September 21, 2009
A pretty decent little brewpub conveniently located right on the main drag of Santa Barbara. The interior is lined with brick and flat screened TVs, and the whole back of the pub is filled with cramped fermenters and brew equipment. The beers were decent that I had, and the atmosphere overall was relaxing. I just wish they didn’t have to cater so much to the beer-naive crowds that come here, via boring beer taps, sports bar like atmosphere, etc. I’d go back though, since the experience was positive.

June 26, 2009
The beer is average at best. Food is not bad. And you can’t be unhappy in Santa Barbara, California. I just wish the beer was better. The bottom line is it isn’t great. There are a few beers that you can get by on, but some like the blonde should be avoided.

February 10, 2009
Great atmosphere, however, it can get very busy and crowded. Great people watching. Beers are very good, but have seemed to have dropped off a bit in recent years. Always worth a stop

January 3, 2009
Half decent food a slightly decent beer. Nothing i would drain poor. They had about 6 regulars and 2 specials...and impy stout and pumpkin ale. Staff was not too friendly...would not go out of my way to go back...but would stop by for a beer to kill some time.

July 13, 2008
Have eaten there before and remember the food being good, however this expiriance was marred by the smell of feces, literally. There pipes had broken and there was the constant waves of the smell of excriment wafting through the air. Beers were hit or miss. The pale, brown and red were all great, but the stout and ipa tasted like brewing mistakes (way, way too much DMS!). The wheat was also nearly undrinkable, as it tasted like it had been brewed with a large concentrate of lemon rinds. Hit or miss with this place.

June 7, 2008 [ Updated September 5, 2008 ]
This place would probably be pretty good if it weren’t for the fact that the beers are quite weak (or at least they were when I went there). The prices are a little steap, but $3 pints during happy hour. The service was pretty good and the foods not bad, but pricey. Imight go back there if I was in the area, but it’s nothing to rave about.

May 16, 2008
After now having been here a few times and having been to the other brewpubs in town, I’ve got to give it a pretty neutral response. The beer is average for the most part some not really good like the hefeweizen and stout, and some actually pretty nice like the dunkelweizen and brown ale. Nothing I would go out of my way for, but if you are hanging out down on state street it’s not a bad option. I’ll agree with Charlzm that The Brewhouse, only a couple blocks off of state, is definitely the better option.

February 19, 2008
Visited in the afternoon of Monday, 2/18/08. Brass and wood decor dominate this brewpub (like untold countless others). Also just like hundreds of brewpubs, flat screen TVs are everywhere you look, showing different sports channels. Lots of smiling faces to be seen on the customers. The wait staff, while attractive and young, didn’t seem especially interested in being there. There were nine of their own brews on tap, which would have been a great selection if even one of them had been any good. The food is better than the beer (another typical brewpub quality). If you want good beer, go about a half mile to The Brewhouse and skip this State Street spot.

November 15, 2007
Basically a sports bar, with their own beer. The pacific pale ale was actually very good, but it seemed to me the customers would just as well have a Bud Light instead. I took ribs to eat and to speak the truth they were a bit over done and dry. Staff was pretty helpful.

August 5, 2007
Not a particularly great place. Below average beer, food, and service, but great people watching. I watched three skeleton thin girls arguing about the calorie count of the chicken fingers, priceless: "If you pick the bread off, they’re better for you!" Just pure gold!