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21 reviews for Central Coast Brewing
Review Highlights
"Along with enjoying tasty beers like Chai Cream Ale."
(in 3 reviews)
"It's actually a clean drinking ale with a smooth finish."
(in 9 reviews)
"We also now have a fun spot to go beer tasting with friends."
(in 2 reviews)
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Big D.
Union City, CA
8/19/2011
Two thumbs up. Beer is great, service is great, at least before 4pm cause the brewers run the bar so you can talk to the people who made what you are drinking, and they are friendly and not pretentious.
No food here though, just beer. -
Review from Julie and Jenn S.
Long Beach, CA
10/25/2011
Another review without the Cow Girl, but I figured I had to post as I have time!
So, I was on my way to dinner when I saw this little microbrewery tucked away in this small business center. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable.
Two standouts for me was the nitro-pour Stenner Creek Stout. It was nice, creamy and smooth and had a lovely coffee flavor. It was light bodied in a way, definitely less thick than a Guinness. It surprised me. Very little bitterness and a clean finish. Awesomeness.
I also really liked their Vespertin Belgian Dubbel. It had a nice caramel flavor and was a nice amber color. I think this might age well. So I will keep it around and see how it tastes after 6 months or so.
I had a chance to taste their Pumpkin Ale as well and it has a very bright and clean pumpkin flavor and is easy on the spice. It's actually a clean drinking ale with a smooth finish.
Random musings from Jules...who LOVES BEER! -
Review from Jonny T.
Santa Barbara, CA
8/29/2011
Have to say I was underwhelmed by this place. Nice enough setting & staff but the beer just wasn't that good. Maybe it's because they were out of IPA so I had their Pale Ale - which tasted OKish but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Maybe when I pop back to SLO I'll look into to see if they have the IPA. -
Review from Rene W.
Pismo Beach, CA
6/27/2011
I can't thank George and his crew enough for the wonderful 22 oz beer "party favors" for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. The custom labels were perfect. They were the hit of the party. Very tasty beer to boot!!! The Pale Ale was absolutely wonderful.
It was great to work with this small operation as they accommodated my requests without question.
We also now have a fun spot to go beer tasting with friends. I highly recommend this fun brewery not only for great beer to drink at their brewery, but for a super cool party favor for your event.
Cheers!! -
Review from P M.
Danville, CA
11/2/2011
Great beers!!! All of them!!! Try the Catch 23 & ask about the story behind the name. Nice guys behind the bar as well.
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Review from Erin B.
Lockeford, CA
3/12/2011
Central Coast Brewing is closed on Sundays, and that is what earned them their 4 stars. My fiance and I swung into their parking lot, in search of a new beer to fill a new growler, only to discover that they were closed. To our surprise, however, the brewer was in the building AND he let us come in and taste while he cleaned out kegs in the back.
Thank you friendly brewer man! You made our day, and your beer was great. -
Review from L B.
Sunburst, MT
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome little place and friendly staff. We stopped here on a road trip through California. They have some great beer. There is a nice outdoor area to enjoy your glass. If I'm ever in the area again I would stop by again for sure.
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Review from Dawn B.
Morro Bay, CA
3/12/2011 1 photo
Very excited, received a email from them stating the Chai Cream Ale is Back, already got me a couple bottles!!!! Yummy!
I like this place, its a relaxing environment and I like the outdoor seating! The staff is also very nice. However they get only 4 stars for 2 reasons: 1) they are closed on Sundays, which is extremely inconvenient for people that work Monday-Friday, they should really choose a weekday to close and 2) their Chai Cream ale is one of their most popular and tastes great, so I think it would be a great business choice to keep it in stock. I will probably not return there until they have it again, since all the other beers I have tasted are average. -
Review from Sandra C.
Santa Cruz, CA
Really friendly staff and great brews!
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Review from J T.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/11/2011
All the beers are great. I especially like The Original Chai, it's like Autumn in a glass. Staff was friendly and very knowledgable!
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Review from Shane L.
Bakersfield, CA
8/13/2011
The service was amazing and the staff is very friendly. The variety of brews is excellent and they all taste just amazing. I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Nicholas F.
San Luis Obispo, CA
4/7/2011
I've lived about a block away from here for the last two years, and boy did I get lucky! Not only does this place have a wide selection of beers, but almost all (if not all) of their beers are really good!
They make a huge variety of styles and their 5 tastings for $5 deal is a great deal (its a pint and a half of good beer for $5) but you can get it any time! The 5 for 5 deal is for their regular brews, but they always have a number of seasonal/premium brews on tap as well. My personal favorites are their Belgian Brown, aka "Bennie Brown" now, as well as their Chai Cream Ale (which uses local SLO Chai!).
Just as a warning, this isn't the kind of place that you'd come for an appetizer and beers. They started as a "brew on premise" place which eventually evolved into a brewery of their own. The food they serve is basically just chips, though they do have free samples of the wheat and hops they use which can be quite flavorful or at least provide for a pleasant aroma to smell. The real focus at this place is the beer. I mean, the bar is surrounded by their brewing tanks, which makes for quite a casual, comfortable feel.
Also, as I've become a regular here, I've noticed that all of the tasting room staff is quite knowledgeable and friendly. All of them are also involved in the brewing process, so not only can they explain the whole brewing process, but your opinions on the beer directly affect their next batch.
Overall, a local treasure and a great value for your buck! -
Review from Mark H.
Goleta, CA
6/30/2010
Waltzed into this place one night about 30 minutes before close. It's clear by the size of the tasting room that the brewing of the beer is priority (it's really small and a bit awkward). But it's also clear by the taste of the beer that the brewing of the beer is priority. Amazing stuff, really.
We did the sampler, where you get to taste like 5 beers for 5 bucks. They are probably a 3 or 4 oz taster, and the guy serving (the owner or main brewer, I assume, by his very detailed knowledge of each beer) was in no hurry to shoo us out and kept the samples coming at least a couple past 5. He was really excited about each beer, and we ended up staying about 30 minutes past close.
Though he said he was out of the San Diego Red at my first request, about 15 minutes later he had an epiphany and told me the Red was similar to mixing two other types of beer that were currently on tap (I don't remember which, one was pale though, and one was dark). IT WAS AMAZING. This man is a beer genius. There was an espresso porter or stout that he served that I wish could drink in place of my Americano every morning.
If you love beer, you HAVE to stop by Central Coast Brewing. -
Review from Lynn E.
Los Angeles, CA
7/7/2008
Stopped in here on our way back to our hotel. Like previous reviewers, we were looking for the SLO Brewing Co/now Downtown Brewing Co. Glad the merchant misunderstood us and directed us here. Super friendly service, and good deal for a tasting menu ($5 for 5 tastes). We enjoyed the chai ale, and also liked the 10th anniversary, a scotch ale. They have a deal where you can brew your own batch, either using their recipe or your own. If I was local, I'd definitely check that out.
Bonus points because the server went to the same college consortium we did! -
Review from Joel N.
Portland, OR
12/21/2009
Authentic is the first word which comes to mind. Authentic in a world where authentic is masterfully recreated but seldom delivers on its promise. CCB is a true gem.
My friend and I spent the night in SLO during a trip to Hearst's castle. We created our own pub crawl and started at Central Coast because it was the closest bar to our hotel. Thus my head was still clear when I left CCB and this review is remarkably accurate.
What a find!
This is not a restaurant, there's no good food to order. They do happen to have some really tasty snacks from Louisiana, but the showcases here are the beer, the ambiance and the beer. Not into beer? skip it, head downtown.
Central Coast has just made a major upgrade to their production capabilities. When you taste their beer you know why they are in demand. They make a variety of beers and ales so there is something for any beer lover. They serve you in tasting glasses equivalent to 1/3 of a pint. But each taste is only $1 or $2, so you end up drinking a fresh, deliciously crafted pint for $3-6. Quite a deal for a pint of anything, let alone something the quality CCB is churning out.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Since the bartender is one of the 3 guys who actually makes the beer, he can basically tell you anything you'd want to know about the beer or the process by which it is made. The bar (which has about 6 seats) is literally sitting in the middle of the industrial tubs they use to make the beer. You are drinking smack in the middle of the brewery itself. Pretty neat.
Looking for a high class place with hors de vours? Not for you.
Looking to impress your date with your worldliness? The box of board games beside the bar will hurt your chances.
Looking for a casual, laid back atmosphere where you can get the treat of delicious beer? This is your spot. Drew, the bartender handed us the tv remote without us even asking. The owner came over and told us the origins of India Pale Ale. I sampled (not shot glass tastes, real samples) 5 beers for $8 and found 3 that I loved. We sampled the hot nuts- damn tasty, got our lips a burnin.
Oh, and my traveling companion found the perfect gift for her brother in law to be- a growler of their Winter Ale.
GO HERE! You will not regret it. -
Review from E K.
Napa, CA
9/5/2011
$5 for a 5 beer tasting? Very cool! The chai and ginger beers were fun to try. There isn't a ton of room in there, possibly due to remodeling in progress, and it would be great if they were open later than 9. Still, for $5, highly recommended!
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Review from Jon K.
San Luis Obispo, CA
10/11/2010
If you love tasting quality beer, this is a place you will want to be going. Its very cool to go and taste right in the brewery and talk about the beers. The also sell kegs, small kegs, and growlers.
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Review from Aaron P.
San Luis Obispo, CA
1/6/2011
Alright this is, as you may have guessed a beer review. I really like coming here. The value is good since you get a large taste of beer for a dollar (2 dollars for fancier stuff). Along with enjoying tasty beers like Chai Cream Ale. I always learn something new about beer when I visit here and chat with the owner or employees. It is cool to see all of the equipment used as well as the wall of beer bottles. Check this place out!
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Review from Lisa N.
7/17/2007
The place is pretty small and they serve no food besides popcorn and nuts. The brews are delicious and everyone working there is super friendly. I really liked their porter and brown ale both are something truly to savor! They also had a chai ale, which I found was pretty unique!
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Review from Milka C.
Cypress, CA
3/1/2010
Following the proverbial "dark and stormy night", my husband and I, along with 7 other refugees from the OC hooked up for a marathon wine tasting tour of Paso Robles. After roughly 5 hours of coma inducing alcohol ingestion we all retired to our respective rooms in a nearby B&B. Under normal circumstances, this is where the story would end, but no, dear reader, it goes on.
A couple of the male group members were dead set on sampling the product in the brewery across the street and nothing was going to get in the way, especially not an inconveniently elevated BAC. Well, this decision proved to be fortuitous, despite any protest from the MADD crowd (no driving necessary to reach this establishment so relax, Grandma). The beer was cool, crisp and refreshing. The perfect palate-cleansing remedy to a long day of quaffing fermented grapes. Although they really don't serve food, they will allow you to bring some in. I suggest you visit Splash Cafe (also across the street) and purchase their excellent clams or clam chowder (or both) and bring it with you. They are a perfect complement to any of the libations on the chalkboard. Drew is a masterful tap-puller and will never leave you dry. Atmosphere is spartan and industrial, but this is an authentic blue collar brewery, not a foo-foo poser "Sideways" ripoff, so get over it. If you like beer, stop by. If not, keep walking. Simple as that. -
Review from Jamie R.
San Leandro, CA
1/18/2010
All right, horrible experience. Actually, no experience, as a friend and I walked all the way from downtown (ok, not that far) in the rain yesterday, only to find that they were closed. Ok, our bad for being spontaneous and not prepared for a place that serves beer to be closed on Sunday. Um, Sunday during football playoffs. Hello, football and beer are about as American as apple pie. Doesn't make sense. Now here's the kicker. The owner/manager (I am assuming) is sitting in there, watching a game and, guess what, drinking a beer! We walked in, soaking wet, and pleaded our case, but to no avail. All we got was "I can get you something to go." Come on, if you poured yourself something you can take the time to pour us at least one measly little taste of something for the effort we put in. He lost himself two customers!
