Anaheim, California:
J.T. Schmid's Restaurant & Brewery

Wednesday 23rd May 2012

Bob Thompson

J. T. Schmid's gives the impression that it is part of a large chain of brew-pubs but it isn't. There is just this branch and another in Tustin, also in Orange County. It does have a colourful entrance, see photographs. Inside it is huge with a central bar and the brewery is at one end. After sitting there for while I got the impression that this was more restaurant than pub.

It is on a main thoroughfare and there is an intersection with Orange Parkway almost alongside. This in turn has a junction with Interstate 5 (the main north–south route of the West Coast) just a couple of miles away.

There are no houses in the area and the pub relies entirely on trade of the highways. The fact that it is around two miles from Disneyland must also contribute to its clientele. Other local attractions are the Anaheim Stadium of the Los Angeles Angels Baseball team and the Anaheim Ducks Ice Hockey team who play at the Honda Center opposite.

They have a regular range of five beers with the occasional special. The are also around ten other beers from both domestic and international brewers.

I tried the five house beers and these are detailed below with my tasting notes. Anaheim Hefeweizen (5.2%) was all right, not being very bitter, as is correct. Basic Blonde (4.8%), I thought was a bland sweet lager. Emil's Amber Ale (5.2%) was fine with a good Red Ale taste, malty with a bit of bitterness. Extra Stout (6.7%) was a bit thin for its strength and was not very bitter. Saving the best till last; IPA was absolutely superb with a soft body yet with a very hoppy taste, a true classic!

So there you have it; worth a visit, if only for the IPA!

Important Information:

J.T. Schmid's Restaurant & Brewery, 2610 East Katella Avenue, Anaheim. 92806
Tel: (714) 634 9200

Open: Monday to Friday 11.00 to late; Saturday and Sunday 12.00 to late.
Please beware of pubs that say they close "late".
It is entirely possible that, if patronage is light, they will shut up shop early.
Happy Hour: Monday to Friday 15.00 to 18.00
Also there is a late happy hour after every Angels home game.

The pub is about twenty minutes walk from Anaheim Railroad station which is served by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink Orange County line trains. However it was not a particularly easy walk. I came out of the station on the side opposite to the Angel's stadium. After walking past some office buildings I found a path out on East Katella Avenue. I turned right but soon there was no sidewalk on the side of the road I was on. I had to negotiate a highway intersection but got there in the end. It might be better to go out on the stadium side and turn left. There appears to be a subway under the Orange Freeway into South Douglass Road. Continue along this to East Katella Avenue and turn right; you will then see the pub.