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SHADY OAK BARREL HOUSE, Santa Rosa
Shady Oak owner and head brewer Steve Doty has long dreamed of giving beer drinkers a taste of the Sonoma terroir. Doty recently received full funding for a mobile coolship, a type of fermentation vessel that would allow him to capture microflora from different areas in Sonoma County to create “spontaneous” sour beers. Like wine, these beers will incorporate the essence of the local terroir.
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SHADY OAK BARREL HOUSE, Santa Rosa
Wine lovers should try Shady Oak's Sonomatastic, a classic European Saison with hints of apricots and slight tartness that finishes soft and smooth, and Electric Relaxation, a fruity favorite among local wine folks with a touch of earthiness and a nice clean, smooth finish. In September, Steve Doty will open his first taproom. Shady Oak beers are available at taprooms around Sonoma County, shadyoakbarrelhouse.com. (Photo by Erik Castro)
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SONOMA SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY, Sonoma
Sonoma Springs taproom and brewery serves up German- and California-style beers. Recently, the brewery tapped into the juicy IPA craze and has released a series of New England-style beers that are cloudy and hazy, and loaded with notes of tropical fruit and soft hops that will taste delicious to people who enjoy fruit-forward wines. (Courtesy photo)
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SONOMA SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY, Sonoma
Sauvignon Blanc lovers will enjoy Juicy in the Sky, a fruity and smooth beer that goes down as easy as orange juice (it even has a similar color!). 19449 Riverside Dr #101, Sonoma, sonomaspringsbrewing.com. (Courtesy photo)
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BARREL BROTHERS BREWING COMPANY, Windsor
For many wine lovers, summer is the time for rosé; the refreshing strawberry, raspberry and citrusy beverage for all occasions. HibisKISS ale from Barrel Brothers Brewing Company in Windsor is similar to the hip pink drink, both in color and flavor. (Photo by Tom Edwards)
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BARREL BROTHERS BREWING COMPANY, Windsor
HibisKISS from Barrel Brothers is clean, herbaceous, floral, with a nice crisp finish. And, just like a rosé, you'll want to drink it all day. 399 Business Park Ct #506, Windsor, barrelbrothersbrewing.com. (Courtesy photo)
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RUSSIAN RIVER BREWING COMPANY, Santa Rosa
Vinnie Cilurzo, owner and brewmaster of Russian River Brewing Company (RRBC), started his career in wine; his brewpub in Santa Rosa is a beer and wine lovers mecca. Presently, one half of the RRBC beer board is dedicated to Belgian-style and barrel aged sour beers. (Courtesy photo)
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RUSSIAN RIVER BREWING COMPANY, Santa Rosa
Red wine drinkers will enjoy Framboise, a spontaneously fermented ale aged with fresh raspberries (seasonally made during the month of October), and Supplication, a wild fermented beer aged in Pinot Noir barrels along with sour cherries and brettanomyces. For those who prefer white wine, Temptation is a blonde wild beer aged for twelve months in French oak barrels originally used to age Chardonnay. 725 4th St, Santa Rosa, russianriverbrewing.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
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WOODFOUR BREWING COMPANY, Sebastopol
Woodfour in Sebastopol is known for their wild and barrel aged beers. With a background in winemaking, head brewer Seth Wood focuses on brews that will please all palates - some barrel aged with a hop finish, and others in true farmhouse-style fashion with wild yeast notes, earthiness and fruit characteristics. (Photo by Chris Hardy)
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WOODFOUR BREWING COMPANY, Sebastopol
Try the Bohemian Nectar, a classic saison with notes of ripe tropical fruits with slight hopiness and a nice clean, crisp finish. Located in the Barlow, Woodfour is just a stone's throw away from wine tasting rooms such as MacPhail and La Follette, in case you do want some wine after your beer. 6780 Depot St, Sebastopol, woodfourbrewing.com. (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
