The Breweries of Buellton
Let’s talk about the best beer in Buellton! In an area widely known for excellent food and award winning wines, it can sometimes be forgotten that Buellton is also home to several of our region’s best craft breweries. Each has its own unique identity and reason to visit, so consider multiple stops on your next tasting trip!
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.’s original taproom in Buellton features indoor and outdoor table seating, plus a brew deck overlooking the brewing facility with all of their core beers on tap and ready “to go” in bottles. Or choose from a rotating list of specialty and cask beers found only in their taprooms! Hungry? Enjoy a full menu of gastropub fare plus a kids menu for the wee ones. If you need beer “to go” you can grab a growler, bottles, or pick up a gift from their selection of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. shirts, hoodies, hats and more.
Accommodations Nearby:
Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn, Sideways Inn and Flying Flags RV Resort
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewing up wild beers, serving up fabulous food, and pushing the envelope in the craft beer industry, Firestone-Walker Brewing Company Taproom and Barrelworks (see below) is a must for every beer fan in Buellton. This award winning brewery has proved to be one of the Central Coast’s best, distributing their popular brews across the country. The Taproom is open for lunch and dinner, and Barrelworks is open for those who dare to take a walk on the wild (ales) side! This is one barrel facility you won’t want to miss.
Accommodations Nearby:
Hampton Inn & Suites, Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, Quality Inn and Motel 6
Barrelworks
Barrelworks Tasting Room and Blending Center features beers from their wild ale program, as well as one-off selections from their barrel-aging spirits program.
Consider for a moment that for decades, brewers and breweries have been indoctrinated in the ways of good sanitation, cleanliness, pure strains of yeast. In essence: Stay away from anything wild! This obsession led to the use of pedigree strains of yeast and extreme avoidance of wild yeast and bacteria, deemed undesirable. Firestone’s Barrelworks Wild Beer program turns this doctrine on its head. Their next chapter in barrel fermenting and aging willfully and enthusiastically includes adding these wild ‘critters’ to beer, producing a range of strange, interesting, wonderful, pleasing and refreshing characters.
Single barrel and small batch brews are limited in quantity and available only while supplies last. Information on specific beers can be found at the Barrelworks tasting room.
Accommodations Nearby:
Hampton Inn & Suites, Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, Quality Inn and Motel 6
American Craft Beer Week (May 10-16)
This week long salute to local beer and breweries begins soon. You can support the amazing breweries in this blog and join in the nation-wide celebration of community and craftsmanship by planning a visit or placing an order with them online. Not just during Craft Beer Week but all year long, we think local beer is best!
