Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company & Union Ale - Santa Barbara

If you're going to take a spur-of-the-moment daytrip to Santa Barbara, you might as well start with a spur-of-the-moment sampling at the nearest brewery.

So there we were, pacing outside the Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company...15 minutes before it opened... At 11:45 AM. Yup, we were THOSE people. But it's always noon somewhere, right?

So we started the day with the power of flight and a bartender that hid his judgement well.

Unfortunately, that much beer didn't fly with an empty stomach so it was a good thing Union Ale was within stumbling distance.

I recommend biting into the thick, 4th-of-July-barbecue-style Classic Union Burger before you visit Figueroa. The thick, all-American patty with melty, all-American cheese is dripping with thousand island dressing. Eat with abandon, and abandon all hope of keeping your hands clean.

The jury will get back to you about the Baby Got Back Burger. I love Gorgonzola, but the combination of fried onions, steak sauce, and whatever part of the pig is called the "candy" is too much for someone who's swigged so much beer.

No matter what ails you, there's always room for ale, and there's no reason to settle for one when you can try them all. You might want to eat before you load up at Figueroa but if you're in the area I recommend both... In any order.