(Drank 01/20/22 TH @ 4:00pm): A hidden brewery in Sierra Madre... roger that!
I came across RT Rogers Brewing Co. as I avoided freeway traffic on my way home. Always in search of a brewery new to me, this was a fortuitous occasion for a tasting. And, I unexpectedly stayed longer than expected and joined a team for their weekly trivia night. How was this serendipitous evening!?
PURCHASE
5oz Tasters ($3.00 x9): Let the tasting begin!
Big Belgian 8.5% ABV: Coffee malty aroma, slight bitter malty flavor, and slight bitter wheat aftertaste - wasn't big enough https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=UM2R9S4OfM7nZ3kee7VCOA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
Shoemaker's Red IPA 6.2% ABV: Coffee malty aroma, bitter barley flavor, and bitter barley aftertaste - more bitter than expected https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Z-XC5s_RPm4eVago5O5h7Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
Milk Maid's Milk Stout 5.6% ABV: Chocolate coffee aroma, chocolate coffee flavor, and minimal chocolate coffee aftertaste - chocolatey goodness https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=e7zIbfcQ9jqKWpMqfw9qMw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Gold Spinner's Hefeweizen 5.9% ABV: Honey barley aroma, slight honey flavor, and slight honey aftertaste - honey sweetness https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=lTZGZ-fNPQop6O6YqFlwWQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Wassergeist's Peach Berliner Weisse 4.2% ABV: Sour peach aroma, sour peach flavor, and sour peach aftertaste - pucker up https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=zPlT4l0MVFWKHaSYhU7MsQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Cowardly Dragon's Munich Helles 4.1% ABV: Light barley aroma, slight barley flavor, and slight barley aftertaste - eh https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=RBvFCiIOgC6F6OYHbyq65A&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
Sugarplum Phantasmagoria Imperial Stout 7.1% ABV: Light bourbon aroma, slight bourbon flavor, and slight bourbon aftertaste - boozy and lovely https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=N7MdBn_85RuuOt5L6HXBCQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Mystic Merrow's Irish Style Red 6.2% ABV: Light barley aroma, slight barley flavor, and slight barley aftertaste - easy-going https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=-UK07a6D5Gl7RsuBf6j3og&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
Wassergeist's Berliner Weisse 3.8% ABV: Sour aroma, sour tropical flavor, tart finish, and sour tropical aftertaste - pucker-light https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=hu-BOPh4bBzeRJH0r-R0Mw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Corn Nuts Original 1.7oz pack ($0.75): One of my favorite snacks https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xke9gLOurhcbSDmcQHQfbQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Madre Made Bake Co. Caramel Banana Walnut Muffin ($4.00): Cash or Venmo, this was a lovely fresh pastry that paired well with the stout beer I was drinking at the time https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=cryW_NMH2hxrPD38C0Z6CQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
SERVICE
Welcomed by a friendly informative young man behind the bar, he gave me the 411 about the brewery and all their beers, let me know about trivia night, and about their food situation. There was no table service, so you had to approach the bar whenever you wanted something. All was good in this foothill community 'hood!
PARKING (FREE)
Plenty of spaces available along the respective main drags of Montecito and Baldwin Aves. (unsure if they had private parking) - 'nuff said.
ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
A surprisingly large log cabin-esque space filled with plenty of wooden chairs/tables both inside https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ZpmiJqHLPKCLJIy-1uaEyQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw and a front beer garden patio https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0WhIWYv1jCkHHMKJFiFr1w&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. A whimsical visual beer menu hung on the wall behind the bar https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=jAA-UyDlDVi2rAnDletHyg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw, along with equally fun framed pictures. Minimal natural lighting came through the front doors while an assortment of warm recessed electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while Big Band and early 20th Century music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=zZ6wuQPexd5kNjiHaOhmDg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw
ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.
OVERALL
I loved RT Rogers Brewing Co. and returned the following week! The beers were generally tasty, a limited selection, comparable prices, and excellent service. A BYOF place with a weekend food truck schedule and a pop-up bakery, and weekly Thursday trivia nights. I found total value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $32.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS read more