Two questions! Any good bar reccomendations around here? Secondly, Can you acquire Russian rivers around here for a decent price? Thanks!
1) Which part of Orange County will you be in? 2) Regarding Russian River, it depends which of their beers you're looking for. If you're looking for Damnation, it will be very easy to find. If you're looking for Pliny the Elder, you will need to search for it (it sells fast). Either way, most Russian River beers are priced reasonably well.
Any time I'm in orange county I make sure I stop by Bruery Provisions. No RR, but a huge selection of Bruery stuff.
Irvine doesn't have much of a bar culture. Main Street Brewery is a decent option for house brewed beers. Oddly enough, probably the best beer bar in the city resides on UC Irvine's Campus (The Anthill Pub). In the vicinity, Tustin Brewing (Tustin) has a fair mix of good house beers and guest taps (and some good bottles too). There are some better bars for beer in OC too, but you will need to do some traveling. Baycrest Wine & Spirits in Costa Mesa is a potential place as I have seen Supplication there. It's not a big place, but it does get overlooked if you're looking for a few gems that sell out at other places. Total Wine in Tustin has carried those two beers from time to time, but I'm not sure if those beers are in inventory at that store. I would call those places ahead of time before making the journey.
If you can make your way down to Seal Beach and go to Beachwood BBQ. Awesome food and an amazing tap list that never disappoints, and usually has Pliny or something from RR on tap.
^^ Make sure to ask beachwood for their bottle list too! Also go to Hi-Time in Costa Mesa (or is it Newport beach?) as they usually have a lot of selection and some of the harder to get stuff.
Well if you could make it, my friends from OC and I get together once in a while to share some beers. Maybe we can make this happen and when you're in town!
here is another thread with some great recommendations http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...commend-in-laguna-beach-or-irvine-area.17115/
I think I've seen both around recently at Total Wine in Tustin. I also know a couple of other place you could check
+1 for Hi-Time. Great selection. Also El Cerrito has a great selection of sours and other good stuff.
You can find Supplication (along with Damnation and Redemption of course) all day long at OC Wine Mart in Irvine on Michelson by the airport . They usually have Pliny or Blind Pig too, just ask. O'Shea's in Laguna Niguel always has Supplication and a couple others as well. I've never seen Consecration anywhere around here. If you have, please enlighten me. Overall High Time has always been my favorite shop though it's been a while since I've been in.
Beachwood and Hollingshead are a must. Hollingshead had Supplication and Pliny on tap as well as Parabola. Beachwood is another great place to visit. Russian River can be purchased at Total Wine, Whole Foods Market, Hi Times Wine Cellars, Hollingshead, and Bristol Farms (a bit high in price).
In the Irvine area, Hi-Times is a must. Closer than hollingshead, beachwood, bruery provisions. Tell them that you are in from out of town and they will probably fish out some stuff that you are looking for from their special fridge even if it's not on the shelf in the main area.
Beachwood BBQ is a must! They have the tenth anny Ruination on cask right now! And a bunch of other great hard to get beers on tap.
Total Wine in Tustin's selection hasn't been as good lately. I only saw Salvation and Damnation the last time I was there, but they have tons of cases of beer up above the shelves, so look up there. Whole Foods Tustin typically has Russian River beers as well, but it's been awhile since I've stopped in. Tustin Brewing has some good house beers and usually a very solid guest tap selection. Don't bother with Oggi's or Back Street/Main Street, whatever they're calling themselves these days. Unless you really want to be punished. Those are more in along 5, whereas places like Ant Hill and Beachwood are closer to 405. Beachwood is great, but just be aware that it's a tiny place, so be prepared to wait awhile or stand at the bar, particularly if you go on a weekend. If you go to Hollingshead as some have suggested, make sure they're open. They're closed on the weekend and aren't open terribly late during the week. But, Bruery Provisions is just down the street.
