Union Ale

Nice place to grab a local craft beer

Visited September 22, 2013.

Who knew that Santa Barbara would be so crowded on a Sunday evening? Not me, that’s who. I ended up having to park at the train station where you can park for 75 minutes for free. From there it’s an easy walk over the bridge and down the ramp right the front door of Union Ale. Inside I was greeted by a bunch of fat Steelers fans. Terrible towels and beer guts everywhere. Walking past the first room I found the line to get food and apparently beer too. I figured this was cafeteria style unless you want to sit at the bar, which I did. I sat there for about 15 minutes looking at the tap list and trying to flag down a server before getting up and leaving. The tap list was fine but yeah, screw these guys. I spotted several beers with no brewery listed but among them was a Firestone 805 tap. That coupled with the fact that these mystery beers were hefe, pale, and IPA I can only assume that they’re rebranded Firestone beers. I wont be returning. Also, this is right around the corner (walking distance) from the new Figueroa Mountain tap room.

Beer selection is average at best and horribly overpriced. Most pints run from $7-$10. The food is pretty tasty, although I’ve only had appetizers here. The location is decent near the beach and also near the train station so if you’re taking the train and have some time to kill and money to burn drop in for a pint

They have mainly Firestone beers on tap. Using a lot of barrels as decoration which makes the pub looks quite nice. Very closely located to the beach and to the motel we normally stay in Santa Barbara, however I prefer the brewhouse, therefore we have not been here too often.

Restaurant near the seaside. Some "home" brews from the Firestone brewery. Decent food. Nothing special.

Some decent beers, probably as good of a selection as anywhere else downtown, but seriously overpriced. $10 for Double Bastard? $8 for a brown ale? Come on now. Service was slow, food was decent yet highly priced. Good place to watch a World Cup game though.

Okay - so this place is called Union Ale Brewing Co but they don’t actually brew their own beer - contracted out by Firestone Walker. The food was excellent, but they are certainly going through some growing pains with their wait staff - stuff was either incredibly slow, or obnoxiously over attended too - water was filled every 5 minutes.

Terrible experience, I am not sure where to begin. I will not go back to this place and going to make sure and tell people my experience. My Girlfriend and I ordered 1 beer and 1 glass of "house"wine. We then ordered food which was on the menu. Twenty minutes later, our waiter came over and said that one of the items is not available, it took twenty minutes for this to happen. I then told him we will just take the check, I am not going to eat by myself, my Girlfriend only wanted one thing to eat there. Our check came and it was $20.18 for 1 beer and a house wine. I asked the Waiter if this was correct and he said yes. I eat out 7 nights a week and know the prices and what places charge. He told me that the beer was $6.00 and the "house" wine was $14.00, Unreal, I myself am a business owner and the service was terrible. No way that a house wine should be $14.00, maybe when your in Vegas that price is ok but not at this joint. I will make sure and never go back to this place and let people I know as well. "