Taproom by Firestone Walker Brewing Company

DocJitsu

California

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

The exterior is a little rustic and inviting. They've just added an outdoor patio dining area. The inside has two distinct sections: an informal brewpub area and a more elegant (certainly not formal dining, however) and dimly lit dining area. A decent variety of food items are available, but they are a little too pricey. Service ranges from average to condescending. In fact, the last time I was there, one of the Firestone boys was one booth away, but the waitress was still passive-aggressive and not remarkably helpful. They do have a healthy array of FW beers on tap. Parabola and Union Jack to name two the last time I was there. Don't go for the service. Go because you respect the magnificent FW beers and enjoy the fun events FW coordinates/sponsors.

04-25-2012 02:24:47 | More by DocJitsu

henskejk

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4 | $$

I am including the attached Barrelworks in this review, which definitely enhances the experience the Taproom has to offer. The Barrelworks has amazing beers to offer, many of which are not offered outside of the Barrelworks or the Brewery in Paso Robles. It's great to be able to try so many different barrel aged beers, from heavy barrel aged barleywines and stouts, to a dry stout aged in bourbon barrels for three years, to a few wild offerings. The barrelworks is definitely worth visiting. You can get a 3 oz. sampler of any of these beers for $3 or less.

As for the taproom, the food is good and the beer selection also good, though mostly limited to the more standard Firestone offerings (which are also great beers). The past two times of gone (most recently for the Parabola release event) I have gone to the barrelworks for a few samples and then the taproom for lunch, which has worked out great both times.

05-07-2013 19:16:09 | More by henskejk

Ilovebeer1549

California

3.66/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Checked out this taproom on the way back from visiting UC Santa Barbara with my son. Gives a whole new reason why I want him to go to college there!! Cool atmosphere...great beers...better than average food. I recommend the Wookey Jack (8.5%) and the Double Jack IPA (9.5%). Do what I did...have your prospective UCSB freshman drive you home after!

04-13-2013 22:28:40 | More by Ilovebeer1549

DoubleJ

California

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

With already alcohol consumed during a short stay in Los Olivos, it decided to cap it off with a visit to the Firestone Walker taproom. The place is divided into two sections, with the bar in the middle of the two. The gift shop, which offers shirts, stickers, glassware, DBA mustard, and bottled beers, is located on the opposite side of the bar. During the afternoon, I saw a number of families here for lunch, which surprised me a bit. Maybe there's something about the food served.

12 different beers pouring from the taps. Standards like the Pale 31, Double Barrel Ale, and Union Jack are available, also a couple of the Nectar Ales brand (Red Nectar, Hemp Ale), and a few tap only options (pilsner, Unfiltered DBA). The beers are available in three different sized, and that's saying nothing about the sampler platter. 20 ounce servings are well priced at $5.50.

While there were several servers at the bar, it did take a little longer than I anticipated to cash out. Also, if you purcahsed something from the gift shop, you will need to pay for it at the bar. Still, it was a very minor dent to an otehrwise good visit.

07-02-2012 16:18:33 | More by DoubleJ

Retsinis

California

3.63/5  rDev -6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Was camping in Buellton over labor day weekend, and hitting up this tasting room was on the list of to-do's agenda I had.

Stopped in at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Large place, although we sat in the bar, I did do a walkthrough of the main room. Large vaulted ceilings, with a small stage for live music I imagine. Rustic design, lots of large wood beams, wood floors, clean, and fitting for the area. They also have a small shopping area with some FW swag.

My friend and I sat just off of the bar, and ordered the French fry sampler, with sweet potato fries, classic string fries, and garlic fries, all good for fries.

We each had two beers. He had the Oktoberfest & the unfiltered double barrel ale. I had the Robust Porter & the Hefeweizen. Solid, but most pretty easy to get in bottles, except the Oktoberfest and the Hefeweizen, both were good, but didn't quite mark a highlight I hoped for in the visit.

Little tough to balance out this review. Being that it's both a restaurant, and well established, quality craft breweries tasting room.

Overall, nice visit, but I guess I just hoping for more. As a brewery tap room, it was an average experience. Only 8 FW beers on tap, and most are readily available in dozens of bars all over so-cal, so I felt it under represented FW, at least this visit. Not saying I expected kegs of Parabola, 14, Abacus in abundance by any measure, but perhaps a Black Xantus, Velvet Merkin, or even just more taproom only specials, (it's a 15 year old brewery, I've experienced more variety in a 15 month old brewery) and as a restaurant, it works as family dining, but not a place I would hang out a lot in for the beer draw, given the tap list this night, and just the vibe of the place. Maybe it was the kids in highchairs sitting near to me as I sipped a beer, lol.

I enjoyed my visit, good service, nice place, good beer, but suppose with visiting a lot of breweries inside their actual brewing facilities, I enjoy that experience more. You feel the passion from the owners/brewers, hopefully meet the brewer, and it enhances the experience. Also, most breweries have either their full lineup on tap, or a few of those kegs for holiday weekends. This just felt like a good brewpub, or restaurant with solid craft beer. I've been to the main/original Firestone Walker location in Paso Robles, & preferred it there for some reason. Maybe since it because it's a smaller tasting room, not sure. Anyhow, it is worth a visit if you’re in the area, as there are only two breweries (well three if you count the one in Solvang) within 10 miles of this area.

09-20-2011 00:36:54 | More by Retsinis

JCellars

California

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I live in the area, so this is one of the few solid hang-outs in a small town. The place has a nice rustic feel that's very welcoming.

The service is up and down, the waitresses definitely are more friendly if you're one of the "good ol' boys" who are there several days a week, if not daily. But it's still a fun place.

The food is great! the seared ahi is definitely their strong point, although the burgers are great too.

The only down sides are the sometimes grumpy servers, the good stuff running out, and the CHP that sometimes wait down the road.

08-15-2011 22:20:15 | More by JCellars

DarthKostrizer

California

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

Reviewed from notes

My wife and I and a friend took a trip up to the Taproom a short time after the release of Parabola. That of course was my only reason for heading up there because it is about a 3 hour drive from my house.

When we got there we decided we would also stay and have a bite to eat. The atmosphere was pretty good there was about 20 locals in there at the time having lunch and everyone was in good spirts.

When we sat down the waitress came over and she had a bit of a pour attitude who knows maybe she was working too hard that Sunday afternoon. My buddy and I ordered a Parabola on tap and it came in a pretty cool little 6oz snifter and the parabola did not disappoint. I ordered a bacon cheese burger and let me say that burger was absolutely amazing cooked perfectly and was the best part about the trip up there.

When the waitress asked if we wanted anything else we said yes all three of us wanted to order our full alotment of Parabola and then she hit us with the bad news "sorry we are all out." That of course did not make me happy at all especially since we called the night before and the lady we talked to informed us that they had plenty of supply left so thats why we decided to make the trip up there. So of course we left with a bad taste in our mouth.

My buddy some how through BA got ahold of someone who works for Firestone/Walker and the guy after hearing our story allowed us to purchase a whole case directly from them and they would cover the shipping cost. If it was not for the gentleman doing this this review would have gone the complete opposite of they way it did. So a big cheers to that gentleman who's name is escaping me right now.

Overall impression of this place is if your in the area it is definately worth stopping in and have a bite to eat and drinking a brew. They always have their great beers on tap and even some in bottles that you can purchase and take with you. It has a great atmosphere which I'm sure would be even better at night. So if your ever up in the area stop by and have a bite and a brew.

07-11-2011 05:25:47 | More by DarthKostrizer

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped here on 6/12/11 for dinner on my way up to Prismo Beach down from Long Beach. After a relatively long travel day, I was ready for some beers and some food.

Place was relatively busy for a Sunday night. NBA Finals had just finished up. Parked up to a place at the bar. Bartender quickly came over and offered me a menu. Did the sample rack of FW's flagship beers. Ordered a pizza and a salad. The decor had a nice rustic look to it. Bathrooms appeared clean.

Food was good. Salad was excellent, pizza was decent. The bartender was very attentive to my needs. She seemed annoyed at a rambunctious group that had seemingly overstayed their welcome. Didn't bother me whatsoever. At closing time, the bartender didn't seem to rush me out the door even though I could tell she wanted the day to end. Good service IMO.

Got a couple of 22's to take home with me. Bartender gave me a FW as part of the sample tray I had ordered. Nice touch.

Glad to have stopped by. If I'm ever in CA in the area again, I'd definitely stop back in. Not really a destination place, but a quality establishment.

06-13-2011 23:01:35 | More by jwhancher

mthomas84

California

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Went for the release of Parabola on May 21st. We arrived at lunch time and the place was pretty crowded, we had to wait a little while for service but the waitress was friendly. I thought the inside was a nice design, kind of a rustic decore. The crowd seemed to be mostly locals or bikers stopping for something to eat. They had 12 brews on tap and all seemed to be priced very reasonably. My friend and I both got a burger and he got a side of chili too; the food was excellent. This is a place id definitely stop in for if i was in the area but I wouldnt go out of my way to come back.

05-23-2011 15:43:03 | More by mthomas84

ThreeWiseMen

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped in to pick up some batch 2 Parabola this afternoon. JustinA1 and I also hung around for a snifter of Parabola and some free pretzels and mustard.

The interior of the Buellton taproom looks almost identical to the one in Paso, except it opens up to a restaurant. Same decor: lots of wood, a bit rustic, clean yet plain appearance, and lots of Firestone-Walker memorabilia. The atmosphere was pretty quiet, even though the taproom was more than half full. Feels like the local hangout.

The Buellton taproom serves twelve different Firestone beers on-tap, essentially the same amount as the brewery in Paso. You can order beers by in 4oz. samples, 20oz. imperial pints, and 25oz. mugs, and each size is reasonably priced. Our Parabolas tasted excellent, and I'm sure they take great care with serving all of their beers.

I've only got one gripe about this establishment, and that's service. The bartender that served us was pushy and unfriendly. She seemed fairly nice to some of the other customers, but we certainly got the could shoulder during our time at the bar.

Aside from service, Justin and I actually liked the Buellton location better than the Paso Robles one. Check it out if you get a chance. Maybe our server was just having a bad day.

05-23-2011 02:07:27 | More by ThreeWiseMen