Arrow Lodge Brewing Company Review

We recently spent a lovely day with my parents (and boys for a portion of the day).  It started with a delicious meal at the fantastic Clearman's North Woods Inn in Covina.  I could review it here, but this post isn't about them.  We also visited Alosta Brewing Company and Rev Winery, both of which I have reviewed previously. You can read about the many wineries and breweries we visit and have reviewed by clicking here. (NEW WINDOW)  Today, I want to tell you about a new place we visited in Covina...

Arrow Lodge Brewing Company

The place in Covina is called Arrow Lodge Brewing, formerly known as Barley Lodge Brewing.  It is claimed the name change was "due to confusion", but it has been assumed it is likely due to a similarity with Barley Forge Brewery in Costa Mesa.  I digress...

Arrow Lodge is in a prime, street front location on Arrow Hwy.  This may be the only craft brewery that has a sign on the building that you can read from a distance.

When you enter, the atmosphere is reminiscent of a cabin in the woods.  If it was MY cabin, I'd figure out how to have a fireplace in there and put up vinyl decals on the windows that offer lakeside views instead of Arrow Hwy.  As long as you don't look out the window, the illusion is maintained.

Based on a view of the poorly designed website before going, we were all excited to try their 12 beers on tap.  I had heard nothing but good things from friends and colleagues about the beer.  Imagine our disappointment when we found out they don't have that many taps.  In fact, they had 4 beers on tap.  Four!  It was explained that the website is a list of all the beers they HAVE made, not what they're currently kegging.  This is another prime example of a brewery not understanding how the internet works...

SIDE NOTE:  Attention all craft breweries:  HIRE AN INTERNET CONSULTANT TO DO YOUR SITE AND MANAGE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA!!!!!

Moving past the disappointment of false advertising, we split two flights of the 4 beers they had.  They included a Kolsch, an IPA, a Honey Lager, and a Saison.  The Kolsch and Saison were standard fare with nothing setting them apart from other beers in those categories.  They weren't bad, but they weren't something I'd go back for.  The IPA was less hoppy than I expected which made it a much more enjoyable beer for me.  The Honey Lager is the winner of the small bunch but that's not saying much.  It was definitely our favorite.  It was drinkable and left a good taste in our mouths and yes, I would order a pint of it, but I am curious if it was good only because the rest were mediocre.

All in all, the beertender seemed more like he was interested in chatting with his two friends sitting at the bar than serving us anything and the beer was nothing to write home about.  I would skip this place and drive a little farther into the same complex and spend your money and time at the always fantastic Alosta Brewing Company.