7 New Sonoma Breweries & Taprooms to Check Out This Summer
There's a lot of fun on tap in Sonoma County this summer.
Beer, beer, beer - it is everywhere, and there's just enough time to drink it. As the long hot summer continues, the Sonoma County beer scene is expanding with a variety of new locations to cool down. Click through the gallery for seven recently opened, or soon-to-open, breweries and taprooms that could very well turn out to be your next favorite sipping spots.
Beer Baron, Santa Rosa
Frequent visitors to downtown Santa Rosa will be familiar with a vacant 4th Street space, at the corner of Courthouse Square, left unoccupied following the closing of Rendez Vous Bistro in 2014. With the revitalization of the downtown square, this ghostly site is now coming back to life - as the Beer Baron. (Photo by John Burgess)
Beer Baron, Santa Rosa
Chandi Hospitality Group, which owns Stout Brothers, Bibi’s Burger Bar, County Bench and several Mountain Mike’s Pizza shops, has joined forces with restaurateur Harpreet Singh Judge to bring Beer Baron - an East Bay concept - to Santa Rosa. With 30 brews on tap, Beer Baron will add even more opportunities to sip beer in the microbrew capital of the United States. An official opening date has not yet been announced, but Chandi Hospitality Group says it is aiming for the end of July.
Seismic Brewing Co., Santa Rosa
Kendall-Jackson, the darling of Sonoma County wine, made headlines last year when Chris Jackson (son of the late Jess Jackson, founder of Jackson Family Wines) revealed he was opening a Santa Rosa brewery. The brewery began distribution to taprooms and restaurants across Sonoma County in May, and now supplies the greater Bay Area with a variety of beers including an IPA, Pilsner, Kolsch, and Oat Pale Ale. Many more styles are on the horizon, as well as a taproom to more intimately connect Seismic fans with their favorite brews.
Seismic Brewing Co., Santa Rosa
Making the transition from wine to beer, Chris Jackson set an ambitious goal for his new venture: to build one of the most environmentally sustainable breweries in the country. Jackson also hired Andy Hooper, formerly of Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Boonville, as his brewmaster. (From left, Christian Toran, Zac Haufler, Andy Hooper, Chris Allen, Mike Spady and Pat Delves)
2 Tread Brewing Company, Santa Rosa
If you’ve passed by the Santa Rosa Plaza in the last year, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the large signs on its east wing, advertising the arrival of 2 Tread Brewing. The 10,000 square foot indoor-outdoor space will feature on-site brewed beers, a creative casual menu, live music and a full bar. An exact opening date has not yet been pegged down, but the owners assure us it will happen later this summer. (Design sketch of 2 Tread Brewing in downtown Santa Rosa)
2 Tread Brewing Company, Santa Rosa
2 Tread co-owners Bill Drury, Tracy Heydorn and Christian August, all with ties to Sonoma County, have been working hard to make their dream reality: to create “a friendly place for beer, bikes and music” in downtown Santa Rosa. The name, 2 Tread, has a double entendre, referring both to the treads laid down by a bicycle and the path each person takes through life ("to tread"). (Design sketch of 2 Tread Brewing in downtown Santa Rosa)
Confluence Taproom & Lounge, Santa Rosa
Recently opened Confluence Taproom is the latest brainchild of local beer geek Peter Lopez. Lopez has been in the industry for years - he has organized a number of local beer festivals, created the popular NorCal Beer Geeks club, and was involved in the launching of both Willibees speciality bottle shop in Petaluma and the Healdsburg Emporium taproom.
Confluence Taproom & Lounge, Santa Rosa
With Confluence, owner Peter Lopez wants to give a boost to the East Santa Rosa beer- and wine scene. The taproom name refers to a place where two rivers meet, symbolizing Lopez’s wish to bring together local residents in a convivial atmosphere.
Shady Oak Barrel House Taproom, Santa Rosa
Steve Doty, the one-man-show behind Shady Oak Barrel House’s sour and wild barrel aged beer, is opening his first taproom in September. Until now, Shady Oak beers have only been available at select taprooms, bottle shops and retailers. The Santa Rosa taproom will have food truck catering and a patio, offering plenty of room to enjoy a cold sour one in the sun. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
Shady Oak Barrel House Taproom, Santa Rosa
In addition to opening up a new taproom, Steve Doty is set to create "spontaneous beers." After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Doty recently raised funds for a custom-built mobile coolship trailer, a type of fermentation vessel that will allow him to create sour beers that, just like wine, would incorporate a taste of the Sonoma terroir.
Bear Republic Brewpub, Rohnert Park
Sonoma County's strong appeal as a craft beer destination is the result of the enterprising work of a few key breweries in this area. High on that honorable list is brewpub-turned-production powerhouse Bear Republic Brewing Company. The Healdsburg brewery, famous for its Racer 5 IPA, is opening a new brewpub in Rohnert Park in mid-August.
Bear Republic Brewpub, Rohnert Park
The location for the Bear Republic Rohnert Park brewpub, by Robert's Lake, previously housed the Latitudes nightclub. The new layout will feature a fully operational brewhouse, and the large space will allow for multiple bars, a pizza oven, and ample seating. The crowning jewel is the patio, which has space for some 300 guests and will feature a bar, kids play area, fun games, and a view of the lake.
Jack London Taproom, Sonoma
Opening later this summer, Jack London Taproom will allow visitors to indulge in craft beers while learning about the life of famed author Jack London, who lived in nearby Glen Ellen. The 1,200-square-foot taproom and beer garden, located at Cornerstone Sonoma, will feature London memorabilia, craft beers from across the North Bay (with focus on Sonoma County), live music, games and a light menu. A KickStarter campaign has been launched to support the opening.
Jack London Taproom, Sonoma
Jack London Taproom aims to "capture the creative essence and adventurous spirit of Jack" and share his lifestyle with guests and beer enthusiasts.
