Sunday 1st of April 2012 09:05:40 PM

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Hollister Brewing is in a suburban outdoor shopping mall, and some of that character continues into this establishment, which is mostly a restaurant. The front is a long curved row of solid glass, framed by the palm trees in the parking lot. A covered brick patio with black metal tables and chairs and outdoor heaters curves along the outside.

Inside, there are very high black ceilings with exposed ducting. Several short walls of architectural stone bricks divide up the space between the bar section and the restaurant section and partially hide the kitchen. Tables are polished particle board, chairs are dark wood, and the floors are concrete. TVs (sound off) abound - all showing sports.

The brewery is visible behind glass walls at the back.

The beer list is impressive for a brewpub - fourteen beers were available on our visit and covered a large range of styles: a Pale, 2 IPAs, an imperial IPA, a red, a brown, a coffee porter, an imperial stout, a Kolsch, a hefe, a sour “Belgian” wheat, an orange blossom, a Belgian-style blonde, and a single hop beer.

The food is somewhat above traditional pub fare in scope and attributes (e.g., a range of specials, fish items, etc.), but you can still get burgers and fries. The sopes appetizer with fresh chiles we tried was quite good as was the pesto chicken sandwich, but the local rock cod sandwich didn’t really hang together.

Wednesday 24th of February 2010 05:44:26 PM

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The old white ford truck goes straight instead of turning left....."Let's go to Hollister Brewing instead of the gym...." Did he think that I would disagree?
We belly up to the California sophisticated/chic style bar. Brewery? The flight of tasters arrives...then sizzling mac n cheese...panchetta chunks on the bottom, gooey gruyere, hint of kirsh, a roof of scallions with lacy shreaded cheese scaffolding....I try 7 different beer "tastes" until I find "the one". Scotch ale, brown, smooth, sparkly and clean molasses, not clingy on the tongue...just the thing to wash down each indulgent mouthful of yummy cheesy baconny scallionny gooey yet crispy crusted goodness. "Could I try the Scotch ale again, please?"
Larry said, "I'll take the stout and the check." We had to walk off the buzz for a while before that old white truck got to point North on 101, moonlight shining on the ocean. No growler in hand...$20 is alot...and the ceilings were too high....I think that says it all.
"Too bad the brewery aspect was just a gimmick. So California, trying to be chic...definitely would fit in to the 'new' Aspen (which has become too California - implied)."
"Yah, good thing they found such a good brewer."

Tasting notes and comments:
Blonde ale: "Good fishing beer" SQ=9.5 (SQ= slamability quotient) Crisp, clear, pale yellow, PBRish AR=8 (AR= Amy's rating outta 10)

German Alt: A copper colored ale distinguished by a subdued malt profile, too long on the tongue for my liking, sorry, I just don't like slimy beer! AR=7

42 real ale: smooth, mellow AR=7.5

Just plain ale: "It's all about the taste, not the buzz. I could drink this all day." LM's #1 pick. AR=8

Pope IPA: Nice hop "bite". Full bodied yet dry IPA with flavors reminiscent of fresh fruit and pine forest. This and the blonde ale are their most popular according to our competent and friendly tap-puller Matt. AR=8.5

White Star IPA: Not my favorite, slow tongue and bitter in the hops department AR=6

Contract Killer IPA: Garlic nose, sweet pineapple, citrus taste with an unpleasant aftertaste. AR= 6

Little Scotty: Traditional scotch ale, pale brown, nice fizz, totally slammable, "Nice beer for a winter's day." AR=9 If I had gotten a $20 growler, this would have been the one.
Luckily we hit happy hour when pints are $2.25. My advice? Go early...happy hour ends at 6.

Saturday 19th of September 2009 08:23:24 PM

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I have been to this brewpub a number of times but never had any food other than appetizers before today. I can't recommend going there for food to anyone. I ordered a $9 salad for lunch expecting a pretty good sized salad, but got a basic dinner sald instead. My friend that ordered a $10 falafel with a side salad got a salad nearly as large as mine.
The beer is good/very good but somewhat overpriced. They do have some reasonable specials during the week - $10 brewer's choice pitcher, normally $16. A standard growler refill is $13 - more for their high-alcohol content beers ($18).