Oak Knoll Liquors

A remarkable variety of microbrews for a liquor store next to a CVS in tiny Orcutt, CA. Many of the varieties are California-heavy, but there are some from all over the US and abroad. Gus and Sam (Said) are not remarkably beer savvy, but are adventurous and willing to bring on whatever the distributors recommend. The beer cooler is nearly two-thirds of the length of the room and almost all the way across the back. They have a warm selection on the opposite side wall in the back third of the place. I was a very loyal customer here for the three years I lived in Santa Maria. I actually trained jiu jitsu with Said. They are good folks who consistently knock it out of the park with variety and quality.

Visited December 22, 2013.

I heard about this place a few years back but since Orcutt is half way between my usual destinations I’m normally pissed off at my gas drinking, piston clinking, air polluting, smoke belching buggy from Detroit city and just continue to keep on driving. Glad I stopped though since of the five or six rateable liquor stores in the area this one is probably the best, including the new Bevmo.

When you walk in the fridges are all on the left side of the store and half a dozen of them have beer in them. The first couple are full of macros but the last couple have some good stuff. Not an amazing selection, just the usual stuff liike Stone, Ballast Point, Bear Republic, Sierra Nevada, and the common imports. Then I turned around and saw the entire wall of un-refrigerated beers. Bruery, AleStmith, Coronado, Manzanita, Moylans, Clown Shoes, Port, Ninkasi, Marin, Firestone, Strand, Santa Cruz Mountain, each with it’s own little cubbie-hole. The top row is all imports. Good selection over all.

Prices are decent and it’s in a large shopping center so parking is easy as is finding this place. If you don’t see it right away look to the right of the CVS and look for the banner out front from Figueroa Mountain.

Good selection of domestics and Belgians. Unfortunately, only about half are in coolers while the other half are on shelves on the other side of the store. By far the best selection from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara.

For beer selection, as good as it gets in Santa Maria. Actually located in Orcutt.