New OC Breweries Worth Visiting?

All the major gossip has been spilled already but one of the owners is pretty adamant about being the only craft beer available in Costa Mesa and they don't tend to treat other industry professionals too well when they visit their taproom.

I've personally felt welcomed and gotten the hookup there before but I didn't go in thinking I would get free/discounted shit, so I'm not too sure if my anecdotal experience is comparable to the other experiences (I also bring beer from wherever I happen to be working at the time, so that helps too). Major shame too, I really love their dortmunder, foeder beer, and their brüt IPA. They're super solid/great.

Also, LOL, to the people saying they should visit Gunwhale. Every IPA there has been a total butter bomb. Kevin still needs to dial that ish in.

 

His antics go way beyond just not giving other "industry professionals a hookup" so I'm not surprised by this announcement.

 

My understanding is the City of Costa Mesa made Barley Forge install a kitchen and serve food as a condition of operating the brewery, the first brewery in Costa Mesa. This would have subjected them to higher standards from the Health Department and increased costs for start up and ongoing overhead.

Fast forward a few years and the City allows Gunwhale, Bootleggers and Salty Bear to open shop in the same area without the requirement to have a kitchen and serve food.

I could see some bitterness there.

Barley Forge has a pretty big advantage over Gunwhale because BF can stay open until 1am Fri/Sat and Gunwhale closes at 8:30pm. But they have no such advantage over Bootleggers up the street which is also open until 1am and doesn't have to maintain a kitchen. The recently opened Salty Bear also doesn't have a kitchen and is open until 11pm.

Not justifying any bad behavior on the part of Barley Forge towards other breweries, just providing context. If anything, BF should have beef with the City.

 

Always thought it was strange they allowed a brewery to open RIGHT across the street.

 

Agreed, it's an issue with the city, but in retrospect, BF should be thankful that it was forced to serve food, since that seems to be its competitive advantage over the other breweries in the neighborhood. I still prefer Gunwhale for their farmhouse and saisons, but the food at BF is pretty good.

I haven't tried Salty Bear - anyone have an opinions about them?

 

The food was pretty much the only draw for me for BF. They made a couple of decent beers (to my palate), but for the most part I could find the same style, but better quality elsewhere. I also didn’t like the douche bag clientele that always seemed to be there when I visited (me not included..). It always seemed like frat-bro corporate finance crowd central that’s just obnoxious instead of the usual more laid back crowds at most other breweries I’ve been to.

 

I'm one of those people that avoids Barley Forge. The place is always a little too crowded and I don't feel the beer is worth it. Would much prefer to be across the street at Gunwhale or on the other side of Bristol at Bootlegger's. You can grab a Pho Baguette at East Borough (which is top notch) in the Camp and then walk over to the Lab to eat at Bootleggers. It become a regular routine for my wife and me.

 

Am I in the minority for avoiding both BF and Gunwhale?

 

Really haven't gone to either since Riip and HB Beachwood being only a few miles to the west.

 

I've noticed "the patsy" coco stout has gone downhill since they switched from bottles to cans. That beer initially wowed my taste buds and put them on the map for me. Short flash in the pan.

 

That’s sad for Barley Forge, I remember going there ironically to get buzzed before a funeral 3 years ago. Food was good, beers solid (loved the dortmunder and coconut stout) and I recall speaking to a lady that seemed to be an owner. She was super friendly. I’ve thought about going back a number of times but the options have improved nearby while it feels like Barley Forge has stayed the same (or fallen off).

Gunwhales has a nice, quiet set up. Been there twice. The IPAs are fine, nothing amazing but I certainly didn’t notice diacetyl.

I’m going to be in Newport Beach mid July. Debating what to do on a get away day from the family to beer taste. It’s complicated by this being either Thursday or Friday early afternoon and a lot of these spots aren’t open until later especially on Thursday.

Option 1: Anaheim in some combination of A) Green Cheek (I haven’t been, Love IPAs and lagers, but they don’t open until later), B) Noble (haven’t been), C) Bottle Logic (heavy stouts May not be best when trying to hit multiple spots), D) Bruery (been many times, positive is they open early everyday)

Option 2: Huntington Beach in some combination of A) BW HB (haven’t been to this location, opens later tho), RiiP (been before), The American Dream (opens early).

Anything good I’m missing from these ideas and which way would you go? I’m not very familiar with bars / restaurants in the area with good tap lists besides American Dream. Any recs welcome, I’m mainly into IPAs and lagers at the moment. Thanks BAs!

 

Option 2 is more scenic and closer to the beach.

I work in Newport and there isn't much beer choices, and even then if you do find any gems they're usually messed with in some fashion. (Found PtE in the now closed Crow Bar off PCH, and it was poured into a frosty beer mug.)

On Thursdays @D09daryl and @PBRandJ meet up at seal BW (albiet PBR with new offspring has had his attendance suffer)

 

If lagers and IPA are what you seek, then you should make your way to Green Cheek.

 

I second Green Cheek. It's becoming my favorite option these days, as their lagers and IPAs are some of the best in So Cal (I lean towards the WC IPAs and they do a fantastic job with those). It's not too far from downtown Santa Ana and Playground usually has a solid section of beers (and you'll usually find Green Cheek) and great food, or if you go to American Dream, you'll pretty much find selections from all of the best OC breweries. The one negative about Green Cheek is that it can be a shit show when there is a can release - not as bad as Monkish, but since GC is pretty small, it can get pretty crowded quickly.

 

Green Cheek and Chapman Crafted.

 

Haven’t been to Haven in a while, but I noticed that they rebranded from a Gastro Pub to a ‘Craft Kitchen.’ Their beer list is usually pretty good, food to me was always mediocre.

 

I remember speaking to that lady too and she was very welcoming to us. also like their brats.

so far people are just speculating they were mad at other breweries but curious what the situation was mistreating their employees. and it sucks to hear. good for them for splitting

 

I like how you can order a Chambong at Harley.

 

Gamecraft in North Laguna/Irvine was pretty solid, they have a kitchen too

 

Just for informational purposes, Barley Forge's food facility inspection report from last month when they were shut down for cockroach infestation, followed by the follow-up inspection report upon reopening a day later.

https://orangeeco.envisionconnect.com/attachmentitem/Inspection/7b273b12-c429-41ea-b3ca-aa560112ec90

https://orangeeco.envisionconnect.com/attachmentitem/Inspection/90b577b3-f68c-4263-b5f7-aa5701100cdd