Rubicon Brewing Company

beerjudge1

California

4.18/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

One of the increasingly few local brew houses left in the Sacramento area. We have been many times, especially in the summer months to take advantage of the outdoor seating. As much as hate to bash on any craft beer establishments, I have to honestly say that The Rubican is not going to blow any established connoisseur away. Of their "always available" beers, i really only enjoy the Winter Wheat Wine. Basically a lighter colored barley Wine, it's very approchable and smooth. Food is typical, but better than average. the staff is always friendly and timely.

12-29-2010 21:36:17 | More by beerjudge1

ArmstrongDG

California

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

A friend and I visited Rubicon Brewing Company a week ago. We really enjoyed the beer and the food was also good. I had the Rubicon IPA, which I would rate as a B, and also a visiting beer, the Wet Hopped Moyander from Moyan's Brewing (also an IPA), which I would rate even higher-B+. My friend had Rubicon's Monkey Knife Fight Ale, which he absolutely loved. He certainly enjoyed his sausage plate and my mushroom pasta was quite good. I had wondered what the service would be like based on some other postings, but we had very good service. Our waitress (Misty) was friendly, had good advice about the beers, and provided great service. Both my friend and I will return the next time we are looking for brews and food in Sacramento.

10-17-2010 19:04:25 | More by ArmstrongDG

Siggy125

California

3.3/5  rDev -12.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Nice joint, cozy inside. Good beer selection. Enjoyed an amber ale and an IPA, both were very tasty. Wish I could've stayed longer, got quite comfortable enjoying the beer and visiting the locals.

As for service, the bartender was friendly, but the girls serving tables were downright terrible. Did I visit on an off night? I was ignored for several minutes and finally flagged one of them down. She was very short and treated me like I was a bother. :( Wound up not ordering food. Shame too, since the menu looked pretty good.

So if you feel like having a good brew and not interested in waiting around for food service, then this joint may be for you.

05-25-2010 05:03:43 | More by Siggy125

Offa

California

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

This is a very enjoyable place in a nice location in Midtown Sacramento, just a few blocks from the capitol and from many other happening places to eat, hang out, etc.

The beer quality overall is quite good and solid, tasty and well-made if not overly adventuresome. The beer range is good but not overly extensive. There are rotating guest beers from other micro-brewers, and there are periodic cask beers.

Service is friendly and efficient.

The food is good, very tasty. It's a pretty standard range of brewpub cuisine, but done well and with some very nice, thoughtful elements such as "make your own grilled cheese," starting with a basic, very good grilled cheese sandwich with good cheese, to which one can ad any number of extras. Sald dressings and other things are good and there is a good children's menu.

The place and atmosphere are nice. In addition to the friendly workers, it has a smallish and fairly simple, but pleasant and attractive interior with big windows looking out onto the front. It has a really nice outdoor seating area right along the street. It is situated in a nice, characterful, very lively part of Midtown, the old mixed residential-commercial part of town just east of downtown, under huge, old, shadey trees. Nearby are numerous attractive old Victorians and other buildings, plus plenty of clubs and eateries, art places, stores, etc., with a constant stream of people going to all these places. This all adds nicely to the atmosphere.

07-29-2009 22:59:16 | More by Offa

jerelwhall

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

Ate lunch here while vacationing in CA. I didn't know what to expect, but was impressed by their beers: a very, very tasty Pilsner (quality imported? malts, quenching hop finish), a solid Pale ale (sturdy body, really clean character), a delicious, very West Coast IPA (tons of citrussy hops). The gem, though was their seasonal 'Winter Wheat-wine': big syrupy nose, lingering sweetness, coating mouthfeel, long warming finish with just the right amount of hops throughout. Samples were $1.50 per 2 oz pour - pretty reasonable.

The food was rather standard pub grub: I had a bratwurst sandwich with a decent beer mustard and fries. Not outstanding but enjoyable for sure.

The only problem was the service. Our server, completely unable to hide her sour manner, insisted on rolling her eyes at every request, inquiry, or comment we had. Since we had never been there, we obviously had several questions regarding the selection and would've like to have had a more informative experience. She knew not a bit about the beers, very little about the brewery, and apparently nothing about how the food was prepared. Guess we were just unlucky in getting the worst server in Sacramento.

Overall: stellar, fun beer brewed creatively and with obvious passion - super lame service (but probably just circumstantial) - simple, affordable fare - definitely will revisit!

03-03-2009 14:09:26 | More by jerelwhall

stoad

California

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 2.5 | $$

Great looking old brick building and cozy insides. It is in a residential area, but don't be fooled, It gets very busy at lunch as it's 2 blocks from 2500 state employees, and it has been pretty busy other times I have been there (e.g. Sunday 6-8 pm). The parking can be difficult, especially on weekdays.

That said, food is about average for pub fare - not as much beer influence featured in it as I would hope. Proximity to San Francisco would bring expectations that they might push the food level a bit, but not so much. For example the Reuben could have been on artisan instead of "store bought" bread and the onion rings had a rather bland batter.

The beer is great however. They offer a pretty regular (from my few visits) cask ale option, a dry hopped version of their IPA was available on my last visit. Had a few pints of that. Their standard brew offerings - Rosebud, IPA, Monkey Knife Fight - are all well crafted and consistent in quality. I was there for the beer and it did not disappoint. My favorite stop in Sacramento.

01-02-2009 03:52:34 | More by stoad

ndolover

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I was in SAC-town on business and after seeing the 2 brewpubs near my hotel in the tourist area I was not impressed. I checked beeradvocate and found this gem. I took a long walk past the state capitol and found Rubicon.

It would seem that this area has a more uptown feel. Upon sitting at the bar I was greeted and asked if I wanted to try a sample of the 2 ciders I was pondering. I was impressed that they had ciders (however, they were not brewed by Rubicon). I also found the following:

1. Customers that were talking about politics and the upcoming Big Lebowski fest. I interjected a few times and was greeted warmly by the regulars at the bar.

2. The growlers were in plastic "cubes" which I had never seen before.

3. The happy hour crowd really packed the place after 4.

4. The hop juice was good, but a bit over priced.

5. The servers were nice, but I need to re-state what other reviews have said about being less then attentive.

Overall a brewpub that does not fit the corporate brewpubs that you see around SAC-town. Good vibe with good drinks...I would visit this place again!

08-29-2008 19:01:25 | More by ndolover

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +9.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

A fenced-in, outdoor patio area sat to the left as we approached and entering, we had to make a dog-leg left with the tables and chairs just beyond. On the right was the stainless steel bar with corrugated aluminum as its front. I always dig the industrial look. Another stainless bar with bricks, fronted by stools, separated the bar area from the restaurant area. The kitchen was all of the way aft, on the right. SVs and the brewhouse were visible behind glass to the left. It was a relatively small place with a lot going on. Undoubtedly my favorite stop in SAC.

Beers: Czech Pilsner (4.8); IPA (6.5); Amber Ale (5.0); Stout (4.8); Monkey Knife Fight; ESB; and Bravo IPA.

Guest Taps: Racer 5; Sierra Nevada Celebration; and Two Rivers Cider.

08-24-2008 17:46:31 | More by woodychandler

Floydster

California

2.69/5  rDev -28.6%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 2.5 | $$$

Second stop on my way up to Redding, it was a pain to get to this place with the street construction that was going on at the time, I went for one reason and that was to try the Hop Sauce and it was delicious, other than that this place did not do for me, the employees were pretty rude and in a hurry at all times despite the fact that I was one of maybe six people in the entire place, the atmosphere was really plain with not much of an ambiance, their beers are pretty good but nothing to go crazy for, thankfully there was a nice guy at the bar who helped me with my further beer travels, then I was on my way after finishing my small glass after about twenty minutes, did not see any food or even look at a menu, other beers on tap at the time were a pilsner, amber, their IPA, and a Sierra Nevada guest tap, prices were in the four to five dollar range, they need more beer offerings, probably will not go back to this place unless I am in Sacramento and happen to stumble across, not recommended

08-23-2008 16:15:41 | More by Floydster

beerbrewerdan

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3 | $$

I really feel like this place exemplifies the above average brewpub. The beers are very good and the food is nothing more than you would expect. Tonight's potato soup was quite good and I am not a big fan of potato soup. The fresh green onions helped.

I really like this place more than Sac Brewing for two main reasons: the beer is better and it's easy to tell a lot of the patrons live within walking distance. To me this really improves the atmosphere, which about people and culture more than brass and ferns. If you get a chance ask to see the hop gardens out back. Beautiful!

It's a relatively small space, with some outside seating. Yes, it is "first come first served" on the tables. If you see one open, grab one. This can be a pain in the tail for someone like me who gets annoyed at the competition and hovering that takes place in situations like these. So, after experiencing that the first time I went earlier the next two times. This most recent time I took the light rail and walked the few blocks (through the beautiful midtown area). Got there at about 5pm on a Wednesday and besides the guys who probably go there every day it was pretty much just me. Got a chance to talk to the master brewer for a little bit, which was nice. Around 6:30 it started to get busier but never got to the crazy levels I have seen it. If you don't like it packed don't come here at 6:30+ on busy days.

I had: Czech Pilsner, IPA, Irish Stout, Hop Sauce IPA (10 oz).

Stout (not listed and I can't add yet) - Ordered not long after getting the IPA (well, the *second* IPA). Good thing too as straight from the tap it is quite cold. Nitro tap pour with a guinness-style settling. Has a strong tan/brown head that lasts and lasts. Color is black-brown with a very deep amber color when viewed at a tilt (though not tilted much). Nose is light roast. The flavor is creamy and roasty with caramel notes appropriate for the style. Even after sitting for 10 mins it was even better when warmed another 10. A session Irish dry at its finest. 4.5%

08-21-2008 02:40:09 | More by beerbrewerdan