I LOVE this place. The atmosphere and the beer complete the whole package. They don't blast music in there, so you can actually hang out and chat with people without loosing your voice the next day. Chris, the owner, is usually around and when he's not making beer, he's behind the bar serving his customers and making everyone feel comfortable.
Of course, the main gem in this place is the beer. My family loves this place so much, we asked Chris to provide the beer for our wedding and he did so, personally! So many of our guests complimented Chris and said his porter was the best they'd ever had. Personally, I'm a huge fan of Dunbar's Scottish Heavy and Oatmeal Stout. Dunbar Brewing is a place you MUST experience.
Although I've only been the North County less than a handfull of times, I have a bit of a drinking problem so I've been to several dozen bars and brewery in the area. My friends from SLO had just moved to Santa Margarita and a week before I arrived began telling me about this amazing place called Dunbar. Sure, there is no real competition, but that doesn't mean my friends would give positive reviews to a dump.
Upon arrival I felt both uncomfortable and accepted. Being in a small town in the middle of California feels weird to me, like I didn't know what to expect- rednecks or beach douches. The crowd at the bar seemed to all be of retirement age and all turned to take a gander at the newcomer when I walked in. Luckily my friends had become regulars in their short time in town (they have drinking problems too) so we weren't hung by our boxers in the back yard.
After almost enjoying one of their beers (I can't remember if was a Pale or an IPA) my friend dared me to get the $19 bomber of Vodoo beer (banana, chocolate, and some other weird shit). When I brought the giant pink bottle to the bar, everything stopped and laughter erupted. This made me a bit uncomfortable, but within a few minutes we were joking around and I discovered that others had wanted to try the beer but didn't want to spend the money. I ended up sharing the bomber (which was good at first, but was a bit much after three sips) and making friends with some of the locals.
For the rest of the night (and my subsequent two visits) I drank nothing but Stone's Enjoy By because it's such a fantastic beer. The vibe was pretty awesome as we sat outside, joked around, and enjoyed the day.
I don't know who the owner is, but there were two dudes who were always there. The bearded due in the fatigues who seemed to do most of the non bartending work seemed to be nice enough, although he wasn't very talkative. I wouldn't call the bartender a dick, but I certainly wouldn't say he was a nice dude. He treated us with indifference which is fine, but the thing that really bothered me was when my friend asked for a souvenir Enjoy By glass. My friend spends upwards of $100 a week at the joint and the bartender had the balls to charge him $5 for the glass. He didn't complain, but we definitely skimped on the tipping for the next few beers.
All in all, the place was pretty damn awesome. Next time I'm there, I'll be sitting on the porch enjoying a brew or 17.
Great brewery, fun local patrons. Â Chris, the owner, is very nice and welcoming.
I tried a couple of their stouts here, including a seasonal chocolate mint stout that was delicious (and a surprise to me, because I'm not a huge mint fan). Â We came here twice during our SLO/Paso trip. Â This is a great locals place, but they made us feel welcome, even though we were visiting. Â They also had Green Flash West Coast IPA on tap. Â Yum. Â They specialize in English/Scottish ales. Â Santa Margarita is a cute area to check out, too!
There are no words to describe the awesomeness Dunbar has to offer (which is why I've been stalling on writing this review). Â Amazing microbrewed beer (with my fave being the Scottish Heavy), an emphasis on good company and conversation (in an intimate setting) and Johnny Cash singing away in the background. Â Any question you have can be answered by Chris, the brewer, who most days himself is sitting behind the bar. Â Not only does he brew some pretty off the chart beer, but he has some amazing beer connections so you'll be able to find some beer here that you won't be able to find anywhere else! Come to Santa Margarita to check this amazing little bar out!! Â Oh, and don't forget your cash, as it is cash only!
Review Source:While going to dunbar brewing's bar is a great experience, I strongly advise against hiring them for any type of event. Â We were excited for Dunbar to bring local brews to our wedding and handle the bar, but it was pretty much a disaster. Â We had already set aside $300 as a tip for each of them so we wouldn't have to think of it at the wedding. Â They arrived late (my mom & a friend were pouring drinks), they threatened to take all of our leftover wine which we purchased on our own (luckily my sister was there to take it back), and they left a huge mess that resulted in a $150 cleanup fee. Â I politely addressed the issue and asked Chris to refund the money, but he had lots of excuses. Â Love the guy and totally support his local brewery as a bar, but he's not an event person at all. Â Wish we had kept that 300 bucks.
Review Source:This beer craftsman's workshop is located just up the hill from all the bars and "pubs" soullessly pumping Cal Poly students full of overpriced trendy brew.
For those who like a finely made beer in an intimate setting, everything about this establishment feels just right. It's small enough that the owner, Chris, can serve all his customers and oversee the details of your visit. From the bar and counters to the beer, the entire experience feels expertly hand-crafted by Chris himself. The building is new, parking is plentiful, and the restrooms are bright and clean.
Expect to meet a few nice people and enjoy the simple goodness of a hard-working entrepreneur charging a fair price for something of the highest quality.
This is the best pub west of the Mississppi. Â The owner Chris is the bartender and brewer. Â He is happy to answer all of your questions and to keep all of your pint glasses full. Â Dunbar Brewing just celebrated their grand opening weekend and there was a great crowd of people there. Â My boyfriend and I went with our friends and had a blast! I know that we will be going back again and again!
Review Source:
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