Sacramento / Napa Area Recommendations

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by Skeeter17, Jul 11, 2021.

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  1. Skeeter17

    Skeeter17 Devotee (388) Dec 13, 2016 Washington
    Trader

    Hi everyone!

    Posting in these regional threads before traveling has helped narrow down potential places to visit, so thought I’d try again for a trip next weekend.

    I’ll be around Napa for a couple of days and plan to spend some time in Sacramento too.

    What are the most worthwhile stops in the area?

    I think I may try to sneak out to Russian River because I’ve never been, but would like to try some lesser known spots too. So many in CA makes it hard to choose!

    Thanks for the help! And if anyone wants to do a share I’ll check my bag!
     
    #1 Skeeter17, Jul 11, 2021
  2. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    In Sacramento Urban Roots is my favorite for a wide variety of styles done really well with good food as well. Both areas have a Fieldwork for good hoppy beers and very good Belgian inspired stuff.

    In Sacramento Fieldwork and Urban Roots are a couple blocks apart. In the greater Sacramento area people seem to really like the iPad from slice and the dark beers from Moksa but I can't speak to either from personal experience. New Glory also makes good ipas in the area and seems to have a good variety on tap but I've never been to their location. Also, Davis is between Napa and Sacramento and is home to Sudwerks who make great traditional lagers and have been doing some of my favorite hoppy lagers lately. I also visited Dunloe brewing in Davis once and it was pleasant and the owner/ brewer was tending bar and was a very pleasant dude.

    I think there is a Sacramento city limits thread on here that would have a little more info on o options in the city. Capital Hop Shop seems like the most recommended bar, it's right downtown near UR and FW and does have a good tap list whenever I've been
     
    #2 unlikelyspiderperson, Jul 12, 2021
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  3. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't have much to add to @unlikelyspiderperson's excellent recommendations. I would just add that for Napa, it's probably a good idea to head over to Oxbow market at some point. Assuming you do, there's a Fieldwork outpost there as well, and their beer is quite good. Their IPA's in particular are quite good, especially if you're a fan of hazy IPA's.
     
    #3 John_M, Jul 12, 2021
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  4. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Here's that Sacramento specific thread with lots of other names to consider
     
    #4 unlikelyspiderperson, Jul 12, 2021
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  5. thuey

    thuey Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 13, 2015 California
    Pooh-Bah

    If you do end up going to Santa Rosa for Russian River, stop by Cooperage. It's about ten minutes away, is a lesser known spot, and at one point - I heard that's where RR employees go to drink when they're not at their own. I visited once and found their beers pleasant.
     
    #5 thuey, Jul 12, 2021
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  6. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    As Spider mentioned above, check the Sacramento thread for general info. There are 75+ breweries in area.

    Top choices around SAC:
    SLICE Beer CO: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/slice-beer-co-2021.654670/

    Urban Roots: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/urban-roots-2021.653070/

    Moonraker: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/moonraker-2021.653071/#post-7298626

    Moksa: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/moksa-brewing-2021.655271/
     
    #6 atomicpunk5151, Jul 12, 2021
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  7. bret27

    bret27 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,064) Mar 10, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you’re in Sacramento SLICE and Moksa would definitely be a highly recommended detour. They could both be visited in one strike.
     
    #7 bret27, Jul 12, 2021
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  8. Skeeter17

    Skeeter17 Devotee (388) Dec 13, 2016 Washington
    Trader

    Awesome info!

    Thank you all for helping narrow down the overwhelming list of breweries in the area!
     
    #8 Skeeter17, Jul 12, 2021
  9. VitisVinifera

    VitisVinifera Pundit (879) Feb 25, 2013 California

    My buddy Nile owns Mad Fritz brewery in St. Helena. He malts his own grain and all ingredients are organic. They have a super fine palate that sticks out. If this interests you set up an appt, I believe they are by appt only. Also be sure to tell him the owner of Drava Wines recommended it. Let me know if you wind up going!
     
    #9 VitisVinifera, Jul 16, 2021
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  10. Lorddevn

    Lorddevn Initiate (0) Mar 10, 2019 Wisconsin
    Trader

    As someone who visited Napa 5 years ago and made the drive to Santa Rosa for RR I highly recommend it. It’s only about 1.5 hours away and was worth the break from the awesome wineries in the Napa area.
     
    #10 Lorddevn, Jul 16, 2021
  11. Skeeter17

    Skeeter17 Devotee (388) Dec 13, 2016 Washington
    Trader

    If any of you here have not been to King Cong brewing in uptown it should be on all of your lists!

    Just visited and the beer is tasty, the atmosphere is community focused. Heads and shoulders above the spots I visited in downtown Sacramento!
     
    #11 Skeeter17, Jul 16, 2021
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  12. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    King Cong in Del Paso Heights....better than Urban Roots or Fieldwork??

    Nice patio, good pizza sometimes, but their IPAs usually fall in the average to good range for me IMO. I do like that they have a few Lagers/Pilsners on. I have stopped by since they are down the street from the old Ice Rink.
     
    #12 atomicpunk5151, Jul 23, 2021
  13. Skeeter17

    Skeeter17 Devotee (388) Dec 13, 2016 Washington
    Trader

    Maybe not better beer, but I did enjoy the atmosphere more. The brewhouse right inside the door and not really closed off, the smoker rolling out back where you can BS with the guy cooking your food... just a cool place I thought. Beer was enjoyable.

    I liked fieldwork a lot, but I was a bit underwhelmed by Urban Roots. I don’t think I’d go back there, but I’d try to check out King Cong again if I make it back.

    P.S. I do not recommend walking the American river bike trail from King Cong to downtown!!
     
    #13 Skeeter17, Jul 23, 2021
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  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Reading your post just makes me chuckle. I lived in Sacto from 89 to 01, and when I moved away the gold standard for beers there were the Rubicon, Sacramento Brewing and the Sudwerk's outpost over by the State Fair facility.

    It just boggles my mind how much the beer scene there has improved since I left town in 2001.
     
    #14 John_M, Jul 23, 2021
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  15. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    Yeah, uber or drive...lol..... Unless you like checking out the scenic river homeless camps....

    Del Paso Heights sells itself as some "Uptown" art scene (it is in places).... but yeah..... rough area......
     
    #15 atomicpunk5151, Jul 23, 2021
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  16. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Interesting regarding UR. I personally felt they'd been on a roll, especially with the Hell(es). I will say their options for non-hazy hoppy have been more limited than I prefer. Plenty of love for the juice crowd on the draught lines.
     
    #16 jakecattleco, Jul 26, 2021
  17. Skeeter17

    Skeeter17 Devotee (388) Dec 13, 2016 Washington
    Trader

    I thought all of the juicey hazies were kind of run of the mill. Nothing stood out. I did really enjoy their Saisons though
     
    #17 Skeeter17, Jul 26, 2021
  18. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Poor wording choice on my part. Intent was that their hoppy draught lines were dominated by haze these days. And I'd agree, haven't been 'wowed' by those recipes recently.
     
    #18 jakecattleco, Jul 27, 2021
  19. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    I usually go to Urban Roots for their "non-ipa" selection. Everyone has IPAs, UR has a wide variety of well made styles across the board. Pilsners, Lagers, Saisons and Stouts stand out. Some good beers from the Barrel Program as well.
     
    #19 atomicpunk5151, Jul 28, 2021
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  20. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I agree and have generally drank non ipas when at UR. But damn if Like Riding A Bike isn't one of the best west coast ipas out there
     
    #20 unlikelyspiderperson, Jul 29, 2021
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