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.
All days are great to go here. This pace is totally a dive. We came here after a 4 mile walk through Dry Creek. It was a great walk too, powering through the hills of the beautiful valley with one thing on my mind, how great that beer was going to taste when I got there! It's a nice way to spend an evening after excercising. Recommend the walk, park at Ridge and walk down Lytton sation road. You'll start to see the bar in the distance.. it's worth it. They only serve beer and wine. There is a store next store but it's closed at 5. It's a local, industry hang out but we recommend it to the visitors all the time (because we're nice ;-p).. so there is a nice mix. Tables and chairs outside. Sit inside and watch the game, though it does get rather crowded so you'll have to get cozy..
2 Beers $8 bucks.. tip your bartender well, she works hard!
This is a dive bar attached to the Dry Creek General Store. This is my favorite place to go after a day of wine tasting to get a nice cold beer. There is only so much wine you can drink! It's an eclectic mix of people - bikers, local winery workers and makers, tourists and locals. It's got an old warbly juke box and the bartenders are friendly. Nice place to stop and have a drink without any pretense. You can hang on the front porch on a nice evening and have a drink.
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