38 Degrees Ale House & Grill

charlzm

California

3.93/5  rDev -10.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Visited on 2009/07/01.

Waited a long time to dust off my notes and review the place; not sure why.

I visited on Wednesday, July 1st for lunch with a friend. We each got a taster with a very solid selection of craft beers and some food.

A meaty six piece mini drumstick appetizer plate started things off. The crispy chicken was cooked in what I take to be a honey chipotle sauce. Good stuff.

I had the turkey burger which was an interesting mix of the meat (cooked accurately per my request), roasted peppers, cheddar cheese and artisan bread. The whole thing pops due to the addition of some sort of aoli-like spicy spread.

I also had shoestring garlic fries which were very salty but still quite tasty.

My friend had a Cobb salad which he declared to be "better than average".

The server was attentive and friendly but knew little about beer. He did try to get the info I requested about the beers I was having, however.

This was only their third day being open for lunch and so was not crowded.

This is essentially the same space as the late (but not lamented) California Brewing Company, thought they have upscaled the decor and enclosed the outdoor patio. Sound system was a little loud and there were lots of flatscreens to ignore.

A worthy addition to the greater LA beer scene, though not essential enough to merit a trip very far out of your way.

Beers I had and reviewed: Green Flash West Coast I.P.A., Anchor Old Foghorn, Siamese Twin, Stone Smoked Porter.

12-05-2009 01:37:11 | More by charlzm

unseenbyyou

California

4.83/5  rDev +9.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

happy hour at 38 degrees is a steal for all these great beers on tap! pints of good beer for 4 dollars!

selection of beers on tap is rotated, right now it seems that pale ales and winter beers are being featured.

looking forward to life and limb and duvel draft on tap today while watching ucla vs. usc

food at 38 degrees is a major plus. Onion rings look like donuts, so be careful.

Good selection of bottled beer that I would drink if I were a rich man.

Tap beers are best value. Flights of featured beer are a good deal as well.

Bartender who I have seen twice is knowledgable and has good taste. Don't remember his name though!

11-28-2009 17:52:49 | More by unseenbyyou

Westsidebuddha

California

4.58/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

First time visited this place a couple of days after they opened. This used to be the California Brewing Company which wasn't that good. I walked in,sat down and noticed 38 beers on tap! Good beers! In Alhambra, of all places! Scanned the beer selection and saw Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. Ok, if a bar has just opened and they have Dogfish on tap, especially 90 Min., they got me hooked. They also have Saimese Twin Ale from Uncommon Brewers here on tap. As far as I know, I only seen this on tap here. An interesting but good beer you need to try at least once. Clay was a gracious host as are their bartenders. Keep it up and you will have returning customers definitely. Haven't tried the food yet, so I can't review on it. Nice big place with cool music playing. If you been to bars with a good selection of beers, you seen these on tap before, but this being Alhambra, this is the only place with such a selection here. Finally a place I don't have to take a freeway to visit.
THE best bar in Alhambra!

08-19-2009 09:20:36 | More by Westsidebuddha

WhatdaHec

California

4.78/5  rDev +8.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I visited this place and you can still smell the 'newness' of the place. Great atmosphere, there was a Dodger game on some of the I believe around 5 flat screens around the bar. The menu had a good selection of items to choose from and I had a delicious 3 Chile Burger which didn't disappoint on the spicy scale. The server, Schuyler, was friendly and attentive. I had the Hop-15, Double Jack, and Green Flash IPA. I also remember a good selection of Belgians on tap as well as DFH 90. There are 38 taps in the house, and they have a nice bottle selection including bombers of Old Viscocity and Stone RIS, from what I remember.

One thing I liked about the bar was the 4.5 oz. tasters which you can have of any brew. They range from $2-$3 depending, very reasonable.

Overall, there aren't too many places like this around, so I'll definitely be making a return trip soon.

08-17-2009 00:06:37 | More by WhatdaHec

seldomsthirsty

California

3.6/5  rDev -18.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

alright so i went and i was not disappointed. this place used to be some weak lil brewery that i can not recall its name though i visited going on 5 years ago. well they have gussied it up and let me be the first to say its worth a stop! i was expecting to waltz in and out but then i found myself sitting at the bar ordering small 4 oz tasters @ 2-3 $'s( boo to people who serve beer and don't offer pay for small tasters or half pints) i drink the same volume and pay more do the math small beer drinkers are the $$makers! the bar tender was nice to look at but she lacked the inner geek i find drawn to drink more of. she was super nice and i hope she perfects her yummy sounding bloody mary's! then clay introduced himself as the beer buyer host etc. we shook hands to confirm our respective BA status and i was won over by his genuiness. i saw some older viscosity and some sours in the fridge and promised to return hungary and with friends. i believe i had hop jack, some pizza port, a dogfish and siamese dubble. lets get out to support this thing and keep an eye on clay as he rotates in some geekier beers for his fellow BA's.

08-14-2009 22:20:38 | More by seldomsthirsty