sonoma county beer Archives - Sonoma Magazine https://www.sonomamag.com/tag/sonoma-county-beer/ Things to do in Sonoma County Fri, 01 Aug 2025 22:48:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://d1sve9khgp0cw0.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/smagicon-150x150.png sonoma county beer Archives - Sonoma Magazine https://www.sonomamag.com/tag/sonoma-county-beer/ 32 32 The Best Beer Gardens in Sonoma County https://www.sonomamag.com/the-best-beer-gardens-in-sonoma-county/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:59:39 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=127612 The Block

Summer is for beer gardens. Here are some local favorites if you’re craving an afternoon of brews with your crew.

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The Block

Summer is for beer gardens. Fortunately, Sonoma County has them in abundance, with the Wine Country bonus of excellent beer and top-notch food. Here are some favorites if you’re craving an afternoon of brews with your crew.

Twin Oaks Roadhouse

Twin Oaks beer garden
The fried chicken sandwich at Twin Oaks Roadhouse on Old Redwood Highway in Penngrove. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat)

In continuous operation since 1926, this ramshackle-looking roadhouse and watering hole is one of Sonoma County’s best-kept secrets. Owned by HopMonk Tavern, well-known for its beer gardens in Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Novato, Twin Oaks has kept its historic charm while offering stellar fried chicken sandwiches and live entertainment for those who appreciate its charms. (The property is currently listed for sale.) 5745 Old Redwood Highway, Penngrove. 707-795-5118, hopmonk.com/twin-oaks

Lagunitas Taproom

 Lagunitas Brewing Company beer garden
Visitors lounge on the amphitheater lawn before the evening’s concert at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)

Sink into the trippy scene that is Lagunitas, through and through. The tap room and “beer sanctuary” is a casual spot hidden in the shadows of the brewery complex. There’s great pub grub, a swag-filled gift shop, a small music venue, and the hoppy IPAs that have made them famous. 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. 707-284-1020, lagunitas.com

Brewsters Beer Garden

The most beer-garden-y beer garden in Sonoma County. Big enough for an Oktoberfest crowd with loads of picnic tables, live music, plenty of beer (and cocktails), with kids and dogs welcome. Plus, solid eats. 229 Water St., Petaluma. 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com

Brewsters Beer Garden
Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma is ready for Oktoberfest on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Crissy Pascual / Petaluma Argus-Courier)
Old Caz Beer
At Old Caz Beer in Rohnert Park. (Old Caz Beer)

Old Caz

Most breweries are bare-bones places with a funky college-dorm aesthetic and sticky tables — and we like it that way! But Old Caz has upped its game with a swanky new spot with high ceilings, matching chairs, hand-built tables, and usable bathrooms. Wow! The lunchtime bar menu and top-notch food trucks are the cherry on top. Don’t worry, the butt-kicking IPAs keep it real. 1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park. 707-665-6668, oldcaz.com

Russian River Brewing

If there’s a heaven for beer drinkers, it’s at the 85,000-square-foot Russian River brewery in Windsor. Book a guided tour and tasting, then head to the outdoor beer garden where you can choose from roughly 20 signature brews on tap and a full pub menu. The dog- and kid-friendly patio is a great spot to hang out and dream of next year’s release of Pliny the Younger. 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor. 707-545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com

Amy and Nathan Booth enjoy drinks while taking in the sunset on the patio at Russian River Brewing Company in Windsor. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat)
Amy and Nathan Booth enjoy drinks while taking in the sunset on the patio at Russian River Brewing Company in Windsor. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat)
The Block
The outdoor area of The Block in Petaluma. Photographed on Wednesday, April 17, 2025. (Crissy Pascual/Petaluma Argus-Courier)

The Block

Hidden behind an auto parts store in an industrial part of Petaluma, The Block is a tiny-but-mighty beer garden with nearly 30 taps and a full cocktail menu. Tacos Don Pepe and Jackie Boy’s Barbecue are on a rotating lineup with Fire Slice pizza served six days a week. 20 Grey St., Petaluma. 707-775-6003, theblockpetaluma.com

Tisza Bistro

Tisza Bistro's Beer Garden
At Tisza Bistro’s Beer Garden in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)

Though it’s just a handful of stout wooden tables and bistro seats beneath draping twinkle lights and Weihenstephan pennants (Germany’s oldest brewery), Munich is in the air at chef Krisztian Karkus’ German and Central European eatery. Grab a Bavarian pretzel, currywurst, or a Weiner schnitzel sandwich and choose from five German beers on tap, plus cans of Stiegl Radler (grapefruit juice and lager) and malty Korbinian. Prost! 165 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707-291-5193, tiszabistro.com

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Sonoma, Napa Wineries Mix It Up With Beer https://www.sonomamag.com/sonoma-napa-wineries-mix-it-up-with-beer/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:13:47 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=123159

To meet new demands, Sonoma and Napa wineries are partnering with breweries to expand their offerings.

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There’s long been an inside joke among winery folks that their favorite beverage is beer.

Every year during harvest, when I stop by local hot spots like El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma or the Restaurant at North Block in Yountville, I can count on finding groups of winemakers hanging out at the bars, holding craft brew mugs in their grape-stained hands.

They love wine but they’ve had enough, they’ll admit. And so, perhaps, have younger drinkers, according to recent statistics.

It’s no secret that the wine industry is facing challenging times, as Gen Z and millennial consumers are exploring alternatives to wine, like cocktails, hard seltzers and beer — or nonalcoholic drinks. Many traditional wine tasting destinations are feeling the pain, with visits declining.

To meet new demands, the industry is pivoting. Winery behemoth Constellation Brands Inc., for example, just reported that beer now represents nearly 82% of its sales, according to the company’s annual earnings report. Last week, Constellation even entered negotiations to sell its entire wine portfolio to two other top producers.

So it won’t surprise me to see more wine tasting rooms entering into partnerships, offering beer and other drinks in their expensive-to-operate spaces. Here are some of my current local favorites pouring wine and beer.

Mad Fritz Brewing Co. and Jessup Wine Cellars

Napa beer
The “Local Origins, Farmer’s Ale” at Mad Fritz Brewing Company in St. Helena, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)

The Mad Fritz taproom opened last spring in Yountville, sharing a charming stone and clapboard cottage with Jessup Wine Cellars on Washington Street. The tiny-batch, high-end beers have been a cult favorite around Napa Valley for more than a decade, poured at The French Laundry and Solage Calistoga among other upscale joints and so coveted that there is a waiting list for the members club.

Husband-and-wife owners Nile Zacherle and Whitney Fisher (both longtime winemakers, by the way) use craft-malted single-variety barley and French oak barrels to age the double or triple fermented beers for up to 12 months.

Flavors change seasonally and the beers usually have delightful names referencing Grimms’ Fairy Tales, such as The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg, a funky, dry saison with a hint of pineapple. My favorite is the mildly bitter and spicy Peach Project, made with organic peaches from Cervantes Family Vineyard in St. Helena and Triumph hops from the Alexander Valley Hops farm in Sonoma County.

The beer bar is tiny — it used to be the Yountville town jail long ago — but hip with its record player and vinyl collection. A sign encourages you to “Yo! Be your own DJ!” and select records (but please heed a newly taped-up sign that says, “Now! Don’t steal them!”).

Napa beer
Dried hops at Mad Fritz Brewing Company in St. Helena, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Napa beer
Mad Fritz Brewing Company cofounder Nile Zacherle pours a beer on tap at the brewery in St. Helena, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)

Step into the adjacent lounge and you’ll find the Jessup Wine Cellars wine bar, a comfy spot to sip standouts like the 2019 Juel blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Petite Verdot.

“We definitely get couples where one wants wine and the other wants beer,” Zacherle said. “I think, as a collective property, we offer a lot of variety.”

Technically, that couple would not sit together, given licensing differences between a beer and a wine business. But with the shared footprint and open wall between the two rooms, the happy pair can toast each other mere feet apart.

6720 Washington St., Yountville, 707-968-5058, madfritz.com

6740 Washington St., Yountville, 707-944-5620, jessupcellars.com

Coyote Sonoma and Wilson Artisan Wines

Wine from Coyote Sonoma. (Coyote Sonoma)
Wine from Coyote Sonoma in Healdsburg. (Coyote Sonoma)

Ken and Diane Wilson own 11 wine businesses across Sonoma and Mendocino counties, including Coyote Sonoma in Healdsburg. The Coyote space used to be the Sonoma Cider taproom, so it made sense for the Wilsons to fill it with local craft beers, alongside their own wine selections.

Beer lovers will find 18 craft brews on tap, from local producers like Parliament Brewing, HenHouse Brewing, Cooperage Brewing and Russian River Brewing.

Wine lovers have two options. There’s a full tasting room with wine and optional food pairings, open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. There’s also a wine list in the taproom, which is open 4 p.m. until the bar closes Wednesday through Saturday.

Niclole Marden performs with her band, as they open for the 2nd Annual Fall Show Benefit Concert featuring Dustin Saylor Band for TLC Child and Family Services at Coyote Sonoma in Healdsburg, Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)
Niclole Marden performs with her band as they open for the second annual Fall Show Benefit Concert featuring Dustin Saylor Band for TLC Child and Family Services at Coyote Sonoma in Healdsburg, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)

Coyote Sonoma hosts live music almost every Friday and Saturday night and has launched a Coyote Sonoma Locals Club that offers complimentary or discounted tickets to most live music events. For $25 per month, club members get one bottle of wine that can be enjoyed on site during a show with free corkage.

“It’s really affordable and particularly attractive at a time where people seem to be more conscious of expenses,” said Wilson marketing specialist Katie Ambrosi. “Even if someone isn’t much of a wine lover, they enjoy the club because it brings such great access to music at a venue with a healthy beer selection.”

44-F Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-395-8846, wilsonartisanwines.com

St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery

St. Clair Brown opened on the edge of downtown Napa in 2013 as a Wine Country wonderland featuring an industrial-chic facility making handcrafted small-lot wines and microbrew beers surrounded by lavish culinary gardens with a café in an English-style greenhouse.

Owners Elaine St. Clair (winemaker and brewmaster) and Laina Brown (winery executive) pulled out all the stops and paid attention to details, like the retro typewritten labels that are tied to the bottles with twine.

St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery in Napa. (St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery)
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery in Napa. (St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery)

I remember the first time I visited back then and how delighted I was when the Napa Valley Wine Train chugged by on the tracks mere feet from that greenhouse. The conductor honked the locomotive’s horn in a long, soulful hello and all of us café guests shared friendly waves with the train riders.

The experience is just as magical now as we can taste flights of wine, beer or even housemade nonalcoholic garden cocktails, with optional food pairings.

You’ll definitely want to try the food, which is presented in jewel box nibbles that highlight produce from the garden, which was planted by organic culinary gardener Peter Jacobsen (he is the owner of Jacobsen Orchards in Yountville and grows specialty fruits, herbs, vegetables and edible flowers for several Michelin-starred restaurants, including The French Laundry).

St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery in Napa. (Emma K Creative)
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery in Napa. (Emma K Creative)
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery in Napa. (St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery)
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery in Napa. (St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery)

I still dream of my last visit, when I savored pork rillettes tucked into a glass jar with fig-apricot-lemon compote, and a pretty salad of farro and Rancho Gordo quinoa dotted with pickled radishes, Pinot Grigio-soaked golden raisins, sweet pea sprouts and blossoms.

Check the website calendar, too, for pop-ups in the cellar that turns into a sophisticated speakeasy. To get in, look for the neon peace sign, knock twice and share the password (that changes weekly). Then slip inside for DJ-spun music, wine and beer by candlelight and dancing amid the fuchsia-strobe-lit stainless steel tanks.

816 Vallejo St., Napa, 707-255-5591, stclairbrown.com

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Where To Find Pliny the Younger Beer 2025 https://www.sonomamag.com/where-to-find-pliny-the-younger-beer-2025/ Thu, 06 Feb 2025 19:08:58 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=122095

Before its official launch in March, Pliny the Younger is already available at some local bars and restaurants.

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Sonoma County’s Russian River Brewing Co. has announced the limited release of its most coveted IPA: Pliny the Younger.

Officially available at the brewery’s Santa Rosa and Windsor pubs from March 21 to April 3, the highly anticipated brew is already quietly on tap (or coming soon) to around 30 bars and restaurants in Sonoma and Napa counties.

As the brewery’s team is busy kegging the 2025 Pliny release to ship to select cities throughout the country, locals will have early access to the triple IPA this month, the brewing company stated in a recent Facebook post.

Pliny the Younger
The Russian River Brewing Co. 20th anniversary 2024 Pliny the Younger triple IPA is filtered and ready for bottles and kegs in Windsor, Monday, March 18, 2024. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

Once Pliny the Younger is released this spring, the Santa Rosa and Windsor pubs will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with lines usually starting as early as 5 a.m. Guests will be limited to three 10-ounce pours and up to three bottles of Pliny the Younger.

The release of Pliny the Younger is usually shrouded in secrecy, adding to its allure. Russian River Brewing Co. has not posted a public list of locations where the beer will be available before its official release but shared a list with The Press Democrat of “most” of the places in Sonoma and Napa counties where the triple IPA will be available.

Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner of Russian River Brewing Co., said over email to The Press Democrat Thursday that while kegs of Pliny the Younger are being distributed around the country, the “lion’s share remains within California, with the heaviest concentration of accounts in the Bay Area.”

Pliny the Younger
Kegs of Russian River Brewing Co.’s coveted, limited-release Pliny the Younger in 2025. (Courtesy Russian River Brewing Co.)

Some local bars and restaurants, such as Santa Rosa’s The Goose & Fern (116 Fifth St.), Trail House Cafe (4036 Montgomery Drive, Suite C) and Sonoma’s HopMonk Tavern (691 Broadway), have announced on social media that they will have Pliny the Younger on tap.

On Thursday, The Goose & Fern owner Clyde Hartwell said the pub will “definitely” have Pliny on tap in the next few days, shooting to have it available for Super Bowl Sunday. Other local bars and restaurants also are aiming to pour Pliny this Sunday.

Below is a list of local places where Pliny the Younger will be on tap. For more information on when they’ll be pouring, call or check the establishments’ social media.

Sonoma County locations for Pliny

The Goose & Fern, 116 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-843-4235, thegooseandfern.com

Bird & The Bottle, 1055 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-568-4000, birdandthebottle.com

Stark’s Steak & Seafood, 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com

Trail House Cafe, 4036 Montgomery Drive, Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-536-9561, incycle.com/pages/retailer/trail-house

SEA Thai Bistro, 2350 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-8333, seathaibistrobar.com

SEA Noodle Bar, 286 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, 707-521-9087, seanoodlebar.com

Tap & Pour, (in Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport) 2200 Airport Blvd. Suite 143, Santa Rosa, 707-909-0064, sonomacountyairport.org

Willi’s Wine Bar, 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, starkrestaurants.com

Taps On The River, 54 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-763-6700, instagram.com/taps.petaluma

McNear’s Saloon, 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-765-2121, mcnears.com

Seared, 170 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-5997, petalumaseared.com

Mario and John’s, 428 E. D St., Unit B, Petaluma, 707-981-7661, marioandjohns.com

Ernie’s Tin Bar, 5100 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, 707-762-2075, facebook.com/erniestinbar

Twin Oaks Roadhouse, 5745 Old Redwood Highway, Penngrove, 707-795-5118, hopmonk.com/twin-oaks

HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-935-9100; 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol, 707-829-7300; 224 Vintage Way, Novato, 415-892-6200, hopmonk.com

the girl & the fig, 110 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-938-3634, thegirlandthefig.com

Barley & Bine Beer Cafe, 7765 Bell Road, Windsor, 707-657-7774, barleybinebeercafe.com

PizzaLeah, 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 116, Windsor, 707-620-0551, pizzaleah.com

Oliver’s Market, 9230 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-687-2050, oliversmarket.com

Bravas Bar de Tapas, 420 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-7700, starkrestaurants.com

Elephant in the Room, 177 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, elephantintheroompub.com

Dry Creek General Store, 3495 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-433-4171, drycreekgeneralstore1881.com

Healdsburg Bar & Grill, 245 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-3333, healdsburgbarandgrill.com

Catelli’s Restaurant, 21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-3471, mycatellis.com

Corner Project Ales & Eats, 21079 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-814-0110, cornerprojectales.com

Russian River Pub, 11829 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-7932, russianriverpub.com

Korbel Winery, 13250 River Road, Guerneville, 707-824-7000, korbel.com

Rainbow Cattle Company, 16220 Main St., Guerneville, 707-869-0206, queersteer.com

Rio Nido Roadhouse, 14540 Canyon 2 Road, Rio Nido, 707-869-0821, rionidoroadhouse.com

Blue Heron, 25275 Steelhead Blvd., Duncans Mills, 707-865-2261, blueheronrestaurant.com

Napa County locations for Pliny

Hop Creek Pub, 3253 Browns Valley Road, Napa, 707-257-7708, hopcreekpub.com

Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant, 610 First St., Napa, 707-257-5200, oxbowwine.com

Gott’s Roadside, 644 First St., Napa, 707-224-6900; 933 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-3486, gotts.com

Erosion Tap House, 1234 Main St., St. Helena, 707-820-4445, erosion.buzz

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Where to Watch Super Bowl 2024 in Sonoma and Napa Counties https://www.sonomamag.com/where-to-watch-super-bowl-2024-in-sonoma-and-napa-counties/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 21:00:38 +0000 http://www.sonomamag.com/?p=22365

Watch the drama unfold at these local bars and beer venues.

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Super Bowl LVIII, featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, will commence at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you’re not prepared to shell out a lot of money to see the game in person (ticket prices this year are the highest on record, averaging $12,240 for a resale ticket), but still would like to watch these two teams battle it out for ultimate football glory, we’ve got plenty of exciting local sports bars that are sure to be buzzing on game day. Click through the gallery above for details and check out the schedule here: espn.com/nfl/schedule.

Do you know more local venues that are showing the Super Bowl? Send us an email.

Owen Ruderman contributed to this article. 

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Where to Watch Super Bowl 2023 in Sonoma County https://www.sonomamag.com/where-to-watch-super-bowl-2023-in-sonoma-county/ Wed, 08 Feb 2023 04:39:55 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=102822

Watch the drama unfold at these local bars and beer venues.

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This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles for Super Bowl LVII. If you want to pair the game (and the halftime show) with some socializing, snacks and brews, we’ve lined up the best Sonoma County sports bars and beer venues to watch the drama unfold — swipe through the slideshow above for all the details.

Did we miss one of your favorite sports bars? Let us know in the comments.

Lonnie Hayes contributed to this article. 

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HenHouse Brewing’s Big Chicken Is Released Today, Here’s Where to Find It https://www.sonomamag.com/where-to-find-henhouse-brewing-big-chicken/ Thu, 06 Feb 2020 17:17:16 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=70087

Big Chicken is only available for up to three days. Here's where to catch the rare bird in Sonoma County.

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A chicken is on the run. We’re not talking about the feathery, poultry kind but a big hoppy one. And now is your chance to catch it.

This Thursday, Feb. 6, marks the eighth annual release of Henhouse Brewing Company’s Big Chicken double IPA. As we speak, Bay Area beer enthusiasts are getting ready to seek out the rare bird.

Like Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny the Younger, Big Chicken is a limited- and controlled-release beer. Unlike “Younger,” which is available during a two-week period each February, Big Chicken is only available up to three days in February. The beer’s unusually high hop content (twelve pounds per barrel) makes it a fragile brew that perishes fast — this is the reason it is brewed, kegged and tapped in a single day.

“Big Chicken is the extreme of our focus on freshness,” said Henhouse Brewing Company’s president Scott Goyne. “Beer is a far more perishable product than most folks realize — hop flavor and aroma degrade fast — so it’s important to drink hoppy beer in its short window of freshness.”

The coveted brew usually runs out within two days, which leaves only a small window to get a taste. Its limited availability only adds to its allure, as is the case with Pliny the Younger, a publicity stunt both Russian River Brewing Company and Henhouse Brewing Company have leveraged to their advantage.

This year, Big Chicken will be available at HenHouse’s Santa Rosa and Petaluma taprooms, Feb. 6  to Feb. 8. Both tasting rooms will be open 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. (There is a two four-pack per person, per day allotment, as well as two 14-ounce pours per person, per day). 

Big Chicken will also be available in the following locations: 

Locations With Big Chicken on Tap

Alameda

Lucky 13

Straw Hat Pizza

Alamo

Ej phair Alamo

Extreme Pizza Alamo

Albany

Albany Taproom

Berkeley

Bobby G’s Pizzeria

Cask on College

Cornerstone

Tupper & Reed

Benecia

Sailor Jack’s

Brentwood

Brentwood Emporium

Hop Asylum

Brentwood Craft aka Sand Creek

Concord

BJs Concord

Concord Taphouse

Eureka! Concord

The Hop Grenade

Cotati

Flagship Taproom

Danville

Pete’s Brass Rail

The Growler

Dublin

Caps and Taps

Three Sheets

El Cerrito

The Little Hill Lounge

Emeryville

Prizefighter

Fairfax

Split Rock Tap and Wheel

Healdsburg

Coyote Sonoma

Elephant in the Room

Healdsburg Bar & Grill

Kenwood

Salt & Stone

Lincoln

Infusion

Livermore

Beach Hut Deli

First Street Alehouse

Hops and Sessions

Sauced BBQ Livermore

Tap 25

Hop Devine

Martinez

Slow Hand BBQ Martinez

Mill Valley

Proof Lab

Napa

Napa Palisades Saloon

Squeeze Burger Napa

Hop Creek Pub

Novato

Hopmonk Novato

Extreme Pizza

Beer Craft

Oakland

Beer Revolution

Ben N’ Nicks

Brotzeit Lokal

Cato’s Ale House

Degrees Plato

Magpie

Paulista

Philomena

Portal

Rosamunde Oakland

The Good Hop

Tiger’s Taproom

The Trappist

Occidental

Barley & Hops

Union Hotel Occidental

Orinda 

Fourth Bore

Petaluma

Twin Oaks

Brewsters Beer Garden

McNear’s

Ray’s Deli and Tavern

Roaring Donkey

Seared Grill- Petaluma

Buffalo Billiards

Speakeasy

Taps Petaluma

Hank’s Petaluma

The Block

Pleasant Hill

Jack’s Taps

Slow Hand BBQ Pleasant Hill

Pleasanton

Lokanta Pleasanton

Oyo

Bottle Taps

Mckay’s

Porky’s Pizza Palace

Rohnert Park

Beer Craft

Roseville

Final Gravity

Bar 101

Sacramento

Hop Gardens

Cap Hop Shop

San Anselmo

Creekside Pizza

San Francisco

Flying Pig

Giordano Bros.

Alembic

Barrelhead Brew House

Beer Hall

Beer Nerds

Church Key

For Point Valencia

City Beer Store

Crafty Fox

Dark Horse Inn

Devil’s Slide Taproom

Emporium

Fermentation Lab

Fly Bar

Chruchill

Foghorn Taproom

The Showdown

Bloodhound

Hops & Hominy

Hopwater Distribution

Liquid Gold

MIkkeller Bar

Monaghan’s

Monk’s Kettle

Ocean Ale House

Old Devil Moon

Richmond Republic Draught House

Rosamunde Mission

Rusty’s Southern

Sessions

Sea Star

The Ave

The Brew Coop

The Page

Toronado

Zeitgeist

Chomp N Swig

Hardwood Bar & Smokery

Public House

Local Tap

Holy Water

San Leandro

Porky’s Pizza Palace

Son’s of Liberty

The Cooler

San Rafael

Flat Iron

Libation Taproom

Pint Size Lounge

Tam Commons

Santa Rosa

Belly

Brew

Epicenter

Everybody’s Tappin

Juncture Taproom

La Rosa

Local Barrel

Mayacama Golf Club

Mission Kitchen Bar

Ricardo’s Bar and Grill

Rincon Valley Tap Room

Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club

Steele & Hops

Toad in the Hole

Trail House

Westside Grill

Whiskey Tip

Whole Foods Coddingtown

Wilibees SR

Sebastopol

Hopmonk Sebastopol

Ramen Gaijin

Community Market

Sonoma

Hopmonk

Tiburon

SF Yacht Club

Tracy

Delta Brews

Walnut Creek 

Extreme Pizza

Hops & Scotch

Ol Beer Cafe

Rotator Taproom

Sauced BBQ

Windsor

Barley & Bine

Mountain Mikes

Super Burger

Olivers Tavern

Locations With Big Chicken in Cans 

Brentwood

Brentwood Emporium

Hop Asylum

Calistoga

Cal Mart

Concord

Hop Grenade

Cotati

Flagship Taproom

Olivers Market

Dublin

Caps & Taps

Three Sheets

Healdsburg

Big Johns

Shelton’s

Tip Top Liquors

Mill Valley

Mill Valley Market

Novato

BeerCraft

Harvest Market

Oakland

Degrees

Good Hop

Petaluma

Penngrove Market

Charley’s Liquor

Petaluma Market

Steel Bear

Wilibees

Rohnert Park

BeerCraft

Roseville

Final Gravity

Sacramento

Hop Garden

San Anselmo

Ludwig’s

San Francisco

City Beer

Liquid Gold

San Rafael

Libations

Marin Bev

Santa Venetia

Santa Rosa

Bevmo Santa Rosa Ave

Bottle Barn

Juncture

Local Barrel

Molsberry Market

Olivers- Motecito

Olivers- Stony Point

Pacific Market

Rincon Valley Wine & Craft

Trailhouse

Whole Foods- Coddingtown

Willibees Santa Rosa

Sausalito

Driver Market

Sebastopol

Andy’s Produce

Community Market

Fiesta Market

Fircrest Market

Olivers- Windsor

Pohley’s

Walnut Creek

Ol Beer Cafe

Rotator Taproom

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Russian River and More: Best Sonoma Breweries and Bars for a Sudsy Summer https://www.sonomamag.com/best-sonoma-breweries-and-beer-venues-for-summer/ Tue, 02 Jul 2019 22:00:59 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=43879

Sip on a cold one on a shaded patio or at a lively bar. We’ve lined up a few favorite beer venues for summer fun.

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Summer is kicking into gear in Sonoma County. Time to sip on a cold one on a shaded patio or at a lively bar – we’ve lined up a few favorite beer venues for summer fun. Added bonus: we asked each spot for a summer brew recommendation. Click through the above gallery for details.

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Cool Sonoma County Bars for Hot Summer Nights https://www.sonomamag.com/best-outdoor-bars-in-sonoma-county/ https://www.sonomamag.com/best-outdoor-bars-in-sonoma-county/#disqus_thread Tue, 11 Jun 2019 23:33:03 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/?p=41687

Make the most of the warm summer nights with a drink on a shaded patio.

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Dining outside is delightful. But what about when you’re more focused on a few Bloody Mary’s, a cold beer or a tasty glass of rosé with a few nibbles? That’s our idea of summer fun in the sun. Click through the gallery for a few of our favorite family-friendly, sometimes dog-friendly, spots to cool off.

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Where to Find HenHouse’s Big Chicken IPA in Sonoma County https://www.sonomamag.com/where-to-find-hen-houses-big-chicken-ipa-in-sonoma-county-2019/ Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:26:43 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=40804

Big Chicken is only available for up to three days. Here's where to catch the rare bird in Sonoma County and beyond.

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Updated February 6, 2020. Find 2020 locations here

A chicken is on the run. We’re not talking about the feathery poultry kind of chick but a big hoppy one, and now is your chance to catch it.

This Thursday, February 6, marks the eighth annual release of HenHouse Brewing Company’s Big Chicken double IPA and, as we speak, Bay Area beer enthusiasts are getting ready to seek out the rare bird.

[Want to taste another coveted Sonoma County brew? Check out our guide to the 2020 Pliny the Younger release, coming up this Friday.]

Like Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny the Younger, Big Chicken is a limited- and controlled-release beer. Unlike Younger, which is available during a two-week period each February, Big Chicken is only available one to three days per year. The beer’s unusually high hop content (twelve pounds per barrel) makes it a fragile brew that perishes fast — this is the reason it is brewed, kegged and tapped in a single day.

“Big Chicken is the extreme of our focus on freshness,” said HenHouse Brewing Company’s president Scott Goyne, “beer is a far more perishable product than most folks realize – hop flavor and aroma degrade fast — so it’s important to drink hoppy beer in its short window of freshness.”

HenHouse Brewing’s Big Chicken double IPA is released on Thursday, Feb 6. (Courtesy photos)

The coveted brew usually runs out within two days, which leaves only a small window to get a taste. Its limited availability only adds to its allure, as is the case with Pliny the Younger, a publicity stunt both Russian River Brewing Company and HenHouse Brewing Company have leveraged to their advantage.

This year, Big Chicken will be available at HenHouse’s Santa Rosa and Petaluma taprooms, Feb. 6 – Feb. 8. Both tasting rooms will be open 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. (There is a two four-pack per person, per day allotment, as well as two 14-ounce pours per person, per day). 

Big Chicken will also be available in the following locations: 

Locations with Big Chicken on Tap

Alameda

Lucky 13

Straw Hat Pizza

Alamo

Ej phair Alamo

Extreme Pizza Alamo

Albany

Albany Taproom

Berkeley

Bobby G’s Pizzeria

Cask on College

Cornerstone

Tupper & Reed

Benecia

Sailor Jack’s

Brentwood

Brentwood Emporium

Hop Asylum

Brentwood Craft aka Sand Creek

Concord

BJs Concord

Concord Taphouse

Eureka! Concord

The Hop Grenade

Cotati

Flagship Taproom

Danville

Pete’s Brass Rail

The Growler

Dublin

Caps and Taps

Three Sheets

El Cerrito

The Little Hill Lounge

Emeryville

Prizefighter

Fairfax

Split Rock Tap and Wheel

Healdsburg

Coyote Sonoma

Elephant in the Room

Healdsburg Bar & Grill

Kenwood

Salt & Stone

Lincoln

Infusion

Livermore

Beach Hut Deli

First Street Alehouse

Hops and Sessions

Sauced BBQ Livermore

Tap 25

Hop Devine

Martinez

Slow Hand BBQ Martinez

Mill Valley

Proof Lab

Napa

Napa Palisades Saloon

Squeeze Burger Napa

Hop Creek Pub

Novato

Hopmonk Novato

Extreme Pizza

Beer Craft

Oakland

Beer Revolution

Ben N’ Nicks

Brotzeit Lokal

Cato’s Ale House

Degrees Plato

Magpie

Paulista

Philomena

Portal

Rosamunde Oakland

The Good Hop

Tiger’s Taproom

The Trappist

Occidental

Barley & Hops

Union Hotel Occidental

Orinda 

Fourth Bore

Petaluma

Twin Oaks

Brewsters Beer Garden

McNear’s

Ray’s Deli and Tavern

Roaring Donkey

Seared Grill- Petaluma

Buffalo Billiards

Speakeasy

Taps Petaluma

Hank’s Petaluma

The Block

Pleasant Hill

Jack’s Taps

Slow Hand BBQ Pleasant Hill

Pleasanton

Lokanta Pleasanton

Oyo

Bottle Taps

Mckay’s

Porky’s Pizza Palace

Rohnert Park

Beer Craft

Roseville

Final Gravity

Bar 101

Sacramento

Hop Gardens

Cap Hop Shop

San Anselmo

Creekside Pizza

San Francisco

Flying Pig

Giordano Bros.

Alembic

Barrelhead Brew House

Beer Hall

Beer Nerds

Church Key

For Point Valencia

City Beer Store

Crafty Fox

Dark Horse Inn

Devil’s Slide Taproom

Emporium

Fermentation Lab

Fly Bar

Chruchill

Foghorn Taproom

The Showdown

Bloodhound

Hops & Hominy

Hopwater Distribution

Liquid Gold

MIkkeller Bar

Monaghan’s

Monk’s Kettle

Ocean Ale House

Old Devil Moon

Richmond Republic Draught House

Rosamunde Mission

Rusty’s Southern

Sessions

Sea Star

The Ave

The Brew Coop

The Page

Toronado

Zeitgeist

Chomp N Swig

Hardwood Bar & Smokery

Public House

Local Tap

Holy Water

San Leandro

Porky’s Pizza Palace

Son’s of Liberty

The Cooler

San Rafael

Flat Iron

Libation Taproom

Pint Size Lounge

Tam Commons

Santa Rosa

Belly

Brew

Epicenter

Everybody’s Tappin

Juncture Taproom

La Rosa

Local Barrel

Mayacama Golf Club

Mission Kitchen Bar

Ricardo’s Bar and Grill

Rincon Valley Tap Room

Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club

Steele & Hops

Toad in the Hole

Trail House

Westside Grill

Whiskey Tip

Whole Foods Coddingtown

Wilibees SR

Sebastopol

Hopmonk Sebastopol

Ramen Gaijin

Community Market

Sonoma

Hopmonk

Tiburon

SF Yacht Club

Tracy

Delta Brews

Walnut Creek 

Extreme Pizza

Hops & Scotch

Ol Beer Cafe

Rotator Taproom

Sauced BBQ

Windsor

Barley & Bine

Mountain Mikes

Super Burger

Olivers Tavern

Locations with Big Chicken in Cans 

Brentwood

Brentwood Emporium

Hop Asylum

Calistoga

Cal Mart

Concord

Hop Grenade

Cotati

Flagship Taproom

Olivers Market

Dublin

Caps & Taps

Three Sheets

Healdsburg

Big Johns

Shelton’s

Tip Top Liquors

Mill Valley

Mill Valley Market

Novato

BeerCraft

Harvest Market

Oakland

Degrees

Good Hop

Petaluma

Penngrove Market

Charley’s Liquor

Petaluma Market

Steel Bear

Wilibees

Rohnert Park

BeerCraft

Roseville

Final Gravity

Sacramento

Hop Garden

San Anselmo

Ludwig’s

San Francisco

City Beer

Liquid Gold

San Rafael

Libations

Marin Bev

Santa Venetia

Santa Rosa

Bevmo Santa Rosa Ave

Bottle Barn

Juncture

Local Barrel

Molsberry Market

Olivers- Motecito

Olivers- Stony Point

Pacific Market

Rincon Valley Wine & Craft

Trailhouse

Whole Foods- Coddingtown

Willibees Santa Rosa

Sausalito

Driver Market

Sebastopol

Andy’s Produce

Community Market

Fiesta Market

Fircrest Market

Olivers- Windsor

Pohley’s

Walnut Creek

Ol Beer Cafe

Rotator Taproom

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Made in Sonoma: Last Minute Stocking Stuffers for Foodies https://www.sonomamag.com/made-in-sonoma-last-minute-stocking-stuffers-for-foodies/ Tue, 18 Dec 2018 00:44:23 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=39618

'Tis the season to stock up on holiday treats! We've got you covered with perfect presents for foodies.

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‘Tis the season to stock up on holiday treats! If you’re looking to shop local for a foodie family member or friend, we’ve got you covered with perfect presents. Click through the above gallery for 10 ideas, featuring products made in Sonoma County. Additional bonus: You can snatch up most of these for less than $25. And, don’t worry…if you happen to buy one of these for yourself, we won’t tell!

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