Bakersfield - Places to go

If you’re willing to drive a bit, you can make the trip out to Kern River Brewing. It’s about an hour or so east of Bakersfield. Be careful on the drive there though. Curvy two lane highway.

 

Dionysus is a must go.

 

Definitely hit up Imbibe Wine & Spirits for cans & bottles. Dionysus Brewing for sure. Eureka! Burgers for grub & beer. I heard the Trader Joe’s has a decent selection of cans & bottles. But I would definitely make the 1hr drive to KRBC. Take some cans back. Great views and atmosphere. Great beers.

 

KRBC is always a great stop, delicious beer and a great setting. Definitely check out Great Change brewing as well. Kyle Smith was the head brewer at KRBC for years

www.greatchangebrewing.com/

I've never been to Bakersfield Beer company but they seem to have a decent tap list

http://www.bakersfieldbeercompany.com/

 

Definitely Great Change. I'm not the biggest Dionysus fan, but people seem to really dig them, so probably worth a stop and seeing for yourself. Personally, I would choose Great Change if I had to pick between the two.

As mentioned, Imbibe for bottles.

Check out the Moo Creamery for Lunch or Dinner, generally a really great taplist. This is the place for Burger and beers in Bakersfield, over Eureka, all day long.
https://www.moocreamery.com/

And if you are ok with the drive, I'll third Kern River Brewing in Kernville.

 

Speaking of Kyle Smith & Great Change Brewing, how is he doing at Great Change? Haven’t heard a word about GC or KS mentioned here since his move from KRBC to GC. That’s when Citra DIPA went from great to bad.....to subpar.....to okay.....come on man! Did he take his Citra recipe with his memories and KRBC has the rights to the one time got to get bottles/growlers? He did have some great recipes while he was at KRBC. Just wondering how’s the beers at Great Change? Has it been a Great Change for Kyle?

 

There's no beer, but Porkchop and Bubba's is a must hit if you like BBQ. Go early as things sellout often before dinner time.

Great Change gets my vote over Dionysus. I've personally never liked anything from Lengthwise, but didn't get to taste anything Kyle created while he was there between KRBC and Great Change.

Kern River is definitely worth the trip if you've got the time, and aren't squeamish about driving on curvy mountain roads with plenty of exposure above a river with limited guardrails. The main brew pub and restaurant are open 7 days a week. Think the new expanded space (behind the original) has more limited hours and a different menu.

 

I didn't want to hijack this thread until the OP's question was answered but now that appears to be done I do have a question about a Bakersfield beer that has been on my Wants list for a while - Zeus Imperial IPA from Lengthwise Brewing.

I haven't been quite able to discern whether this is a rotating release but it looks to me that it comes out once a year. I think I may have missed this year's release but anybody who can provide some information about when it comes out would be appreciated. If I am mistaken and it is still around, I am interested in a trade.

 

Good luck trying to find any fresh. The beer was decent 3-4 years ago, but isn’t very good now - and trying to find a fresh bottle (even at the brewery) seems impossible.

 

Dio has always been my go to every time I go up to Bako but I’ll have to check out Great Change I’m up there

 

I was up there for a concert last week and visited Dionysus and Moo Creamery. Beers at Dio were solid but nothing to rave about.

 

What's the best bottle shop that sells more than singles? Imbibe and Bakersfield Beer have good selections (I'd even go so far as to call the Bakersfield Beer selection great), but both places sell nearly everything as singles. Mainly looking for stuff that likely doesn't see distro in Norcal.

 

It's been a few since I have been in there, but the Chevron on Ming Ave (store is called Sully's) generally has a pretty damn good selection (as far as Bakersfield goes), with a walk-in beer cave. Can't vouch for the "doesn't see distro in Norcal" part, but possibly the best option in regards to your question.

 

People move to Bakersfield?

 

...others occasionally work there or pass through.

 

nobody lives there, it's way too crowded

 

I occasionally work there and pass through, but right after I get back in my car and leave.