Santa Rosa, the urban center of Sonoma County, may not be the first item on Wine Country itineraries but, to the savvy visitor, this North Coast city offers more than meets the eye.

This is the kind of place where natural bounty serves as a muse for utopian dreams, where sleepy residential streets hide ambitious farm-to-table kitchens, abandoned buildings are resurrected as art galleries, and the corner coffeeshop turns nightlife hot spot with craft beers on tap, all to the rhythm of Americana and bluegrass. Best of all, Santa Rosa can easily be explored by bike or by foot.

Click through the above gallery to explore (some of) the best Santa Rosa has to offer. 

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Carey Sweet contributed to this article. 

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Summer is kicking into gear in Sonoma County. Time to sip on a cold one on a shaded patio or at a lively bar – we’ve lined up a few favorite beer venues for summer fun. Added bonus: we asked each spot for a summer brew recommendation. Click through the above gallery for details.

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As thousands of beer-lovers from around the world descend on Sonoma County for the annual release of Pliny the Younger, there’s yet another reason to brag about our booming beer scene. Local breweries Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa and Windsor) and Lagunitas (Petaluma) were just named among the top 100 breweries in the world by beer review website RateBeer, coming in at number two and 100 respectively.

The brewery ranking, released since 2001, is based on aggregated online reviews by thousands of beer enthusiasts (RateBeer receives over one million reviews annually). This marks the 12th year that Russian River Brewing Company’s (RRBC) made the top-100 list, and it’s the highest ranking yet for the brewery, beating out their number four position in 2013. Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, Vermont, took the first spot this year.

“It is a huge honor to be recognized as one of the best breweries in the world after all these years,” shares Natalie Cilzuro, Russian River Brewing Company owner and co-president.

Best known for super hoppy brews, Russian River Brewing Company is considered one of the most trendsetting and cutting edge breweries in the country. Brewmaster and co-owner Vinnie Cilzuro created one of the first commercially brewed Double and Imperial IPAs in the country, including Pliny the Elder, which was named one of the top 100 beers in the world this year by RateBeer alongside the brewery’s Consecration and Supplication ales.

Cilzuro credits RateBeer as having helped made Russian River beers among the most coveted in America, including cult favorite Pliny the Younger.

Russian River Brewing Company has been the only Sonoma County brewery to come in almost annually within the top 10 on the list, amid growing competition from an ever-expanding number of Sonoma County breweries. When the brewery was founded in 1997, there were less than a handful in the area.

“With so many young, popular breweries around,” says Cilzuro, “it is nice to know that we are still relevant to hard-core beer enthusiasts.”

Lagunitas Brewing Company, based in Petaluma and now owned by Heineken, squeezed into the list this year at number 100.

Best known for easy drinking IPA-centric session beers, Lagunitas has ranked in the top 100 every year since the RateBeer awards launched in 2001. The brewery’s highest ranking was in 2003 when they came in on number 39 and 19 in the Best North American Brewers category (now long gone due to the rise of craft beer in the United States).

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Pliny the Younger, the famed beer from Russian River Brewing Company, returns to Sonoma County this Friday, February 1, 2019. Now in its 15th year, the super-hoppy triple India pale ale continues to draw a crowd: thousands of beer enthusiasts are expected to descend on Sonoma County from all over the world to taste the beer during its limited annual release.

[10 things you need to know about Pliny the Younger]

This year, lines of Pliny pilgrims will form both at Russian River’s downtown Santa Rosa brewpub and new Windsor brewery. But, what most people might not know – and Russian River Brewing likes to keep hush-hush – is the fact that the coveted brew is also available at a limited amount of local establishments. The beer is usually released at these spots by the beginning of the week following the release date (February 1).

We tuned into the “beervine” to find out where a beer-lover might find “Younger” outside of Russian River Brewing. Click through the gallery for details. Happy Pliny hunting!

Please note: the information listed here is preliminary and object to change. Know of any more Sonoma County spots that will get Pliny? Send us an email.

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We love any excuse to escape to the coast — from Marin to Mendocino — and, of course, Sonoma! Whether it is to reward ourselves with a local beer after a long day of hiking or biking, or toast to a special occasion as the sun sets, a cocktail with a coastal view never gets old. Click through the gallery above to discover our favorite coastal bars.

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Summer has arrived and with it even more great places to raise a glass. From wine and beer to organic flavored spirits, there’s a plethora of new tasting rooms from which to enjoy the drinks Sonoma County has to offer. Click through the gallery above for new spots to visit right now.

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First it was tequila and now it’s beer – it seems the Napa Wine Train keeps getting sidetracked. On June 18, it diverts from its regular wine route as it turns into The Hop Train, taking passengers on a beer-infused trip through Napa Valley. The two-hour experience, hosted by local craft brewery Napa Palisades Beer Company, includes a two-hour “rail tour,” small bites and Palisades brews.

“We’re putting beer before Bordeaux and cans before corks,” says the Hop Train website. Napa Valley Wine Train managing editor Rich Evans says they are “excited to showcase the region’s incredible beer offerings and provide an alternative experience for those interested in trying something new.”

And something new it is. This is the first beer-centric experience offered by the Napa Valley Wine Train and it also features a new addition to the train: an open air car with 360-degree views. The two-hour trip includes tastings of three Napa Palisades beers: Loco IPA (7.5% ABV), 1849 Gold Rush Red Ale (5.7% ABV), and Little Loco Session IPA (4.9% ABV). Pub grub bites, prepared by the train’s culinary crew, will include chipotle chicken tacos, caprese salad, buffalo wings, mushroom toast, and smoked duck sliders.

The Hop Train starts June 18 and runs through October. Tickets start at $75 per person and $50 for locals. napavalleywinetrain.com.

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BottleRock Napa Valley brought people into the area from all over the world. It was another stellar year with incredible shows. But the music wasn’t the only thing that made the festival great – click through the above gallery for five favorite things at this year’s BottleRock. 

If you didn’t get your tickets in time this year, sign up for the Bottle Rock mailing list to be notified when 2019 tickets go on sale.

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