Did a search of the forums and couldn't find anything on this. I am considering making a long drive to Buellton (5.5 hours) but wanted to get other's experiences before hand. Couple questions for potential purchasing: 1) http://www.firestonebeer.com/barrelworks/on-tap.php The list of bottles available for purchase, is there a limit? What are rough prices on Sucaba or Parabola because I can find ways to buy those in Las Vegas on rare occasions but only for $30+ which seems quite high. I am hoping they are cheaper there, anyone know? 2) Is it possible to do growler fills of any of the beers on tap? Thanks!
1. No limits as far as I know, and those bottled are probably in the $18 range, with older vintages costing more. 2. No growlers
The older vintages will easily break $30 and $40. There may be limits on BW beers, doubtful on Lil' Opal, but possible on agrestic.
Was there on Monday, 2 per on lil opal and 6 per for agrestic not sure how much longer either will last ... Yea vintage stuff has limits on it as well not sure what they are though.. No growlers for barrelworks stuff but in the other bar you can fill growlers of their more common offerings and I don't think there are limits on the bottles sold on that side like XVIII and some other stuff
1. For the stuff that's only a couple months old, it's going to be around $17-19 per perpetrators, $25 or so for XVIII 2. No full pours either. You're looking at tasters only on Barrelworks stuff. But man, I love that place. And unless you're stumbling around drunk, they'll keep pouring for you.
Barrelworks is a pretty awesome place. I would say worth the drive. They usually have 5-6 barrel aged beers and sours on. Each pour comes in a mini-snifter and is 3 bucks. There's a cooler with lots of bottles with different vintages of anniversary-the older ones are super expensive. I think 14th was 120 a bottle. They also have sucaba, BA velvet merkin, parabola etc. I think lil opal too but no other BW sours. No growler fills. But it's just a cool place to hang and drink a beer.
Last time I was there (couple weeks ago) Parabola was gone for bottle purchase. From what ive seen they sell all the proprietors vintage series for around $15.99 each and keep the same price until a new years release comes out, any of the bottles left from the previous year then cost around $35 each. Ive seen 6 bottle limits when they are fairly recent releases and down to 2 bottle limits as they start running low (parabola anyway). The anniversary's seem to be about the same with a higher base price point around $23 and they had a 2 bottle limit on XVII a month before XVIII came out. My last visit they had XVIII, 2014 Velvet Merkin, Stickee Monkee, DDBA and I think Sucaba and 2013 Merkin and DDBA and several of the older anniversary beers that get really expensive. They had agrestic and lil opal but I didnt pay much attention to those as I dont enjoy that style.
What he said, Barrelworks will be closed to the general public because of the Liberation of Slolambic, their restaurant and other bar should still be open though, but that is probably not worth the drive
Thanks everyone for the information. Very helpful! Considering making it into a long weekend trip as the sales pitch to the wife. Anyone stayed in Buellton or Solvang and enjoyed it? Or is it best to go an hour away to the much bigger, well known Santa Barbara?
Personally I'd stay in Buellton or the towns to the north rather than SB and maybe hit some wineries, too.
i would look in Santa Ynez, which is adjacent. some good airbnb and hotel options. beautiful area. don't stay in Solvang (though you should eat breakfast at Paula's Pancake house). Buelton i personally wouldn't recommend staying in
Solvang is a cute little town that your wife/gf/significant other will enjoy and would be proper compensation for seeing you get crunked on high octane beers. It's the definition of quaint. Still around there as SB can get really costly. You're also in the middle of wineries. She'll enjoy that.
Not to mention if you're in the gambling mood, the Chumash Casino & Hotel is over in Santa Ynez just down the road. You won't be disappointed when you go to Barrelworks. My lovely avatar pic was captured there at the Feral One release. You can say that we have met
Buellton is a fine place to stay for a weekend. The special ladyfriend and I stayed at the Marriott in Buellton, just down the street from Firestone Walker/Barrelworks. We did Solvang/FW/Barrelworks one day, and then hit up wineries in the area and tasting rooms in Los Olivos the next day, along with a stop at the Figueroa Mountain Brewery taproom in Los Olivos. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We hired a local driver to take us around to various local wineries/tasting rooms to avoid having to drive ourselves. He was very affordable and gave us some good suggestions on places to visit. I can't remember the name of the company off the top of my head, but can find it if you want the name/number. Make sure you stop at OstrichLand while you're there!
