to finding kern river brwing.
I was a occasional visitor at the Toronado when I lived in the Bay a while back. Definitely not a regular but I had been there enough to recognize and be recognized by a few of the staff. My only negative experience (the kind that everyone warns about) didn't come until after I had moved away for a bit! Go figure. Kern River is like a siren call of temptation... I'll be an hour away and an hour out of my way--when else will I have this chance? Ha.
I ended up stopping at Imbibe because it was closest to the connecting highways. And yes, I did an 18+ hr epic road trip in one day. Crazy, I know. Was the comment about price gouging in reference to the $14 bottles of Pliny?
$13 Pliny, and $30 parabola, yes. Those are just two of the deepest gouges. I was there Friday night for a tasting and they were out of stock.
I wouldn't pay $13 for Pliny but then again I am now in the bay area and spoiled by it being fresh when it is available. Then again, they had Kern river bombers for under $5.
