I come to HumBrews frequently for a weekend-afternoon pint or two. Pretty much a standard college-town pub. The food is decent, and the beer list is excellent with lots of local brews. Good atmosphere, cool people at the bar. At its best during the summer when the HSU students are gone. And Jamie is the best bartender in Humboldt County!
Review Source:Food is exactly what you would expect, just stick to the stuff you'd find at any other bar. Burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, all filling and good. Beer selection is great, and always changing, always 3-4 IPA's to choose from. Atmosphere is good, staff is great, especially the pink haired one. Seen a few shows there, smallish venue but the music is always good. Oh, and I can't forget the pinball tables in the back, a very nice touch.
Review Source:I would classify this as a divey college bar. Having gone to college and had a similar type place (yeah for O'Hara's on the circle in Orange, CA) I can understand the draw. We ate at one of the bar tables and had pretty good service from an older than college age relatively cute guy.
Worst was that there was a loud boisterous crowd coming out of a separate room.
Again I get the "its arcata/humbolt" and college but these looked like grad students or teachers. Which again for the area and from what other parents warned me about, I get.
Good local beer, nice selection. Food was okay - think we had burgers - the week was a blur with all the colleges we saw.
As this is my daughter's preferred college choice, probably will be back. Note to arcata folks - on our tour 8 out of the 10 potential students were from San Diego county - so get ready to be invaded - dude!
Visiting the lovely Humboldt gem of Arcata, we tucked into Humboldt Brews for a Friday night brew and burger. Got a table when it was very busy, and had a lovely very-pregnant waitress.
When it wasn't screaming busy, the service was pretty good. But as the night wore on, the place was understaffed, and orders were slow or forgotten.
The beer list was *ok* but not *terrific*. I drank Anchor Steam all night, which is a reliable standby. I was hoping for a wall of North Coast brews, but that just wasn't the case.
The food was pretty good and overall it was a good dinner. Just not the crazy beer-worshiping place I was hoping for.
I dont want Humbrews to go away...thats for sure. I got my pet-peeves with the place...the industrial decor, the cavernous, sad, show-room, higher prices, only 1 pool table...but there are nights this place was nice to be at when 'bar row' is just not working. They have good acts come through, the prices can raise eyebrows though. Tall cans of Pabst are a plus!
Review Source:The food is so so, pretty over priced for the quality. I really hate that it's not a full bar. They are ALWAYS out of Great White. I hate the DJ nights they have, it's in a weird closed off room that just screams "I'm a high school kid that got in here with my older sister's ID and I want to turn this place into a rave"
I do like what the nights benefit, they do some nights where all the money goes to AIDS research, so it's not all bad, but if I'm going to donate money to a cause I'd rather directly donate it than come here.
I was visiting Arcata for the first time and my friend recommended this place. I really enjoyed myself. They had a good selection on beer and typical bar food. I think the biggest positive for me though was the environment. The staff was very friendly and the vibe was very nice. If you like beer, I recommend stopping by. If you want a further review, here is my food post on it: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffoodcreatespoop.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F01%2F19%2Fhumboldt-brews%2F&s=cfbd211258a497c13f4cdb72a05d0b2b306ae96789522bf00fbdfca3588bfaa9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://foodcreatespoop.w…</a>
Review Source:The food, beer, and atmosphere are always pretty solid but the service is always AWFUL. I've been here on off nights, during concerts, on game nights, and pretty much all of the above. Everything food and drink wise is pretty good but the service is always soooooo bad. Today, the waitress was probably the worst I have ever experienced. She literally made 2 of the 6 people in our party leave because she was so rude. If I was looking for a sports bar I would probably just end up going elsewhere. It isn't worth dealing with the garbage service. It really does suck though because this place has so much potential to be a cool place to hangout.
Review Source:Great burgers! Good food. Good places for music and comedy shows.
But it is loud in there and always dark/ weird lighting.
Some times some of the wait staff is weird about splitting up checks... then other times they are okay about it.
It's just annoying for my group of friends because we are always half expecting for it to be an ordeal.
If you split the check when we ask politely we will leave bigger tips for not having to deal with all the confusion! I know that this is probably a management issue but just thought i'd put it out there.
I'm not even from California area. But I was in Arcata area with my partner visiting my very sick grandmother. My partner lives in the Sacramento area and he had drove us 6 hours to Arcata, it was a long day and we were struggling to search for a decent place to eat that was open and didn't have terrible reviews, we were also looking for good prices.
Not only did these people have good prices, it was a great enviornment, the staff were very laid back and made sure you had everything, they also keep very good track of what you ordered and come back with your things, even if you didn't even know they were missing! Take it from ordering a shrimp basket that came with 7 pieces, I got 6 and didn't even realize the 7th was gone, and they brought it out on another plate and told me "We forgot your other shrimp!" it was cute.
Over all the food was amazing, I enjoyed their fresh fries, and my partner really enjoyed his burger. Perfect portions, great price. I hope to come back again!!!
This one was a huge surprise. The menu is a total curve ball from the usual brewery menu. They have gyros, lots of wraps, interesting flavor combinations all around, and just a real diverse variety of stuff. They focus on local stuff and it is clear in the menu the local flavor they have here.
I ordered some kind of a grilled chicken sandwich and it was really good. Really, one of the best I've had. It was just excellent. Really well grilled chicken, very fresh bun, tasty toppings, very good. I also got the garlic fries on the side. These are fresh cut fries topped with lots of minced garlic. Take excellent fries and do that to them and you really have a great combination. This sort of item is usually pretty pedestrian and unmemorable but the one here was just awesome.
Service wasn't that great, they basically just take your order, bring your food, and handle your payment. Not much help in the way of refills, clearing plates, etc. It seemed understaffed. But the food more than makes up for this.
Humboldt Brews has a great atmosphere. Always friendly staff and patrons. A big selection of microbrews as well. A great venue to watch concerts also.
The service is always fast. The menu has much too chose from bit a little pricey. The food is always just pretty good, nothing too special.
If I were a local college kid, my rating would likely be higher. This was exactly the kind of place I liked when I was a student. But this review is filtered through the lens of an adult eating with children. Boring, I know.
We visited on a Sunday night and the place with filled with locals and the Humboldt State crowd. A good, lively vibe with the front half dominated by pool tables and a bar and the back half with tables and a projection TV showing a game. The adjoining space is set up for live music, so this is both a restaurant and music venue.
Food was only OK. The way that food in these type of restaurants is typically OK. Although I noted throughout their menu, they do use local produce and Humboldt grass-fed beef. They are definitely trying to be more than a bare bones college hangout.
I had a Beef & Lamb Gyro (funny that it had both types of meat) and Mr. K had one of the wraps. He enjoyed his meal more than I enjoyed mine. The highlight was drinking Hemp beer, because that is what you do while visiting Humboldt County. They have approximately 20 brews on tap.
We did have an issue with one of the kids' meals. It was in the menu as penne pasta, but we were served spaghetti, which was in a different section of the menu. It wasn't just that we were served the wrong item, but it was in really poor condition. Terribly overcooked (where it looks more like soup, than pasta). It also took us a long time to flag down our server, who didn't return to our table after delivering the food. But, the uneaten item was removed from our tab which I appreciated.
We were staying in a nearby, very quiet, coastal town, so the energy of the place was appreciated. I'd give it another try if we were in the area and would make different food choices next time around.
Great place to grab a beer, play pool, watch the game, and grab a bite to eat. Definitely a place to kick back for awhile and never feel rushed to leave. Concert venue has nice equipment and they bring in good bands. However, I did have one negative run in once where my friend was rejected entrance to the concert because they didn't accept a green card as an ID, despite it being current and displaying their birthday... Which is why I took away a star. Not sure if that's a reflection on the restaurant or the bouncer, but it's something I won't soon forget.
Review Source:So lets say you are traveling through the northern california area and you say to yourself, "You know, I could really use an amazing meal at a cool place with good beers on tap with some great live music." Â Well look no further my friend!!! You found it!
I was on a trip to Petrolia and coming out of the lost coast and we got a tip from a local to come here. Â Its like they knew that it was a good place or something!
Here's the breakdown:
Service: Friendly, timely, and gave us extra sauces without having to ask, also offered to split the bill even though we were a party of 6
Food: Â Our table shared a sampler platter, and we got the spicy wings. Â Totally spicy! Some people couldn't even hang. Â Also the chipotle dip is really good with that. Â
I had the veggie pita with a side salad, and it was excellent. Â No complaints from the other people at the table either on their food choices. Â
Ambiance: Wood everything! I love that in a brew pup! Â Also very big and open which meant I didn't feel crowded by anyone sitting nearby. Â
Music: Â We didn't actually see any music there, but I saw the posters and Jackie Greene was playing there soon so I knew it was a good live music venue. Â
Overall: Â I loved it! Â The food the experience, the beer it was all great. Â
PS: the only reason I dinged it a star was because they don't brew their own beers on site anymore. Â They still have a great selection of beers on tap from local places, but I had been hoping to try one of their brews.
Staff is not always the friendliest and the food is so-so at best. Â It is however a good place to catch a game or have beer. Â The don't have hard alcohol so keep that in mind. Â Its isn't a sports bar nor is it a restaurant or a brewery. Â Its more a blob of all three with a touch of college kid essence.. Â Horrible place to see a crowded show as the floor gets WET WITH SWEAT and has no ventilation! Â Some of my friends like their wings but I think they are just so-so as well. Â Don't expect to much out of this place and you will have a good time.
Review Source:Stopped by HumBrews on a Saturday night to see a local show with Nico M. and her posse. The DJs played an eclectic mix of funk, classic, reggae, funk--almost all on VINYL!!! Humboldt locals told me that the DJs worked at a nearby record shop that's comparable to High Fidelity.
The unique Arcata crowd was friendly, spirited, with an appropriate level of rowdiness. The stage and dancefloor are attached to the main section of the bars, with a smaller bar for performances. They offered a few microbrews originating from NorCal, plus $3.50 for hipster standby PBR. Between the friendly hippies, resident hobos, and indie scenesters the large dancefloor became animated quickly. I would compare the attendees to a Phish crowd, with people from all walks of light dancing to their own rhythm.
Humboldt Brewery Tour Stop #3
Humboldt Brewing closed down years ago and Humboldt Brews Pub is now in the same location. Â The still offer many of the Nectar Ales lineup including Hemp Ale. The also have an expansive guest beer list of local microbrews. Good place to grab a beer. Pretty standard bar.
This is one of the better "chill" bars in Humboldt. Although their beer selection used to be a lot better with many more authentic local brews its still a decent selection by far. They got a cool pool table and a pretty big separate room which is a venue for bands and shit. The place is a lot tidier and newer-looking than a lot of the other local bars although I don't really hit up bars because of their interior decor. I mean wtf is this HGTV? I'm trying to drink and fornicate
My friend ordered the first round and got us Kona Porter Ale which I thought tasted like shit. Being slightly drunk upon arrival I began to express my negative sentiment about the coffee-flavored beer rather loudly to the amusement of the people around me. The bartender overheard my rant and offered me another beer based on his choice. He got me a Steelhead Ultra Pale and MAN it blew that nasty Kona motor oil out of the water! And the bartender didn't even charge me for the Steelhead! YEAHH
I just wish I had a chance to try one of their burgers that everybody was raving about while I was up there. They are supposed to be BOMB... Next time Humboldt Brews... Next time
Great Burgers!! Super Great Burgers!! Unbelievably great wonderful fantastical burgers!! And the beers are even better!!
We went during the lunchtime, freshly opened , freshly cleaned. We were takin care of by a great waitress. She had a cute lil personality and was on top of her game. I thought the layout of the joint was kinda funky. But they have a ton of live shows that go on here, so it makes sense for a music venue! The Meat Puppets played the last weekend we were in town! But a ton of DJ's and bands play there. Sometimes they have rad nights , where you can sample beers and burgers, a great pairing for this joint!
The BF got the Shroomers Delight or Shroom Burger, considering it is Humboldt the Mushrooms weren't psychedelic but they were fresh and chocked full of them, it also had a Red Pasilla Pepper and was filled with Chevre cheese, Grilled Onions and he about died and went to heaven , busted a nut over this damn burger. The Cheese, was smooth rich and creamy , a delight! He loved every minute eating that burger. I even got to hear just how good it was the next few days. My burger was great too, but Im pretty boring when it comes to burgers! Let me tell you the difference there is in their meat compared to meat from So cal.. so good so pure and fresh !! It was just really awesome!
So mad props to you HumBrews.. you made one fat mans day and a new discovery for where to eat at in weirdoville aka Arcata, CA
I became a regular at Humboldt Brewery shortly after it opened. Â Back then, it was a family pub, a nice quiet place to meet with friends or take the kids where they could enjoy excellent food--especially the Buffalo wings--while the folks sampled some of the best microbrewery beers around. Â I was particularly fond of the Oatmeal Stout, which I sipped three or four nights a week in the back bar while watching a Raiders game with the owner, Mario Celotto. Â My friends and I could chat without having to raise our voices, would gorge ourselves on the outstanding wings, play some darts and unwind after a busy day.
Then Mario decided to it was time to cater to the college crowd at nearby Humboldt State University. Â The change probably improved Mario's profit margin drastically, but it destroyed my favorite pub. Â The last time I went into the tavern, it was crowded with obnoxious and loud college students, all trying to out-cool their companions and generally acting like morons. Â The family dining room was gone, loud music raged through the pub and after one quick drink, I got the hell out of there and vowed never to return.
That was a lie to myself, it turned out, when a friend bought me a ticket to see Randy Newman perform live at the pub's showroom. Â I sat in the front row and made more than occasional eye contact with Randy--which was somewhat cool--but the folding metal chair in which I sat made me feel as if a dentist had followed me to the pub, repeatedly stabbing me in the ass with a syringe filled with Novocain. Â So, even though I enjoyed the music, as I staggered numb-buttedly out of the place I again vowed never to return.
Now I've been in LA for a dozen years, so I have no idea what the now-called "Humboldt Brews" is like, but I suspect the increased income appealed to Mario (or whoever owns it now) enough to continue encouraging insufferable college students to come in and drink themselves blind every night.
Ah, higher education in America. Â I just hope that the inebriated students learn something other than how to be tree-hugging, paid environmental protesters who don't understand what they're protesting through their collective hangover haze.
Hemp Ale? .... Why Not?
This review is for the couple pints of Hemp Ale that I had the opportunity to consume in San Jose this past weekend:
This was a tasty pint that I was excited to test out for my first time. Â
It poured a clear reddish-brown color, with head that reached the top or the glass and then dissipated fairly quickly. The beer has a nice aroma, is sweet to taste, almost creamy, Â with plenty of fizzy carbonation.
I liked the Beer, but really couldn't tell it had any Hemp in it. Â If you have the chance to try it, do so... I'd give the beer 3.5 stars.
I will checkout the Brewery next time I make it to the Humboldt Area!
Although I love Humbrews in general, I am said to say I cannot give them 5 stars, because frankly their service has always been crap.
Great place to see a show, great place for a local brew to get your night started. Awesome food, some of the best I've had, I love their wings and burgers....love the atmosphere, love the interior...
That's really all I got to say about Humbrews, be mindful of your orders. I think I'll sit at the bar next time I come in.
I came here with a hunger for two things: deep fried food and beer.
To start off, we ordered two orders of calamari because one isn't enough to share between three huge fans. Upside: the seasoning was a bit on the spicy side, which we really liked. Downside: Because they fried the squid whole, the batter tended to slide off. That's okay though, we enjoyed it overall.
For my own dish, I got the fish snapper tacos; one fried and another grilled. The creamy lime sauce and cabbage brought a fresh and interest element to the tacos.
Along with some beer and good company, I'd say Humboldt Brews delivered a delicious and fun experience.
5 stars. Love the food, love love love the beers. and Robin and the two Stephs that work there are awesome, too. Go for a great beer, stay for some good food, leave when they close. Tell them Jerime sent ya. Also makes great take out to a crabs game. Wish I lived in Humboldt to be able to go there more often.
Review Source:John the wino reviewing a beer!
"Say it ain't so - Say it ain't so"
I have no idea if this place brews the Hemp Ale or not. Bottling and Internet information show this beer being brewed in Paso Robles. I know that Humboldt Brews was the original Brewery of this product!
Either way! Â The Hemp Ale Beer should have maybe put a little of the other byproduct from that leaf in it because it just wasn't a very tasty ale.
For Marketing purposes, it is done right. Put a hemp leaf on the bottles label and every nut bag in Northern Cali will drink it up. I guess my preference is for a more well rounded structured ale.
Great for a laugh! But I will stick to the stoners at Lagunitas for my beer!
Cheers!
Ambiance - 4/5 Stars
I love it here. It's fun, it's lively. It's not where I would go to have a deep heart to heart conversation, but that's not what breweries are for. If I'm somewhere with live music, I WANT to have to shout across the table. There's also a bar a pool table for those who actually want to DO something.
Food - 5 Stars
Everything I've had here is great. Frankly the best burger in town, and one of the best burgers I've ever had anywhere. The BBQ sauce is great and should be bottled for resale. Too bad they charge $1 for a side of it!
Price - 3 Stars
It's not terrible considering the quality of food, it's what you would expect to pay at a brewery. Its reasonable but they should really consider a lunch menu and a happy hour. Still, the food is worth the price
Service - 1/2 Stars
There's one nice waitress, and the rest are seemingly just out to get ya, For a place that charges sit-down restaurant prices, I expect more of their service. Think of the whole restaurant as an extended bar, you have someone to take your order, bring your food, and ring you up, but no servers
Had I written this review last year, I would have given it 4 or 5 stars. Â Humbrews used to be a lot cooler before they gave it a major facelift... the food is AWFUL (and I mean awful...they couldn't even get the fries right!) Â They got my order all wrong, as well as my friend's and didn't offer to re-do it or take it off the check when I told the waitress about it.
To their credit, they do have a great beer selection on tap. Â Just don't order food there...Six Rivers has much better food if brewery food is what you're looking for. Â All in all, Humbrews has good beer but bad food and bad service :(
I loved the location. I moved right when it was shutting it's doors. Soo sad. What a fun place to go play some pool and drink a pitch with your pals. It was perfect if you were an HSU student who lived near campus. They played lots of live music. Great beer.. Red Nectar is on my top beer lists. Â I'm a brewery fan and I loved this place. I have many fond memories of this fine establishment.
Review Source:More frat bar than brewery the restaurant was a great disappointment. Â Dissapointment #1 they had bud and bud light on special. Â When you make a far superior beer you are doing a great disservice to mankind by peddling cheap swill.
Dissapointment #2 Â The chicken wings were dried, chewy, and if that wasn't bad enough, tasted like pure vinegar.
Dissapointment #3 Â A bunch of college age males were in the back singing the national anthem on a non-sports day. Â In arcata I want my anti-war songs, not a bunch of frat boys singing songs before they drop out of school and enlist up. Â
IPA was very taste a bit on the sweet side and low on the hops.  Hemp ale actually tastes better in a bottle than on draft.  Which if you've tried it  is not a compliment.
When I first started asking around about this place, I heard a lot of people saying not-so-great things about it. I probably had a better experience than they did, I liked Humbrews a lot. The brewpub food is tasty, and not overpriced. Their beer selection is large and moderately priced as well. The in-house brews are pretty decent, I liked the IPA nectars, but the hemp ale was a bit bland.
Not a bad place to go and grab a burger and beers in on a Thursday night.
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