Hollingshead's Delicatessen

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

4.56/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$$

Awesome place! Walking in around 6pm on a Wednesday night I discovered an area sectioned off for food orders lined with some snack type grocery items. Oposite that area of the store is a section of coolers and stacks lined with a selection of solid beer brewed by great brewers from the US, Canada and Europe. There are other shelves and coolers throughout the joint devoted to specialty styles most notably those of Belgian decent. On the wall opposite the entrance in a bar area. Not the type of bar you find at a tavern but the type you see at a local cafe. They must have had 10 or 12 beers on tap. All of which I wish I could have tried. Unfortunately all I had the time to sample on tap was Russian River's Pliny The Elder. In the middle of it all was a group of 5 or 6 tables, and every one of them was taken. The service in this place cannot be matched. The owner, Kenny and his son, Michael were running the place. They had a few other guys helping customers and performing general dutied throughout the store. Every one of them was generous and engaging. I've never been anyplace like Hollingshead's. To top it off the place is devoted to the Green Bay Packers. And of course my being from Wisconsin, I felt right at home. The brews are a bit pricey comapared to the cost of drinks in my neck of the woods. That being said, the proces are likely more competative with other establishments in Southern California. As far as the grub, I didn't sample it but everyone else there seemed to be enjoying a sandwich. I was there for about an hour and a half in all. Kenny and Michael were so welcoming that I found it difficult to actually leave. I even bought a collared short displaying their colors (green and gold of course) before I left.

01-23-2011 22:11:52 | More by cdkrenz

bierkoning

California

4.65/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$$

I could literally write an essay, maybe two, about how much I love this place. It's like Disneyland for beer drinkers. It's everything you want, none of what you don't.

Great people, helpful and wise beer pros all around. Could be a little cheaper, but good things aren't cheap and cheap things aren't good.

Owned and operated by Kenny Jr. a fantastic chap who will talk your ear off. Both Kenny Sr. and Mrs. Hollingshead work the bar with their iconic sarcasm and witty humor. It gets a little busy around 6pm, but you can expect that from a place so wonderful.

Highly recommended. Make sure you go there if you can make it. 100% worth it. One of my favorite places of all time, and i'm not just talking about beer bars!

01-11-2011 06:06:12 | More by bierkoning

willjschmidt

California

4.66/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

One of the more unique beer places I've ever been. It's part deli, part beer bar, and part beer store.

The left side of the store is a deli where they make many different types of sandwiches. I did not try the food. The back of the store is a bar with about 20 taps, all craft and all excellent selections. The right side of the store is an outstanding beer store with just about anything that you could possible be looking for. Definitely one of the better selections in Orange County.

This is a family run place with many generations of the family working side by side. They are all really nice and friendly. There is a TV showing sports and tons of Packers memorabilia.

The prices were very reasonable with a 17 oz pour of most domestic crafts being $6. More expensive stuff, such as St Bernardus Christmas, was $10 for a 12oz and $14 for a 17oz. It seems that their tap selection rotates often. When I was in there, it was a couple days after Christmas and a lot of their selection was holiday themed.

I would definitely recommend this place, it's outstanding. Keep in mind they are only open weekdays.

01-03-2011 23:03:33 | More by willjschmidt

newk340

California

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Wow this place was hopping when I walked in. People everywhere ordering sandwiches and beer. And the selection was enormous and a little overwhelming. Bottles and cases lying everywhere, hard to move around to find what I was searching for. Certainly a place to be explored and spend more time there. The Packer paraphernalia made me chuckle (not a Packer fan even though I'm from that state...). The food looked good and the son who rang me up, gave me some quick samples from the tap since I was wearing a Wisconsin shirt. Thanks for the generosity!

01-03-2011 03:06:18 | More by newk340

eopacich

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

One of the most unique establishments you'll find anywhere. Great beers on tap. Good selection of bottles. Interesting multi generational family running the place. Lots of regulars coming in. Good deli sandwiches. Kid friendly. Decent glassware for sale, mug club w/ about 200-300 members, faux wood countertop bar, one nice 50" TV, packers crap everywhere, selling beer, chips, and chocolate. About 20 killer taps with a great selection of west coast and belfians. Had everything from Pliny to Rodenbach Grand Cru. Definitely worth a visit.

12-22-2010 01:18:41 | More by eopacich

DinkMeeker

California

4.63/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This is a notable place in Orange, CA. It is run by folks (several generations) from WI and they have that great midwest friendliness. They are also very knowledgeable and passionate about their extensive beer selection. There is an impressive selection of Belgian brews as well as a large wall length cooler full of a great selection of CA and other brews.

As a deli, I also thought the fare was solid, with a good selection of classic deli fare with a little flair.

The atmosphere is very laid back and made for a memorable lunch experience. If you are in the area, be sure to check it out.

12-17-2010 07:07:22 | More by DinkMeeker

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.94/5  rDev +13.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I'll start by saying this is my all-time favorite beer drinking establishment in the United States.

It's a strange combination of deli/kick-ass beer bar/kick-ass beer store/creepy Green Bay Packer temple. The clientele is a strange mix of doctors and nurses from the nearby hospital, beer geeks, Southern Cal lay-abouts, and other hard-to-peg folks. The owners/employees are as unusual and as friendly as the customers. The people-watching at this fine establishment is more entertaining than whatever ESPN show is flickering across the single high-definition television.

The deli menu features a large selection excellent and amusing deli selections, plus some good ole' drunken munching items (I'm lookin' at you kettle chips and Jelly Belly's).

Belly up to the 1978-styled laminated, faux wood bar for some great beer in 1/2 liter increments. They specialize in awesome German and American microbrews. I generally go for the American stuff, particularly the hoppy stuff that scrubs the enamel off my teeth and the uber-sour Russian River stuff that gives me throw-up burps and the walkin-farts (mmm yummm!). Most of the stuff is high ABV so it's good to arrange for somebody to pick up your stumbling, drunken ass.

One of the fine members of the family that owns this joint is usually pouring the beers and is likely to give you a free shot of beer if you hang out long enough, so I recommend you do. They may not have 100 taps, but they fill out the twenty-or-so with great beers and they are good about rotating new things in and out.

Oh, and did I mention you can buy bottles here too. Hard-to-find stuff from the US, Belgium, Germany, and England are easy to find and if you fancy a drink on the spot take your bottle up to the bar and you can drink it right there. They literally have beer overflowing from the shelves and coolers. Looking for Alpine, Alesmith, Russian River, The Bruery and other California specialties? Hollingshead's is your place.

Check out the website for an up-to-date tap list.

10-03-2010 20:46:00 | More by bump8628

jkaiser150

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 3 | $$

had a giant mug of pliny on draft for eight bucks. Awesome family business. I'm a bears fan from chicago, and i still loved my first visit with all the packer gear, check out the bathroom too more packer beer,
didn't eat anything but the pliny
some beers on the shelves looked old from last winter, no lost abbey either,
still 100% pure adrenaline.
my cousin took me here after i came in to town, orginally going to total wine, i;ve been there before in s carolina and florida, didn't bother going though after this place,

also picked up firewalker ipa and skyscrapper powertool. both good.

08-21-2010 02:51:58 | More by jkaiser150

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.64/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Take a beer store and combine it with a deli. Divide the two with a small seating area then add a small but good number of tap beers behind a short bar along the back wall. Finish by filling every empty space with Green Bay Packers' memorabilia and you've got yourself Hollingshead.

This place is part sports/beer bar, part deli, and part awesome beer store. I was amazed when I walked in! My girlfriend's uncle drove us down the road from his place to let us be the drinkers. He, being from Wisconsin also, actually wanted to see this place prior to knowing I wanted to go here. He was by the store and saw all the GB stuff inside through the glass when it was closed.

Once inside I made an immediate b-line to the right where the beer was, looking to see what they had available for California stuff. Upon uncle Jimbo's request I picked out a few beers I thought that he'd like (being a Miller Lite guy). I went with the Franziskaner, Erdinger, and Ayinger weissbiers.

From there my eyes couldn't get enough. I already had my arms full from pulling from the open-faced cooler and shelves along the right-hand-side wall. I set my stuff down for a beer break. We looked through their tap selection and passed on the expensive Russian River stuff for the Stone collab, Saison du Buff. The funny and kind server poured Maaskrugs (without asking which size tap pour we wanted) filled with the spicy beer and after sitting for a bit I went looking again.

Let me tell you, there is absolutely nothing that can touch the feeling I had while I was drinking a good beer while shopping for good beer.

Finally I had an opportunity to talk to the owner regarding all the Packer stuff and, very long story short, found out he grew up in Gary, Indiana listening to all the Packer gales on the radio. He sure knew his stuff too! During the season they play the Monday night Packer games; no Sunday ones as they aren't open. I've mentioned it a few times already, but I was really surprised at the amount of memorabilia he had there. At first I thought, with the volume of it all, it was for sale. Then I realized it was all just decoration. He also said that during the season the entire ceiling is covered! Clippings taped up, hats hanging, you name it, it's there and most of it is given to him by customers!

The service and staff was totally awesome as were other patrons. I held a nice conversation with another guy drinking and shopping. I loved the place. It felt like a home away from home with an awesome selection of beer, cider, and even Sprecher soda and a few beers. It was also my second stop for purchases and once again, the final price was half of what I expected. I picked up things like Alpine's Nelson, Pure Hoppiness, Duet, HotD Blue Dot, a Stone collab, Port Old Viscosity, and a Ballast Point porter.

Unfortunately I was too wrapped up in the beer to actually care about the deli side of things but Jimbo got some liverwurst which he said was fantastic. Now that I know what it's like there, the next time I'm back I'll be absolutely sure to go back to this old nostalgic grandparent's basement-like shop.

06-20-2010 15:41:59 | More by BeerFMAndy

AnnieMetal

California

3.35/5  rDev -22.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$$$

Very neat little place, but WAY, way too expensive. Other than the price, it has some charm. Interesting deli, bar, and beer store, all in one! They also have a good candy selection. I have never seen anything like it, to be honest. I couldn't stop smiling the first time I went in there. But I STILL haven't seen the Pliney on tap! Bottles/cases of it are always sold out, too!

It is realllly small inside! Be prepared to stand and drink possibly - especially on Friday (they close about an hour later than normal, and all of the regulars are there. Some have been going for over 20+ years, weekly.) I have never seen the tables outside like in the picture. I know you can't drink out there, even if they were outside. Probably were there for just food. It IS in the corner of a strip mall.

Very charming multi-generational family, the two older gentlemen are always ready to tell you a flattery (if you are a lady) a story, or a joke. :)

I also wish they were open at night and on weekends, because it would be a great place to take your significant other or a co-worker, once in a while for a more intimate beer in a unique setting. Too bad I leave work at 6, when they close. :(

06-05-2010 07:21:51 | More by AnnieMetal