Not too far from my home is a small, local beer lover's watering hole in the city of Orange. It's about a 15-40 minute drive depending on the time of day, but Hollingshead is well worth a visit for a sandwich and beverage.
The beer selection is great. They've got all the major west coast offerings as well as some harder to find brews. The Belgian selection is nothing to sneeze at either, but the real find is in the German and Bavarian beers. Holy crap, I didn't even see that many wheats and dunkels when I toured through Bavaria myself. They've got it all. One thing to take note of, however is the two price tags marked on the bottles. The higher price is what you pay if you want to drink it on premise, and they'll let you take the brew home for the lower price.
So, order a sandwich or dog, shop around for some bottles and order a pint from the bar. There's about 8 or so beers on tap any given day, and they've usually got something special to offer. It's definitely not your standard sports bar selection. In the few visits I've made here I've sampled Pliney the Elder, Belhaven IPA on nitro (pictured in the mug below), Duchesse De Bourgogne and Oaked Arrogant Bastard on tap... just to name a few.
Until a few months ago, Hollingshead's was a prime destination for a Saturday afternoon quaff. Sadly the owner, Ken, had a nasty spill and fell from a ladder in the parking lot and so they've needed to close for the weekends. Recently, his wife has also taken a spill and ended up with a broken hip herself, so it doesn't look like they'll be open on Saturdays any time soon. But, don't let that stop you from paying a visit. This place is an OC treasure. It's got character, selection, good people and good food. You can't ask for much more than that. So, drink locally and support this little pub. Give a call before you go though, and check to see if they're open. Check out their website for contact info: www.hollingshead4beer.com
