Hello my fellow Yelp Elites. I ventured into the Funk Zone. After a visited the Fess Parker wine tasting room. I had Validation Ale SmashBurger Tacos on my mind. As I posted up at the bar I spotted Nico sitting and enjoying his meal break. We chatted about my options for food and drinks. Eliana arrived and took my order. I ordered the SmashBurger Tacos and a Spritzer. About that time Sam checked on me to make sure I was being taken care of. About that time Nico resumed his position behind the Bar. I've visited Validation Ale several times and the Customer service has always been excellent. Today was a step ahead in Service. These three ambassadors took such Great care of me and everyone else on a busy Saturday afternoon. Thanks Eliana, Nico and Sam for a great experience. Thanks Validation Ale for everything you do for our Community. I appreciate you I will return. Ronnie S read more

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This is my personal opinion because we went there to eat lunch and didn't have any drinks including beer. If you are looking for a dog friendly place to get some drinks or beer, that looks nice and open, then this place could deliver. The brioche buns in the sandwiches were just sad. The fried chicken sandwich came, and the breaded chicken had been cremated. My wife asked for it to be redone and it came slightly less cremated but you can tell that the chicken in both spicy chicken sandwich and the fried chicken sandwich were store bought and average in quality. read more

Lots of interesting beers to choose from. There were also a few cocktails. I had a Pineapple Mai Tai that was really refreshing. My husband had the Hibiscus Margarita. We also ordered some truffle fries which were decent. There's a lot of seating here and also corn hole outside. Kid-friendly. read more

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If zero stars were an option, that would accurately reflect our experience. A group of friends and I cycled to Santa Barbara and chose Validation Ale for brunch and a beer. This was our second visit -- and it will absolutely be our last. During our first visit, the staff were so preoccupied setting up an outdoor television that they couldn't be bothered to acknowledge us. Not even a simple "We'll be right with you." In hindsight, that should have been our signal not to return. Today's visit was worse. Shortly after we were seated, the owner arrived. Rather than greeting customers or ensuring the experience was positive, he took issue with where our bicycles were placed outside. Instead of approaching us directly, he sent a very polite employee to relay his demand that we move our bikes from the outdoor standing area to the sidewalk -- completely out of view from our table and vulnerable to theft. Anyone with even a basic understanding of cycling culture knows that bicycles are significant investments. Many cost thousands of dollars and represent both financial and personal commitment. Expecting customers to move them out of sight -- particularly when the outdoor bar area was entirely empty at that early hour -- demonstrates a complete lack of awareness and consideration. Had the owner approached us respectfully and asked us to consolidate the bikes neatly in one area, we would have gladly complied. It wasn't the request itself; it was the arrogance, the absence of courtesy, and the unwillingness to engage with customers directly. Leadership requires accountability. Sending an employee to handle an avoidable confrontation reflects poorly on management and undermines the staff. Speaking of staff -- the employee who approached us was gracious and professional. She deserves better representation from ownership. If the owner treats his employees with the same dismissiveness he shows customers, turnover would not be surprising. Six returning customers will not be back -- and we will certainly share this experience with fellow cyclists. Customer service is not complicated: communicate directly, show respect, and treat patrons like valued guests rather than inconveniences. And while you're reassessing your approach to hospitality, you may also want to fix the wobbly table. read more

Validation Ale - EMPTY outdoor bar. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Sweetest service and staff ever! My husband loved the German Amber while I enjoyed the Rose. Great atmosphere. We didn't eat but the menu looked awesome read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We went to the new Validation Ale at The Spot on Milpas, open 4:00-10:00pm Fri, Sat and every SB Bowl show night and had the best Philly cheese steak we've had since we were in Philly. It comes with a side of homemade potato chips and we can't wait to go back! read more

I love coming here whenever I'm in the area. This place is full of energy and always a good time! Whether you're coming here solo or with a group, it's a place that's always poppin. They have a great outdoor area with cornhole to keep you or the kids entertained. They also have live bands Tuesday & Thursday, as well as bingo night, trivia and pop-up markets. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but the ones I've had here are always good. You can ask for a sample too, which is great when you're not familiar with beer types. They also offer gluten-free beer, local wine, seltzer, ciders, kombucha and now cocktails! I tried the Passion Fruit Spritz, made with vodka, Lillet Rosè, and PF. It was very refreshing and enjoyable. Premium spirits are also available. The food here is always delicious! I've had the burger, totchos (tater tot nachos), truffalo cauliflower, fries, and recently the Gochujang fried chicken sandwich. I don't have a big appetite, but I could have easily eaten two of the chicken sandwiches! I hope they keep this one on the menu. read more

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Shoutout to Angela R. and Jara S. For turning me on to this spot. I've watched these friends post about this spot and share how great they are, so I was eager to try them out. Validation ale is the cool place to be. It was definitely one of the busiest spots we stopped in at the funk zone. Indoor and outdoor seating, this spot is impressively massive. I love how on the outdoor space they have games and make it a very social setting. We opted for inside but near their patio chairs for some people watching and hangs. As busy as it was, I appreciated that they had both registers open and we didn't wait at all. They were on top of service here and it was great how quickly the drinks and food were done. Staff here are friendly and on top of it. While they are known for their ale, I appreciated that they had a cool cocktail menu for an ale house. Extra kudos points to them. For my cocktail I went with the blueberry bramble. I'd say it was a 4 out of 5. I appreciated the presentation, color, and taste. Again, just happy for those who are bar hoping I could keep up with my cocktails here opposed to having to go with a beer. The real stunner was the chicken karaage appetizer my friend and I spilt. Honestly, a really nice surprise! I didn't expect their chicken to rival other more authentic Asian restaurants. Dark meat chicken it was juicy and the batter was light and flavorful. Served with ranch which I wasn't expecting but they have good ranch so it was a win. Really a solid appetizer and I would highly recommend splitting this with your table mates. 5/5 for an app. Validation ale was a good time and there is so much more for me to try here that I'll definitely be back soon. read more

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Stopped in with my amiga and I were visiting from Ventura County. Located at the Funk Zone and busy busy when we got there. Great vibes! Staff was super nice and gave of tastes of different drinks until we decide what we wanted. I got the hibiscus kombucha, it was good! My friend had a marg and it was strong. She is not much of a drinker , so for her , it was too strong. We didn't taste any of their food but it looked good. read more

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The food was ok, but the restaurant tables and chairs are needing repair. The owner was not accommodating and rude. Over the surveillance cameras, he noticed that he did not like where we parked our bicycles. He came over to the restaurant (parking halfway into the driveway, blocking the sidewalk) just to tell a waitress to relay a message to move our bikes away from the empty outdoor standing "bar." The bar has no barstools and the top is weathered wood that will most likely give you splinters. No thanks. Please change the restaurant features to "Cyclist Unfriendly." read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Our visit: Disorganized when it came to bringing our food out. Server took our order number before our full order came out. I had to go talk to the cashier to explain that we were still waiting on another order. The beer was alright, it tasted watered down. I'll definitely come back for the food. (3 stars for food) read more

Validation Ale - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The beer selection here is great, the thing they do with the validated versus the vying beer is super cool. The best part about this place, which I didn't discover until after I had already had a beer, is that they have a chilled Sangiovese on top right now, they might be the only place within 100 miles of here to have a Sangiovese on tap. Staff is friendly, service is good, at least once a month there's typically a single night here on Tuesdays, that's the company called June Dating, if that's something you're interested in check them out. It does feel very "Corporate Mixer" though. haven't tried the food here, but I have tried the food at their annex location on de la vina, and it did not disappoint, I'm sure quality is similar here. read more

Validation Ale - MexiLager - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

It was great stuff! Loved the smash burger and karaage nuggies the best. Drinks weren't too sweet (maybe a little strong at times but hey who's complaining) I also had the honey brew which I thought was unique and delicious. read more

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Today I enjoyed a very good dining experience at Validation ale. The salmon salad was excellent. Salmon well prepared and tasty . I also experienced one of their craft beers. The staff was attentive and very friendly. Taking time to describe what was happening. They also serve brunch on the weekends. The "funk zone" revels "State Street for its atmosphere . Nice ...... read more

Incredible spot in the funk zone. Maybe it was the magic of being home for the holidays but I really enjoyed this spot. The open patio concept allows for a child-friendly yet adult-fun experience. Mobile ordering is a plus, although it was down when I went. I suspect it was due to the approaching NYE reservation. Regardless of the hiccup there I was able to order quickly at the bar and everything came out piping hot within minutes. Sandwich was excellent, the locality of tri-tip but the invention of making it Philly style. Chips on the side were nice. read more

Validation Ale - Tri tip sandwich, Philly style - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Open air outside area to play games very busy great drinks great easy food love the atmosphere. You order at the counter and find a table or open space great place to hang out with friends and have conversation. It's right in the middle of the funk zone. read more

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We stopped in for sandwich week and got the gochugang Korean chicken sandwich. Loved then pickle on top! I think everyone's fav were the wings, tater tots, and smash burger. The setting is fun as there is an outside area to play games. An hour of jenga and our party was satisfied. Plus, staff were kind and helped with recommendations. read more

Validation Ale - Wings - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Validation Ale is my absolute favorite Funk Zone stop! The beer list is fresh and creative (you can ask for samples) and they have a selection of wine, seltzers and a couple of tasty cocktails for the non-beer takers. Food is always delicious. You can't go wrong with the totchos. Staff is friendly and happy to explain the system if it's your first time, and there's plenty of room to hang with friends inside or out on the patio - they have cornhole!! It's a must-stop whether you're a local or just exploring Santa Barbara for the day. read more

Validation Ale - Spritz - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We stopped at this location as the midpoint of a long cycling ride and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. After riding numerous miles, we chose this spot to grab food and placed our bikes neatly along the patio/exterior bar area, which was completely empty. In fact, the interior only had a handful of customers, so space was not an issue. Like most cyclists, we keep our bikes within sight -- these are expensive bikes. NO cyclist is riding with bike locks on them. After we received our food, an employee approached us and said "The Owner" had just arrived and was instructing us to move our bikes to the public bike rack on the sidewalk along the street. The bike racks were out of our view and not a secure option for high-value bikes. No cyclist is going to feel comfortable doing that. We ended up moving our bikes and stacking them along a wall outside the patio, but the situation completely changed the tone of our stop. I've been cycling for years and regularly stop at businesses all over -- never once have we been asked to move our bikes when they were out of the way and the space was empty. Cyclists plan routes around welcoming locations, and this was NOT one of them. Truly disappointing and unfortunately won't be returning. read more

Good beers. Good service. Good location. Keep it up and I'll be back many many times, and dragging any & all friends willing & able. read more

Validation Ale - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came here for the first time today on a lunch date. I ordered a Caesar salad and my date ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, which he had had before. The salad was a little heavy on the dressing, but still yummy. You can tell that they really take care of the place and checked on us as well (we sat at the bar). The establishment is clean, airy and welcoming. read more

Validation Ale - Spicy chicken sandwich - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Always a must when visiting the Funk Zone! A group of 8 of us stopped in on a Saturday afternoon. The place was packed, but we were able to find a table inside. The line to order wasn't too long, servers were incredibly friendly and helpful and stayed calm despite how busy it was. I loved that there are wine and cocktail options beyond beer - something for everyone! My husband had the Blueberry Bramble and I had the Hibiscus Margarita - both were delivered quickly and were solid drinks! The truffle fries are.a.must! For parking, we always just park at the train station and take the short walk over. read more

Validation Ale - Hibiscus Margarita - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I have been to Validation a few times. I enjoy the variety and selection of beers. I have tried the food at the Funk Zone location and Annex. The burgers are quite good and small bites are easy to share with a large group! I recommend either spot for a casual night out. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great atmosphere with lots of open air. Lobster roll with butter was great. Wife had Chopped salad but in a wrap. Both were great. Bartender from Wisconsin rocked. Will return read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Good selection of hazy beer. Hibiscus margarita was also well-made. Friendly workers and good atmosphere. read more

Validation Ale - Hibiscus margarita and session hazy beer - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Beer, wine, cider, delicious vittles, and even special Trivia Nights. Also a perfect spot for viewing sports events on the various big screens. Thanks Matt, Kaity, Brian, Ervin, and all the VA staff for taking such good care of all of us. Conveniently located in the heart of the Santa Barbara Funk Zone. read more

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We had gotten to Santa Barbara early and not many places were open yet at 11:30 am on a Monday morning. As we were wondering around this friendly gentleman asked if we needed help finding anything. We said someplace to grab a bite and maybe a beer.... He recommended Validation Ale up the street which was open and serving food. And wouldn't you know it.... Not only was he a client but he was also the owner. We decided to take his recommendation and give it try. Beautiful location which I bet on a warm evening is packed with people but more importantly packed with people having fun. There was only one other customer in there when we were there but this place had a great vibe and energy even empty. This is someplace I'd hang out with my friends. Had the flight of four with an additional taster. All very good drinkable and good beers. My favorite was the Cold IPA. Decided I'd best order something to eat and opted for the turkey sando. Huge sandwich with lots of smoked turkey, bacon and tomatoes. Very good. My only disappointment is that they don't distribute outside of Santa Barbara. I guess I'll have to come back here again to enjoy the friendly staff, their good munchies and their amazing beer. Thanks Brian for stopping to help us out and directing us to your place. We appreciate the hospitality.... and of course the beer. read more

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What a great spot to watch Sunday football. It is pretty spacious with indoor and outdoor seating. I really like that they put what teams are playing on which TV. They have food, beer and ciders. This place is dog friendly. read more

Validation Ale - Truffle fries. $9 - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Love this spot! We try and come every time we visit SB. Great beer, the food looks great and we can't wait to try it next time. The space itself is gorgeous, and it has plenty of outside space for the kiddos to run around. Love people watching from the seats facing the street too. Gem of a spot! read more

Relaxing ambiance. Interesting concept of competition against beers on their menu board. They offer food and delicious drinks.

Fun, friendly atmosphere with yummy food. They are setting inside and out with corn hole to play with friends. read more

Validation Ale - Smash burger, chips, and tots. Very good, would return - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

(Drank/Dined 12/07/23 TH @ 2:00pm): This was certainly a valid ale house along with a kitchen! Validation Ale was how I ended a busy day with a local realtor as we looked at and toured potential investment multifamily rental properties across Santa Barbara. I always searched my locale for any local breweries to give them a try. In this particular case, I found myself in Santa Barbara's "Funk Zone", and by default they were the only opened brewery. Would their ale prove to be validation of worthy brews and a wonderful day spent in Santa Barbara!? PURCHASE Mo Frosty Cold IPA Beer 6.8% ABV 5floz Taster ($2.50): Golden amber color, floral hoppy aroma, low body, slight hoppy flavor, crisp finish, and slight bitter hoppy aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=aTum2mcky6vcN0GcYHQARQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Citra Butt Down Hazy NEIPA Beer 6.8% ABV 5floz Taster ($2.50): Hazy amber color, citrusy hoppy aroma, low body, slight citrus hoppy flavor, mouthfeel finish, and slight citrusy hoppy aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=WtR_6uRPOjur5jztu6Py1Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Italian Pilsner Beer 4.8% 5floz Taster ($2.50): Golden amber color, earthy malty aroma, low body, malty sweet flavor, crisp finish, and slight malt sweet aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=lQwP9QJpwaq1FLRwS1MPDg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Twist N' Stout American Stout Beer 4.7% ABV 5floz Taster ($2.50): Dark chocolate color, bourbon coffee roasty aroma, medium body, chocolate roasty flavor, creamy mouthcoating finish, and bitter chocolate roasty aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=IbsO5DfjI3FnuCeogN-dUQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Lemonade Stand Fruited Sour Beer 4.8% ABV 13floz Draft ($13.00): Hazy mango orange color, lemonade tropical aroma, low body, lemonade tart flavor, crisp finish, and lemonade tart aftertaste. This was my favorite! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=nmhKAh03REvb8GVijcSknQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Totchos ($12.00): A bowl of golden crispy shredded spuds covered in beer queso, bacon crumbles, and diced jalapeño, tomato, red onion, and green onion, this was a lovely combination of tater tots and nachos that paired well with the beer. I only wished there was more beer queso coverage. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=N9yVp1v7cy545kg13ct4Aw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Goose Parti Gyle English Brown Ale Beer 6.0% ABV 16floz Can Multi-4pk ($20.00): Brown red color, brown sugar malty metallic aroma, low body, bready malty flavor, easy finish, and slight bready malty aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0QzlKXL_kXIWd3tsbxqlzw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Maverick Parti Gyle Belgian Quad Ale Beer 11.5% ABV 16floz Can Multi-4pk ($20.00): Caramel red color, strong barrel bready malty aroma, medium body, bready malty flavor, mouthfeel finish, and long bready malty aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xlsNeKYXm_gx4SZcIfB7qg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Sticker (COMP): I loved stickers and enjoyed placing them at other breweries to spread the love! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=BzhEJ7KP9Rv2iKmPZY8Ifg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw SERVICE A physically attractive young woman warmly greeted me from behind the bar. She was attentive, charming, provided good chatter, and all of my orders arrived quickly. Damn... what more could you ask for!? It Was a fabulous time! PARKING (Varied; $3.00 this instance) No private lot, I parked at the nearby Hotel Californian Towne Park public parking structure and paid the rate (1st 60 minutes FREEf, then $3.00/hour). Otherwise, there was very limited street parking along the main drag of Yanonali St. and other surrounding roads. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE An open spacious layout with an onsite brewing facility, a ton of places to sit, charging stations, a long bar with barstools, and minimal decorations except for Christmas stuff. Plenty of natural lighting came in through the large openings, while various electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were many flat screen TVs throughout while Indie Rock music (e.g. Cage The Elephant, The Kooks, Blur) played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=6xoaEhvTLY_S2CjLfIaSBA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I had a blast at Validation Ale and would definitely return to try their other beers (14 on tap as of this date). Their food was lovely and appreciated, it was a relaxing place, the service was killer, and the beer prices were comparable (beer flights also available). The food menu varied enough and not just bar snacks. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $58.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS read more

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I was seriously craving a cheesesteak sandwich and stumbled upon Validation Ale--not expecting much, but wow was I wrong. Their Trip Sandwich, done Philly-style, totally blew me away! Perfectly seasoned meat, melty cheese, soft bread--it was everything I wanted and more. Honestly, one of the best cheesesteaks I've ever had. Great food, great vibes--I'll definitely be back! read more

Validation Ale - Tri-tip Sando - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Service was 10/10! Made us feel very welcomed and helped us with the menu as it was our first time, will come back again. Mexican lager was delicious, had to take some home. Me and my husband also got the chicken-sando sandwhich that was so good. Pepperoni pizza was also good, gonna have to go back and try the others. Laid back and comfortable ambiance, on a nice day off! read more

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If I could give a negative -5 I would. This is the second time riding (cycling) to this brewery from Ventura. Let's talk about the first time. We ended up here by default, as soon as we arrived the three employees ignored us for over 20 minutes as they struggled to pit up a TV in the grass area. No acknowledgment. No "We'll be with you in a minute." NADA!!! When I finally got one of the employees attention he said he'd help us in 20 minutes...yup UNSAT. We should have left but we needed fuel and had already taken off our gear. The food was tasty, beer was cold, service after that point was okay. Today 3/01 we had a larger group of six. We arrived and there were a few people (like 6) in the whole place. We placed our bikes leaned up against the outdoor high bar tables, under the tables so that we could visually see them in case someone tried to steal our bikes. Service at this point was solid....quick friendly service...until the owner (whatever his name is) showed up and told his employee to tell us to move our bikes. Again...ABSOLUTELY NO ONE WAS OUTSIDE OR ATTEMPTED TO GO OUTSIDE to eat or drink on these tables. We moved them, no issues. Then the owner had to come over to again tell us about where our bikes had been previously parked. He was condescending and rude to say the least. This place is NOT cyclist friendly by any means. I will NEVER return here and I will make sure to let all my fellow cyclists to NEVER come here. It's one thing to have your employee do your dirty work. Its another to be a douche bag and come over again to repeat it after we obliged with the request. Cyclists spend a good amount of money on their bikes, and spend a good amount of money at places we visit along our routes. This establishment does not like cyclists, does not accommodate cyclists, and does not know how to properly treat their customers. The young lady that helped us today was kind and she was embarrassed to tell us the owner wanted us to move our bikes. That is the only positive about this establishment today. I will never return and I will make sure to spread the word that cyclists aren't welcomed at this establishment. Also, fix your tables and chairs. Your table was uneven and wobbled and ur chairs upholstery is peeling. read more

Emma is the best beer tender I've ever met! She made our experience unforgettable and added a few laughs along the way. Will definitely be returning! Thank you Emma! read more

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I visited Santa Barbara and I checked out 5 different breweries and pubs. This was hands down my favorite! The buffalo wings were to die for. The staff was very friendly and it was nice to see the owner was actually one of the bartenders. The ambiance was really nice and they had TVs to watch a game. I had their "pink lemonade" sour beer and it was really good. I came back the next day for another one. I'll definitely be back. read more

Validation Ale - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great vibes and solid drinks. I got the Blueberry Bramble, and my boyfriend grabbed a beer. They were both solid, high quality drinks. The ambiance in this place is great; there's plenty of open space as well as a huge window to "people watch" at the adjacent street. They were also playing some of my favorite 70s rock music on the stereo. Everyone was relaxed and happy; it's a chill place where you can really take your time. Highly recommend stopping by for a more leisurely drink and good conversation with friends! read more

Validation Ale - Beer and Blueberry Bramble - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Yes Emily and Keegan helped us and started with a smile! Thkey are very welcoming and starts the good experience with the brewery in which the beer was great especially the honey blonde! read more

I have been here a few times and I can say every time it's a vibe!! I highly recommend to anyone who has yet to visit and is looking for great food, beer, wine, cocktails and music! Also Spencer is awesome behind the bar and helped me navigate my order - being celiac it can be tough - but not here!! Will definitely be back. read more

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