Trip up the Coast

Congrats on your nuptials!

I haven't been, but some obvious brewery choices include Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, Alvarado in Monterey, and several in Santa Cruz.

If you've never been to Big Sur, can't recommend that enough. A special place for me. Wonderful nature, views, great vibe. And there are some tap rooms/bars to slake your thirst after a warm hike. Don't miss Molera State Park and Pfeiffer Beach. Assuming they're open.

Have a great time!

 

How far north?

 

Apart from Santa Cruz breweries that I’m sure are fairly well known...
It would be worth cutting inland to Santa Rosa for RR, henhouse, moonlight.
Bear Republic in Healdsburg was a classic, but not sure if still open.
North Coast Brewing in Fort Bragg has a decent brewpub. May have some vintage old stock or specialty Old Rasputin.
Lost Coast and Eel River are average at best.
***Oregon border***
Pelican Pub in Pacific City is pretty good and has a brewpub on the beach.
Any McMenamins locations are decent brewpubs and they essentially created the “brewpub” concept. Originally from Portland, but now have stuff all over the PNW. There’s one at a golf course in my tiny hometown of gearhart.
Astoria, Oregon has Buoy Beer (my brother in law owns it) They specialize in clean traditional European lagers.
Fort George has gained a lot of notoriety. They win a lot of awards. I haven’t been there in 15 yrs though.
***Washington****
No breweries, sorry.

 

Redwood Curtain in Eureka was a favorite stop for us.

 

How far up are you going?

 

Propolis in Port Townsend has some very unique wilds and saisons. They do a flight that is top notch. Nice outdoor space as well.

Reubens Brews if you're in Seattle.

 

Up here in Humboldt redwood curtain is the top spot, they have a smaller spot in eureka and their big main brewery in arcata, both are great. Eel river in fortuna has its moments, they're getting better at hazies and they do good work with big beers. Lost coast and six rivers are very much skippable. Mad river, in blue lake, is nothing special but very pleasant location and cool people.
In arcata there is an excellent beer bar called Dead Reckoning that also has an epic selection in their bottle shop. There is also Humboldt Cider company in eureka who makes some really nice ciders and has a small but well curated beer tap list at their down town location.
Up in crescent city there is seaquake (acceptable beers from what I've had, heard their location is really beautiful) and Port O Pints, who does a good job with a good diversity of styles.
On the southern Oregon coast chetco river brewing is solid in brookings and Yachats brewing in Yachats is an absolute must stop for me, great beers and amazing food.
Hit me up privately if you want any more recommendations for the Humboldt area as far as lodging and hikes and not strictly beer spots.
Oh, and don't sleep on Silva brewing in Paso Robles, its the retirement project for one of green flash's of brewers.
Congrats on the wedding and enjoy that epic trek

 

The Redwood Curtain in Arcata was the one we visited, thanks to a recommendation from spidey last year. The food truck out back was good too.

Also in Arcata is Humboldt Pie for hand pies and a beer/cider. North Coast Coop is across the street and has a good selection of local cans and bottles.

 

The Big Sur Taphouse is a good spot. If they're open. As for hikes/places to visit, I mentioned my two faves above.

De Garde brewing in Tillamook, OR might be worth seeking out. I haven't been there yet, but it's on my list. They do some wonderful sours and wilds. Portland has a ton of places, of course. I hear great things about Bailey's Tap Room there.

Sounds like a lotta driving for one week. Maybe drive less and sip more?

 

THIS. For the stretch from Bay Area to OR, it's the one 'cant miss' IMHO.

And the PacNW BA folks have already got you covered north of CA.

 

I do wanna second @Brugesman comment about time. If you've got a week total I wouldn't plan on getting much further than southern oregon. Day 1 you could get to santa cruz, day 2 you could go through santa rosa and then out the coast to fort bragg, day 3 you could get to eureka/arcata, day 4 you could get up into Oregon a decent way. Each of those is about 5-6 hours of total drive time, so with enjoying the stops along the way they are pretty full days. That's also using 101 drive times, highway 1 is going to be slower if you go that route

 

First of all congrats!! This road trip sounds like a fun thing to do. I’m assuming you will be taking 101 most of the way up? I would make sure you call the places you want to visit to make sure they are open and the hours. Most places are starting to open up again. But like most have said this sounds like a lot of driving. If you’re driving up and back down within 1 week it may take 2 days driving back. Maybe visit places on the way back as well and Washington may have to wait for another trip.

If you plan on hitting San Francisco and are driving up from Santa Cruz or Monterey drive up HWY 1 instead of 101. It’s not that much longer and more scenic than driving up 101 to SF. If you do plan on hitting up SF let me know but most places are only to-go. Hopefully by the time you drive up here some places might be open again.

 

Santa Cruz is a beautiful place to visit. Doesn't hurt that there's also good beer there. I highly recommend a day in Santa Rosa. Moonlight and Henhouse for sure. The Sandman Hotel is a nice place.

https://www.sandmansantarosa.com/

 

If you end up making any stops in SLO county, I would highly recommend Liquid Gravity and There does not Exist in San Luis Obispo, along with Central Coast Brewing. In Atascadero there is WildFields and Paso has a great little spot called KiloKilo along with Firestone of course.....a little further south is Barrelworks in Buellton, I would go there over the Paso Firestone.