{"id":79072,"date":"2025-02-10T03:40:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T03:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/beer\/beer-and-whiskey-harmonize-at-webbs-grainworks-in-aliso-viejo-so-cal-craft-beer-blog\/"},"modified":"2025-02-10T03:40:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T03:40:18","slug":"beer-and-whiskey-harmonize-at-webbs-grainworks-in-aliso-viejo-so-cal-craft-beer-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=79072","title":{"rendered":"Beer and Whiskey Harmonize at Webb\u2019s Grainworks in Aliso Viejo \u2013 So Cal Craft Beer Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"


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by Stephanie Thara Metzinger<\/em><\/p>\n

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Hef beer, grain, butterball whiskey shot (photo by stephzinger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Though brewery-distillery hybrids are slowly on the rise, they are still few and far between. Webb\u2019s Grainworks in Aliso Viejo fills a void in Orange County \u2013 in spades. Webb\u2019s designates itself as a brewery, distillery and<\/em> restaurant, with a dedicated brewmaster and distiller under the same roof. In short, the beers are easy to drink, the whiskey packs a punch, the food is out of this world delicious and the architecture\/design is unique and awe-inspiring.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get into it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Grain\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The brewery-distillery focuses on the grain<\/em>, and that is echoed throughout its spirits, beer and food. All of its spirits and beer are made from grain, with the whiskey being comprised of 72% Corn, 18% Rye and 10% Malted Barley, with a focused effort on using the same grains in its beer production.<\/p>\n

When visiting Webb\u2019s recently, I had the chance to speak with Marc Levine, the CMO\/Managing Partner at Webb\u2019s, who shared:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe definitely wanted to spotlight the grain<\/em>. We make our breads fresh in house. Everything \u2014 from our bourbon to our beer to our breads \u2014 starts with grain. We carry that through with everything we do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And that they did.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Beer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Inside decor with Hef (photo by stephzinger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

They offer an ample beer selection<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 everything from a Hibiscus Ale to an Oatmeal Extra Stout. When I visited, there were 12 selections available on tap and had the option to get a taster, \u00bd pour or full pour. I ended up trying the: Super Crisp Lager, Hefeweizen, Webb\u2019s Coast IPA, Honest Brunette (a brown), and the Coconut Imperial Stout.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Each beer, no matter which one I tried, packed a punch of flavor at first sips and then mellowed out. The fellow brew influencer I journeyed to Webb\u2019s with had the perfect term for it: poolside beers<\/strong>. And he hit the nail on the head. Because of the \u201cmellow\u201d element, you can enjoy numerous beers in succession without getting burned out. Essentially, each and every one of Webb\u2019s beers is refreshing enough to be enjoyed throughout the day, while lounging in the pool.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Inside \u201cthe Caboose\u201d with IPA (photo by stephzinger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

For example, the Honest Brunette provides you at first with a mouth full of that toasty flavor Browns are known for; but then it goes light, crisp and acts as a palette cleanser to allow for the next type of beer to be enjoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you are looking for beers that can be enjoyed \u201cpoolside\u201d and drank steadily one after the other over a stretch of time, every beer on Webb\u2019s menu fits the bill. However, if you are looking for a Hefeweizen with that typical heavy and hearty banana clove flavor or an IPA that leaves you with a mouthful of hops from first drop to last, this<\/em><\/strong> is not that<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Spirits<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before I headed to Webb\u2019s, Chauncey B asked me to pay particular attention to whether the quality of beer is as high as its spirits. So on to whiskey tasting I went!\u00a0<\/p>\n

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I tried the Butterball \u2013 Brown Butter Whiskey, and it tasted exactly as described on the menu: flavored whiskey that contains hints of salty brown butter and the subtle sweetness of toasty caramel and brown sugar. Honestly, this was not my cup of tea<\/em>. But if you are looking for a unique selection of spirits, give Webb\u2019s a try. The distillery also makes its own Bourbon, Vodka, Gin and Awamori \u2013 all of which are used as the main ingredients of its extensive cocktail menu<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The owner, Jeremy Webb, is actually the in-house distiller. According to the website, Jeremy developed a passion for the Appalachian whiskey tradition and spent some time in Kentucky to study the craft of Bourbon production. Shorty after, he returned to California to build a state-of-the-art distillery and brewery steeped in that tradition.<\/p>\n

What I appreciate about having the dual spirit and beer offering is that I can come here with my \u201chard liquor only\u201d friends and still be able to enjoy a flight of craft beer for myself. Sometimes people have beer moments, while sometime people have cocktail moments \u2013 and Webb\u2019s harnesses all those moments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Like its drink menu, Webb\u2019s cookery menu offers something for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marc let me know that when they launched in September 2023, \u201cwe were just going to have a tasting room but decided that we would be doing our beer and spirit production an injustice without having food that we thought met the caliber of spirits and beer that we create.\u201d<\/p>\n

After trying the Smokey Corn Ribs and Smothered Latkis, I\u2019d argue that the food was actually better than the whiskey or beers. This also could be because many of the menu items have some alcohol touchpoint whether it be smothered in bourbon butter or dipped in beer cheese\u2026<\/p>\n

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Outside view of caboose (photo by stephzinger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The Vibe<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Walking toward the distillery-brewery, your eyes can\u2019t but help gravitate toward the train caboose protruding from the side of the building. The trio that launched Webb\u2019s \u2013 founder Jeremy Webb and managing partners Marc Levine and Ryan Hatch\u2014found a free caboose on Facebook and decided to cut a side of the building out and put the caboose on.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of history with transport spirits during prohibitions with trains, so it was fitting,\u201d Marc said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond the caboose, the lighting fixtures, sleek furniture and vibrant textures and colors all add the upscale vibe of the massive brewery-distillery. Webb\u2019s entire operation comes in at a whopping 21,000 square feet, with plans to further scale its distilling and brewing side.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Webb\u2019s Grainworks<\/strong><\/em><\/a> is located at 7 Journey, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Until next time, cheers!<\/p>\n

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\u2014 Stephanie
@stephzinger<\/a>
https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stephaniethara<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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