California, Here I Come

There is one brewpub in Monterey... Peter B's. There is a beer bar in Cannery Row called Cannery Row Brewing Co. (they don't brew). Another in Sand City called Post No Bills.

If you make it down to Big Sur, a number of options... Big Sur Tap House, Maiden Pub, River Inn..

 

If you're going to stone on the weekend, show up at opening time. Go to RR on Sunday if you can. That's all I got

 

If you're going from SD to Stone/Escondido, you might want to go to Pizza Port in Carlsbad. Maybe have lunch there, try the Port beers, hit the adjacent bottle shop (or did I hear they closed that? haven't been there in over a year myself), head to Stone.

 

Pizza Port OB will be very close to the Hyatt, and definitely worth checking out. Hit up the Olive Tree Market nearby for bottles as well. Skip Coronado unless you just want to check out the bridge/peninsula (which is pretty). I'd go to Hamiltons instead. If you're going to Stone, check out Lost Abbey (just down the freeway) and hit Churchills for lunch (much, much better than Stone for food, imo).

In SF, it sounds like you'll be staying in North Beach, which has some reasonable Italian places. You're close to Chinatown there too.

 

And get to RR when they open.. It is impossible to get a table after an hour.

 

Really? I've been there more than a dozen times, and aside from the predictable craziness of Younger Week, I have only had to wait for a table once. Have I just been that lucky?

 

Maybe try to squeeze in The Bruery after/before Disneyland? Only about 10 min. away

 

Oh, maybe. I was there in March on a Sat. We got there at 11:20, 20 minutes after opening, and had to wait a few minutes. By noon, it was an hour wait, and standing room only at the bar.

 

Well, your name is "MLucky".

But I do agree, I've only waited a couple of times, and it was on a Friday night both times.

 

This is copy and pasted from the nearby "Where to go in SF thread."

Toronado
City Beer Store
La Trappe
Church Key
Healthy Spirits
Rosamunde
Nopa
21st Amendment
La Taqueria
Abbot's Cellar
Monk's Kettle
Delfina Pizzeria
Una Pizza Napolotana
Ales Unlimited
Amsterdam Cafe
Social Kitchen and Brewery
Outerlands
Mission Chinese Food
Magnolia Brewing
The Alembic
Starbelly
Papalote
Paulines Pizza
Pi Bar
Burma Superstar
Bar Crudo

I would also highly recommend hitting Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola on the way from Monterey to SF if your schedule allows (they are open Thurs-Sun). Give yourself some extra time and drive the coast all the way to SF. It's a beautiful drive.

 

Pizza Port OB is literally a 5 min drive from your hotel. They also have a bunch of guest taps that are generally pretty solid. Alpine is great, and not a bad drive (also, good barbecue) - but I'd still recommend PP if you _had_ to choose one.

 

From anaheim, anticipate closer to 7-8 drive to yosemite if its a weekday.

If you're staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels, it would be a mistake not to visit the hearthstone lounge/walk around the Grand Californian. It was architecturally inspired by the Ahwahnee up in Yosemite. Consider upgrading to park hopper passes if you arent AP's, Carthay Circle in DCA is a great place to have a nice meal. They have some fantastic cocktails and a pretty decent list of CA beers. Bruery closes at 10, so you'd have to leave the park early to make it over there. Noble Aleworks is open a bit later and would definitely be worth a visit.

 

nothing that hasn't been said, but definitely hit Lost Abbey when you go to Stone. Also stop by the Bruery in Anaheim

 

Agree with most everything said here. If you are really debating between pizza port ob (5 min or less from your hotel) or Alpine (30 min or more) choose Alpine. I recommend both... Skip Disneyland and hit up Bruery, Taps, and Bootleggers. Break up the miserable drive through the "armpit of America" on the way up to Yosemite and go to Kern River Brewing company in the southern sierra's... Otherwise you got it... Ambitious trip, have fun, and congrats!

 

I suppose if you had to choose, you should probably do Alpine. And then pick up a few bottles you can drop off at my house when you get up north. I kid, I kid. Sort of. If you really have to choose do Alpine, because Port is generally available in bottles all over the state, while Alpine is a lot harder to get.

 

Bruery is worth it, and damn close to Disney land, it's a must in so cal in my opinion

I spend a week in Yosemite every year, I always swoop up some mammoth brewing beers while up there. They can their beers too so they are perfect for a hike.

Every where else you'll have a ton of options.

 

I was thinking the same, very ambitious trip. A lot of folks don't realize just how big Cali is. I'd cut Carmel and monterey out tho. While very cool, there's better in store up north.

If you still go and take highway 1 up (on of the most Famous strips of highway in Cali) be sure to stop at sante adrius, tiny place making some tasty brews