BarrelHouse rests in the heart of California wine country. A majestic oak tree stands at the entrance, where the road would have gone if not for the tree’s historical significance. On the tree, there is an equal-armed cross carved into its bark. Spanish Lt. Colonel Juan Batista de Anza carved the cross sometime during 1775 or 1776 while leading more than 240 people from the frontier of New Spain to settle in Alta, California. During that 1,200 mile journey, the “very thirsty” Colonel carved the cross to indicate a safe place to camp, and later BarrelHouse read it as an omen for the perfect place to open a brewery. The brewery’s taproom favorites are Mango IPA, which BarrelHouse calls “the most crushable beer [they’ve] ever made.” And Big Sur Double IPA that they playfully refer to as “one of the world’s most unforgettable IPAs” for the way the bold hop character hides its 9.3% ABV. Barrel Aged Sour Ales are also a big part of who BarrelHouse is; a prime example is their WILD DAPPLE FIRE Sour Ale, with a delightful balance of ripe stone fruit and woody funk. Hype: Draft Magazine says, “BarrelHouse Stout is a “gorgeous beer [that] moves across the tongue like silk.”