Kern River Brewing Company — Restaurant in Porterville

Home of the Citra Double IPA. The Great American Beer Festival 2011 gold medal winner beating out the likes of previously more well known Double IPAs such as Pliny the Elder, Heady Topper, and Double Sunshine IPA.

Citra is brewed twice a year and to avoid having to turn folks away, they've switched to a lottery system using Brown Paper Tickets. Winning allows you to purchase six 22-ounce bombers at $7.58 a piece. You'll then pick it up at the brewery or they'll ship it anywhere in California. If you lose, you can always visit the brewery the first weekend you're allowed to pick up Citra and drink it on tap. I support their switch to a lottery system. There aren't lines wrapping around the block, there's room to breathe, and they don't have to tell people who've stood there all night that they've run out of bottles and tapped out.

There's a two-pint limit per customer. After which, you can try their other equally awesome beers such as Isabella Blonde, Just Outstanding IPA, Sequoia Red, or Class V oatmeal stout. If your luck is right, they might have Class X on tap, which is their Class V stout aged in bourbon barrels. Which imparts vanilla, caramel, and oak notes to the already epic stout.

I made the 220 mile journey here last Friday from Orange County to pick up my Citra allotment. Having never been here prior to that, I was astounded to learn how small their establishment is. It's located near an equally small grocery store, food and liquor, and some homes. We were fortunate to snag some seating right at the bar. Down a few steps is where the wizardry happens, a humble 7-barrel brewing system that is responsible for the entirety of their production.

I wasted no time ordering my first pint of Citra and split a large order of their waffle fries (definitely add the cheese and garlic) with my friend. The waffle fries were delivered quickly and with copious amounts of garlic, just the way I like it. The cheesy garlicky-ness of the waffle fries went perfect with the huge hoppy, mango, and pineapple flavors of the Citra. Three pints of Citra, various sips of other brews, and a basket of waffle fries later, I set a course for home stinking drunk and happy with bottles of Citra Double IPA and a t-shirt to commemorate the pilgrimage.

If the opportunity arises, you should absolutely patronize Kern River Brewing Company. The beer and food are delicious, the denizens of Kern County are friendly, and the people working here are hospitable. I will be back for another pint and that Ortega...

The Backyard ….

Kern River Brewing Company – Kernville

Kern River Brewing, located near the scenic river in Kernville, is a spot I’ve frequented for its inviting atmosphere, quality craft beer, and appealing location. While the beer selection remains consistently excellent, my experience with their barbecue chicken sandwich has been notably inconsistent.

Each visit feels like a gamble with this particular dish. Sometimes the chicken resembles salad toppings, other times it’s cut into uneven chunks, and on rare occasions, it’s a properly sized, well-prepared piece that fits the bun perfectly. Unfortunately, on my most recent visits, the sandwich fell far short of expectations, leaving me disappointed.

While I deeply enjoy the pub’s ambiance and craft brews, the inconsistency in food quality, especially for a staple menu item, is hard to overlook. I plan to give it one more chance to redeem itself, but if the quality doesn’t improve, I may need to rethink returning for meals—though the beer will undoubtedly remain a highlight.

For those primarily seeking great beer in a laid-back environment, Kern River Brewing is worth visiting. However, food consistency is an area where...

I’ve been here a number of times, and each time the person who served me was impatient. It was awkward to tell them to wait. Asking them for condiments like ranch or any other sides like jalapeños was like asking them to give a pint of blood too. Friends and I were discussing how to split the bill, it took us like three seconds to decide, and the blonde cashier girl asked us, “what are we doing here?” with a sharp tone. As if she was frustrated, she had to wait. “Anything else?” “What else do you need” with pursed lips and a hurried attitude. She was the same girl who served us when we asked for ranch and jalapeños. She also had an older man bring the whole table ranch and jalapeños when only two of the four of us asked for it. Just seemed a little passive aggressive.

I’ve had the big daddy burger every time, expect for this last time. The pulled pork sandwich was dry and had little to no flavor. It was dry too, no bbq sauce. The fries are great though! The atmosphere is always a great experience.

It’s just been an overall collection of poor service experiences. I’ll stick with the big daddy...