I have sisters in Sandy Eggo and Temecula and have had some Stone beers in bottles. I thought they were fine, but not remarkable. We don't get them up here. I have no doubt that the draught versions are superior
I really enjoyed the times I've been to Karl Strauss operations - excellent, clean beers with character. Traditional German styles are much more difficult (and expensive) to produce than British ales. I also had a couple of transcendent experiences at the San Marcos brewery. Finally, I fondly recall a bottle of Cream Ale from a brewery in Riverside that was clean and luscious - a practically perfect beer (at least for that day!).
If you see any Deschutes beers in your local store and have not had a chance to try them, by all means do so - those guys in Bend can really nail a style, and the consistency of the bottled product (at least here) is spectacular.
