California road trip from Oregon

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/breweries-on-highway-1.187032/

(you could hit Lagunitas after BR and RR too)

Also, bring some Ching Ching... plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

There are a couple of threads on this topic being discussed this week, but let me recommend North Coast Brewing, Half Moon Bay Brewing and Sante Adairius Rustic Ales.

The time frame is pretty aggressive on day one, depending on when and where you are leaving Oregon. The coast can be far slower to cross than it looks on a map.

 

In Monterey Cannery row brewing and a place called Peter B's are worthwhile stops.

 

Your coast is a little better imho.

 

This. Where do you live in Oregon? Are you coming down 5 to Santa Rosa area and then hitting the coast after that? If so, that's a real shame because I think you're missing the most beautiful stretch of CA coast (Ft. Bragg to Point Reyes).

 

The Oregon coast is beautiful but I beg to differ.

 

Since the drive is important to you I'd go toward Paso Robless by a small road (Santa Rosa Creek rd) from Cambria rather than rt 46. (do check out moonstone beach drive in Cambria). Make sure to stop at the Linn's farm store for some pie on st rosa creek. . And you're really missing out on world class wines on your route. I'd make time for a couple in Healdsburg and Paso (if interest i can pm my recos)

 

If suggest hitting Hop Dogma, just north of half moon bay. Also there is a small brewer called highway 1 a little north of Santa Cruz right on the highway. If heading inland, check out freewheel in redwood city for some great English style brews, Marsh road exit.

 

If you do take this route you have to stop in Mendocino and take a walk on the bluffs.

 

To get the most helpful advice it would help the BA's here to clarify your planned route. If you plan on taking 1 down the coast from the Oregon border to SF you have a gorgeous drive with awesome scenery but a very long and curvy drive. If you are planning on taking 101, misses a lot of the coast, then BR and RRBC doable depending on where in Oregon you are coming from and how early you start. Am I correct that since you mentioned BR & RRBC I am assuming you planned to stop here for the night? From the Santa Rosa area if you stay on 101 and pick up 1 after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge you have time for a lunch stop in Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz and then down to Carmel. 1 on this stretch is much less curvy and your only real slow downs are going through towns. Spending the nite in Carmel I would get an early start and take 1 down to Cambria and take 46 into Paso Robles. Big Sur section of 1 is spectacular but very curvy and if you are like me will have to make many stops to take in the vistas. If going to FW in Paso as opposed to Buellton you will need to choose between going back to 1 via 46 or taking 101 down to San Louis Obispo and picking 1 down to Santa Barbara. This sounds like such a great road trip, have a good time

 

If you have time in socal def visit the bruery tasting room in placentia off the 57 and orangethorpe

they might have sitr peaches and berazzled on tap

 

Firestone has two breweries about two hours apart on 101. The one in Buelton is worth hitting up even if you see the Paso one, as it houses Firestone Barrelworks! It's about 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara.

 

Since you are driving I-5, you might wanna keep an eye out for Fall River Hexegenia or Widowmaker in NorCal. Fall River also has a tasting room in Redding.

 

On I-5 Mt Shasta Brewing in Weed & Dunsmuir Breweryworks in Dunsmuir.

 

I just did the opposite... nor-cal up to Oregon (Up 5 to portland, over 84 to hood river, then down 97 to bend).

On 5, if you need a stop, go to Fall River in Redding. Hexagenia and Widowmaker are very solid (IPA/DIPA). Their tasting room isn't much, but the beer is good, and its not too far off the freeway.

You'll probably take 5-505-80? Not sure how you plan to get over to 101 to get to RR and BR? If you hit those two, Lagunitas is on your way back into SF.

You can really take your pick of any number of breweries once you get into the Bay Area.

South of SF, you HAVE to hit up Sante Adarius in Capatola.

 

If you're coming down (or going back north) via I-5, you should stop at Sierra Nevada in Chico, which is about 20 miles east of I-5 at highway 32. SN is really one of the greatest breweries to visit: their tour is really great (you need to reserve a spot, btw, so call in advance), the brewpub has good food, and of course lots of good beer, including lots of things that they don't sell elsewhere, such as the 'Audition' series. SN is sometimes left out of these discussions because Chico is pretty far out of the way, but if you're driving that way anyway, you definitely want to stop there.

 

Have a dash cam set. A lot of crazy drivers in CA

 

I second this. Chico being well off the beaten path, if your in the area, take the detour and go. Since it's not often you will find yourself 20 miles from Sierra Neveda. You won't regret the detour. The grounds, inside and out of the brewery are just stellar, their tasters are $0.50, and the food there is also quite good.