Sudwerk Brewing Company

Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

2001 Second Street
Davis, California, 95616
United States

(530) 756-2739 | map
sudwerkbrew.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.82
Beers:
71
Ratings:
1,106
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.89
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
35
pDev:
14.65%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by washburnkid:
Photo of washburnkid
Reviewed by washburnkid from New York

3.35/5  rDev -13.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I liked the garlic fries, and the maibock was delicious. But the environment is just awful. Maybe I went on the wrong night, but I couldn't even think above the sounds of the TV and the karaoke machine. I will definitely be giving it another shot on a quiet Sunday afternoon (which I decided is the only good time to go to a bar/pub in a college town).

One big bummer was that there are no growlers available, and the only bombers and 6ers they sell are ones that I can already get in my local stores. I looked forward to taking some of their seasonals home with me but wasn't able to do so.
Apr 11, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of john_science
Reviewed by john_science

4.93/5  rDev +26.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
It's kind of under a highway over pass. And there is barely anywhere to sit. But...

I just love sitting outside the brewery on a hot day in the shade. Super fun place, really good beers. Try some of their rotating-cast of experimental beers; we've found a ton of good ones that way!
Jul 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.86 by jraddude from California

Dec 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by CaliforniaJohnson from California

Aug 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.82 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by Straycorn from California

Jan 31, 2016
Photo of WillDavis707
Reviewed by WillDavis707 from California

4.04/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
Mostly lagers on tap here. Growlers are expensive for the style they serve. But will fill all growlers. I recommend going to the Doc Store on the days that its open, not the restaurant.
Oct 28, 2015
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Reviewed by Docrock from Illinois

2/5  rDev -48.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1 | selection: 2 | food: 3
Visited on a Friday night in between school terms. Sat in outside seating that was only about 20% full. After 15 minutes and nobody served us. We went back into bar. The Bartender was friendly and inside was maybe 30% full. Took 45 minutes for food and beer was average to fair at best. Only 6 beers available. Tried 4 of them and the citrus goes was the best and it was average. The food was decent but I wouldn't recommend going there for the beer.
Sep 06, 2015
Photo of Rubalaca
Reviewed by Rubalaca from California

3.16/5  rDev -18.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.75 | food: 3.25
They have a dock store on the side of restaurant that has different experimental beers that are not available in Sudwerk restaurant. Nice outside are!!
Feb 21, 2015
Photo of Beer_Guano
Reviewed by Beer_Guano from California

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.75
I will admit as far as the restaurant goes, the food was better a few years ago, and although not horrible now they have taken a few of the items off the menu I enjoyed (potato pancakes) to name one.

However the gem of this place is the Dock which although attached to the restaurant is a separate entity and serves more as a local brewery. Beers in the dock are different than beers in the restaurant. The dock is in the back of the building and is a rollup door entrance. When you visit here make sure you check the dock hours! It is worth it and taps are rotated with their in house brewed goodness!
Feb 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by SDRedDevil from California

Dec 24, 2014
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Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Visited this place multiple times. Great potato skins as an appetizer! Wonderful dopplebock, and some of the recent barrel-aged beers are great. The ambience is nice, and the staff is almost always nice and helpful. Quite a large inside area, and a good outdoor area for when the weather is nice.
Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BabaBeer from California

Nov 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Mike-Harms from California

Sep 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by atpca from California

Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by CMack71968 from California

Dec 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by gefinley from California

Dec 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by MISSALMA_XO from California

Oct 17, 2013
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Reviewed by Fatehunter from Oregon

3.89/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4
At the bar for a couple beers. The taster of five (you pick 'em) and a pint of the dry stout. The stout was good and 3/5 of the tasters were really enjoyable with the other two being average or so. The service was great. They had ten of their own on tap. The value was average. Worth a stop on I-80 to sample a few lagers that aren't done very often in the US.
Jul 23, 2013
Photo of dertyd
Reviewed by dertyd from California

2.5/5  rDev -35.7%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 1
A-small nice and cozy

Q-food was bad beer was good

S-not bad but not good

S-wish they had more of there beers on tap

F- they shouldn't serve food

The beer is great but the food was not good had a crab cake and I couldn't eat it wish they had more of there beer on tap
Jan 23, 2013
Photo of jeffjeff1
Reviewed by jeffjeff1 from California

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I went here a while back and it was awesome. It had a great atmosphere with the copper kettles and german tradition which makes it that much better.. Food was great. It was delicious and reasonably priced. Service was good too. The best part was the beer. I had a Marzen and it was great. I went with my ex girlfriend and her family on the way back from their yert. I had great comradery with her step dad there. We were both greatly enjoying our beers. If you are in Davis you should definitely go to Sudwerk. I would definitely go again.
Jun 08, 2009
Photo of Offa
Reviewed by Offa from California

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This was the first brewpub I ever went to and it's still a good place with nice German-style beer plus some ales and good food. I still occasionally stop here when in or going through Davis.

The atmosphere is pretty good, with a central bar around big copper kettles plus a nie outdoor eating area with different levels and a fair amount of shade - necessary in Davis which (being in the Central Valley) is very hot and sunny in the summer. However, it suffers a bit from the location. It's not in downtown or even near the UC but out on the old, semi-rural, semi-industrial part of 2nd street east of L St. This part of town has changed quite a bit since the 90s when I lived here, but it is still not exactly the most pleasant part of town. It's also right next o the freeway and in the shadow of the Pole Line Rd overpass. The only good things about this are that one can watch trains go past and, since the parking is under the overpass, it provides a lot of shade.

The beer quality and selection are good, with solid, characterful takes on German styles dominating, a refreshing change of pace in this region where most brewers focus on APAs, IPA, etc., with frequently sub-par lagers or none at all. It also produces a small range of special, rotating IPA/APA/porter-types on tap, but these aren't the focus and I haven't had any yet.
The Helles (now called "Lager" - it used to be primarily noted as "Helles") and the Maibock are particularly good and both are clearly better on tap here at the source than in the bottle.

Service is generally very good, prompt, friendly, etc.

Food is overall qwuite good, slightly on the better side of trad. brewpub fare.

Prices for food are pretty reasonable if slightly higher than other places.

Beer prices are fairly reasonable and about stanard for 12 oz and pints but once you get up to 1 liter, the price is excellent. Few places around this region offer the liter and in this volume, the beer is a lot less for the amount you get.
May 26, 2009
Photo of aforbes10
Reviewed by aforbes10 from Iowa

4/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
We recently moved to Davis and just visited Sudwerk ("Sood-werc") for what i assume will be the first of a number of visits during our tenure here. It was a weeknight, and early, so the place was fairly empty, but it seemed nice inside...clean, lots of glossy wood, some apparal and beer-to-go at the counter. We asked to sit outside for the benefit of our 6 month old who tends to get fussy when inside, and found that they had a nice big beer garden. Beer was all German-styles, save for a stout and an IPA. I went with the Pils and the MArzen and enjoyed both, and my wife had the hefe and loved it. Food was good, maybe a bit overpriced (though the portions are big, which doesn't impress me all that much). Waitstaff was friendly but didnt offer much in the way of information about the beers. We had a good time, and im sure ill revise this once i've had the opportunity to return a couple of times.
Oct 05, 2008
Photo of Fishdawg71
Reviewed by Fishdawg71 from Utah

4.3/5  rDev +10.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I stop by here everytime I am in Davis. A nice pub with good food. I like thier wings quite a bit. It has a nice atmosphere from college students to working people. The waitstaff and bartenders are always friendly and seem to know a bit about the beer they have on tap. Aside from from the exceptional Sudwerk Lagers, they usually have a nice selection of ales of all types. It is just a nice place to relax with a good pint or two of quality session beer. I would recommend this pub to anyone.
One cool feature for any other beer geeks out there is when the open fermentors behind the glass in the pub are in use. It is a pretty need to see the fermenting beer.
Prost to Sudwerk.

Fish
Jan 16, 2008
Photo of ghostfacekilla69
Reviewed by ghostfacekilla69 from Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
it is nice to see a german establishment with a full selection of lagers to choose from. i found the beers overall to be quite good with a nice selection of about 12 beers on tap brewed in house. the waitstaff are curteous and for a college town beer joint it is not too loud and crowded. the slight disappointment was the food which by greater bay area standards was relatively mediocre. they have a very nice outdoor patio which takes great advantage of the mild weather.

it is really a place worth visiting and has a cleaver name to boot.
Nov 09, 2007
Photo of mghotbi
Reviewed by mghotbi from California

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Sudwerk is located in the college town of Davis, California - a few miles from Sacramento. UC Davis is renowned for its programs in winemaking and brewing, graduating many top vintners and brewmasters.

The Restaurant and Brewery is a distinctly German-style joint not far from the heart of town. It serves German comfort food and American fare in a wood paneled main dining room, where the brewery is also located, and on an expansive outdoor patio and beer garden.

The food is not fancy, consisting mostly of meat and potatoes basics. The warm German potato salad, however, is exceptional. Everything is fresh and tasty and the service is quite attentive. Prices are reasonable for both the food and the beer.

The brewery specializes in German lagers, with the Pilsner, Helles and Marzen being the most popular offerings. All are delicious examples of their style. The Hefeweizen is quite tangy with prominent citrus tones and a bit of tannin - a fine example but not one of my favorite styles. A Maibock, which comes in around 7% ABV is offered year round and an 8% Doppelbock is available seasonally. Both are spectacular - the highlights of the samplers (which are huuuge).

My wife is of German descent and I have grown to love German food and beer. Sudwerk is a bit out of the way for us, but whenever we travel to Tahoe or thereabouts, we make a point of stopping at Sudwerk. While their beers are available bottled in the Bay Area, nothing beats the beer at the brewery itself. A top notch joint with exceptional German lagers - highly recommended.
Sep 20, 2006
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Reviewed by immunoboy from California

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Every time I swing through the Sacramento area, I always try to schedule a trip to my favorite place in Davis tucked away near an underpass. The decor of copper brewing kettles adds a lovely touch and reminds me of my Boston Beerworks (Fenway location), except the brewing kettles are right there. I'm not sure if they are merely decorative, but in the few times I have been at Sudwerk, I have never smelled mash.

The food is good. I would whole heartedly recommend the mixed sausage plate. I personally like the Helles here as I personally find it to be a tricky beer style to find done well. The dopplebock is also rather nice, and a glass of hefeweizen to wash down spicy sausage is always welcome.
Oct 12, 2005
Photo of marc77
Reviewed by marc77 from California

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Sudwerks is a place I frequent often. With inobtrusive wooden decor, a large patio and an ample bar surrounding copper brew kettles, Sudwerks is the ideal place to enjoy a couple beverages. The quality of the beer is second to none. Sudwerks brews all lagers (although they rotate a pale ale and Irish stout on occassion) and the brews are without flaw, although one could mention that they are not outstanding, either. Typically on tap they have a helles, pilsner, marzen, hefeweizen, and maibock and a doppelbock seasonal (that's always available in bottles.) The pilsner is the best example of style they brew. Dry, floral bitters and subtle bready notes make it both refreshing and relishable. The service is prompt considering how busy this place can get. For example, on Wed nights ($1.00 12 ounce pours) the restaurant gets packed. The waitstaff (bartenders excluded) has only a modicum of beer knowledge, but that's all they really seem to need. The beer is priced very reasonably. If I recall it's 5.00 for a liter, 3.75 for 1/2 liter, 2.75 for 1/3 liter. Yes, it is foolish not to go for the liter if you know what you like. The food is pricey, but well prepared and consists of European (specifically German) influenced dishes. I would recommend the sausage sampler myself. With a liter of doppelbock, you're good to go. My only qualm is that they don't brew a Baltic Porter. : )
Aug 25, 2005
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Reviewed by germaniac from California

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Who would have guessed that in tiny, unassuming Davis, CA there would be this wonderful bierhaus? Once we got into town, we were pretty disappointed in the lack of bars of any type. Hell, there was barely anybody out and about at three in the afternoon. But after scoping out Sudwerk, I knew we were in for a treat.

After driving thru nowheresville for what seemed like forever, finally came upon Sudwerk stashed in a industrial/office park- or what passes for one in Davis, anyway, tucked in the shadow of an overpass.

After drooling over the Millenium edition Doppelbock bottles on display in the waiting area, got a look at the huge copper tanks surrounded by the island style bar and serving area. The bar, tables and booths were all blonde wood, set off nicely by the dark walls and ceilings.

A couple of middle aged guys were watching a Giants game while drinking half liters, and a small group a college age folks were tucked away in a corner booth. Besides that, we had the place to ourselves.

Standard Sudwerk offerings were offset by an Irish Stout an an unfiltered pale, neither of which were sampled. Sausage sampler was great, just enough to split between two people, unless one of you is starving. 2.75 half liters were a great deal. The bartender was more than friendly, and he told us about two new offerings available on tap later this year- a rauchbier and dunkelweizen.The place sort of filled up later in the evening, mainly by familes having dinner. Great beer, good food, and an awesome outdoor dining area.
Jul 14, 2005
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Reviewed by Troyone from California

4/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Located right off Interstate 80 this establishment is easy to find. Lots of parking even in the shade. This Restaurant - Brewery is in a nice German style or type of building. Lots of different dining areas including a large patio outside that has nightly entertainment.

Brass tap housing with what appeared to be stainless steel removable nozzles. I asked the bartender if the nozzles were removables and he stated that the brewer staff took care of them and he wasn't sure. Did not see the kitchen and the restroom was clean. Wood bar, chairs, and tables appeared to be hardwood. Some boilers were in the center of the rectangle shaped bar and the fermenters were in a separate glassed off room.

Service was friendly and prompt.

Some of the beers tasted similar and seemed light, no cask, and no guest beers that I noticed. Possible notables were the Hefeweizen and the Marzen, and a definite notable was the Dopplebock. I think some of the taps were empty since some of their beers were poured out of bottles.

Did not eat here.

reasonable
Jun 20, 2005
Photo of mgdeth
Reviewed by mgdeth from Montana

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I think the atmosphere at Sudwerk is great - the restaurant is styled after a real German pub. The copper mash tun and boil kettle are the centerpience of the bar area. Whether the design is authentic, I have no idea. However, they have the flags of dozens of countries hung up in the restaurant, almost everything is made of wood, and it is afriendly and fun place to be. Davis is a college town, so the population of the restaurant tends to be run the gamut from college students to psuedo intellectuals to run of the mill suburbanites.

The food is pretty good, as is the service. Try the sausage sampler - I love it. They also have great salads and German-style fare.

The best reason to go to Sudwerk is for the beer. I love their hefeweizen, and their marzen is pretty good too. They don't have too many beers on tap at any one time, but this has never deterred me from putting away a liter or two. Oh yeah, they serve their beers in liters (and one-half and one-third liters), which is pretty unique for the area. The beer is brewed right there in the restaurant, so it is super fresh. I highly recommend Sudwerk.
Jan 27, 2005
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Reviewed by axisjones from California

4.65/5  rDev +19.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Because Sudwerk is in the college town of Davis, I went with my girlfriend expecting a more barlike-get trashed atmosphere, but i was pleasantly surprised to walk into a nice restaurant with huge kettles as the centerpiece and viewing windows of the open fermentation. The beer sampling was only 3.75 and included a nice amount of 5 different beers (i passed on the diet pilsner and got two doppelbocks instead). Sudwerk is proudly a german style lager house, and while i am an ale man, they do what they do very well. The beers were mostly dead on variations of their german counterparts. While it is rare to find good american renditions of german lagers, Sudwerk definitely holds their own, especially on the amazing doppelbock they serve. The food is a mixture of hardcore german cuisine and american classics. The steak i had was damn good and bloody as hell served with warm german potato salad. While the waitress didnt know that much about beer, she was fast efficient and more than willing to find the answers to any questions i had, which were quite a few. The big surprise came after the dinner however. My girlfriend, another beer enthusiast, ran into one of the brewers and he offered to give the two of us a personal tour of the brewery. He proceeded to show us the entire process and talked extensively about all aspects of working in a small brewery as well as answering any and all questions i had. He spent about an hour taking the two of us around. My single visit to Sudwerk has become one of my best beer experiences, I would recommend anyone in Northern California to visit and enjoy.
Oct 25, 2004
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Reviewed by misterscooter from California

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
This German beer hall exists in the college town of Davis, CA, thus, most of its crowds are made up of college students. However, except for one or two nights a week, it doesn't feel like a college bar. This a great place to relax at for a few hours with a liter, some beer battered onion rings, and friends. The beer selection is consistently German lagers with 4-5 regular choices and some seasonals thrown in. Don't come here looking for a wide variety of beers to choose from because their's are the only ones on tap. However, this is reason enough to stop in.

The service is usually really good, even if it is busy. And the food is a little different from your standard pub-grub with the sausage sampler (gotta stick with that German theme) and other choices. The old stand-bys are there, too, if that is what you have a hankerin' for with your beer. Live music inside and out on the patio are also regular happenings.

It is also a good place to pick up a case of beer for a great price, much cheaper than if you were to buy it in the store.
Jul 12, 2004
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Reviewed by PopeJonPaul from Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
When I used to live in Davis I used to spend every Wednesday night here for their $1 draft night (9-midnight.) Went back again on a recent trip.

The place has a cool German beer hall look with flags, dark wood and all that, copper tanks as the centerpiece of the bar are pretty cool. They also have a fantastic giant fenced-in patio, probably the largest patio of any brewery I've been to.

As cool as the place is they only ever have 4 beers on, (Helles, Hefe, Marzen and Maibock this time) and while they're all good, I'd like to see them branch out a bit. They are making a seasonal Doppelbock now which is a good sign, but I missed it.

The service is always good (not counting Wed nights, which is a free-for-all), I went there for lunch as well, which is generally nice and quiet. Menu is good heavy German fare, with a few other entrees thrown in. The garlic fries are an awesome appetizer, good sausage plate, even better schnitzel.

Great place to lounge on a Saturday afternoon, it's never too busy outside of Wednesdays, probably since Davis has no nightlife, despite being a college town (the Republicrats (ultra-conservative Democrats) that run this town don't like giving out liquor or beer licenses.)
Jul 11, 2004
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Reviewed by Mark from California

3.93/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Despite brewing only lager style beer I have been curious about this place. It sits off highway 80 in Davis, between S.F. and Sacramento so it's a good place to stop on the way or coming back from the mountains. The pub is large and airy with high ceilings. Wood abounds and decoration is tasteful, the place has a uncluttered feel. The bar sits in the middle of the space and there is a large tank within the bar's perimeter. This adds a nice feel. The rest of the tanks are behind a glass wall. The pub serves up it's line of lagers and pilsners and has a wheat and bock beer too. My Helles lager came in a nice large sturdy mug. A larger still Octoberfest mug is what you get for the biggest amount of brew. Food is very good and it was worth going to this place. Cases of beer can be had for very reasonable prices. I give this Brew pub a thumbs up to all advocates in the Northern California area.
Feb 23, 2003
Sudwerk Brewing Company in Davis, CA
Brewery rating: 3.82 out of 5 with 1106 ratings