bottle shops/breweries Santa Rosa, SF, Oakland, Berkeley

In Oakland: Beer Revolution has a good bottle selection, and a great tap list.
In Berkeley: Ledger's, Whole Foods, and Berkeley Bowl West are all solid. For breweries, stop by The Rare Barrel on Friday or Saturday.
In SF: City Beer Store, Healthy Spirits, and their Whole Foods also. Brewery-wise, a number of options: I recommend Cellarmaker (after or before City Beer Store), 21st Amendment, Speakeasy.

Not at all a comprehensive list but a good start. Ledger's has one of the better and nicely priced Bay Area collections, so do hit up there if you can manage.

 

If you're going up to RR, you absolutely MUST stop in Beercraft in Rohnert Park on the way back down to SF (it's maybe 7-8 miles south of RR). Super-friendly, have 10-12 tap lines in the back for a mini bar and do growler fills, and have amazing stuff just sitting on the shelf. I really enjoyed my visit there, and Matt and his brother are stand-up guys.

P.S. if you bring something nice for trade, Matt may dip into the walk-in and produce some insane bottles (no promises though)

 

Ledgers Liqours in Berkeley FTW!

 

Wonder how they get away with growler fills as only breweries can do that.

 

Just along 101 between SF & Santa Rosa are: Marin Brewing, Moylans, Dempseys, Lagunitas. Off a little ways is Iron Springs. There are a whole bunch of small breweries that have popped up in Petaluma.

Also check out www.beerbybart.com

 

I may have been wrong...I thought that's what they told me. But I honestly don't have any clue about Cali laws

 

Nope, Dry cities the lot of them. Might have some good rootbeers..... Yeah you should try Magnolia up in the Haight when you are in the City