Hi all, Going to be making my way to California to do some brewery tours/beer bar stops. Will be there for a week and am trying to locate the best spots to visit. Will be flying into LA and getting a rental car for the week. Assuming we will just be going north from LA and back down again once the week is over. Would love to hear some locals chime in about whats what when it comes to CA and the best places to hit. Thanks!
Unless you have some destination in mind that is north i would recomend going south. A lot less driving and a lot more beer. Check the visiting san diego thread.
CA always seems to be larger in reality than most out-of-state visitors imagine it to be. You can hit both Low-Cal and NorCal if you are here a week, but that's a pretty intense and aggressive schedule. And, believe it or not, there are other things in California besides beer! I recommend focusing on the South. I think Firestone Walker Barrelworks is the best damn brewery in the country, so set your sights no further north than Santa Barbara County, a two and a half hour drive (or so) North of downtown LA. Spend half of your week in San Diego and the other half jaunting around the Southland. Take your time and relax, maaaaaan. Next time, spend a week in NorCal. We'll still be here when you come back.
Golden Road, Smog City, Stone Store in Pasadena, Eagle Rock Brewery, FW Barrelworks (in Buelton), Sunset Liquor (a great bottleshop/taproom), Beachwood (in Longbeach), Figueroa Taproom (in Santa BArbara), Telegraph in Santa Barbara), The Bruery (Orange County)...
