Top 5 California Taphouse/Breweries

if you are going to the bruery make sure you stop at Noble Ale Works as well since its right there. top notch beers

 

Depending on which route you take from LA to Sacramento, I would recommend Firestone walker barrelworks. Takes more time but the drive is nice.

 

Brewery - Cellarmaker - SF
bottleshop/taproom - Beercraft - Rhonert Park (near RR in Santa Rosa)

And I would just go to Alpine, its a great place, the bruery was cool but I had a much better time at Alpine.

 

you should just go to alpine, alpine is even harder to find stocked at a bottleshop than pliny, its around but it goes quick, i second the noble of course, and if your planning on going as far south as the bruery, might as well just take another hour drive and go to san diego and visit alpine, along with other great breweries down that way

 

I don't know if suggesting him to drive from the LA Area to Alpine (2+ hours /4+ hours round trip) is really that feasible.

I enjoy Cellar Maker more than Alpine and its more on the OPs route.

However, to echo the above posts - Alpine is very hard to find outside of Alpine itself.

 

this is true, i just figured since he was driving down to the bruery, he would be almost halfway there at that point, and it will be extremely hard to find alpine sitting anywhere other than at the pub, but this is true, might not be feasible, just depends how bad he wants alpine

 

Go to Sante Adairius and thank me later.

 

True. Alpine is still a 2 hour drive from the Bruery (one way). I don't think I would drive that far for it - but thats just me, especially when there is Noble right there, plus Cellar Maker on the way, and obviously Russian River.

They make great beer though, and tickers gotta tick.

 

Alpine - SD
Societe - SD
Noble Ale Works - Anaheim
Russian River - Santa Rosa
FireStone Walker - SF

This is my .02 cents. As far as tap houses, O'Brien's Pub, Blind Lady Ale House, Toronado, Hamilton's, Alpine, Tiger-Tiger. Just to name a few spots here in SD that have great beer selections on tap.

 

?

 

agreed

 

Bootleggers in Fullerton has a cool little tap room. On the way up to Russian River stop by Drake's near Oakland and Lagunitas in Petaluma.

 

Oh snap. That was a type. I typed in Paso and had an auto correction somehow. Thanks for the correction guys.

 

Right, I was wondering if I was in a coma and they built a taproom while I was sleeping.

Firestone is sort of on the way north to SF. Its about 3 hours south of SF, located in the small city of Paso Robles.

 

1. I really like 3rd Street Ale Works in Santa Rosa great beer and usually not crowded. I have spoken to the head brewer on a couple of occassions while drinking a beer.
2, Russian River great beer with at least 18 seperate beers on tap but way too crowded.
3. Love Bear Republic good beer and good food with an awsome location.
4. Moylans in Novato great place to spend some time and also good food, easy to find right off the freeway.
5. Laginitas in Petulma is also close to Moylans and on the way to Russian River.

sorry my spots are all in the northern portion of bay area but if you are visiting Russia River they are all pretty close by.

 

I have been to both the Bruery and Russian River. Get there early or you will have trouble finding a place to sit.

 

I'll second Sante Adairius. +1 on Cellarmaker too. Rare Barrel in Berkeley is not to be missed if you like sours. Russian River BC is a must, but reports are that it is crazy crowded these days, oftentimes even on weekdays. Be forewarned.

Surprised that the SoCal contingent hasn't suggested Beechwood BBQ yet.

 

there are several great breweries right near the bruery that should be less crowded and have great beer,

bootleggers, the bruery, phantom ales, bottle logic, valiant and noble.

my favorite is phantom most because it's the smallest and has a home brew supply shop.

 

Since you are starting from LA, I'll leave out the great San Diego breweries (but I'd really recommend you start from there instead)...

Start @ The Bruery
Take 101 north about 3 hours to ... Firestone Walker (spend the night in Paso Robles and do some wine tasting tours too)
Head over to highway 1 and take a beautiful drive to Capitola to enjoy ... Sante Adairius Rustic Ales and spend the night in Santa Cruz
Drive up the 1 until you get to San Francisco and go to Cellarmaker and City Beer (they are 1 block apart) and spend some time in SF
Drive up to Lagunitas on a weekday and take the tour (free beer and nice tour) and then go to Russian River and get hammered on ridiculously good beer (and spend the night in Santa Rosa

That's roughly 5 breweries and a bottle shop over roughly 5 days.