This is my first entry on a local brewery, and we are lucky enough to have quite a few. Technically, the name of "Downtown Brewing Company" is a bit of a joke because it is neither downtown, nor a brewery. But there is an explanation:
Downtown Brewing is a local chain based up in San Luis Obispo, and that is where the brewing takes place. For readers from out of town, that's pretty much exactly one hundred miles up the road from Santa Barbara. They have three locations: SLO, Paso Robles (30 minutes north of SLO) and Santa Barbara, the most recent addition, which opened in May of 2007. They do not brew here in SB, they bring kegs down highway 101. So it isn't really a brewery. In addition, Downtown Brewing is located in the "Uptown" part of SB so it isn't even downtown. Oh well, just had to get that out of my system.
Having said that, I actually like the place. Service isn't anything to brag about but it isn't a place I'd go to if I'm in a rush. But it is a place I love going to on a nice sunny weekend day (or long summer evening) because they have a nice beergarden outside. SB does not have a beer garden and I always said it needed one. We have the right weather, someone just needed to provide the space and bring the beer. And downtown Brewing did, so good on them!
The beers are not amazing, but they are very drinkable. There is a light but tasty honey blonde, a pleasant blueberry ale, a nice reggae red, an IPA, and usually either a stout or a porter. I've never had a bad beer there, but I've had some very pleasant ones. In my opinion, their India Pale Ale (IPA) is their best beer. They also had a very nice Oktoberfest (hey still have some!) and they are now pouring a very nice winter brown. The latter has an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 7.6%. It is well hopped, malty, tasty and strong. It has a nice dark copper color and a decent body. In other words, it has all you need to warm up with if sitting outside in cooler weather as I did last weekend (it was only about 59F, burrrrrrrrrr!!!)
Overall, this place provides very decent beer, nice outside tables, and provides a pleasant watering hole between the downtown area (where several brewries are located) and Goleta where we have the fabulous Hollister Brewing Co (to be reviewed in the near future). I like Downtown Brewing Co and enjoy going there. So cheers to that!
Downtown Brewing Co.
3755 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 682-7803
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