“My wife and I live locally and have been to Draughtsmen Aleworks before, but it has been a long time. So just recently we stopped by for a couple of beers. It wasn’t busy because it was early afternoon, but we happened to strike up a conversation with some other friendly locals and members. The beers were great and the atmosphere along with the company. It’s dog friendly and very welcoming. So , on a lark, I highly recommend visiting Draughtsman Aleworks with its friendly staff and local customers !“
“This is an M.Special place. ? Apologies for the Dad joke, but it's true.In the past few years, I’ve gotten to know most of the local brewers and many of their brews through work and pleasure. This town has a lot of good locally brewed beer, but I'm simply nuts about M.Special's Sabado Tarde. I lived in Isla Vista from high school through college, where this tangerine ale gets its name. It’s a street a block away from Del Playa, where I lived. I suspect it may be where some Millers and Malloys may have lived while attending UCSB. It may not be grammatically correct Spanish for “Saturday afternoon,” but it’s one of the smoothest-tasting lagers I’ve ever had.Josh, the brewer, has worked magic with a flavor that some refer to as a Blonde or Golden Ale. For me, that mostly refers to its color, not taste.[Gratuitous aside: While I’m generally upbeat, I’m not a hoppy person. I truly cannot drink IPAs. They have a very sour aftertaste my Irish palette can’t stand. Like or dislike of hops is a genetic marker. I must have a broken chromosome, as I’m definitely in the minority regarding the IPA rage these days. I felt it fair to duly confess that. I should also note that for the vast, hoppy-go-lucky majority who love a strong, hippity hoppity beer, M.Special makes a lot of good IPAs, and could probably advise commodity traders on grain futures.]Meanwhile, what’s irresistible about Sabado Tarde is that unlike Mexican lagers, which I also like (and M.Special does well), the aftertaste of this tangerine ale is not bitter. But it’s also not too sweet like some blondes (and brunettes) can be. As such, it’s really hard to stop drinking! One smooth sip after another––and suddenly––more than a few pints are sloshing happily around your belly. When I was not at M.Special, or other locales where it was on tap, I found myself buying cans to keep in the fridge at home. But as my love affair grew into what one might call an obsession, I began buying kegs from the Goleta location. The kegerator in my garage has never been in better spirits.Okay, you get the drift. It’s good beer. M.Special makes a lot of good beer. Their well-deserved motto is “Good Beer, Every Time.” And plenty of IPA is on tap for those seeking that kind of hoppiness.But the thing that never ceases to surprise me is that every time I go in there to trade an empty keg for a fresh, full one, there’s always a cluster of customers wearing M.Special hats and clothing. It’s like going to an NFL game and sitting in the home section where almost no one is wearing anything other than team logo apparel. It’s impressive. Clearly, there’s a fan base.The location in Goleta is definitely a destination. They don’t get their business from foot traffic, like the State Street location. The first time you go there, it’ll feel like your GPS is on the fritz as you drive past warehouses, corporate headquarters, and machine shops. But when you get there, it’s a fantastic spacious space. I’ve been there on nights when they have live bands and dancing outside, and you’ll never feel claustrophobic. Inside, they have one of the longest, most extraordinarily beautiful, natural wooden countertop bars I’ve ever seen. According to the website, local wood carving specialist John Birchim created the longest bar in SB County made from a single piece of fallen Monterey Pine from Big Sur.But even more beautiful than all of that is the staff. I wish I could remember everyone’s name, but even when they’re overwhelmed, these lovely people keep their cool, they smile and make you feel that this is your place. This is your corner bar, your pub down the road. Whether it’s Kennedy, or Madison, or Nolan, or John, or Michael, or Tori, it’s your team. You feel like they care and like their jobs.Perhaps that’s why so many customers keep returning wearing their shirts and hats.“
“Ordered the 4 honey wine sampler, but they were out of most wines (it was a Monday morning), so I got 3 beers and 2 wines instead. The wines were ok, but all 3 beers were *delicious*, despite being totally different. Definitely recommend the dark honey beer and the kombucha honey beer.And as a bonus, the guy topped off a couple of the best beers!“
“The place itself has a cool vibe, good beer, and good music. However, I was greeted by a guy giving me a hard time aboit bringing my leftovers from elsewhere because they serve food. I came in with my suitcase so you would think that might be a note that I'm not from around here and wouldn't know that. Not a great first impression but I may just be grumpy from a six hour train ride. ??♀️“
“EXCELLENT!! Thank you very much from Hamburg Germany! Great beer, great service and a great conversation with lots of information. We can definitely recommend this bar. We were very happy that you took the time for us! At some point we might come back to Santa Barbara and then we'll be back with you! THANKS!! Sunny greetings from Hamburg from Claudia and Claus!!“
“Very good pizza. The beer was some of the best beer I’ve had in a long time. The atmosphere is awesome.The only thing they need to do is make condiments available with the pizza. I had to go to the bar and request red peppers from the bartender who was nice enough to get it for me. The red peppers totally changed the taste of the pizza.“
“We are such big fans of Institution Ale Co., and they're location (and Beer Garden!) in Santa Barbara are the best! We've been many times and always enjoy the amazing beers (Day Dreamin' is my favorite!) and food. Recently, we worked with Institution Ale Co. to host our Wedding Party / Rehearsal Dinner in the beer garden. It was absolutely perfect; the food and drinks were wonderful, and the service was amazing. We will absolutely be back, and we highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for great beers, delicious food, and a wonderful atmosphere on State Street!“
“Spacious, warehouse-type brewery in the heart of the Funk Zone, with good attached independent food options and indoor/outdoor seating. Excellent selection of quality beers with tasting options and efficient staff. Funk Zone crawler crowd can get a bit loud IMO; fine if that's your thing. Other options around town if you are looking for a cozier brew experience.“
“We got a buen día breakfast empanada which was fantastic. I am very happy that you can still purchase buena onda empanadas here! The service was great and the counter for the Draughtsmen has some cool light fixtures. The decorations are minimal but the local is decorated nicely. I definitely will be coming back.“
Brewery • $
“An excellent find on a hot day, offering local craft beer. We had several flights to try out the various brews, some matching signs on the walls.The beers themselves were interesting and different but nothing that I absolutely couldn't live without and nothing that I never wanted to see again (which means pretty good overall). We especially liked the dog friendly aspect of the pub as there was a local in with his friendly retriever.We will definitely come back for another few rounds to try what's on tap if we return through Santa Barbara some future day.“
“One of the best taprooms in Goleta. Good Beer, Great Staff.John is one of, if not the the greatest, Barkeep in the west. Fast with the Beer, Quick with a joke and all the smoke. Kennedy and her team always hold it down in Goleta and on State. Try the Pablo or the Mero Mero, my GO-TO is the Frosted Tips Cold-IPA. There is usually a food truck after 4 or Woodstock pizza ordered ahead of time. Disfruta is the staple Taco truck. Four TV's, Corn Hole boards and Trivia night on most Mondays. This place is pet friendly for friendly pets so bring the whole family.“
“A nice casual restaurant in upper State Street area of Santa Barbara. Located right next to the municipal golf course and MacKenzie Park, it is centrally located between the Samarkand and San Roque neighborhoods.With a full bar and various options for beer and wine there are plenty of choices to be enjoyed on the outdoor patio, which hosts some unobstructed views of the Santa Ynez Mountains.Dining options consist of an eclectic mix of pub and bar style food, such as hamburgers, salads, and even chicken cordon bleu. The food is tasty and decent quality but certainly not fine dining.The outdoor patio is spacious and can easily accommodate both small and large groups. There’s even a dedicated area in the back for small children. While the space is clean and comfortable, it’s fairly average in terms of decor and ambience. The view can certainly compensate for this on a nice day.At peak times parking can be a challenge as there appears to be more seating space than the parking lot can accommodate. If dining as a group, best to come in as few vehicles as possible.Parking: Parking lot and street parking nearby though it can be filled quickly during busy hours.Kid-friendliness: Dedicated area for small children implies overall kid friendliness“
“This was the first restaurant I've been to that allows dogs inside, which was great. We were able to sit with our 2 dogs quickly on a Sunday afternoon. Staff was super nice. This place is a great place to spend with your family with so many choices on their menu and a chill vibe. Dog menu was a bonus for our dogs. The baked berries & brie was our favorite thing we ordered. The sandwiches were ok and a bit messy but their fries were great.“
“My husband and I really enjoyed our first visit here. The bartenders were really nice and welcomed us. The beer selection is great - they have all kinds of different beers. There’s definitely a favorite for everyone. I really enjoyed their own brewed Kölsch. We highly recommend a visit“