-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Kern River Brewing Company
13415 Sierra Way
Kernville, California, 93238
United States
(760) 376-2337 | map
kernriverbrewing.com
The KRBC brings people back to the magnificent simplicities that life has to offer. From its beginnings, Kernville (the southern gateway to the Sequoia National Forest) has been a wild-west town. Established as a mining settlement in the mid 1800’s and continuing as a ranching community through the 1900’s.
KRBC is Kernville’s first brewpub. This makes KRBC much more than just a restaurant; it’s an attraction in itself. According to the Kernville Chamber, on any given weekend the town of Kernville can easily swell to between 20-40 thousand people, all of whom are looking for entertainment and can find it at our establishment. KRBC has received an overwhelming and enthusiastic response from both locals and visitors alike. Approximately 15,000 people live in the Kern River Valley, 2,000 of those people make up the town of Kernville. Keeping the names of the beer local, providing a simple yet diverse menu and having a comfortable place where “everybody knows your name”, Kern River Valley residents and visitors alike have found themselves at home.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by stupac2:
Reviewed by stupac2 from California
4.55/5 rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
4.55/5 rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Kern river is an interesting place. It sort of looks and feels like an old western saloon, minus the swinging doors. The staff are incredibly friendly, the beer is simply incredible, and the food is quite good (although I'd have preferred my burger rarer). The only trouble is it's so remote. It's definitely worth the trek for Citra (although I think Class X might be more impressive a BA Stout than Citra is a DIPA), but otherwise less so. I'd definitely check it out if you're nearby for some reason.
Aug 23, 2011More User Ratings:
Reviewed by chrisjws from California
4.38/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
4.38/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
The journey to get here will work up quite a thirst. After twisting and turning for 90 minutes over a few hills, you need a few beers. The vibe is exactly what you expect for an outdoorsy kind of destination town. Lots of wood, none of that slick metal stuff or warehouse taproom kind of vibe. It's relatively cozy, no high roofs. TVs and music playing.
I ordered a few IPAs as well as some food. Not gonna have a lot to say about the food, it's bar food and if that's what you came for that's on you. The IPAs were on point, every single one. These folks are highly rated for a reason, the beer is stellar and the service is excellent. It's worth making the trek for the beer alone, but I recommend if you're going through the trouble get around town and enjoy yourself a bit.
Jun 27, 2023I ordered a few IPAs as well as some food. Not gonna have a lot to say about the food, it's bar food and if that's what you came for that's on you. The IPAs were on point, every single one. These folks are highly rated for a reason, the beer is stellar and the service is excellent. It's worth making the trek for the beer alone, but I recommend if you're going through the trouble get around town and enjoy yourself a bit.
Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland
4.43/5 rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in for a Citra and was not disappointed. Great old fashioned bar with great bartender and great beer drinkers. Lots of good beer; good food and good fun. It's more than a bit out of the way... but way worth it.
Sep 17, 2017Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.39/5 rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
4.39/5 rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
I always wanted to stop in this brewery, and I am glad I did. This is the normal bar with serious bar drinkers enjoying themselves. For me it was a worthwhile stop on my drive thru.
Mar 30, 2017Rated by Derekesco311 from California
4.5/5 rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Great beer. Tasty ipa definitely one to seek out and purchase they make some of the best ipas in California.
Feb 18, 2017Reviewed by Lingenbrau from Oregon
4.6/5 rDev +5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
4.6/5 rDev +5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
Aside from it being hotter than hell, we all loved KRBC! Cheyenne (sp?) was an awesome waitress, and of course the beers were amazing. Kid friendly, dog friendly, walking distance from our campsite, good food, great beer, what's not to love? Only took a peak and had a quick brew at The Backyard right behind the "old" building.
IMPORTANT!!!: Food and Beers are different at both buildings!!! Be sure to check out both menus. Cheers!
Sep 28, 2016IMPORTANT!!!: Food and Beers are different at both buildings!!! Be sure to check out both menus. Cheers!
Reviewed by Mojave_Ted from California
2.78/5 rDev -36.5%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 1
2.78/5 rDev -36.5%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 1
The good - their beer is pretty darn good. And they make a consistent batch. And location is nice.
The bad - horrifically noisy, cramped / crowded, you never get to sit outside and that really where you want to sit. The food is s---. It's a glorified burger joint. For instance, they have a "tri-tip sandwich" on the menu. But wait, it's only served on Tuesdays (or something like that).
Overall, bad. Way overrated. Yes, the first impression is cool. But after a few times, it's just cramped, loud (horrid acoustics), you never get the outdoor seating and it's just a burgers served on grease resistant paper (which is unhealthy). The servers are the local lasses, complete with piercings and tatts everywhere and a lot of bad attitude.
Aug 09, 2016The bad - horrifically noisy, cramped / crowded, you never get to sit outside and that really where you want to sit. The food is s---. It's a glorified burger joint. For instance, they have a "tri-tip sandwich" on the menu. But wait, it's only served on Tuesdays (or something like that).
Overall, bad. Way overrated. Yes, the first impression is cool. But after a few times, it's just cramped, loud (horrid acoustics), you never get the outdoor seating and it's just a burgers served on grease resistant paper (which is unhealthy). The servers are the local lasses, complete with piercings and tatts everywhere and a lot of bad attitude.
Reviewed by Zythophile from Washington
4.23/5 rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Great place up in the mountains, and a choice of scenic drives to get there. Had Citra a few days earlier, but it wasn't there that day, so I picked up a couple bottles of Isabella Blonde, freshly bottled. Attentive service for me, and it looked like everybody else was getting plenty attention, too. Fish and chips hit the spot, and the tartar sauce was good, as is always necessary for that.
If bottles aren't always there, then I do wish they had 32oz growlers, in addition to the 64oz ones.
Jun 12, 2016If bottles aren't always there, then I do wish they had 32oz growlers, in addition to the 64oz ones.
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
4.48/5 rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
This place is pretty much right in my backyard but I haven't really had a chance to swing by until the tail end of a road trip to Death Valley. It's a pretty casual brew pub with a solid menu. I got a very tasty bbq port sandwich but was also tempted by the burgers I saw. Bonus points for the waffle fries. Very nice beer line up with something for every taste and fair pint prices. Our waitress was awesome, more than happy to answer any questions we had as first timers, and made sure we were always doing okay. I'll be coming up with more excuses to come back.
Mar 16, 2016Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania
4.15/5 rDev -5.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
4.15/5 rDev -5.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
If there ever was a “destination brewery”, this is it folks! The drive there alone is worth the effort, so beautiful and unique on a mountain road alongside the Kern River gorge. Kernville is a small town/village that seems to thrive on outdoor tourism and activities (hiking, hunting, kayaking, rafting).
The brewery is your classic mountain-shelter, all-wood kind of building. On tap, 11 beers. 4 flagship (Red, Blonde, Just Outstanding IPA, Class V Stout) and 7 seasonals (Think Tank, 1310 Porter, Hop Nooky 11% Triple IPA, Black Rock 7.25% Black IPA, Shuttle Bunny, Dirtie Hippie Imperial Red, Gravity Check Session IPA, Black Rock Porter-IPA).
I really enjoyed Hop Nooky and Shuttle Bunny. Class V Stout is also outstanding, while a lot of the beers are just “OK”.
Tasty food! Their signature waffle fries are out of control, but so filling it took me all day to digest them. And I loved the veggie burger, more so considering how difficult it was to find veggie food around these remote lands. Pricey, though. Good service and nice, convivial atmosphere. I wouldn’t say it is world class, but it sure was a nice visit.
Dec 18, 2015The brewery is your classic mountain-shelter, all-wood kind of building. On tap, 11 beers. 4 flagship (Red, Blonde, Just Outstanding IPA, Class V Stout) and 7 seasonals (Think Tank, 1310 Porter, Hop Nooky 11% Triple IPA, Black Rock 7.25% Black IPA, Shuttle Bunny, Dirtie Hippie Imperial Red, Gravity Check Session IPA, Black Rock Porter-IPA).
I really enjoyed Hop Nooky and Shuttle Bunny. Class V Stout is also outstanding, while a lot of the beers are just “OK”.
Tasty food! Their signature waffle fries are out of control, but so filling it took me all day to digest them. And I loved the veggie burger, more so considering how difficult it was to find veggie food around these remote lands. Pricey, though. Good service and nice, convivial atmosphere. I wouldn’t say it is world class, but it sure was a nice visit.
Rated by Joeshungry from California
4.43/5 rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75
4.43/5 rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75
Small but good
Nov 17, 2015Rated by ArrogantScott from California
4.4/5 rDev +0.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
4.4/5 rDev +0.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Great little place in a great little town. Owned by two local paddlers of world class caliber. The only place to go when in Kernville.
Sep 29, 2015Reviewed by craft_shannie from Indiana
4.44/5 rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
KRBC has been on my bucket list for awhile....visited on a monday night in july 2015 & sat outside on the upper deck. good crowd, comfortable & not distracting. special was taco monday where tacos are $2.50. with an order of waffle fries & an assortment of tacos (fish, cicken, pork, beef), our food selections were an easy, cheap, and delicious decision. started with a flight of seasonals: 1310 porter, shuttle bunny, belgian wit, hop nookie, gravity check before ordering full pours. favorites were easily 1) hop nookie- citrus forward DIPA at 11% AbV....such an easy drinker. probably a good thing they didnt have bottles of it to go; 2) belgian wit, and 3). 1310 porter. beers were all solid, well crafted. service was good: our server was busy with an assortment of tables/groups; a bit distracted, but easily forgiven given the surroundings, food, and drink. some bombers, growlers, swag for sale. KRBC and Kernville (the town) did not disappoint.
Jul 24, 2015Reviewed by peraltaspade72 from Florida
3.65/5 rDev -16.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
3.65/5 rDev -16.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
Great little local brewery with wide distribution, have great tasting events. Love the classic Citra, which is top rated and the Dirty Hippy, Pumpkin Ale is also very good.
Apr 26, 2015Reviewed by Amaeda27 from California
4.75/5 rDev +8.4%
4.75/5 rDev +8.4%
Came by at lunchtime to pick up my Citra. Good service, good atmosphere, and most importantly, excellent beer. Big ups to their flagship brews as well as some impressive seasonal IPAs.
Nov 18, 2014
Kern River Brewing Company in Kernville, CA
Brewery rating:
4.08 out of
5 with
5730 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the place's attributes plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!