Beer has come a long way from the days when the only choices available were light or regular. In the past two decades, the flavors and styles on tap have grown into a booming industry that now satisfies patrons thirsty for fruity saisons, triple IPAs and barrel-aged sours. 

Craft beer, once a niche market for a community of homebrewers and beer aficionados, has spilled out across the nation in record numbers. As of 2024, there are over 9,700 breweries in the country creating unique and flavorful concoctions of hops, malt and yeast. 

Sonoma County, and Santa Rosa in particular, reigns supreme in this golden age of beer with riches in the form of world-renowned craft breweries. With an ever-growing number of first-class beer venues to choose from, it can be hard for beer-lovers to plan their Sonoma suds adventures. For first-time visitors wondering where to start, we present a sampling of our favorite local breweries below. Cheers! 

HenHouse Brewing Company, Santa Rosa/Petaluma

For beer aficionados, a handful of craft breweries make Sonoma County stand out – among them is HenHouse. HenHouse co-founders Collin McDonnell and Scott Goyne founded the brewery in 2012, and sold bottled beers exclusively at the Petaluma brewery. Four years later, they opened a Santa Rosa taproom; an industrial space featuring free popcorn and the Red Horse Pizza food truck out front.

Now in its 13th year, HenHouse continues to churn out the kind of ales, sours and stouts that attract beer snobs from near and far. Their HenHouse IPA and Chemtrails IPA are two of the best IPAs we’ve tried and the limited-release Big Chicken DIPA is one of the most sought after brews made in Sonoma County.

322 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa; 1333 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, henhousebrewing.com

Cooperage Brewing Company, Santa Rosa 

Cooperage founder, head brewer and Orange County transplant, Tyler Smith has turned a decade of brewing in a garage into one of the premier craft breweries in one of the premier craft brewery locations in the world.

The brewery, located in an industrial warehouse, has become a favorite destination for beer enthusiasts looking for unique and well crafted pale ales — The Wyatt Terp is a must-try for IPA lovers. Cooperage also features food trucks for the hungry, a giant projector screen for sports fans and an arcade machine with joystick classics for those looking for some old-school fun. Just last year, Cooperage opened a second location in downtown Santa Rosa.

981 Airway Court, Suite G, and 575 Ross St., Santa Rosa, 707-293-9787, cooperagebrewing.com

Fogbelt Brewing Company, Santa Rosa/Healdsburg

Founded in 2013 by Paul Hawley and Remy Martin, Fogbelt Brewing Company is another reason why Santa Rosa is repeatedly named a top of craft beer destination. Like the name of the brewery, Fogbelt’s brews pay tribute to the North Coast — each flagship beer is named after a coastal redwood tree.

From the crisp Atlas Blonde Ale to the robust Armstrong Stout, beer flights connoisseurs will not be disappointed with what’s on tap. The brewery is also host to one of the best brewery kitchens we’ve encountered: try the fish tacos with pickled radish and chipotle crema. In 2022, the brewery opened Fogbelt Station in Healdsburg.

1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3400; 410 Hudson St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8532, fogbeltbrewing.com

Moonlight Brewing Company, Santa Rosa

Moonlight head brewer Brian Hunt is old school. Hunt was crafting brews before there was even a craft beer industry, and his Moonlight Brewing became the first microbrewery in Santa Rosa when it opened in 1992.

The Moonlight brewery process relies on a no-frills approach: sight, smell and taste determine when a beer is ready and barley, grains and herbs make up the main ingredients. A sip on a Moonlight beer will bring you back to a time when the beer world was not dominated by hoppy IPAs; and the San Francisco-style, black lager “Death and Taxes” will make the previously pure join the dark side, for sure.

3350 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-755-4951, moonlightbrewing.com

Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa/Windsor

What is there to say that has not already been said about this Santa Rosa brewing behemoth? Russian River has won just about every beer award you can win, garnered worldwide fame and sent beer lovers into a February frenzy for the past 20 years with limited-release Pliny the Younger.

While the brewery’s hoppy Plinys (Younger and Elder) are definitely worth a try, the less intense, well-balanced and flavorful Blind Pig IPA should also be included on your beer bucket list. An added, and sometimes overlooked, bonus is the family-friendly atmosphere at the brewery (including a kids menu). But leave junior at home for the annual Pliny pilgrimage, no kid (and few adults) want to wait in line for hours.

725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor, 707-545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com

Iron Ox Brewing Company, Santa Rosa

Founder Kevin Robinson spent 10 years plowing through the beer and wine industry before he opened his own Santa Rosa brewery in 2015, originally called Plow Brewing Co. until changing the name to Iron Ox in 2020. While Iron Ox may not enjoy the kind of ballyhoo other breweries on this list do, that’s no loss to Robinson; as the brewery website states: “We are not ones to follow the trend or make beer for the masses. We make beer for us.”

Iron Ox brews without chemicals, extracts or finings (a compound agent added to beer to improve clarity or adjust flavor/aroma), making every beer vegan-friendly. The taproom is small and the intimate atmosphere makes this an ideal spot for escaping the crowds while relaxing with a cold one. Order the Sonoma Coast Pils and Steel Share IPA.

3334 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-843-4583, ironoxbeer.com

Shady Oak Barrel House, Santa Rosa

Calling themselves the “The Shady Bunch,” the team at Shady Oak is committed to fostering a family-like vibe at its taproom and beer garden while supporting the community. The brewery plays host to a variety of North Bay vendors, musicians and artists in its large indoor venue. Find an assortment of changing brews on tap, from hard seltzers to classic West Coast IPAs.

420 First St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-7687, shadyoakbrewing.com

Old Possum Brewing Co., Santa Rosa

Old Possum sources hops from Sonoma County farmers, so guests know they’re supporting local when they dine on barbecue from the kitchen and wash the meal down with a crushable IPA. Standout beers include the Interstellar Stout, Disturbance Pale Ale and Fresh Sonoma IPA.

357 Sutton Place, Santa Rosa, 707-303-7177, oldpossumbrewing.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma

A North Bay staple for the past three decades, Lagunitas continues to impress beer aficionados by producing one-of-a-kind, boundary-pushing interpretations of traditional brews with heavy hitting flavor. Flagship classics include Little Sumpin’, Lagunitas Pils, Aunt Sally, Hop Stoopid and Brown Shugga. Lagunitas’ Petaluma location provides one of the best atmospheres to enjoy a beer with a live music venue, inviting outdoor patio, full kitchen, photo booth and gift shop.

1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-284-1020, lagunitas.com

Old Caz Beer, Rohnert Park

Just four months after opening a new brewpub in Rohnert Park’s SOMO Village, Old Caz Beer’s One Way IPA took second place at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival. If that isn’t enough reason to visit Old Caz, then its rotating lineup of stellar food trucks are sure to entice. The food trucks that frequent the brewpub include the Japanese-style Shokakko, pizza pop-up Gabacool Provisions and local brothers-owned Galvan’s Eatery. There’s nothing quite like washing down birria tacos with a crisp IPA.

1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park, 707-665-6668, oldcaz.com

Parliament Brewing Company, Rohnert Park

This family-owned brewery, with beer master Justin Bosch at the helm, has a healthy mix of drafts on tap to match any taste. Some favorites include the crisp Mexican-style lager “Los Tecolotes,” the hazy IPA “Kaleidoscope” and the fruity sour “Berry Pie.” Find coveted local food trucks parked at Parliament every day, such as Shokkako, API Hot Chicken and War Pigs Craft Kitchen.

5865 Labath Ave., Suite 9, Rohnert Park, 707-776-6779, parliamentbrewing.com

Barrel Brothers Brewing Company, Windsor

Barrel Brothers, like the name implies, is a family affair. The brewery was founded by brothers-in-law, Wesley Deal and Daniel Weber, and their father-in-law, Tom Sather in 2015. Considering themselves akin to alchemists, the family concocts magical potions from water, grain, hops and yeast. Their beers run the spectrum from light to dark. The “Blonde Voyage” Belgian ale makes for an ideal barbecue beverage, while the “Dark Sarcasm” porter is packed with chocolate, mocha and vanilla. Their “Naughty Hops” IPA is brewed with their revolutionary, ‘Hop Spanker’ technology. The Windsor tap room may be on the small side for some, but there are plenty of fresh beers on tap to enjoy.

9238 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 128, Windsor, barrelbrothersbrewing.com

CUVER Belgian Brewers, Windsor

Kids and pets are welcome at this Windsor brewery’s spacious patio while the adults sip citrusy lagers and rich ales. Among the top picks of brews here is the signature Pepperwood, a saison ale that won a gold medal in the 2024 California State Fair’s Commercial Craft Beer competition. Food trucks pull up to the taproom from 4-7 p.m. most Fridays.

7704 Bell Road, Suite A, Windsor, 707-687-0577, cuverbrewing.com

Crooked Goat Brewing, Sebastopol/Petaluma

If you like to wet your whistle with some wheat brew, then Crooked Goat is the place for you. This Sebastopol brewery crafts unique wheat ales infused with flavors from honey, blackberries, raspberries — even bubblegum (featured in the aptly named “Bazooka Joe”). Crooked Goat also boasts a selection of hoppy, high ABV percentage IPAs, such as the West Coast-style “Ibex” and the apricot- and vanilla-infused “Foggy Notion” DIPA. Brewmaster Will Erickson and crew took Crooked Goat from a garage to the 10-barrel system taproom at The Barlow, winning The People’s Choice Award at the Santa Rosa Battle of the Brews in 2015. Crooked Goat opened a second taproom in Petaluma in 2022. This summer through Sept. 13, the Sebastopol location is hosting a free summer concert series every Saturday.

120 Morris St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-827-3893; 110 Howard St., Petaluma, 707-559-5691, crookedgoatbrewing.com

Sonoma Spring Brewing Company, Sonoma

At Sonoma Springs Brewing Company, the only brewery located in the city of Sonoma, there’s an expansive lineup of California and German-style beers. In keeping with the craft beer trend, all Sonoma Springs brews have fun, catchy names: “Pacific Coast Hopway,” “Dreaming Out Loud,” and “Subliminal Gold IPA” are a few examples. With over 20 fresh beers on tap, there’s plenty to choose from at the taproom.

19449 Riverside Drive, Suite 101, Sonoma, 707-938-7422, sonomaspringsbrewing.com

Maci Martell contributed to this article.

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Pliny the Younger, Russian River Brewing Company’s super-hoppy triple India pale ale, will be released Friday, March 21. It will be available until April 3 and is expected to bring thousands of self-proclaimed beer geeks to Russian River Brewing Company’s Santa Rosa and Windsor brewpubs.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Pliny release, which select local bars and restaurants had on tap in February.

To get you primed for Pliny time, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about the coveted brew. Click through the above gallery for photos from previous Pliny releases, plus some quick facts.

What’s the big deal?

Russian River brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo first brewed “Younger” in 2005. At the time, it was the only beer of its kind: the first triple IPA. It is only available for a limited time at the brewery’s Santa Rosa and Windsor brewpubs. Until 2022, it was released in February. Since then, it has been released in March. (Since 2022, it has also been released to a selection of bars and restaurants before its official in-person release.) At the brewpubs, Pliny is only available on draft and is served in 10-ounce glasses. Patrons can also buy and take home bottles of the coveted beer — three bottles per guest are sold on a first come, first served basis, only available at the brewpubs.

OK, when can I get my hands on some Pliny?

Russian River Brewing Co.’s brewpubs in Santa Rosa and Windsor will be pouring Pliny from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, March 21 through April 3. The beer will be available each day until the brewpub runs out of that day’s allocation. Pliny pilgrims can expect long waits to get into the brewpubs; lines start to form around 5 a.m. Once inside, guests are allotted two and a half hours at the pub, three “Youngers” (10-ounce pours) and three bottles of Pliny to take home.

If Pliny is so popular, why not just make more of it? 

According to Russian River Brewing, Pliny the Younger is a very time consuming and expensive beer to brew. It requires an exceptionally large amount of raw materials — malt and hops in particular — and takes up significant tank space at the brewery. In other words, it’s just not worth the money and effort to make more Pliny — especially when the limited supply seems to be working out just fine.

Is there any way to skip the line?

In 2018, for the first time in Younger history, a lucky few got to cut the line. Following the wildfires in October 2017, Russian River Brewing launched Sonoma Pride, which raised funds for fire relief efforts in part through $25 donations for a chance to win Pliny line-cutting privileges. Since then, however, there are no cuts allowed. For the best shot at a short wait, the time to come is midweek during the evening (Windsor is your best bet). But, believe it or not, a lot of people actually want to experience the line — come rain or shine — because “that’s where the event is.” But standing in lines has rules…

How do I master the line (and not get kicked out)? 

No matter how pumped you are about Pliny, waiting in line for hours can be boring, and bored people do silly things. Therefore, there are rules: no smoking, no drinking, no bottle sharing (in line or inside the brewpub), no camping in front of businesses (leave your pop-up tents and easy-ups at home) and come with your entire party — don’t cut in front of people who have been waiting for hours because “your friends saved your spot;” that’s not cool.

What happens once I get inside? 

Russian River Brewing Company keeps track of allotted time and pours with a four-tabbed wristband — not, disappointingly, with chalk marks like meter maids. Tabs are removed as Youngers are poured; the fourth tap is for purchasing Pliny bottles. Draft pours are not transferable, but bottle allocations can be transferred to other people in your party. Inside, Plinys can be paired with pub fare. Naturally, “Pliny” bites are the most popular pick, but “Drew” bites are also worth a try. The Windsor brewpub has more food options.

What does Pliny taste like? 

Pliny the Younger is a rendition of other Russian River Brewing Company favorite Pliny the Elder, except with more hops, malt and higher alcohol (the beer finishes around 10.25% AVB). The hops used in the recipe include Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic, Nectaron, Simcoe and Warrior. New to the mix this year is Tangier, a hop variety from Segal Ranch in Washington. According to those in the know (and Russian River Brewing Company’s website), it is loaded with hop flavors and is surprisingly smooth and dry for the amount of alcohol and malt.

Who is this Pliny character anyway? And how do I pronounce Pliny? 

Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, a.k.a Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author and magistrate of ancient Rome. Pliny’s uncle, Pliny the Elder (also a Russian River beer), helped raise and educate him, and later adopted him. Pliny Jr. and Pliny Sr. witnessed the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, which took Pliny the Elder’s life. While most people pronounce the popular beer “ply-knee,” the “correct” Latin pronunciation is actually “plih-nee” – rhyming with “mini.”

What’s the Windsor brewery like? 

The Windsor brewpub can accommodate up to 200 Pliny enthusiasts (the Santa Rosa pub’s capacity is 135). The food menu offers more options than the Santa Rosa location, including burgers, double-fried Kennebec fries, fish and chips, salmon, schnitzel and salads. If you need some fresh air, you can step out on a year-round patio and 1-acre pet-friendly beer garden. In addition to Pliny the Younger, visitors can sample other popular Russian River Brewing beers.

I’m from out of town; where is a good place to stay? And how do I get around after I’ve had my share of Plinys? 

Russian River Brewing Company has partnered with a number of local hotels that are offering “Special Younger Rates” during the two-week release: Art House Hotel, Courtyard Marriott, Hotel E, Hampton Inn & Suites, Vintners Resort and The Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, Hampton Inn and Suites in Windsor and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Rohnert Park.

Want to explore Sonoma County post Pliny? Uber and Lyft are available in Santa Rosa and Windsor. The SMART train is another good option.

What if I am pining for Pliny, but am not willing to wait in line for hours? 

No worries. Pliny the Younger’s close relation, Pliny the Elder, is available year round — bottled or on tap. You can also check out local restaurants and bars that may have some Younger left on tap.

Where to get Pliny the Younger

Russian River Brewing Co. Santa Rosa: 725 Fourth St.; 707-545-2337. Windsor: 700 Mitchell Lane; 707-545-2337.

Hours: Both brewpubs will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. through April 3. Pliny will be available each day until the brewpub runs out of that day’s allocation. Customers can expect long wait times, with lines starting to form around 5 a.m. or earlier.

Information: russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release

Looking for things to do in Santa Rosa during your Pliny visit? Check out this guide to the city.

Had your three Plinys in Windsor and wondering what to do next? We’ve got you covered with restaurants, tasting rooms and fun activities.

Sarah Doyle, Sofia Englund, Maci Martell, Jess Poshepny-Vallery and Christi Warren contributed to this article. 

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Russian River Brewing Company’s most coveted beer, Pliny the Younger, is here (through April 6 this year). Lines will circle the block around the Santa Rosa brewpub and the brewery’s Windsor facility.

The opening of the Windsor brewery in 2018 meant more Pliny to the people — twice as much beer was crafted for the 2019 release compared to previous years. The new location also means that the town of Windsor welcomes more visitors, who get to explore a town that’s not always included on Wine County itineraries.

For those looking for off-the-beaten-path experiences and hidden gems, Windsor is a great place to visit — with or without Pliny. In and around the Town Green area, you’ll find an eclectic mix of shops selling everything from candy to clothes, restaurants serving up international flavors and tasting rooms pouring a variety of local drinks. Click through the above gallery for a few fun things to do during your stay.

Shana Bull contributed to this article. 

The post 10 Things to Do in Windsor After Your Pliny Adventure appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

For the past two weeks, Santa Rosa streets have been lined with Pliny pilgrims eagerly awaiting a sip on Russian River’s most coveted brew. While this February frenzy has become a cherished annual event for many, standing in line for five plus hours is not for everyone. If you lack the patience necessary to taste Pliny the Younger or didn’t get a chance to try the famous beer this year, we have picked out five Sonoma County brews you may not have heard (as much) about but that are just as good and definitely worth seeking out. Click through the gallery above for all the details.

The post Missed Pliny? Here Are 5 Sonoma County Beers That Are Just as Good (Or Better) appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

It’s week two of  “Younger” and people are still flocking from all over the world to taste the limited-release beer at Russian River Brewing Company (RRBC) in Santa Rosa. During week one, beer lovers defied winter rain and as the sun came out by the beginning of the second week, the line wrapped around the buildings on 4th Street and continued all the way to 5th Street at the back of the brewery. Visitors and locals alike patiently waited to see if the beloved beer is all it’s cracked up to be – and, believe me, it is. If you haven’t yet experienced this epic brew, call in sick, do whatever you have to, and get yourself to RRBC! Here’s the inside scoop from this year’s release (and here’s 10 things you need to know about Pliny the Younger).

Russian River Brewing Co. guests are allotted a three hour slot to enjoy their three Youngers, brewery bites, and any other beers they may like to try. After waiting in line for hours, people take advantage of their time inside: beers and bites and pizzas are flowing non-stop.

The post Pliny the Younger is Worth the Wait – Today Is Last Chance to Taste It appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

One of the most popular beer events in Sonoma County is coming up. Here are 50 reasons why you should get your tickets now.

The second annual RateBeer Best Festival and Awards Ceremony will take place over the course of two days, January 28-29, in Santa Rosa. This year’s event will feature a grand tasting experience with beers from 50 of the world’s top breweries and honor the top 100 beers selected by RateBeer reviewers.

The RateBeer Best awards began in 2002 as a series of online announcements during RateBeer’s second year as a public beer review and rating website. Attracting international attention, the online awards evolved into a live show in 2016. The event, produced by Fat Dogg Productions/NorCal Beer Geeks, raises funds for Sonoma County local charity Ales For Autism.

The Ratebeer Best Grand Tasting takes place on Saturday, January 28th at 1:30 pm at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, with VIP entrance starting at 12:30 pm. Food from various Sonoma County vendors (lineup not yet released) will be available for purchase at the event. VIP attendees will enjoy early access to top notch brewers and will also be treated to fine farm-to-table fare from Peloton Culinary & Catering, known for epic beer pairings.

Here are the 50 breweries that have confirmed their participation at RateBeer Best:

SONOMA COUNTY

Moonlight  · Lagunitas · Bear Republic · Cooperage  · Fogbelt · 101 North · Third Street Aleworks · Plow  · Henhouse  · St. Florian’s · Stumptown · Seismic

UNITED STATES

Hill Farmstead Brewery · Sante Adairius Rustic Ales · Tree House Brewing Company · Jester King Brewery · Monkish Brewing Company · Side Project Brewing · Great Notion Brewing · Blackberry Farm · Toppling Goliath · Prairie Artisan Ales · Tired Hands Brewing Company · Cellarmaker Brewing Company · Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery · Cycle Brewing · Other Half · Three Floyds Brewing Company · Superstition Meadery · Russian River Brewing · J Wakefield Brewing · Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company · De Garde Brewing · Trillium Brewing Company · American Solera · Evil Twin Brewing

BELGIUM

De Struise Brouwers · Cantillon · 3 Fonteinen ·  

BRAZIL

DUM Cervejaria · Cervejaria Dogma

CANADA

Brasserie Dunham · Bellwoods Brewery

JAPAN

Kiuchi Brewery

SWEDEN

Omnipollo

UNITED KINGDOM

Cloudwater Brew Co · Beavertown · Buxton

The RateBeer Best Awards Reception takes place on Sunday, January 29, at 11 am at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. At 1 pm, following the Awards Ceremony, there will be a reception and bottle share, offering opportunities for beer fans to meet some of the world’s best brewers and taste even more beers from around the world. The event is planned to coninue at guest rooms throughout the hotel and finish by 3 pm.

“RateBeer Best Awards Ceremony is largely for industry but enthusiasts are also invited to attend. The big draw for the everyday beer lover is the ability to taste some of the best beers in the world without having to leave the country, and meet the brewers behind these great beers in a one of a kind world class beer event.” said Founder & CEO of Ratebeer, Joe Tucker.

So whether you are a brewer, home brewer, beer geek, casual beer consumer, or entirely new to beer, this event is for you and is not to be missed. Get your tickets now, while they last! You’re guaranteed to leave this event with a smiling face!

RATEBEER BEST 2017

RateBeer Best Festival
Saturday, January 28, General Admission 1:30 pm, VIP 12:30 pm.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Tickets, General Admission, $80 per person, purchase your tickets here, VIP Tickets: sold out.

RateBeer Best Awards Ceremony
Sunday, January 29, 11 am.
Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa, 2777 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Tickets, $25 per person, purchase your tickets here.
More Info: ratebeerbest.com (@Ratebeer)

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How do you get to the heart of the craft brew craze? Go taste at the source: along the Sonoma and Mendocino ale trail.

“You guys thirsty?” Before we can answer, a hand yanks the tap and fills two tasting cups with an orangey golden ale. I’d been warned about this. Lagunitas pours heavy, enough people told me that we made it our first stop. Sneak a quick tour, then get back on the road. That was the idea. But here we are, early on a Friday afternoon, two guys in cargo shorts and T-shirts far away from the frenzy of our daily lives. Yeah, we’re thirsty.

Two weeks before, I’d sent my buddy Nate an email: Beer run … 3 days, 6 epic breweries. Book a flight! It was more of a challenge than an invitation, the torqued-up chatter that passes for dialogue between us. Years had gone by since we’d last seen each other, and somewhere along the way our lives had outgrown us—marriage, kids, premium cable. The next day he texted me his itinerary.

Our route started in Petaluma, about an hour north of San Francisco, and snaked through Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, home to some of the most exciting beermaking on the planet. We’d slip through wine country’s back door to taste toasty lagers, mouth-puckering sours, stouts the color of crude oil, and the West’s signature brew, the hoppy India Pale Ale. Bud country this was not.

There was, of course, the matter of the car. My 2004 Toyota Corolla with its Cheerios-encrusted car seat wasn’t fit for the occasion. So we rented the biggest, loudest ride we could find, a bright orange Dodge Challenger. Our only rule for the next three days: No Bad Beer!

“Beer speaks, people mumble” is the motto at Lagunitas Brewing, and judging from the line of trucks streaming in and out of the Petaluma brewery, beer has a lot to say. What started as a stovetop operation in Tony Magee’s home has mushroomed into the second-largest craft brewery in California (behind Sierra Nevada). Lagunitas cranked out 160,000 barrels of beer last year—almost 5 million gallons. This year, the company plans to bump production up to more than 200,000 barrels, which would make it about a fifth the size of Anheuser-Busch … in 1902.

Microbrews account for 9 percent of U.S. beer sales—a mere drop in the industry keg. But in recent years, overall sales have slumped while craft brew has exploded, growing 110 percent in the last decade. There are now more small breweries in more places making more styles of beer than at any time since Prohibition. Just walk down the beverage aisle at your local grocery store. Notice all the new sixers and bombers taking over the shelves? That’s beer talking.

There are about 30 of us sipping Lagunitas brews in its Loft, a tasting den that reminds me of an off-campus college clubhouse. It’s dimly lit and decorated with ratty old couches and spaghetti western posters. I could live in this room forever. The man behind the bar pours another beer, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ ale. I lean in for a whiff—citrus, grass, lots of hops—then nudge my cup to Nate. (My day to drive.)

“We planned our whole vacation around this,” says the guy next to me, Vince Rinaldo, a homebrewer and graphic designer from Akron, Ohio. He and wife Taylor are in the middle of a four-day beer run from San Francisco to Portland. “We’re not much into sightseeing. If you want to know a place, drink its beer.”

We take the full brewery tour, zip through a maze of stainless steel tanks and massive bins packed with hops, then jump back into the Challenger and rumble 20 minutes north, past fields of grazing cows and roadside fruit stands, to downtown Santa Rosa.

A Zen-like hush comes over Nate as we enter Russian River Brewing, considered by some to be the Holy Temple of American craft beer. Brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo came up in the wine industry, then bought a brewpub with wife Natalie in 2004. The place has been buzzing ever since. During Russian River’s February release of Pliny the Younger—a high-powered triple IPA—hopheads from as far away as Australia and Japan stake out on the sidewalk for hours just to get a taste.

Though famous for his hop-heavy IPAs, Cilurzo likes experimenting with Belgian-style sours, which call for local fruits, oak-barrel aging, and in some cases spontaneous fermentation, where the wort (pre-fermented beer) is exposed to the open air in order to suck up naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria. These beers—with names like Temptation, Supplication, and Beatification—taste unlike any brew I’ve ever had. They’re tangy and brightly acidic, with a complex, dry fruity finish that brings to mind a sparkling wine. They taste, I suppose, like Sonoma.

It’s late afternoon when we’re whirring down dirt roads northwest of Santa Rosa. Nate is air-drumming to early Who while I wrestle with the GPS. I’d heard about Moonlight Brewing, a one-man operation in the middle of Zin country. No tasting room. No brewpub. But some of the most amazing beer I’ve never had, I was told.

I find Brian Hunt at his private brewery, where he kegs about 1,500 barrels, most of which travel 60 miles max—less than Nate and I drove this morning. “Beer is like bread,” Hunt says, tilting a glass of straw-colored Reality Czeck pilsner so it catches the light. “You want it fresh, and that means you want it local.”

We’re plunked down on lawn chairs at the top of his driveway. Behind us is a boneyard of empty kegs and the old barn where Hunt concocts his brews, including some flavored with mugwort and wild bergamot instead of hops. His Working for Tips, a copper-colored ale, is spiced with the sticky ends of redwood branches from his front yard.

Hunt tells us about New Albion, the Sonoma brewery that set the path for the industry 30 years ago, about its founder, Jack McAuliffe, an engineer and homebrewer who applied his skills to make real beer, ingredient-driven and full-flavored, about how McAuliffe welded together old Coca-Cola drums and dairy tanks to cook up 15 barrels a week. No tasting room. No brewpub. Just beer so innovative that it helped start a revolution.

We leave Hunt’s feeling light and energetic, ready for whatever might lie around the next bend. In Healdsburg, we march past $600-a-night hotels in flip-flops to taste wheat ale from a barrel at Bear Republic. The next morning, we hang a left onto Highway 128, a snarl of hairpin turns that passes through vineyards, a goat farm, and a redwood forest before spitting us out at the coast. It’s a glorious drive, with the V8 Hemi humming and Petty’s “Free Fallin’ ” on the speakers. In Boonville, we stop to pose for snapshots beside an antlered bear, Anderson Valley Brewing’s “Beer” mascot.

The Pacific peeks in and out of view as we coast the last stretch from Mendocino to Fort Bragg. It’s right on top of us, then behind a clump of trees, always hiding. We drop our things at the motel and hike out to a headland to watch the surf, then over an old railroad trestle once used to haul lumber. For more than a century, Fort Bragg was a booming mill town. And even today, the last of the saws long silenced, a scruffy blue-collar spirit remains.

I notice it in the taproom at North Coast Brewing. An early player in the craft scene, the brewery specializes in sturdy, slow-sipping beer—Belgian darks and Imperial stouts.

And I notice it at Piaci, a one-room pub that serves the best thin-crust pizza in the county. The bar is three-deep. Locals, mostly. Men in baseball caps and sweaters with thick, calloused hands that make the pint glasses inside them look small. The beer menu reads like a road journal from the last 48 hours. There are Lagunitas’s hopped-up IPAs and a tasty black lager from Moonlight Brewing.

The pub is loud in the way that pubs get loud when everyone knows each other. Voices rising excitedly over other voices. We grab two stools beside a group of truckers. One of them is telling a story, waving his hands wildly, and his friends are laughing. Nate and I are laughing too. This is the last night before we point the car south and return to our regularly scheduled lives—back to our spread-sheets and youth soccer and fuel-efficient compacts—and I want to spend it right here in this room, with these guys. And that’s not the beer talking.

TASTE NORCAL’S BEST BEER
Take a 125-mile trip from Petaluma to Fort Bragg.

Lagunitas Brewing. The free brewery tour starts with a tasting and ends in the taproom for live music. Tap into: A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale, a “wheatish” beer with a huge hop finish. $; lagunitas.com

Russian River Brewing. More than 15 selections await in the busy brewpub. Tap into: Supplication, a brown ale brewed with sour cherries aged in Pinot Noir barrels. $$; russianriverbrewing.com

Bear Republic Brewing. The Healdsburg brewpub’s full-bodied ales pair well with its spicy chili. Tap into: Racer 5, a classic West-Coast style IPA. Big, bold, and balanced. $$; bearrepublic.com

Anderson Valley Brewing. The brewery sits on 30 acres that include a taproom and plenty of picnic tables. Tap into: The caramely smooth Boont Amber Ale. avbc.com

North Coast Brewing. The sampler tray covers all the beer bases. Tap into: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. Dark, strong, bitter, beautiful. $$; northcoastbrewing.com

Piaci Pub & Pizzeria. The 14 tap handles rotate like the tides with local beers. Tap into: Moonlight’s Death & Taxes, an easy-drinking black lager. $$; piacipizza.com

MORE CLASSIC ALE TRAILS
– Eric Smillie

1. Denver to Fort Collins, CO (76 miles)

Great Divide Brewing, Denver. Don’t miss: Oak Aged Yeti, a roasty Imperial Stout with a touch of vanilla. greatdivide.com

Avery Brewing, Boulder. Don’t miss: Small-batch specials; coconut shrimp with lemony White Rascal witbier. $; averybrewing.com

Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont. Don’t miss: Firkin Fridays for one-off experiments at the Tasty Weasel Tap Room. oskarblues.com

New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins. Don’t miss: The 90-minute brewery tour that ends with you going down a slide. newbelgium.com

2. San Diego to Placentia, CA (112 miles)

AleSmith brewing, San Diego. Don’t miss: Evil Dead Red, a red ale thick with hops and a smooth toffee sweetness. alesmith.com

Stone Brewing, Escondido. Don’t miss: Sampling four beers on the brewery tour, including the powerful Arrogant Bastard Ale. $$; stonebrew.com

The Lost Abbey, San Marcos. Don’t miss: Wild yeast brews, such as the dry, sour-cherry-flavored Cuvee de Tomme (released in mid-November). lostabbey.com

The Bruery, Placentia. Don’t miss: Beers made with surprising ingredients like yam, Thai basil, and toasted pecans. thebruery.com

3. Portland to Newport, OR (385 miles)

Hair of the Dog Brewery, Portland. Don’t miss: Adam, a chocolatey, earthy dessert ale. $; hairofthedog.com

Full Sail Brewing, Hood River. Don’t miss: Locally-raised-beef burgers and a view of the Columbia River from the pub deck. $; fullsailbrewing.com

Deschutes Brewery, Bend. Don’t miss: Trial brews such as the Oh Be Joyful pale ale and spicy mac and cheese. $$; deschutesbrewery.com

Rogue Brewery, Newport. Don’t miss: The brewery’s full catalog of beers on tap, plus halibut fish and chips. $$; rogue.com

The post On the Ale Trail: An Epic Beer Trip in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Russian River Brewing Co.’s new Windsor brewery and brewpub will feature an exterior design that has the style of an urban industrial complex with farmhouse-like elements, according to new renderings released Tuesday.

The more than $30 million structure, which is scheduled to open in late summer 2018, is the one of the most eagerly anticipated projects for beer lovers across the world. Work is scheduled to begin in late March.

A beloved cult brewery, Russian River’s downtown pub and brewery attracts 300,000 visitors annually. Owners Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo decided last year to open up a new location on a 16-acre parcel primarily to cater to those outside Sonoma County who visit the typically packed restaurant that only seats 175 people.

“This is exactly what we wanted. This is something that is not a concrete box,” said Natalie Cilurzo. “Our business model has now become so focused on hospitality.”

One sketch, viewed from the west side of Mitchell and Conde lanes, shows a stone structure within part of the complex. It would house a koelschip, an open-top fermentation vessel used to collect wild yeasts for spontaneously fermented beers like its popular Beatification label.

Under the process, Cilurzo said, brewers would fill the vessels with hot beer wort (the liquid extracted during brewing’s mashing process) up to 10 inches deep and let it sit overnight. It is then moved into wine barrels for fermentation. The brewing process can only be done in the winter because it needs cool temperatures.

“It’s not something that makes us a lot of money, but it’s something we are passionate about,” Cilurzo said of the sour-style beers.

The facility also will allow for open-top fermentation for its other more popular beers such as STS Pils and Blind Pig IPA.

The brewpub will offer self-guided and guided tours as well as an outdoor bar where customers could bring their dogs and a large area to park bicycles and motorcycles. There will also be restroom facilities that can be accessed for those waiting in line, which will be especially valuable during its crowded Pliny the Younger release every February.

The Cilurzos are also considering providing their own shuttle from the Airport Boulevard train station for those customers taking Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit trains.

This article was originally published in the Press Democrat. 

The post Russian River Brewing Nears Groundbreaking for New Facility in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Leading digital lifestyle site Thrillist (with over 16 million subscribers worldwide) has picked the top 10 U.S. destinations for an aficionado beer-cation. And Sonoma County made the cut.

Along with 9 other American destinations, Sonoma County was deemed the perfect spot to mix standard vacation activities, such as boating, hiking and sitting lazily in the sand, with some of the best beer in the country. Thrillist highlighted that Sonoma County is host to a series of world-class breweries, including Russian River Brewing Company, Third Street Aleworks, Bear Republic, Lagunitas, 101 North Brewing Company and Petaluma Hills.

“Oh, sure, it’s wine country. And Redwood country. And fancy-food country. But dammit, it’s beer country, too/…/and that’s nothing to say about the homey towns, cabins, roaring rivers, and mighty coastline” said the Thrillist motivation.

Cheers to that!

The post Sonoma County Makes List of Best Vacation Destinations for Beer Lovers appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Russian River Brewing has won Beer of the Year from readers of American Homebrewers Association Magazine, Zymurgy. It’s a three-peat for the brewery’s Pliny the Elder, a double IPA.

The award, according to Russian River Brewing’s Michael Deas, is significant within the brewing industry because it’s a people’s choice vote among “people who care a lot about beer.”

“All the beers on the list with us are amazing,” Deas said.

A total of 433 breweries and 1,306 beers were represented in the 2011 poll. Other Northern California breweries on the list included Chico’s Sierra Nevada, Ft. Bragg’s North Coast Brewing (Old Rasputin, 18th place), San Francisco’s Anchor Steam and Healdsburg’s Bear Republic (Racer 5, 29th place). Russian River Brewing’s Blind Pig IPA took 43rd place.

The magazine also ranked the breweries based on the total votes received by each of their beers. Russian River ranked fifth, followed by Petaluma’s Lagunitas (ranked #12); and Bear Republic Brewing in Healdsburg (#24).

Deas said he credits brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo with Russian River’s continued success in the beer world. “He’s the most meticulous and humble guy you’ll ever meet. Everything has to come out the right way every time with him.”

“We’re proud of our beer and proud to be a part of the Santa Rosa economy,” said Deas.

Pliny the Elder is on tap throughout the year at Russian River Brewpub (725 4th Street, Santa Rosa). The brewery’s triple IPA, Pliny the Younger, is released just once a year in February.

The post Pliny wins again appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.