Requesting beer tips for Northern California

Redwood Curtain in Arcata. Honestly I'd go there before a stop at Lost Coast.

 

Yeah Lost Coast is total garbage. If you're in the area definitely check out Redwood Curtain and then Dead Reckoning is a beer bar also in Arcata with fantastic selections. After those two though it'll be time to move on.

 

Anderson Valley Brewing in Boonville

 

Make sure you check road conditions. 299 between Redding & Arcata is subject to delays due to repairs from a land slide and the same for 101 north of Leggett.

That said, when coming south get off 101south of Fortuna and take the Avenue of the Giants through the redwoods.

 

Another vote for AVBC in Boonville. It's one of those places that is "greater than the sum of its beers" as it has a great NorCal vibe that makes it an awesome place to take a few hours and sample beers and eat lunch outside (bring your own food). The Highway 128 drive is amazingly scenic as you get a mixture of wine country and redwood forests all in one. Since you mention that you'll be doing the driving and have to watch your consumption, AVBC also offers a nice tour and has a bottle and merch shop if you don't want to imbibe too much. They also have a disc golf course there if you are interested.

You've put together the exact route I would plan if I was in your shoes. I agree with the poster above though - take a few minutes to take the Ave. of the Giants off of 101 in southern Humboldt County. If you don't want to redo Bear Republic/Russian River/Lagunitas in Sonoma County then you might want to try either HenHouse or Cooperage in Santa Rosa. The new 2 Tread in Santa Rosa will likely be open by then as well (former head brewer from Firestone Walker) and they are going to have a restaurant as well so that you could grab some food to help soak up the suds.

 

Just south of Sonoma in Rohnert Park is Beer Craft. It's a fantastic tap/bottle shop. They always have Cellarmaker, Sante Adarius, and more on tap. Must hit place.

 

Oh yes - Russian River's beers are actually worth the tremendous hype. So go there for sure if you have the opportunity (and they offer better-than-average food as well). If at all possible, try to get there during mid-day on a weekday though. Weekend crowds are pretty epic from open all the way through the evening. They do growler fills and typically sell bottles of Pliny, Blind Pig, Damnation, and 2-3 sours if you can't stay to drink much.

If you like porters and stouts - be sure to try "Shadow of a Doubt" Imperial Porter if it happens to be on tap. That's a very underrated beer by them (it goes without saying that any pale ale/IPA or sour will be tremendous there).

The other options I mentioned in Santa Rosa would be good stops if crowds are a problem at RR OR if you have time to stick around longer in Sonoma.

 

I wouldn't suggest you go to Redwood National Park north of Arcata. The redwoods there are unmatched anywhere else within their range. Stop at Redwood Curtain in Arcata and grab some crowlers, then make the 4 hour trek down to Santa Rosa for Russian river brewing and Beercraft.

 

Too late to edit, but I meant to say you should go to Redwood National Park!

 

As your time is limited, I'd pass on AVBC if it is out of your way. That's a slower road than it looks on the map.

Spend the time saves there by spending more time in Sonoma and Marin county breweries. More bang for your buck.

 

The drive on CA-1 along Tomales Bay and on down to the Marin Headlands is very relaxing.

The City Beer Store in SF is pretty good, although it's merely up to the standard of some of the places there in S. Ore. Still, they have some CA stuff you won't see farther north.

East Bay, I really like Fieldwork, and The Rare Barrel is a little over a mile away.

You know, it's really easy to keep going right on down the coast...

 

Umm, unless you want 2 drive through Big Sur right now. Think that'll be a problem.