“Every day when I get home from work
I feel so frustrated
The boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on that drum like it was the boss’s head
Because…I don’t want to work…I want to bang on the drum all day!”
I’m sure you’ve heard this tune. It was written and recorded by Todd Rundgren in the early 1980’s and has served as the working person’s ode to play and freedom for more than three decades. Wouldn’t you rather bang the drum than work? Well, I would certainly like to, especially if it includes hand crafted beer like that served at Bang the Drum Brewery, located at 950 Orcutt Rd. in San Luis Obispo, California.
Bang Those Drums
San Luis Obispo is home to multiple breweries and Bang the Drum Brewery is easily the smallest. I visited here one afternoon while touring the area in search of well- crafted suds and I spent some time sampling several of them while chatting with Bang the Drum president/founder Gary DuBois.
The inside of Bang the Drum Brewery is on the small side, but they made good use of the space. There is a covered section where the bar is located, plus an outdoor space where guests can gather, talk about their day, and listen to music. It is common to find live performers here, providing some entertainment to make the beer and overall experience that much better. Bang the Drum doesn’t serve its own food, but they frequently invite food trucks to park their vehicles here so drinkers won’t go hungry.
Bang the Drum Brewery brews its beers using a one- half barrel system. The small size means they are constantly working to brew new beer and the assortment they offer is better than one would expect for such a small operation. Oh, and they do encourage guests to ‘bang the drum’, as they have a few drums right there, in the tasting area, waiting for you to strike.
Drink That Beer
When I visited Bang the Drum, I managed to sample five different beers. Here is a listing of the beers I tried, in alphabetical order by name, followed the style and my Untappd rating out of a possible 5 stars:
- King Mate, India Pale Ale, 4
- Draca, Porter, 3.5
- Barleywine, English style barleywine, 4
- Choc-Oat-Stout, Stout, 3.75
- Smoked Porter, English porter, 4
I discovered some interesting beers at Bang the Drum, with King Mate IPA, Barleywine, and Smoked Porter all garnering 4 star ratings. The Barleywine is probably the most memorable of all, thanks in no small part to its strength (10.5 percent alcohol by volume) and its preparation which includes aging for six months in bourbon barrels.
Visit This Brewery
Bang the Drum Brewery is a nice, cozy place to kick back with some beer in the company of friends. This dog- friendly, Central California Coast brewing operation is the smallest in the area and the owners take pride in this fact as they strive to produce small batch after small batch of finely crafted suds.
Great Beer Now paid visit to Bang the Drum Brewery while on a brewery tour of the San Luis Obispo area and I already knew, before arrival, that this was easily the smallest of all of the breweries I would visit on this beercation adventure. The nano- brewing proportions, I admit, were part of the brewery’s appeal. I was anxious to check out the setup, meet the personnel, and of course, try some beer.
Walking into Bang the Drum, the first word that came to mind was “cute.” I know- some people do not like using that word because it makes them think of the cuteness of a puppy or something similar, and this often implies immaturity or something along those levels. But when I say “cute” in this context, I’m referring more to Bang the Drum’s cozy confines. The production of beer is low and the place offers limited square footage, but they do a good job with the space they have, decorating it with large plants, barrels, stringed lighting fixtures, pictures, and other items. It doesn’t hurt that the company’s founder, Gary DuBois, spent many years working as an architect before he got involved in brewing. You can see the difference that his knowledge has made, as Bang the Drum has interesting and eye- catching aesthetics than you might not expect.
Bang the Drum utilizes a one- half barrel system and they have crafted some good beer. As I said, the Barleywine was the standout for me. It’s a strong, English style barleywine and features a cornucopia of flavors such as caramel, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, and woody notes. I liked the other beers, too, but the barleywine left the most lasting impression.
Bang the Drum Brewery is dog- friendly and I’m told they even keep dog treats on hand to serve their four- legged guests. The place is very chill, like many craft breweries tend to be. But I think the laid back vibe is even stronger here than in other breweries and I’m convinced that the small, intimate space is a large part of the reason.
Most everyone has to work but play is equally important and Bang the Drum Brewery is a good place to kick back with a few cold ones after a long day at the office. I don’t know if the anti- work Todd Rundgren anthem inspired the naming of this San Luis Obispo brewery, but the establishment seems aptly titled. Pay a visit the next time you want to forget the workaday world for a while. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
Leave a Reply