As the long hot Sonoma summer begins, have a cold one in the shade. Click through the gallery for nine of the best brewery patios around.
9 Best Brewery Patios in Sonoma County
Sip on a cold one while soaking up the sun.
Stumptown Brewery, Guerneville: Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville offers views of the Russian River from a deck shaded by trees. Spend a sunny Saturday sipping on a beer sampler, the Donkey Punch Pils or a Rat Bastard Pale Ale - even a Bloody Mary, paired with the hummus plate, nachos or smoked brisket sandwich. Stumptown Brewery, stumptown.com, 15045 River Road, Gurneville, CA 95446, (707) 869-0705.
Woodfour Brewery - Sebastopol
Take a break from browsing the Barlow with a beer on the modern patio at Woodfour. This microbrewery serves up a variety of tasty farmhouse-style beers, as well as other local brews on draft. Try the Bohemian Nectar or the Saison Bellz with any of the items on the food menu from the pop-up kitchen (check in to see if there is a pop-up on the day you’d like to visit). Woodfour is dog-friendly and offers free wi-fi to guests. Woodfour Brewery, woodfourbrewing.com, 6780 Depot St. #160 in the Barlow, Sebastopol, CA 95472, (707) 823-3144, @WoodfourBrewing. (Chris Hardy)
Fogbelt Brewing Company - Santa Rosa
Just a stone's throw from downtown Santa Rosa, you'll find the cozy little patio of Fogbelt Brewing Company - offering just enough space for you, your brew and your dog. Enjoy fine brews like the Treehouse Saison, a great beer for a sunny day, paired with a seasonal menu with chef's specials such as deviled eggs, a butcher board with meats and cheese, chicken wings and shepherd's pie. Fogbelt Brewing, fogbeltbrewing.com, 1305 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, (707) 978-3400, @FogbeltBrewing
Russian River Brewing Company - Santa Rosa
Looking to pair your pint with some people watching? Head to one the most populated patios in Sonoma County at Russian River Brewing Company (RRBC) in Santa Rosa. Order your beer at the bar (there's 20+ beers on the board, including popular choices like Porter, Blind Pig, Pliny the Elder and Consecration), order a pizza, beer bites or a meatball sandwich and then head outside for a spot on the bench, or - if you're lucky - by a table. Russian River Brewing Co., russianriverbrewing.com, 725 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, (707) 545-2337, @RussianRiverOfficial
Brewsters Beer Garden and Restaurant - Petaluma
Brewsters 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. 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. 229 Water Street North, Petaluma 94952, 707-981-8330, @BrewstersBeerGarden (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Lagunitas - Petaluma
Lagunitas in Petaluma offers an epic patio. A light cover shades most of the outdoor community tables and there's plenty of seating. This is an oasis for beer lovers: chill out with a Lil Sumpin’ or Daytime Ale, or try the beer sampler and a pile of pulled pork nachos and the famous Yanni's sausage. While away the hours as friends, family, and friendly travelers pass through the popular brewery. Check their website to see which local bands are playing on the weekend. Lagunitas, lagunitas.com, 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, CA, 94954, (707) 769-4455, @LagunitasBeer. (Jeremy Portje)
Carneros Brewing Company - Sonoma
Located in idyllic countryside landscape right off highway 121, this microbrewery serves up high quality beers from the family behind Ceja Vineyards. Park out front and walk up the walkway past a lovely pond and trees; a steel windmill, a rusty antique tractor and a hop garden in the background. Carneros Brewing's picturesque patio, next to the pond, features picnic tables - so pack some snacks or lunch to enjoy with your Cerveza Pilsner or Morena Ale. Carneros Brewing, carnerosbrewing.com, 22985 Burndale Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-1880, @CarnerosBrewing
Bear Republic Brewing Company - Healdsburg
“The Bear,” as the locals call it, has a great patio that offers both shaded and sunny spots, with views of the grounds surrounding the brewery, Located just off the historic Healdsburg plaza, Bear Republic offers a full menu of seasonal specials and a variety of brews on draft. Settle in for a bite and a brew after some shopping or hiking - the pulled pork sandwich pairs well with the Pace Car Racer. Bear Republic Brewing Company, bearrepublic.com, 345 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 433-2337, @BearRepublic
St. Florian’s Brewery - Windsor
Bring your friends, family, and pooches to St. Florian’s Brewery in Windsor for a beer and a bite in the sun. St. Florian’s has a sandbox on the patio for kids, ample seating for grownups, enough space to bring well behaved dogs, and food truck visits on the weekends in their parking lot. Taste the Flashover IPA, Cali Common and 48/96, and many more brews on draft at the tap station. You can bring a picnic too. St. Florian’s Brewery, stfloriansbrewery.com, 7704 Bell Rd, Windsor, CA 95492, (707) 838-2739. @StFloriansBrewery
