If you’ve attended the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony as many times as I have, you have likely heard the names of some breweries mentioned more than others. Nationally known and widely distributed breweries often get the greatest number of awards because they brew so many different beers, but smaller, more local breweries have collected their fair share of awards too. One of the more decorated breweries at the Great American Beer Festival and elsewhere is Figueroa Mountain Brewing and on a recent west coast beercation, I took time to visit one of the award- winning Figueroa breweries- the one located in Buellton, California.
Mountain Brewed
Figueroa Mountain Brewing in Buellton is one of several locations for this California brewpub. I was swinging through the area on a California Central Coast beercation and knew this location was on my way, right off of Highway 101. Two quick turns off of 101 and you’re there, at 45 Industrial Way in Buellton, CA, ready to eat and drink.
Figueroa Mountain Brewing is popular for its beer, but it is also a fully functional restaurant serving burgers, tacos, appetizers, wings, etc. They serve salads and there is even a kids menu for the youngsters. The menu consists of pub food and isn’t very extensive, but it is more than sufficient for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack. The large parking lot can accommodate a good number of vehicles and they have seating on two levels inside. There is an outdoor patio as well, perfect when the weather is right and since it’s dog friendly, it can handle the entire family.
Now for the Beer
I only had a short time for my beercation visit to Figueroa Mountain Brewing so I immediately asked for a flight sampler of beer. Knowing about Figueroa Mountain Brewing and its large number of award winning beers, I made it a point to order some of the medal winners, plus a few others to round things out. Here is a summary of the beers I tried, in alphabetical order by name, followed by the style and my Untappd rating out of five possible stars:
- Davy Brown Ale, American Brown Ale, 3.75
- Hurricane Deck, Double IPA, 4
- I Dunkled in my Pants, Munich Dunkle, 4
- Saison, Farmhouse Ale, 3.5
Among the four beers I tried, two are Great American Beer Festival winners: Davy Brown Ale and I Dunkled in my Pants. I like the latter a little better than the former, at least among these two award winners. But I actually liked the Hurricane Deck Double IPA the best of all. Citrus, tropical fruits, pine, and a touch of grassy hops define this DIPA and at 8 percent alcohol by volume and 82 IBU of bitterness, it’s just about where I like it for this style.
Recognition and Acclaim
Figueroa Mountain Brewing can lay claim to multiple awards. I haven’t looked up the total medal count, but I do know that this location in Buellton won two Great American Beer Festival medals in 2016; one in 2014; two in 2013; three in 2012; and one in 2011. The other Figueroa Mountain Brewing locations have also received awards and when summed together, Figueroa Mountain is easily one of the most award- winning breweries in the nation.
As any craft beer lover knows, California has a large number of craft breweries and it is no accident that, of all the breweries I could visit along the way to my final beercation destination in San Luis Obispo, I selected Figueroa Mountain in Buellton. The reason, of course, is the brewery’s many awards. I can remember when I was at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony in Denver, listening to the medal winners and hearing Figueroa Mountain’s name come up multiple times. It stuck out in my memory as a place I needed to visit and when I learned about a beercation opportunity to the California Central Coast, I was quick to seize the opportunity for a quick side visit to this Buellton operation.
Entering Figueroa Mountain Brewing in Buellton for the first time, I was greeted and seated quickly. I took a walk upstairs and outdoors to the patio but soon settled back into my chair on the main level inside, close to the open view of the brewing equipment. The walls throughout the inside of this brewery are overloaded with beer mugs, banners, and pictures and there aren’t many seats. I visited during the slower time of the day so I had no trouble finding a seat, but this could be an issue at other times. This is why I recommend heading outdoors, if weather permits. Picnic tables align the patio and they have games of corn hole for entertainment. If the temperatures are a little on the chilly side, don’t worry- just ask one of the personnel to light one of the fire pits for you. They will gladly oblige and you can stay nice and warm while you eat and drink.
One of the many things I like about Figueroa Mountain Brewing is the way they serve the beer flights. With each beer, they include a card. The cards inform the drinker of the beer’s vital stats (alcohol and IBU) and offer some fun information/trivia about the beer you’re about to try. This is a better approach than what I often encounter at other breweries, some of which do nothing to keep the beers straight. You constantly have to ask the server which is which and sometimes, even they cannot remember. The card system is superior and it is something I hope more breweries adopt.
Figueroa Mountain Brewing has six locations at the moment, all in California: Arroyo Grande, Buellton, Los Olivos, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Westlake Village. All of the locations serve food and are family- friendly. I liked my time here and wish I could have stayed longer, but alas, my day was only getting started and I had only a short time to make my way to my next beercation stop.
Winning awards is the ultimate goal of most breweries and Great American Beer Festival recognition is often considered the pinnacle of brewing achievement. Figueroa Mountain Brewing in Buellton has several GABF awards and other recognition for its efforts and it is certainly a brewery whose beers are worth seeking out. The fact that I selected this brewery as a place to visit proves what most everyone already knows: Awards help with marketing, and help to drive recognition and sales. This is certainly the case at Figueroa Mountain Brewing in Buellton so be sure to pay a visit the next time you find yourself on Highway 101 on the California Central Coast. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
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