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| Barrel & Stave Pour House |
When I first heard about the plans Chris Gayer and Chris White had for a taphouse, I was not surprised. You may remember them from the BrewHaHa festivals as the guys in the cigar tent (Golden State Cigars), but they also gave us Wild Barrel in our southern neighboring county. I wonder how many out there were aware of that one. Coming off the success of them bringing us Wild Barrel with “Dr.” Bill Sysak, Chris² were confident in their ambition. A pour-yourself concept in Downtown Fullerton? Well, they did it and it’s awesome!
The pour house has 32 self-pour faucets powered by iPourIt. The system is well integrated and installed so long as you pull the handle and close it properly, the beers flow nicely. Along the wall of faucets, you’ll find a plethora of hard-to-find brews (IPA’s Hazy’s, etc…), particularly those from producers from Northern California. It seems that will be the norm for the foreseeable future. There are also a few wines for you to try on draught plus an impressive variety of to-go cans and bottles.
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| To-Go Cooler. Photo by Barrel and Stave, used with permission. |
From the moment you walk in, you know you’re not at a standard bar from Fullerton. A spacious and well-lit atmosphere sets up the mood for a beer-tasting experience. Plenty of glassware is available to accommodate your tasting needs. From taster glasses for multiple pours at once to a tall Pilsner glass for a full easy-drinking lager.
As of this post, the food you can order is from Garcia’s (located a short walking distance away) and is delivered upon ordering. Garcia’s set-up a taco-stand on Tuesday’s and they are wonderful. On Sunday’s, I am fond of their breakfast burrito that goes well with a fruited tart beer that should nearly always be on draught. The saltiness will tone down the acidity and bring out any sweetness left from the fruit while the flavors add a sauce-like complexity. The remaining acidity cuts the unctuousness and savory meat leaving your palate ready for the next bite.
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| Breakfast Burrito from Garia's. |
After the Sunday morning sports season is over, brunch will take its place with some special drinks and of course breakfast provided by Garcia’s. I’m looking forward to that!
Visit them in the SOCO District of Downtown Fullerton at Malden Station. Park at the Metrolink structure (FREE!) and walk over next door to 250 W Santa Fe Ave, Suite 20, and check out their Website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Cheers!
Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®