Quench your thirst at our favorite Petaluma beer venues.
Brewsters Beer Garden and Restaurant: Brewsters, opened in November in the historic downtown district, is a gourmet Southern-style beer garden with over 350 seats, 30 beers on tap and many more brews served by the bottle. Brewsters pours their own IPA, produced by Petaluma Hills Brewing Company, and offers beers from several other local breweries, including Lagunitas, 101 North and HenHouse.
Brewsters Beer Garden chef/co-owner Chris Beerman (now that's a great name!) serves up BBQ classics, like brisket, ribs, and fried chicken, and guests can also enjoy bocce ball on the patio, and Sonoma wine and creative cocktails from the bar. Brewsters Beer Garden + Restaurant, 229 Water Street North, Petaluma 94952, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com, @BrewstersBeerGarden (Photo by Heather Irwin)
The Block: A new concept to Sonoma County, The Block is an open air food truck marketplace and beer garden with 30 beers on tap - and regular tap-takeovers (this week by HenHouse Brewing Company, serving up three not-yet-released-beers that are kegging up as we speak). With a variety of food trucks rolling in from around the North Bay, visitors to the Block are able to sample cuisines ranging from international fare to California-casual. (Photo by Crissi Pascual)
The Block food vendors include El Roy’s, The Fig Rig, TIPS Tri-Tip Trolley, Croques and Toques, Q Craft BBQ and Ultra Crepes. The atmosphere is family-friendly with live music, a gaming section, an Italian soda bar and fire pits to cozy up by in the evening. The Block, 20 Grey St., Petaluma, CA 94952, 707-775-6003, theblockpetaluma.com, @TheBlockPetaluma. (Photo by Crissi Pascual)
Ernie’s Tin Bar: Ernie's Tin Bar, founded in 1923, doubles as an automotive shop and serves up a selection of 20 draft beers, many of them local. Made of galvanized tin and surrounded by stacked tires, this is your classic roadside dive bar.
Ernie's Tin Bar comes with a very special (and free) perk: the bar will send a car (a Toyota RAV4) to pick you up Friday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m and, once you’ve had your fill of Ernie’s selection of beer, driver David Perez will take you home (within a 15 mile radius). So no need to quibble about who's going to be the designated driver next time you want to sample a few brews. Ernie’s Tin Bar, 5100 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954, 707-762-2075
Lagunitas Taproom: They may have been bought by Heineken, but Lagunitas is still one of the coolest places to be in P-town: the wide beer selection will please every palate, there's live music in the amphitheater, and plenty of perks for your pooch (yes, dogs are welcome here!). (Photo by John Burgess)
Lagunitas visitors can take tours of the brewery, or simply enjoy a Daytime Ale, Little Sumpin', or a beer sampler, shaded from the summer sun on the outdoor patio. The only downside with Lagunitas is that parking can be difficult, so make sure to arrive early to find a spot for both your car in the lot, and yourself by a table. Lagunitas, 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma 94954, 707-769-4455, lagunitas.com, @LagunitasBeer. (Photo by Jeremy Portje)
Petaluma Hills Brewery: Visit this Petaluma brewery now before, unfortunately, it will close its doors on June 30. A popular spot among locals, this ten barrel micro-brewery is located just a few miles outside of downtown Petaluma. Visitors to the brewery can see the brewery process from the taproom, and enjoy a beer selection that includes stouts, Belgian-style blondes and the Line & Twine IPA. (Photo by Jeremy Portje: Petaluma Hills Line & Twine)
Petaluma Hills serves light snacks in the taproom, food trucks regularly visit the parking lot and guests stick around for a friendly game of darts. Petaluma Hills recently took home the People's Choice Award, for the fourth year in a row, at the Great Chili Cook Off in Petaluma. Petaluma Hills Brewing Company, 1333 N McDowell Blvd A, Petaluma, CA 94954, (707) 766-4458, petalumahills.com, @PetalumaHills
TAPS Petaluma: TAPS, Petaluma's oldest craft beer bar, is located in downtown Petaluma and serves up a variety of beers on draft. Sports fans can catch their favorite game on big screen TVs while enjoying happy hour classics like mac n' cheese, chicken wings, deviled eggs and deep-fried brussels sprouts, for $5. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3-5:30pm. TAPS Petaluma, 54 E Washington St, Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 763-6700, facebook.com/TAPSPetaluma, @TAPSPetaluma. (Photo by Beth Schlanker)
101 North Brewing: The folks at 101 North like to put on fun events, like beer pop-up dinners with Simmer Vietnamese restaurant. The brewery is known for the Heroine IPA, which can be found at restaurants and taprooms all around the North Bay and now also comes in cans. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
Other popular 101 North brews include the Golden Naked Ale, High Gravity IPA, and the Indigo Pale Ale - created by homebrewer turn brewmaster Joel Johnson. 101 North Brewing, 1304 Scott Street, Petaluma, CA, 94954, 707-701-5061, 101northbeer.com, @101NorthBrewing. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
Ray’s Deli and Tavern: Ray’s has been a Petaluma staple since 1947; the building previously housed a Buick dealership and garage named Western Avenue Garage. Today, the deli and tavern serves up local, organic and sustainable produce to hungry visitors, including supremely satisfying sandwiches: the Reuben, Ray’s Hot Pastrami, Western BLT, and Pops Pesto Chicken are must-try's.
Ray’s Delicatessen & Tavern has 11 taps with local beers from HenHouse, 101 North, Lagunitas, and some favorites from Oskar Blues and Allagash. There's regular live music gigs: the musicians who play here range from bands like the Dixie Giants to chanteuses. Wednesday is open mic night. Ray’s Deli and Tavern, 900 Western Ave, Petaluma, CA 94952, 707-762-9492, rays-deli.com
Pub Republic: Pub Republic is bright and airy, with high ceilings and reclaimed wood accents and features about eight brews on rotating tap and twenty beers on bottle from Sonoma County breweries like Lagunitas, St. Florian's and Bear Republic (there's even four gluten-free beers!).
The Pub Republic food menu consists of standard pub fare that includes fish and chips, Shepherd's Pie, burgers, and plenty of fried appetizers. Food can be ordered online, and picked up at the pub while you enjoy a local beer. Pub Republic, 3120 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954, 707-PUB-9090, pubrepublicusa.com. (Photo by Chris Hardy: Brussel Sprouts Tacos)
With so many high-quality breweries, taprooms and beer venues to choose from in Sonoma County, a beer lover can easily get overwhelmed. To help our fellow beer geeks out, we’ve decided to pick out a few of our favorite local spots – town by town. First out is Petaluma – click through the gallery for all the sudsy details.
