The Bar at Dry Creek General Store

This review is specifically for the bar and patio. We love this place for a good beer after the valley empties out, especially on event weekends after a long day of pouring wine.

The last time I visited the Dry Creek General Store [<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/dry-creek-general-store-healdsburg#hrid:apLBdcXcnhG5K5gpDdgdsw%5D">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>, I completely overlooked/missed this bar attached to the side. But this time,as we waited for our sandwich orders to be filled (unfortunately still too long of a wait during touristy-bustling weekend afternoons), we ventured through the saloon door...

While there's the "diamond in the rough" thing, this little joint is the "rough amidst the diamonds" converse; a no-nonsense, shabby shanty of a watering hole in a sea of wineries and sprawling vineyards. It's a perfect reprieve from the glass-swirling, connoisseur-jargon, sip-and-critique pace of a day-long wine touring. (I can only act classy for so long...)

The bartender was a character, friendly and engaging, fast with the pours and quick witted, joining in on our quintet's boisterous (and probably annoying to everyone else) conversation and ribaldry.

We spent hours there.
Our sandwich orders came and went. All the while we consumed innumerable pints and laughed the afternoon away. Sitting on wooden stools at a wooden bar surrounded by wooden walls. Mingling with the mix of locals and tourists. Staring up at an old television showing the Cal game. Amused and bemused by the ceiling and walls adorned with rusty metal knickknacks. Snacking on hot peppers, partly for dare-sake. Knocking back one after another of what the bartender deemed "Redneck Bloody Marys".

Hours.

And when we roll through Sonoma wine country again, we'll spend a few hours of daylight there again...
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After a horribly inappropriate photo-shoot involving an "Open Now" arrow-sign (don't ask!), we took our leave... but not before slamming another "Redneck Bloody Mary", which explains why we were so ill-behaved at the next winery.

This is why I love Sonoma County.

Wineries and wineries everywhere and when we get done working we head to this bar. This is an industry hangout. Like Jessie P. said we are nice!

The place is tiny with a total dive feel. There is literally hanging rusted metal from the ceiling and a busted bust juke box that keeps on playing somehow.

There is a store attached with great sandwiches and supplies for wine tasting. After the wineries close head on over for a pint.

There is so much more than wine in wine country.