Breweries/bottle shops heading out to California

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by sandspyders, Jul 19, 2016.

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  1. sandspyders

    sandspyders Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2010 Texas

    Renting an RV and heading out west during the hottest time of the year in the hottest place in the US. So you know I'll be searching for some cold brews on the way. Here's the plan.

    Austin to Las Cruces
    LC to Sedona - (not going through Tucson/Phoenix) Want to see the painted desert instead.
    Sedona to Lake Havasu
    LH to somewhere on PCH 1 (I'll be getting on PCH in Morro Bay) and head toward Hollister
    Hollister to Chico (SN already on my list but if there is more out that way around Chico I will check em out)

    For the return I'll be going through Lake Tahoe, cut thru Nevada, hit southern Utah to Durango, CO, then making my way to Lubbock and back on in to Austin.

    I know this is a lot of road to travel and I'm not looking to go too far off the path. I know I can look up places on BA and I will do my research but was wondering if you guys have any suggestions or any must try beers. Also, any good bottle shops along the way would be a plus.

    Lastly, do breweries in the states I listed allow filling my Freetail and Pinthouse growlers or do they have to be brewery specific?

    Cheers!
     
    #1 sandspyders, Jul 19, 2016
  2. rrryanc

    rrryanc Pundit (896) May 19, 2006 California

    You might be able to find some Kern County Brewing Company beers in Bakersfield (especially since they got their new, bigger setup going). Otherwise there are some local breweries there that are OK but not spectacular.

    Depends how you head over the hills from there, but Google suggests going through Paso Robles, in which case stop at Firestone Walker. I'd save an hour or so and bypass Morro Bay and just go directly to Cambria to head up north, but that's your call. Libertine in SLO or Morro Bay is pretty good, was pleasantly surprised last time I was there.

    Once you get up north, go to Alvarado St in Monterey. Sante Adarius is awesome, but given your route probably an hour out of your way.

    There are some spots in Sacramento, but there are other threads discussing those. Then you'll hit Chico, which is all SN. On your way to Reno, stop by 50/50 and Tahoe Mountain. There are some pretty neat spots in Reno too actually, depends how much time you want to spend where.

    There are plenty of spots you're missing out given your route, but I'm guessing you don't want to add hours and hours (by say, driving through the bay area). You'll still hit some pretty sweet places.
     
    #2 rrryanc, Jul 19, 2016
  3. rmdownward

    rmdownward Zealot (648) Feb 10, 2007 California

    Oak Creek in Sedona
     
    #3 rmdownward, Jul 19, 2016
  4. theconductor

    theconductor Zealot (739) Nov 4, 2008 California

    If you're going to Tahoe for the view, don't miss it. If you're going for the beer, go to Reno instead. On your way from Chico to Tahoe/Reno I highly recommend stopping at Ol' Republic in Nevada City and then getting a burger next door at Jernigan's. Eureka Peak in Portola is doing some good things as well.
     
    #4 theconductor, Jul 20, 2016
  5. sandspyders

    sandspyders Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2010 Texas

    Thanks guys! Any decent breweries up in Redding making a short trip to check out?
     
    #5 sandspyders, Jul 20, 2016
  6. rrryanc

    rrryanc Pundit (896) May 19, 2006 California

    I liked Fall River Brewing last time I went through, but not enough to detour the hour each way that it'd take you to get there.
     
    #6 rrryanc, Jul 20, 2016
  7. 3frog

    3frog Initiate (0) May 13, 2006 Arizona

    In Arizona, you can use other breweries' growlers; not so much in CA. Most places I've been in SD make it really difficult to not use their glass.
     
    #7 3frog, Jul 20, 2016
  8. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    KRBC beers in Bakersfield at http://www.imbibewine.com.
     
    #8 dcgunman, Jul 20, 2016
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