Portland -> LA: Road trip stops

In my area (LA/Orange counties), I'd suggest Beachwood in Long Beach. Naja's in Redondo Beach, with a stop at Select Bottle shop after for some nice offerings to take home. If I were in Anaheim, I'd honestly skip the Bruery in favor of Noble if I had to select one, only because Bruery is seemingly always packed when I visit, and Noble has a much more welcoming atmosphere in my opinion. Those are off the top of my head of the coastal communities down here.

I know that my next destination is to Modern Times in San Diego.

Enjoy your trip!

 

Are you stopping in LA or San Diego? Because Bruery is 40 miles away from LA, and Stone is about 120 miles away from LA.

 

I did that road trip about 3 years ago, my favorite stop was in Oakridge OR (maybe a lunch stop on your first day?) at Brewers Union local 180. All cask beers and delicious food, after visiting there, i truly understood the meaning of "public house".

 

Firestone in Paso Robles
Barrelworks/Firestone in Buelton (only open on weekends so check before you go)
Beachwood in Long Beach
Noble in Anaheim
Pizza Port in Carlsbad
Stone in Escondido (this is about 20 min of the 5 freeway)
Societe in San Diego (brewers from Russian River and Bruery)

 

Sierra Nevada (if don't mind taking a side drip inland)
21st Ammendment
Firestone Walker (must go to)
Barrelworks
Smog City / Monkish / Strand
Beachwood

 

Just adding some that are along your route, somewhat, that have not already been mentioned. Some better then others, but they are not too far out of the way if the 101 is your primary route.

Hollister Brewing (brew pub) in Goleta
Island Brewing in Carpinteria (brewery)
Surf Brewing in (brewery) in Ventura
Anacapa Brewing (brewpub) in Ventura
Barrel house 101 (bar/restaurant w/ 101 taps) in Ventura
Enegren Brewing in Moorpark (detour off 101 via the 23, but only about 10 miles)
Ladyface Brewing in Agoura Hills (brew pub)
Sundowner brewing (inside Wades Wines) (bar/tasting room/bottle shop) in Westlake

Once your in LA, it's quite wide spread (huge county), so really depends on your time and how far, east, west, north, south your willing to go.

 

Cellarmaker in SF

 

North Coast in Ft. Bragg?
BeerCraft in Rhonert Park (Amazing bottle shop)
Lagunitas in Petaluma
Sante Adarius in Capatola

 

If possible, try to go to these places Mon-Wednesday. Otherwise, the wait at RR will be two hours plus and the Lagunitas Beer Sanctuary will resemble a crowded kegger down at the frat house. Don't mean to discourage you, just want you to be aware of how out of hand the situation has become in the last couple years.

 

One I didn't see mentioned is Caldera. They have a nice brewpub in Ashland, OR, right near the border of CA. I stopped there on my drive from Portland -> SF and enjoyed a few tasters and a bite to eat.

 

RR
Lagunitas
Bear Republic
Cellarmaker
Rare Barrel

 

Agree with this list. FYI, Almanac doesn't have a tasting room, but you should be able to find bottles in SF. Whole Foods often has the latest bottles in stock. Rare barrel has very limited bottle releases and doesn't fill growlers for non-founding members but it's worth the trip for access to awesome beer in their tasting room. Cellarmaker fills growlers and is a must visit spot for their high quality beers. 21A is a good brewpub if you want a meal but IMO their beer is mediocre so I'd skip if you're pressed for time.

 

Stop in Fort Bragg, go to North Coast. They will have rarer stuff in the bottle shop and they are an outstanding brewery that does not get the respect they deserve around here because they make normal beer. Sorry, no whiskey barrel aged brett quadruple ghost pepper IPA here. Their tasting tray is amazing. No crowds, no hassle, no trouble parking. I love their gift shop, too.

It is a cool little town, seems silly to spend all your time in big cities simply because they have the most popular breweries. You will be driving by the brewery's front door, no reason to skip it. You can find some great seafood in town, too.

 

Faction & Drakes. Sierra Nevada Torpedo room.

For bottles in Oakland Beer Rev & The Good Hop.

This is a good resource www.beerbybart.com

 

NorCal/central cal spots
Lost Coast
RR
BeerCraft (Bottle shop with awesome taps)
Lagunitas
Cellarmaker
Toronado (drink Moonlight's Reality Czech and/or Death and Taxes)
The Rare Barrel
Faction
Drakes
Sante Adairius
Firestone
Firestone Barrelworks (I would stop here if choosing between the two)

 

If you decide to roll I-5 either direction obviously the short detour to Sierra is well worth the time/distance. You should definitely check out the Fall River Brewing tasting room in Redding as well if rolling the 5.