Hello, I'm going to be spending 2 nights in Santa Rosa and 1 night in Napa in about 2 weeks. Other than RR, which is a focal point of the trip, I was wondering if there were other recommendations the community have. Admittedly a lot of the itinerary is focused on wine to accomodate all participants, but there is time for beer, too. A few notable questions: If I was to visit a brewery other than RR in the area, which would you suggest? It seems like the most probable candidates are Bear Republic and Lagunitas, but I could be entirely wrong. Best beer store to visit? Is it Beercraft in Rohnert Park? What should I try to ensure I bring back from your recommended beer store? My preferences lean pretty heavily to BA stouts, but I'm open to anything really good. Thanks!
I'd say focus on wine just because there is so much world class wine up there and really only one world-class brewery. Go up to Headsburg.. i have a list if needed.
I strongly prefer the pub atmosphere at Lagunitas over RR, but obviously the beer at RR is better. Definitely go to Lagunitas, preferably during a weekday if possible since it's also packed all the time. Other than that, I would focus on wine and food. Fremont Diner is supposed to be amazing and you can go from there to Domaine Carneros. I don't know much about wine, but there's no way to not enjoy your experience at that place unless you hate sparkling wine. Also, Girl and the Fig in Sonoma Square. There are countless great restaurants up there. And if you're in the mood for a good hoagie type sandwich, go to Ike's in Santa Rosa, really close to RR.
Skip Bear Republic. I went there while on my honey moon (the day after RR) and it did not impress at all.
Seconded...I won't be headed back for something hoppy. Even fresh Racer failed to impress. Only reason I could see going would be for some Tartare. RR and Lagunitas are all you need.
Every time I go there for beer I'm extremely underwhelmed. Either they hide good stuff in the back, it sells faster than I can get there or they really don't get much good stuff.
I thought coming from Canada he might like a bit more CA offerings to haul home, its been a long time since I've rolled to Bottle Barn but they used to get all the FW BA beers, Port/LA, The Bruery, etc.
If you want a great bottle selection and an even better tap list, you must stop at BeerCraft in Rohnert Park. It is directly in between RR and Lagunitas right off the 101.
Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. The trip will mostly focus on wine, for sure, but day 1 is somewhat of a beer day, so this is really helpful. Sounds like BeerCraft is the right fit for me. SierraJosh nailed it - really what I'm looking for is a place where I can grab 3-4 bottles to bring home of stuff I don't get at home. For me, the most appealing is any of FW BA brews. Bruery is great too...we get some up here, but it's quite pricey by the time you factor in the additional taxes and mark-up.
FWIW - I was at Bottle Barn last weekend - highlights: a bunch of BA Narwhal and BA Bigfoot. Small amount of Sucaba. Had some other quality stuff but mostly shelf availability any where in the area.
