The onion rings at Woody's Brewing Company are doing real work. That thick, golden batter isn't camouflage — each ring inside is substantial enough to justify the whole operation: crisp shell, tender middle, no soggy patches. My wife and I have been back to 1257 Oregon Street more than once, and the kitchen is a primary reason. These are the kind of rings that make you annoyed at every other brewpub that's been phoning it in with the frozen bag.
The chicken fingers deserve the same respect, even if the name doesn't demand it. Every bar in Shasta County has a version — Woody's makes theirs with a crust that shatters and seasoning that reads as intentional, not accidental. The house-made sauces finish the plate: a creamy white and a reddish one with genuine heat, neither of them squeezed from a generic pump bottle. The coleslaw alongside is fresh and cool, which is exactly what you want between bites of fried food.
The room holds up its end. The bar runs long, wrapped in corrugated steel with a warm wood top, and the tap wall behind it covers serious ground — Hopzerker Double IPA, Shasta Haze IPA, Swheat Dreams Wheat Ale, Belgian-style ales, German Pilsners, rotating fruit-infused brews. Brewing tanks are visible in the mirror behind the bar. It's working-brewery energy, not a theme-park version of one.
Woody's has anchored downtown Redding since the mid-2010s, with brewing roots going back to 1984. Bart and Ami Hauptman took over ownership in November 2024 and have kept what works. Open Tuesday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday until 10 PM, Sunday until 8 PM, closed Mondays. Banquet room available for private events. Reach them at 530-768-1034.
The onion rings are where you start. Everything after that is a bonus.