visiting Santa Barbara CA

Santa Barbara county and Ventura county are dark spots on the Russian River distribution map, unfortunately. I've never seen Pliny or other RR offerings sold around here (legally).

 

Hit and miss. I assume if you're driving you'll be coming in via the 15 to the 210 or 10. There are a good amount of bottle shops along the 210 (Lone Hill, House of Spirits) and then others once it turns into the 101 (Vendome, Valley Beverage, Bill's). There's no guarantee Pliny will be in stock at the time you come through but it doesn't hurt to stop and check.

If you want to take a detour up Highway 1 to your destination, many of the Whole Foods in Santa Monica/West LA/south bay get Pliny now and then as well as the independent shops (Beverage Warehouse, Wally's, Vendome). A lot of the bars and restaurants in that area also get Pliny on tap with some regularity. Still though, there's the chance that the area could be in one of its common dry spells when you're passing though.

 

surprised nobody mentioned keg and bottle in IV. they are a pretty huge craft beer selection.

whole foods on state street has like 15 draft lines and good stuff!

 

About a week ago Wades Wines/ Malibu Sundowner in Westlake had Pliny for onsite consumption only, and Damnation in the bottle shop that you could take to go.

 

I highly recommend BrewLab in Carpinteria.

 

IMO only if you are going to visit Barrelworks, which is only a couple miles further, and Industrial Eats, which is right down the street.

 

fwiw Barrelworks is about a mile or so from fig mountain in Buellton. Next door to Fig is ascendant spirits distillery, and a great restaurant, industrial eats, is just up the road (100 yards?) as well. (and if you like wine Avant winery and restaurant is next door to Ascendant spirits) So while it may not be worth the driving time to go to Buellton just for the Fig brewery, there is other amazing things really really close by that will make it worth every second.

 

I agree 110%

 

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Fig although they do have a good IIPA in Lizards Mouth (available in stores bottled). Definitely nothing I would go out of my way for.

 

Buellton has a nice outside area with bocce ball and horseshoes. Plenty of seating and outside table service at least on the Saturday I was there. There was a food trailer cooking up Santa Maria style tri-tip that was very good. Never been to the SB tasting room.

 

Also Telegraph is worth a visit if any Obscura series sours are on. Also make sure to drink wine up there.. several right in town (jaffurs and whitcraft being best and better ones outside of town) .. also for food I like Hungry Cat and Los Agaves and the crab shack at the end of the pier... and duh.. barrelworks (and then wineries)

if in Buelon you should eat at Industrial Eats over anything else. They also have craft beers and wine but the food is top class.

 

Can't speak for the Buelton tasting room, but the one downtown SB sits crowdedly in a crowd of other crowded bars. Not that there's anything wrong with crowding, but, like, seriously all of them are busy all of the time. And, as mentioned above, Lizard's Mouth is about the only beer I seek out from them. If you're trying to sit and evaluate the appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and overall impression you got from your beer, the bar scene will probably win out on the impression and take over. BUT I go with friends regularly because it is a fun crowd and one good beer is all I need to be happy.

Expect a live band and the possibility of a line to get in, a line to order your beer, and a line to get a seat outside. Then expect for that seat outside to be well worth your while (if you plan to stay for a while), as the patio area is sunlit, out of direct aim from the speakers, and pleasant as all get-out.

 

Do any of you stay out there overnight? Looking for recs on accommodations out in the Buellton area.

 

if you're craving Mexican food in Santa Barbara La Super Rica is good shit