Nonalcoholic beer has come a long way since Prohibition, when breweries like Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Pabst were forced to produce “near beer,” an insipid malt beverage with most of its alcohol removed.

In contrast, many modern nonalcoholic beers are clean and crisp, with a kaleidoscope of hop aromas and flavors that work hard to convince your senses you’re drinking the real thing.

Brewers do this a number of ways, using vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis, or a spinning cone to remove alcohol, while boosting mouthfeel (which typically comes from alcohol) with additives like protein and dextrin, and reintroducing aroma through cold dry-hopping.

While this may sound complicated, many nonalcoholic beers are simply
crushable.

Hop water, a sparkling, zero-calorie beverage that capitalizes on hops’ bright citrus notes, is another NA alternative.

Here are some of our favorites:

Fieldwork Brewing

The Berkeley-based brewery opened its first Sonoma County location last year in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village. CEO Barry Braden’s mantra is to “offer something for everyone,” including NA beers, which have been flying off the shelves. Choose from Encore NA Hazy IPA, Headliner NA West Coast IPA, Day Money NA Grapefruit Blonde, and Light NA American Pils. 2400 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa. fieldworkbrewing.com

Barrel Brothers Brewing Co.

This Windsor brewery compares its NA Dad Pants Pilsner to “a trusty pair of go-to trousers.” 9238 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite 128, Windsor. barrelbrothersbrewing.com

HenHouse Brewing/Fort Point Beer Company

Fort Point Beer Company recently introduced two NA beers, produced and poured at its sister brand, HenHouse Brewing. Citrusy and floral, NA Villager is a San Francisco-style IPA, while the NA KSA Kölsch is light and complex with a bright, flavorful finish. 322 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa; 1333 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. henhousebrewing.com

Lagunitas

The IPNA is a nonalcoholic version of this Petaluma brewery’s popular IPA, with slightly herbal, bright citrus notes and less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. lagunitas.com

Cooperage Brewing Co.

Terpé hop water is a highly carbonated, nonalcoholic tonic infused with hop oils. Says Cooperage’s owner, Tyler Smith: “It’s crisp, refreshing, and instantly invites another sip.” 981 Airway Court, Suite G, Santa Rosa. 575 Ross St., Santa Rosa. cooperagebrewing.com

Old Caz Beer

Creek Water is a nonalcoholic sparkler with bright citrus notes from hop extract. Not into hops? Try Old Caz’s ultra-smooth nitro cold brew coffee with notes of hazelnut and vanilla. Somo Village, 1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park. oldcaz.com

Russian River Brewing Co.

The simply named Hop Water is ultra-light and refreshing. “A lot of hop waters have sweetener, which I don’t like,” says Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner of Russian River Brewing Co. “Ours is just water and hops.” 725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor. russianriverbrewing.com

This story originally appeared in The Press Democrat and was featured in our Ultimate Guide to Sonoma County’s Beer Scene. Read the full article here.

The post The Best Nonalcoholic Beers in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Brewpubs have always been community hubs. In the past few years, Sonoma County’s breweries have broadened their appeal with craveable food, competitive game nights, and a growing list of beverages.

Here are the locals using their talents to create a brewery culture where everyone is welcome and fun is always on tap.

A beer-can artist taps visual flair

Walking past the beer aisle in the grocery store is tough for Nicky London.

“I always twist the cans so the labels show,” he says. “I do it for all the brands that I’ve worked with.”

One of the most sought-after beer-can artists in Sonoma County, London says he’s simply solving a problem for breweries in a crowded market by helping them stand out.

As art director and head of design at Cooperage, he’s created more than 100 labels for the Santa Rosa brewery. He also plies his trade as a freelance artist, painting cans for Fogbelt, Moonlight, and Marin County-based Pond Farm breweries.

In an age of eye-popping wraparound labels hyping a constant rotation of varieties, London taps into his own unique visual flair — sometimes trippy and cartoonish, other times macabre with dark, painterly brush strokes — often playing with pop cultural references.

For a “Clear and Loathing” beer, a play on a Hunter S. Thompson classic, he hid Easter eggs like flying stingrays and a creepy hitchhiker deep in the label.

Having worked in both the restaurant and wine industries, he loves the communal vibe of the beer business. “If you’re not buying my beer on the shelf and you’re buying somebody else’s, it’s still a win for beer. I don’t take those types of things personally. I’m like, hell yeah, people are still out there looking for fun stuff — and that gives you the drive to create the next fun thing.”

Favorite Beers:

• Cooperage Brewing’s Crispy Crusher American pale ale
• Moonlight Brewing’s Death & Taxes black lager

Sonoma County’s classic comebacks

Fogbelt Brewing co-owner Paul Hawley remembers Red Tail Ale fondly. “That was the beer my dad used to drink, so that was the beer I’d grab from the fridge at home,” he says. The amber ale and flagship beer for Mendocino Brewing Company, which opened California’s first brewpub in 1983, developed a cult-like following.

The pub closed in 2018, but when a new owner bought the former Ukiah facility, he inherited its recipes and approached Fogbelt about a Red Tail revival. Hawley’s team consulted original brewers, then tweaked the recipe, adding a dry hop “to pop up the aromatics” before launching in March 2025.

It’s the latest blast from the past in local beer comebacks. In 2024, childhood buddies resurrected three Third Street Aleworks beers after the Santa Rosa brewpub shut down the previous year. Before that, Rich Norgrove of Bear Republic joined the Grace family, once synonymous with Sonoma County beer, to brew a limited release Grace Bros. Bavarian Lager. Russian River Brewing has long paid tribute to Grace Bros. with its Happy Hops IPA and Velvet Glow lager.

In an industry obsessed with the next new thing, it’s nice to look back, Hawley says. “People seem to be going back to stuff they know and like, rather than demanding something new all the time.”

Red Tail’s reception has been enthusiastic — Fogbelt is doubling production this year to 600 barrels. “Every week we get calls and emails from people grateful that it’s back,” says Hawley. As for his dad, who frequented the old Hopland brewpub and once trained red-tailed hawks, “He’s excited to have it in his fridge again.”

Favorite beers:

• Fogbelt’s Godwood Triple IPA
• Moonlight’s Reality Czech Pilsner

The brewer banking on Belgians

Born in Belgium and raised in the United States, brewer Hendrik Cuver has something to prove at Cuver Brewing in Windsor. “It’s really a cultural passion project,” he says. “We wanted to show people what beer would taste like if you had a Belgian beer in Belgium.”

It’s a bold move in a market over-saturated with hazies and other hop-driven IPAs. But people are taking notice. “I’ve had a lot of people tell us, ‘You’re the brewers’ favorite brewery.’ Since our Belgians are kind of unique, they like to come here,” Cuver says.

The name “Cuver” is an amalgam of his family’s last name, Verspecht, and his wife Amber’s maiden name, Cushing. “Put them together and it just happens to be a French verb that means ‘to ferment,'” he says.

His father, Jan Verspecht, is the owner, while his father-in-law, Reed Cushing, is the other brewer. Amber does the marketing.

A fourth-generation brewer, Cuver took up homebrewing at the age of 15. That’s when he began experimenting with adding Meyer lemon peel and California bay laurel leaves to the brew — what eventually became his signature Pepperwood saison ale, the brewery’s best seller.

Five years into the business, the ultimate compliment is when vacationing Belgians drop by for a beer. “When they tell me that it tastes like home, then I’m happy — that’s all I’m trying to do.”

Favorite beers:

• By Her Bootstraps White IPA, a Cuver collaboration with the Pink Boots Society (March 2026 release)
• Old Caz Beer’s Bukovany Pivo Czech pilsner

— John Beck

A Sonoma County cicerone

While most are familiar with the term sommelier, an expert in wine, fewer are aware of the beer world equivalent — the cicerone. “Cicerone is Italian for guide,” explains Sebastopol resident Allo Gilinsky, one of a number of Sonoma County cicerones.

Gilinsky’s passion for a well-pulled pint began with beer drinking and bar hopping in college, then blossomed while tasting his way through flights at Lagunitas and working as a tour guide at Russian River Brewing Company’s Windsor facility during its early days. While working on the East Coast, he pursued a cicerone certification, a self-directed course of study that culminates with a written test and a tasting exam that requires aspiring cicerones to identify things like beer styles and off flavors. “Most of your certified cicerone studies are tasting bad beer,” says Gilinsky.

While many who complete the certification are brewers and taproom managers, the program is open to anyone who wants to wear their beer geek status as a badge of honor. “You become part of a community of people who are passionate about beer and beer education. It’s a ‘welcome to the club’ type of moment,” he says.

Since returning to Sonoma County from Boston last year, Gilinsky has focused on building his business, Craft Beer Concierge, providing beer education for beer lovers and businesses alike.

“I like to make beer approachable and intriguing to people. It brings people together over a beverage.”

Top 5 picks from a local beer expert

Wee Nibble Saison, Moonlight Brewing: “This one really scratches the itch for any lover of Belgian yeast and saisons. Pairs beautifully with food and sunshine.”

Happy Hops, Russian River Brewing: “This hoppy offering doesn’t get quite the love it should. A beer that expertly bridges the palate for fans of both classic bitter and newer tropical IPAs, it’s got a boatload of hops in it and remains well balanced.”

Dark Sarcasm, Barrel Brothers Brewing: “For a robust beer, it doesn’t get much better for me than this porter that hits all the right notes of coffee and chocolate flavor. A great beer to drink, and an even better beer to cook with.”

Wok This Way, Cooperage Brewing: “A light yet flavorful lager that’s made with jasmine rice. One you want on their patio on a hot day and should not be missed.”

Dobbel, Cuver Brewing: “A beer that’s so true to style, I could cry. Belgian Dubbels are complex, warming, and meant to be drunk over conversation, and Cuver’s really hits the mark.”

— Jennifer Graue

This roundup is from our Ultimate Guide to Sonoma County’s Beer Scene, originally published in the March/April 2026 issue of Sonoma Magazine.

The post The Sonoma County Professionals Making a Splash in the Beer Scene appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

We get it: Not everyone loves beer. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun at local breweries. Alongside their traditional offerings, many Sonoma County brewers craft their own hard seltzers.

While sales of mass-produced brands have been declining for the last few years, artisan seltzers haven’t lost their sparkle.

Justin Bosch, head brewer at Parliament Brewing in Rohnert Park, says he started making them two years ago in response to customer demand. At first, he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing.

“The challenge was to learn and master an entire new beverage from scratch,” he says. “We did a lot of trials, and, as always with a completely new thing, we dumped a lot.”

To create the seltzers, Bosch starts with a neutral alcohol base, which is filtered and carbonated. Then, he adds natural flavors like Cara Cara orange and cantaloupe.

Although seltzer isn’t his drink of choice, Bosch says he enjoys making them. “It’s a fun change-up from the process of creating beer, and it keeps us sharp.”

Like Parliament, Old Caz Beer added a lineup of seltzers as a way to welcome people who don’t drink beer.

“Our slogan is ‘Everyone’s Invited,’” says general manager Rob Saccuzzo. “It’s just about reinforcing the fact that we care about what people want.”

Their top-selling seltzer is the bright red Surly Temple.

“We like to give people options,” Saccuzzo says, “and have fun doing it.”

Three to Try

Parliament Brewing

Cara Cara Passionfruit / 4.6% ABV

Parliament likes its seltzers on the dry and crisp side, and this one delivers. Its subtle flavors of real orange and passionfruit might just win over die-hard beer fans to the seltzer camp.

5865 Labath Ave., Unit 9, Rohnert Park. parliamentbrewing.com

Crooked Goat Brewing

Office Party Cranberry Pomegranate / 5% Abv

Fresh and fruity with a touch of tartness, this one is tasty-but-sneaky. Packing lots of pomegranate and cranberry flavor, the seltzer’s alcohol profile is so under-the-radar you might mistake this for an NA version.

110 Howard St., Petaluma. crookedgoatbrewing.com

Old Caz Beer

Cosmo Imperial Hard Seltzer / 8% ABV

The brewery unapologetically crafts its seltzers on the sweeter side—and with beer-like alcohol levels. The Cosmo gets its name from the famous cocktail, and its pink color and orange flavor fit the profile.

Somo Village, 1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park. oldcaz.com

This roundup is from our Ultimate Guide to Sonoma County’s Beer Scene, originally published in the March/April 2026 issue of Sonoma Magazine.

The post These Sonoma County Brewers Prove Artisan Seltzers Haven’t Lost Their Sparkle appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

In 2020, brothers Omar and Ivan Galvan took a gamble on a red taco truck. Five years later, they were running three trucks and, in early 2026, opened their first brick-and-mortar taproom and beer garden in Cotati.

They’re hardly alone. Food trucks and pop-ups that built loyal followings at brewery patios — fueled by Instagram and repeat customers — are increasingly using that momentum to make the leap. The pandemic accelerated the trend: Sonoma County rules required breweries to serve sit-down meals to pour beer, and without kitchens, many turned to trucks. Almost overnight, tasting rooms became casual, family-friendly gathering spots with tacos, picnic tables, kids, and dogs.

For fledgling food businesses, that built-in audience has become a workaround to the soaring cost of opening a restaurant, which can easily top $1 million in Sonoma County.

The Shokakko food truck made such a splash at early pop-ups at OP Comics & Games, breweries had to get in on the action. In late 2025, it landed a tiny Santa Rosa catering site serving its towering fried chicken sandwiches and pork katsu fries for pickup or patio hangs. Wooden Petal Pretzels followed a similar brewery-to-brick path, as did Austin’s BBQ (now A&M BBQ), which started in the kitchen of Old Possum Brewing.

Now, attention is turning to the next wave. Fans are watching — and hoping — that pizza phenoms Gabacool Provisions, Mamadios, with its authentic Philly cheesesteaks, and Bayou on the Bay will make the jump from the brewery circuit to permanent digs.

For breweries with in-house kitchens, these are our picks for dishes that are even better when washed down with a cold one.

Barrel Brothers Kitchen & Cocktails

A mind-blowing 39 self-service taps let you mix and match brews with your food mood, like Dad Pants Pilsner with your double-patty smashburger or Hazy with your pulled pork nachos. In addition to their core lineup of pilsners, Barrel Brothers taproom offers hard seltzers and a lineup of spirited cocktails. Find food deals on Taco Tuesday and Sunday-Friday happy hours. 9238 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite 128, Windsor, barrelbrothersbrewing.com

Russian River Brewing Co.

If you can push through the Pliny devotees and score a seat, order like a regular: pepperoni and cheese New Yorker pizza, Pliny pizza bites with white cheddar and jalapeño, and garlic bread — because carbs. In Windsor, there’s more room to hang and eat pulled pork sliders, fish tacos, or an ice cream sundae with porter-infused dark chocolate sauce with or without your pup. 725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, and 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor, russianriverbrewing.com

Wolf House Brewing

The Cloverdale Twinkie dares you to eat it. This bacon-wrapped, beer-battered, and deep-fried jalapeño stuffed with cream cheese and avocado is Wolf House’s signature app. The rest of the menu is equally audacious, with gut-busting burgers and the mouth-sizzling FaceMelter fried chicken sandwich. 131 E. First St., Cloverdale, wolfhousebrewing.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company Taproom

Lagunitas’ back-patio Beer Sanctuary flies just under the radar, drawing mostly locals sipping new releases with dogs and kids in tow. Go for brewhouse nachos with IPA beer cheese, smoked wings, or the messy-delicious burger that holds its own against their hoppy West Coast IPAs. 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, lagunitas.com/taproom/petaluma

Stumptown Brewery

Lazing along the Russian River, time loses all meaning — or at least that’s how it feels with a cold brew in one hand and a BLT in the other. Summer days on the patio, a cool breeze blowing through your hair and a Sunday afternoon with no plans is about as good as Sonoma County gets. 15045 River Road, Guerneville, stumptown.com

Fogbelt Taproom and Fogbelt Station Beer Garden

Don’t overthink it, you’re here for elote nachos, quesabirria tacos, smothered cheese fries, and pork belly bao sliders. And the beer. In Healdsburg, go for deep-dish Detroit-style pizza or elote nachos. Watch for the monthly food-and-beer pairings in Santa Rosa, featuring four beers and four bites. 1305 A Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, and 410 Hudson St., Healdsburg, fogbeltbrewing.com

This roundup is from our Ultimate Guide to Sonoma County’s Beer Scene, originally published in the March/April 2026 issue of Sonoma Magazine.

The post Beyond Beer: These Sonoma County Breweries Serve Excellent Food appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Breweries are pros at crafting signature events that are always worth pulling up for.

Here are some of the most anticipated brewery events coming to Sonoma County in 2026.

Pliny the Younger Release

Russian River Brewing Co. — March 20-April 2

The pavement party (aka standing in line!) is part of the experience and a Sonoma County rite of passage. 725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor. 707-545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com

3rd Annual Cheesesteak Day

Parliament Brewing Co. — March 21, noon to 8 p.m.

Anyone who has ever asked where to find an authentic Philly cheesesteak in Sonoma County should be here, otherwise they’re not even trying. 5865 Labath Ave., Unit 9, Rohnert Park. 707-776-6779, parliamentbrewing.com

CoopMania

Cooperage Brewing Co. (Airway location) — May 2, noon to 10 p.m.

A daylong taco fest with a side of Lucha Libre wrestling is the best way to get the Cinco de Mayo party started. 981 Airway Court, Suite G, Santa Rosa. 707-293-9787, cooperagebrewing.com

Live at Lagunitas

Lagunitas Petaluma Taproom — Summer

The Lagunitas lawn is the place to be for this concert series that brings in big names, like indie pop band Japanese Breakfast that played a free show to a capacity crowd last year. 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. 707-284-1020, lagunitas.com

Clash of the Cuisines

Old Caz — June 20

Last year’s inaugural event was a blowout, pitting top food vendors in a culinary competition with a catch: Make whatever you want, as long as it’s never been on your menu before. The crowd, quite literally, ate it up. Somo Village, 1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park. 707-665-6668, oldcaz.com

Stumptown Beer Revival BBQ Cook-Off

Stumptown Brewery — August

Arguably the longest-running brewery event in the county brings together more than two dozen breweries and a barbecue competition. What could be better? 15045 River Road, Guerneville. 707-869-0705, stumptown.com

This roundup is from our Ultimate Guide to Sonoma County’s Beer Scene, originally published in the March/April 2026 issue of Sonoma Magazine.

The post Upcoming Beer Events Brewing in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Story by Tina Caputo, with John Beck, Sarah Doyle, Jennifer Graue, and Heather Irwin

It’s early spring in Sonoma County, and for beer lovers that can only mean one thing: It’s Pliny the Younger season. Between March 20 and April 2, Russian River Brewing Company expects to see 26,000 beer fanatics from around the world lining up outside its Santa Rosa and Windsor pubs for a 10-ounce pour of its world-famous triple IPA.

The brew’s annual release has become so significant to the region that the Sonoma County Economic Development Board creates a yearly estimate of the event’s economic impact. In 2024, Pliny tourists spent more than $5 million within the county.

However, despite the continued success of Pliny the Younger, the once-booming craft beer industry has faced major challenges in recent years — starting with the pandemic.  

During Covid lockdowns, packaged beer sales in retail stores across the country initially surged as people found themselves stuck at home with little to do. According to Chicago-based analyst NIQ, off-premise dollar sales were essentially flat for craft beer in 2019. Then, in 2020, sales spiked 14%.  

“For a while, people were drinking a lot, and they were using beer aisles like video stores,” says Sayre Piotrkowski, the executive director of the Bay Area Brewers Guild and a former brand manager at HenHouse Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. “[They thought,] ‘This, at least, is some form of entertainment. It’s something I can do.'”

But, he says, as the pandemic dragged on, people fell out of the habit of socializing and meeting up at breweries.   

Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner and president at Russian River Brewing Co., says navigating the pandemic was the easy part — if you could manage the restrictions and get some government funding. Getting back to business as usual in the aftermath was another story.

“It was never going to be what it was before Covid,” she says. “And then the money [for brewery financing] dried up and we saw costs skyrocketing — the cost of people, cost of insurance, the cost of ingredients.”

Piotrkowski points to additional headwinds, such as recent tariffs on imported brewing equipment and supplies, pressures on immigrant labor, a lack of disposable income among younger consumers, and market uncertainties.  

“Business needs predictability,” he says, “especially a small business with narrow margins. That kind of volatility, the smaller you are, it affects you more.”

Some local brewers have called it quits in the last few years, including Seismic Brewing and Woodfour Brewing in Sebastopol. Others, such as Bear Republic in Rohnert Park and Third Street AleWorks in Santa Rosa, are still brewing, but they’ve shuttered their taprooms.  

Despite the tough times, Cilurzo says she is optimistic. She views the difficulties of the last five years as right-sizing, and as a natural maturation of the sector.  

“It happens in every industry and it’s OK,” she says. “You have to have some hard times in order to make your business and yourselves stronger. Now you’ve got to figure out a new way to move forward. I think it’s a really important time, and I think it’s really positive.”

Adam Bosch, co-founder of Parliament Brewing, agrees. He opened the Rohnert Park brewery with his father and brother in 2019, just before the pandemic hit.

“Everything in life is cyclical,” he says. “Look for the people that are making good beer, look for the people that are growing, look for the people that are giving good hospitality. Those people are going to be here in the long run.”

As of early 2026, there are 20 beer producers operating in the region, down from 22 at the height of craft beer’s heyday in 2015. This doesn’t include beer bars or outposts for out-of-county producers such as Berkeley’s Fieldwork Brewing Co., which opened a taproom in downtown Santa Rosa in November 2025.  

Meanwhile, established breweries are growing and evolving.  

In the summer of 2024, Old Caz Beer opened a new, much-larger taproom at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park. In contrast to the original warehouse location, hidden behind some auto shops, the SOMO spot was built for visitor friendliness. Along with a large front patio, the modern taproom features rotating food trucks and an in-house food menu.  

Cooperage Brewing Company also added a second location, in downtown Santa Rosa, in late 2024. The new, larger taproom — decked out in vibrant murals and equipped with pinball machines and pool tables — also hosts a variety of food trucks.   

Parliament is now in the midst of a major construction project designed to add more cold storage, a larger cellar area, and expanded tank space. Eventually, the brewery plans to include more indoor and outdoor seating, additional bathrooms, and space for activities like cornhole.  

“We’d really like to make it a social hub for Sonoma County,” Bosch says. “People don’t just buy your beer. It’s the culture, the service, the ambiance, the atmosphere.”

In this new era of Sonoma County craft brewing, Piotrkowski says producers are taking a more intentional approach to hospitality, rather than treating their taprooms as an afterthought.  

“You’ve seen even more emphasis on making sure the tasting room experience is sound and responding to the demands of the people who come in,” he says. That includes welcoming both kids and dogs. “Everybody’s pivoting to catering to families.”

Increasingly, Sonoma County brewers are leaning into the role of community gathering place.

Sonoma Springs Brewing Co. in Sonoma organizes regular bingo nights to raise money for local nonprofits, while Old Possum Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa offers weekend pop-ups featuring birria and menudo. Cooperage hosts beer and yoga sessions, and annual events like the CoopMania Taco Festival and Lucha Libre wrestling.  

“They’re doing things that bring people together,” says Herlinda Heras, co-host of the “Brew Ha Ha” podcast on Wine Country Radio and an international beer judge. That includes everything from hosting team trivia nights to throwing beer release parties and live music events.  

Brewers also foster community by stepping up in times of crisis, she adds, whether people are impacted by wildfires, floods, or injustice. “They’re the first ones to do a fundraiser,” says Heras, “or to do a special beer for it or a collaboration. Beer people show up.”

Creating a “we’re-all-in-this-together” vibe can also be as simple as cultivating a friendly atmosphere for all comers.  

“If you go to Russian River Brewing any day of the week or the year, you’ll see some regulars sitting at the bar or at a table,” she says. “Those regulars are absolutely happy to talk to somebody who’s visiting, whether they’re here for business or beer.”

Cilurzo credits the brewery’s laser focus on customer service with attracting and retaining those regulars. Though wholesale distribution accounts for the majority of sales, she says, the retail side of the business is the top priority.

“I firmly believe that our attention to detail and our hypervigilance on hospitality is what keeps people coming back,” she says. “Because it could be a one-time deal. Like, ‘OK, I stood in line for six hours in the rain, I had my three beers, I bought my three bottles, I had some good food, check that off the list.’ We don’t want that.”

For Old Caz, maintaining a welcoming space means taking time to get to know each customer and making sure the brewery feels like a place of belonging.  

“Everybody who walks in here, I know all these people on a first-name basis,” says general manager Rob Saccuzzo. “I know whose kid is graduating this year from Rancho Cotate High School down the street, I know who just started a new job. These are relationships that not just I, but my whole bartending staff, have cultivated.”

And when you make people feel at home, he adds, they want to come in and celebrate the best points in their lives, as well as commiserating about their low points. “I think that our biggest success has been the way we’ve been accepted by the community.”  

Sonoma County brewers also keep people coming back with rotating lineups of top-notch beer.  

Russian River Brewing is dedicated to the core beer lineup that put them on the map, Cilurzo says, but they also like to keep things interesting. Each of the brewery’s locations offers around 22 beers on draft, including limited releases. Earlier this year, Russian River introduced Russian River 100, its first hoppy West Coast Pilsner.  

At Parliament, the Bosch family takes a “something for everyone” approach, maintaining a diverse lineup of brews from IPAs to fruit-infused sours. For those who aren’t beer fans or want gluten-free options, the brewery also makes hard seltzers.  

“You have to always keep innovating, and you always have to listen to your clientele as well as the changes in the market,” says Bosch. “There were a lot of people that didn’t want to make hazy IPAs out here on the West Coast, but I can tell you our number one selling beer is Kaleidoscope and it’s a hazy IPA.”

Piotrkowski says the ever-increasing quality of Sonoma County craft beer is fueled by community support. Old Caz made perfectly good brews when the producer first started out, he says, but now it’s winning national and international awards.  

“Because their community supported them, they got better funded so they could buy better ingredients and they could refine their processes,” Piotrkowski says. “So now this thing you supported because it was your friends and your community is offering you some of the best West Coast IPA in the world and award-winning Mexican lager.”

“Because Sonoma County beer lovers have been savvy enough to support local,” he says, “they’ve got a really healthy, really high-quality set of local breweries delivering for them.”

Sonoma County’s Breweries

Barrel Brothers Brewing 9238 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite 128, Windsor. barrelbrothersbrewing.com

Cooperage Brewing Co. 981 Airway Court, Suite G, Santa Rosa. 575 Ross St., Santa Rosa. cooperagebrewing.com

Crooked Goat 110 Howard St., Petaluma. crookedgoatbrewing.com

Cuver Belgian Brewers 7704 Bell Road, Windsor. cuverbrewing.com

Fogbelt 1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa. Fogbelt Station 410 Hudson St., Healdsburg. fogbeltbrewing.com 

HenHouse Brewing Company 322 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa. HenHouse Palace of Barrels 1333 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. henhousebrewing.com

Iron Ox 3334 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa. ironoxbeer.com

Lagunitas Brewing Co. 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. lagunitas.com

Moonlight Brewing Co. 3350 Coffey Lane, Suites A & D, Santa Rosa. moonlightbrewing.com

Old Caz Beer Somo Village, 1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park. oldcaz.com

Old Possum 357 Sutton Place, Santa Rosa. oldpossumbrewing.com

Parliament Brewing Company 5865 Labath Ave., Unit 9, Rohnert Park. parliamentbrewing.com

Russian River Brewing Co. 725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor. russianriverbrewing.com

Shady Oak 420 First St., Santa Rosa. shadyoakbrewing.com

Sonoma Springs Brewing Co. 19449 Riverside Drive, Suite 101, Sonoma. sonomaspringsbrewing.com

Stumptown 15045 River Road, Guerneville. stumptown.com

Wolf House Brewing 131 E. First St., Cloverdale. wolfhousebrewing.com

Taprooms with out-of-county brewing facilities

Adobe Creek 140 Second St., Suite 112, Petaluma. adobecreekbrewing.com

Fieldwork Brewing Co. 2400 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa. fieldworkbrewing.com

Still brewing but no taproom

Third Street Aleworks drink03st.com

Bear Republic bearrepublic.com

Great food with your brew

In 2020, brothers Omar and Ivan Galvan took a gamble on a red taco truck. Five years later, they were running three trucks — and in early 2026 opened their first brick-and-mortar taproom and beer garden in Cotati.

They’re hardly alone. Food trucks and pop-ups that built loyal followings at brewery patios — fueled by Instagram and repeat customers — are increasingly using that momentum to make the leap. The pandemic accelerated the trend: Sonoma County rules required breweries to serve sit-down meals to pour beer, and without kitchens, many turned to trucks. Almost overnight, tasting rooms became casual, family-friendly gathering spots with tacos, picnic tables, kids, and dogs.

For fledgling food businesses, that built-in audience has become a workaround to the soaring cost of opening a restaurant, which can easily top $1 million in Sonoma County.

The Shokakko food truck made such a splash at early pop-ups at OP Comics & Games, breweries had to get in on the action. In late 2025, it landed a tiny Santa Rosa catering site serving its towering fried chicken sandwiches and pork katsu fries for pickup or patio hangs. Wooden Petal Pretzels followed a similar brewery-to-brick path, as did Austin’s BBQ (now A&M BBQ), which started in the kitchen of Old Possum Brewing.

Now, attention is turning to the next wave. Fans are watching — and hoping — that pizza phenoms Gabacool Provisions, Mamadios, with its authentic Philly cheesesteaks, and Bayou on the Bay will make the jump from the brewery circuit into permanent digs.

For breweries with in-house kitchens, these are our picks for dishes that are even better when washed down with a cold one.

Barrel Brothers Kitchen: A mind-blowing 39 taps let you mix and match brews with your food mood, like Dad Pants Pilsner with your double-patty smashburger or Hazy with your tater tot nachos.

Russian River Brewing Co.: If you can push through the Pliny devotees and score a seat, order like a regular: pepperoni and cheese New Yorker pizza, Pliny pizza bites with white cheddar and jalapeno, and garlic bread — because carbs. In Windsor, there’s more room to hang and eat pulled pork sliders, fish tacos, or an ice cream sundae with porter-infused dark chocolate sauce.

Wolf House Brewing: The Cloverdale Twinkie dares you to eat it. This bacon-wrapped, beer-battered, and deep-fried jalapeno stuffed with cream cheese and avocado is Wolf House’s signature app. The rest of the menu is equally audacious, with gut-busting burgers and the mouth-sizzling FaceMelter fried chicken sandwich.

Lagunitas Brewing Company Taproom: Lagunitas’ back-patio Beer Sanctuary flies just under the radar, drawing mostly locals sipping new releases with dogs and kids in tow. Go for brewhouse nachos with IPA beer cheese, smoked wings, or the messy-delicious burger that holds its own against their hoppy West Coast IPAs.

Stumptown Brewery: A lazy afternoon of burgers, cheese fries, and barbecue along the Russian River is about as good as summer in Sonoma County gets.

Fogbelt Brewery and Fogbelt Station: Don’t overthink it, you’re here for elote nachos, quesabirria tacos, smothered cheese fries, and pork belly bao sliders. And the beer. In Healdsburg, swap the tacos for a slice of deep-dish Detroit-style pizza. And don’t miss the monthly food and beer pairing at the Santa Rosa location featuring four beer tasters with a selection of bites. Recent pairings included lasagna, bacon, and an international array of sliders.

The best beer alternatives for dry spells

Nonalcoholic beer has come a long way since Prohibition, when breweries like Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Pabst were forced to produce “near beer,” an insipid malt beverage with most of its alcohol removed.

In contrast, many modern nonalcoholic beers are clean and crisp, with a kaleidoscope of hop aromas and flavors that work hard to convince your senses you’re drinking the real thing.

Brewers do this a number of ways, using vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis, or a spinning cone to remove alcohol, while boosting mouthfeel (which typically comes from alcohol) with additives like protein and dextrin, and reintroducing aroma through cold dry-hopping.

While this may sound complicated, many nonalcoholic beers are simply
crushable.

Hop water, a sparkling, zero-calorie beverage that capitalizes on hops’ bright citrus notes, is another NA alternative.

Here are some of our favorites:

Fieldwork Brewing: The Berkeley-based brewery opened its first Sonoma County location last year in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village. CEO Barry Braden’s mantra is to “offer something for everyone,” including NA beers, which have been flying off the shelves. Choose from Encore NA Hazy IPA, Headliner NA West Coast IPA, Day Money NA Grapefruit Blonde, and Light NA American Pils.

Barrel Brothers Brewing Co.: This Windsor brewery compares its NA Dad Pants Pilsner to “a trusty pair of go-to trousers.”

HenHouse Brewing/Fort Point Beer Company: Fort Point Beer Company recently introduced two NA beers, produced and poured at its sister brand, HenHouse Brewing. Citrusy and floral, NA Villager is a San Francisco-style IPA, while the NA KSA Kölsch is light and complex with a bright, flavorful finish.

Lagunitas: The IPNA is a nonalcoholic version of this Petaluma brewery’s popular IPA, with slightly herbal, bright citrus notes and less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

Cooperage Brewing Co.: Terpé hop water is a highly carbonated, nonalcoholic tonic infused with hop oils. Says Cooperage’s owner, Tyler Smith: “It’s crisp, refreshing, and instantly invites another sip.”

Old Caz Beer: Creek Water is a nonalcoholic sparkler with bright citrus notes from hop extract. Not into hops? Try Old Caz’s ultra-smooth nitro cold brew coffee with notes of hazelnut and vanilla.

Russian River Brewing Co.: The simply named Hop Water is ultra-light and refreshing. “A lot of hop waters have sweetener, which I don’t like,” says Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner of Russian River Brewing Co. “Ours is just water and hops.”

Brewers freshen up with hard seltzers

We get it: Not everyone loves beer. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun at local breweries. Alongside their traditional offerings, many Sonoma County brewers craft their own hard seltzers.

While sales of mass-produced brands have been declining for the last few years, artisan seltzers haven’t lost their sparkle.

Justin Bosch, head brewer at Parliament Brewing in Rohnert Park, says he started making them two years ago in response to customer demand. At first, he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing.

“The challenge was to learn and master an entire new beverage from scratch,” he says. “We did a lot of trials, and, as always with a completely new thing, we dumped a lot.”

To create the seltzers, Bosch starts with a neutral alcohol base, which is filtered and carbonated. Then, he adds natural flavors like Cara Cara orange and cantaloupe.

Although seltzer isn’t his drink of choice, Bosch says he enjoys making them. “It’s a fun change-up from the process of creating beer, and it keeps us sharp.”

Like Parliament, Old Caz Beer added a lineup of seltzers as a way to welcome people who don’t drink beer.

“Our slogan is ‘Everyone’s Invited,’” says general manager Rob Saccuzzo. “It’s just about reinforcing the fact that we care about what people want.”

Their top-selling seltzer is the bright red Surly Temple.

“We like to give people options,” Saccuzzo says, “and have fun doing it.”

Three to Try

Parliament Brewing

Cara Cara Passionfruit / 4.6% ABV

Parliament likes its seltzers on the dry and crisp side, and this one delivers. Its subtle flavors of real orange and passionfruit might just win over die-hard beer fans to the seltzer camp.

Crooked Goat Brewing

Office Party Cranberry Pomegranate / 5% Abv

Fresh and fruity with a touch of tartness, this one is tasty-but-sneaky. Packing lots of pomegranate and cranberry flavor, the seltzer’s alcohol profile is so under-the-radar you might mistake this for an NA version.

Old Caz Beer

Cosmo Imperial Hard Seltzer / 8% ABV

The brewery unapologetically crafts its seltzers on the sweeter side—and with beer-like alcohol levels. The Cosmo gets its name from the famous cocktail, and its pink color and orange flavor fit the profile.

Upcoming events brewing in the beer scene

Breweries are pros at crafting signature events that are always worth pulling up for.

Pliny the Younger Release

Russian River Brewing Co. — March 20-April 2

The pavement party (aka standing in line!) is part of the experience and a Sonoma County rite of passage.

3rd Annual Cheesesteak Day

Parliament Brewing Co. — March 21, noon to 8 p.m.

Anyone who has ever asked where to find an authentic Philly cheesesteak in Sonoma County should be here, otherwise they’re not even trying.

CoopMania

Cooperage Brewing Co. (Airway location) — May 2, noon to 10 p.m.

A daylong taco fest with a side of Lucha Libre wrestling is the best way to get the Cinco de Mayo party started.

Live at Lagunitas

Lagunitas Petaluma Taproom — Summer

The Lagunitas lawn is the place to be for this concert series that brings in big names, like indie pop band Japanese Breakfast that played a free show to a capacity crowd last year.

Clash of the Cuisines

Old Caz — June 20

Last year’s inaugural event was a blowout, pitting top food vendors in a culinary competition with a catch: Make whatever you want, as long as it’s never been on your menu before. The crowd, quite literally, ate it up.

Stumptown Beer Revival BBQ Cook-Off

Stumptown Brewery — August

Arguably the longest-running brewery event in the county brings together more than two dozen breweries and a barbecue competition. What could be better?

The locals making a splash in the beer scene

A beer-can artist taps visual flair

Walking past the beer aisle in the grocery store is tough for Nicky London.

“I always twist the cans so the labels show,” he says. “I do it for all the brands that I’ve worked with.”

One of the most sought-after beer-can artists in Sonoma County, London says he’s simply solving a problem for breweries in a crowded market by helping them stand out.

As art director and head of design at Cooperage, he’s created more than 100 labels for the Santa Rosa brewery. He also plies his trade as a freelance artist, painting cans for Fogbelt, Moonlight, and Marin County-based Pond Farm breweries.

In an age of eye-popping wraparound labels hyping a constant rotation of varieties, London taps into his own unique visual flair — sometimes trippy and cartoonish, other times macabre with dark, painterly brush strokes — often playing with pop cultural references.

For a “Clear and Loathing” beer, a play on a Hunter S. Thompson classic, he hid Easter eggs like flying stingrays and a creepy hitchhiker deep in the label.

Having worked in both the restaurant and wine industries, he loves the communal vibe of the beer business. “If you’re not buying my beer on the shelf and you’re buying somebody else’s, it’s still a win for beer. I don’t take those types of things personally. I’m like, hell yeah, people are still out there looking for fun stuff — and that gives you the drive to create the next fun thing.”

Favorite Beers:

• Cooperage Brewing’s Crispy Crusher American pale ale
• Moonlight brewing’s Death & Taxes black lager

Sonoma County’s classic comebacks

Fogbelt Brewing co-owner Paul Hawley remembers Red Tail Ale fondly. “That was the beer my dad used to drink, so that was the beer I’d grab from the fridge at home,” he says. The amber ale and flagship beer for Mendocino Brewing Company, which opened California’s first brewpub in 1983, developed a cult-like following.

The pub closed in 2018, but when a new owner bought the former Ukiah facility, he inherited its recipes and approached Fogbelt about a Red Tail revival. Hawley’s team consulted original brewers, then tweaked the recipe, adding a dry hop “to pop up the aromatics” before launching in March 2025.

It’s the latest blast from the past in local beer comebacks. In 2024, childhood buddies resurrected three Third Street Aleworks beers after the Santa Rosa brewpub shut down the previous year. Before that, Rich Norgrove of Bear Republic joined the Grace family, once synonymous with Sonoma County beer, to brew a limited release Grace Bros. Bavarian Lager. Russian River Brewing has long paid tribute to Grace Bros. with its Happy Hops IPA and Velvet Glow lager.

In an industry obsessed with the next new thing, it’s nice to look back, Hawley says. “People seem to be going back to stuff they know and like, rather than demanding something new all the time.”

Red Tail’s reception has been enthusiastic — Fogbelt is doubling production this year to 600 barrels. “Every week we get calls and emails from people grateful that it’s back,” says Hawley. As for his dad, who frequented the old Hopland brewpub and once trained red-tailed hawks, “He’s excited to have it in his fridge again.”

Favorite beers:

• Fogbelt’s Godwood Triple IPA
• Moonlight’s Reality Czech Pilsner

The brewer banking on Belgians

Born in Belgium and raised in the United States, brewer Hendrik Cuver has something to prove at Cuver Brewing in Windsor. “It’s really a cultural passion project,” he says. “We wanted to show people what beer would taste like if you had a Belgian beer in Belgium.”

It’s a bold move in a market over-saturated with hazies and other hop-driven IPAs. But people are taking notice. “I’ve had a lot of people tell us, ‘You’re the brewers’ favorite brewery.’ Since our Belgians are kind of unique, they like to come here,” Cuver says.

The name “Cuver” is an amalgam of his family’s last name, Verspecht, and his wife Amber’s maiden name, Cushing. “Put them together and it just happens to be a French verb that means ‘to ferment,'” he says.

His father, Jan Verspecht, is the owner, while his father-in-law, Reed Cushing, is the other brewer. Amber does the marketing.

A fourth-generation brewer, Cuver took up homebrewing at the age of 15. That’s when he began experimenting with adding Meyer lemon peel and California bay laurel leaves to the brew — what eventually became his signature Pepperwood saison ale, the brewery’s best seller.

Five years into the business, the ultimate compliment is when vacationing Belgians drop by for a beer. “When they tell me that it tastes like home, then I’m happy — that’s all I’m trying to do.”

Favorite beers:

• By Her BootStraps White IPA, a Cuver collaboration with the Pink Boots Society (March 2026 release)
• Old Caz Beer’s Bukovany Pivo Czech pilsner

A Sonoma County cicerone

While most are familiar with the term sommelier, an expert in wine, fewer are aware of the beer world equivalent — the cicerone. “Cicerone is Italian for guide,” explains Sebastopol resident Allo Gilinsky, one of a number of Sonoma County cicerones.

Gilinsky’s passion for a well-pulled pint began with beer drinking and bar hopping in college, then blossomed while tasting his way through flights at Lagunitas and working as a tour guide at Russian River Brewing Company’s Windsor facility during its early days. While working on the East Coast, he pursued a cicerone certification, a self-directed course of study that culminates with a written test and a tasting exam that requires aspiring cicerones to identify things like beer styles and off flavors. “Most of your certified cicerone studies are tasting bad beer,” says Gilinsky.

While many who complete the certification are brewers and taproom managers, the program is open to anyone who wants to wear their beer geek status as a badge of honor. “You become part of a community of people who are passionate about beer and beer education. It’s a ‘welcome to the club’ type of moment,” he says.

Since returning to Sonoma County from Boston last year, Gilinsky has focused on building his business, Craft Beer Concierge, providing beer education for beer lovers and businesses alike.

“I like to make beer approachable and intriguing to people. It brings people together over a beverage.”

Top 5 picks from a local beer expert

Wee Nibble Saison, Moonlight Brewing: “This one really scratches the itch for any lover of Belgian yeast and saisons. Pairs beautifully with food and sunshine.

Happy Hops, Russian River Brewing: “This hoppy offering doesn’t get quite the love it should. A beer that expertly bridges the palate for fans of both classic bitter and newer tropical IPAs, it’s got a boatload of hops in it and remains well balanced.”

Dark Sarcasm, Barrel Brothers Brewing: “For a robust beer, it doesn’t get much better for me than this porter that hits all the right notes of coffee and chocolate flavor. A great beer to drink, and an even better beer to cook with.”

Wok This Way, Cooperage Brewing: “A light yet flavorful lager that’s made with jasmine rice. One you want on their patio on a hot day and should not be missed.”

Dobbel, Cuver Brewing: “A beer that’s so true to style, I could cry. Belgian Dubbels are complex, warming, and meant to be drunk over conversation, and Cuver’s really hits the mark.”

The brewpubs hopping with fun and games

Welcome to the always hopping modern brewpub, where sometimes the beer itself is an afterthought. One night it’s cornhole, the next night trivia, or a concert, or maybe a trip back in time through a pinball arcade.

“Breweries are there for people to have beer, but they’re also there for people to spend time with each other and inspire conversation and make jokes and stuff,” says Trey Hart, a recent “Jeopardy” champion who hosts Redwood Empire Food Bank’s popular Tap Out Hunger trivia night fundraisers at breweries from Parliament to HenHouse. (Check out refb.org for their upcoming lineup of Tap Out Hunger brewery trivia nights).

Just to give you an idea of what’s out there, here’s a less-than-exhaustive list of daily entertainment from the local brewery scene:

Monday

Cooperage Brewing Co. (downtown): Trivia from 7-9 p.m.

Tuesday

Iron Ox Brewing hosts surprisingly competitive cornhole tournaments at 6:30 p.m.

Cooperage Brewing (Airway) Trivia night from 6-8 p.m.

Old Caz Trivia Gauntlet 6 p.m.

Fogbelt Brewing (Santa Rosa) Trivia with comedian Cody Smit, 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday

Sonoma Springs Brewing Company often hosts bingo nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays, benefiting local organizations. $10 for a set of cards.

Moonlight Brewing Trivia 6-8 p.m.

Crooked Goat Brewing Trivia 6:30-8 p.m.

Parliament Brewing Trivia 6 p.m. Also look for monthly themed-trivia nights, typically the third Tuesday at 6 p.m. Recent themes have included Disney, Harry Potter, and “The Office.”

Thursday

Shady Oak Brewing Trivia 7 p.m., plus they always have pinball and old-school video arcade games.

Lagunitas Taproom and Brewery Music Bingo from 5:30-7 p.m. (also hosts trivia on Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.).

Fogbelt Station Trivia 6-8 p.m.

Saturday

Iron Ox Brewing Comedy night from 8-10 p.m. the last Saturday of the month.

Sunday

Cooperage Brewing (Airway location): End the week with the most unusual brew combo of them all: Beer and Yoga with Alicia Franci Uresti at 10:30 a.m. Here’s the pitch: “Start your day with a rejuvenating hatha-style slow-flow session followed by a refreshing pint of beer with fellow yogis.” What could possibly go wrong?

The post The Ultimate Guide to Sonoma County’s Beer Scene appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Beer has come a long way from the days when the only choices available were light or regular. In the past two decades, the flavors and styles on tap have grown into a booming industry that now satisfies patrons thirsty for fruity saisons, triple IPAs and barrel-aged sours. 

Craft beer, once a niche market for a community of homebrewers and beer aficionados, has spilled out across the nation in record numbers. As of 2024, there are over 9,700 breweries in the country creating unique and flavorful concoctions of hops, malt and yeast. 

Sonoma County, and Santa Rosa in particular, reigns supreme in this golden age of beer with riches in the form of world-renowned craft breweries. With an ever-growing number of first-class beer venues to choose from, it can be hard for beer-lovers to plan their Sonoma suds adventures. For first-time visitors wondering where to start, we present a sampling of our favorite local breweries below. Cheers! 

HenHouse Brewing Company, Santa Rosa/Petaluma

For beer aficionados, a handful of craft breweries make Sonoma County stand out – among them is HenHouse. HenHouse co-founders Collin McDonnell and Scott Goyne founded the brewery in 2012, and sold bottled beers exclusively at the Petaluma brewery. Four years later, they opened a Santa Rosa taproom; an industrial space featuring free popcorn and the Red Horse Pizza food truck out front.

Now in its 13th year, HenHouse continues to churn out the kind of ales, sours and stouts that attract beer snobs from near and far. Their HenHouse IPA and Chemtrails IPA are two of the best IPAs we’ve tried and the limited-release Big Chicken DIPA is one of the most sought after brews made in Sonoma County.

322 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa; 1333 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, henhousebrewing.com

Cooperage Brewing Company, Santa Rosa 

Cooperage founder, head brewer and Orange County transplant, Tyler Smith has turned a decade of brewing in a garage into one of the premier craft breweries in one of the premier craft brewery locations in the world.

The brewery, located in an industrial warehouse, has become a favorite destination for beer enthusiasts looking for unique and well crafted pale ales — The Wyatt Terp is a must-try for IPA lovers. Cooperage also features food trucks for the hungry, a giant projector screen for sports fans and an arcade machine with joystick classics for those looking for some old-school fun. Just last year, Cooperage opened a second location in downtown Santa Rosa.

981 Airway Court, Suite G, and 575 Ross St., Santa Rosa, 707-293-9787, cooperagebrewing.com

Fogbelt Brewing Company, Santa Rosa/Healdsburg

Founded in 2013 by Paul Hawley and Remy Martin, Fogbelt Brewing Company is another reason why Santa Rosa is repeatedly named a top of craft beer destination. Like the name of the brewery, Fogbelt’s brews pay tribute to the North Coast — each flagship beer is named after a coastal redwood tree.

From the crisp Atlas Blonde Ale to the robust Armstrong Stout, beer flights connoisseurs will not be disappointed with what’s on tap. The brewery is also host to one of the best brewery kitchens we’ve encountered: try the fish tacos with pickled radish and chipotle crema. In 2022, the brewery opened Fogbelt Station in Healdsburg.

1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3400; 410 Hudson St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8532, fogbeltbrewing.com

Moonlight Brewing Company, Santa Rosa

Moonlight head brewer Brian Hunt is old school. Hunt was crafting brews before there was even a craft beer industry, and his Moonlight Brewing became the first microbrewery in Santa Rosa when it opened in 1992.

The Moonlight brewery process relies on a no-frills approach: sight, smell and taste determine when a beer is ready and barley, grains and herbs make up the main ingredients. A sip on a Moonlight beer will bring you back to a time when the beer world was not dominated by hoppy IPAs; and the San Francisco-style, black lager “Death and Taxes” will make the previously pure join the dark side, for sure.

3350 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-755-4951, moonlightbrewing.com

Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa/Windsor

What is there to say that has not already been said about this Santa Rosa brewing behemoth? Russian River has won just about every beer award you can win, garnered worldwide fame and sent beer lovers into a February frenzy for the past 20 years with limited-release Pliny the Younger.

While the brewery’s hoppy Plinys (Younger and Elder) are definitely worth a try, the less intense, well-balanced and flavorful Blind Pig IPA should also be included on your beer bucket list. An added, and sometimes overlooked, bonus is the family-friendly atmosphere at the brewery (including a kids menu). But leave junior at home for the annual Pliny pilgrimage, no kid (and few adults) want to wait in line for hours.

725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor, 707-545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com

Iron Ox Brewing Company, Santa Rosa

Founder Kevin Robinson spent 10 years plowing through the beer and wine industry before he opened his own Santa Rosa brewery in 2015, originally called Plow Brewing Co. until changing the name to Iron Ox in 2020. While Iron Ox may not enjoy the kind of ballyhoo other breweries on this list do, that’s no loss to Robinson; as the brewery website states: “We are not ones to follow the trend or make beer for the masses. We make beer for us.”

Iron Ox brews without chemicals, extracts or finings (a compound agent added to beer to improve clarity or adjust flavor/aroma), making every beer vegan-friendly. The taproom is small and the intimate atmosphere makes this an ideal spot for escaping the crowds while relaxing with a cold one. Order the Sonoma Coast Pils and Steel Share IPA.

3334 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-843-4583, ironoxbeer.com

Shady Oak Barrel House, Santa Rosa

Calling themselves the “The Shady Bunch,” the team at Shady Oak is committed to fostering a family-like vibe at its taproom and beer garden while supporting the community. The brewery plays host to a variety of North Bay vendors, musicians and artists in its large indoor venue. Find an assortment of changing brews on tap, from hard seltzers to classic West Coast IPAs.

420 First St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-7687, shadyoakbrewing.com

Old Possum Brewing Co., Santa Rosa

Old Possum sources hops from Sonoma County farmers, so guests know they’re supporting local when they dine on barbecue from the kitchen and wash the meal down with a crushable IPA. Standout beers include the Interstellar Stout, Disturbance Pale Ale and Fresh Sonoma IPA.

357 Sutton Place, Santa Rosa, 707-303-7177, oldpossumbrewing.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma

A North Bay staple for the past three decades, Lagunitas continues to impress beer aficionados by producing one-of-a-kind, boundary-pushing interpretations of traditional brews with heavy hitting flavor. Flagship classics include Little Sumpin’, Lagunitas Pils, Aunt Sally, Hop Stoopid and Brown Shugga. Lagunitas’ Petaluma location provides one of the best atmospheres to enjoy a beer with a live music venue, inviting outdoor patio, full kitchen, photo booth and gift shop.

1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-284-1020, lagunitas.com

Old Caz Beer, Rohnert Park

Just four months after opening a new brewpub in Rohnert Park’s SOMO Village, Old Caz Beer’s One Way IPA took second place at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival. If that isn’t enough reason to visit Old Caz, then its rotating lineup of stellar food trucks are sure to entice. The food trucks that frequent the brewpub include the Japanese-style Shokakko, pizza pop-up Gabacool Provisions and local brothers-owned Galvan’s Eatery. There’s nothing quite like washing down birria tacos with a crisp IPA.

1500 Valley House Drive, Suite 110, Rohnert Park, 707-665-6668, oldcaz.com

Parliament Brewing Company, Rohnert Park

This family-owned brewery, with beer master Justin Bosch at the helm, has a healthy mix of drafts on tap to match any taste. Some favorites include the crisp Mexican-style lager “Los Tecolotes,” the hazy IPA “Kaleidoscope” and the fruity sour “Berry Pie.” Find coveted local food trucks parked at Parliament every day, such as Shokkako, API Hot Chicken and War Pigs Craft Kitchen.

5865 Labath Ave., Suite 9, Rohnert Park, 707-776-6779, parliamentbrewing.com

Barrel Brothers Brewing Company, Windsor

Barrel Brothers, like the name implies, is a family affair. The brewery was founded by brothers-in-law, Wesley Deal and Daniel Weber, and their father-in-law, Tom Sather in 2015. Considering themselves akin to alchemists, the family concocts magical potions from water, grain, hops and yeast. Their beers run the spectrum from light to dark. The “Blonde Voyage” Belgian ale makes for an ideal barbecue beverage, while the “Dark Sarcasm” porter is packed with chocolate, mocha and vanilla. Their “Naughty Hops” IPA is brewed with their revolutionary, ‘Hop Spanker’ technology. The Windsor tap room may be on the small side for some, but there are plenty of fresh beers on tap to enjoy.

9238 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 128, Windsor, barrelbrothersbrewing.com

CUVER Belgian Brewers, Windsor

Kids and pets are welcome at this Windsor brewery’s spacious patio while the adults sip citrusy lagers and rich ales. Among the top picks of brews here is the signature Pepperwood, a saison ale that won a gold medal in the 2024 California State Fair’s Commercial Craft Beer competition. Food trucks pull up to the taproom from 4-7 p.m. most Fridays.

7704 Bell Road, Suite A, Windsor, 707-687-0577, cuverbrewing.com

Crooked Goat Brewing, Sebastopol/Petaluma

If you like to wet your whistle with some wheat brew, then Crooked Goat is the place for you. This Sebastopol brewery crafts unique wheat ales infused with flavors from honey, blackberries, raspberries — even bubblegum (featured in the aptly named “Bazooka Joe”). Crooked Goat also boasts a selection of hoppy, high ABV percentage IPAs, such as the West Coast-style “Ibex” and the apricot- and vanilla-infused “Foggy Notion” DIPA. Brewmaster Will Erickson and crew took Crooked Goat from a garage to the 10-barrel system taproom at The Barlow, winning The People’s Choice Award at the Santa Rosa Battle of the Brews in 2015. Crooked Goat opened a second taproom in Petaluma in 2022. This summer through Sept. 13, the Sebastopol location is hosting a free summer concert series every Saturday.

120 Morris St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-827-3893; 110 Howard St., Petaluma, 707-559-5691, crookedgoatbrewing.com

Sonoma Spring Brewing Company, Sonoma

At Sonoma Springs Brewing Company, the only brewery located in the city of Sonoma, there’s an expansive lineup of California and German-style beers. In keeping with the craft beer trend, all Sonoma Springs brews have fun, catchy names: “Pacific Coast Hopway,” “Dreaming Out Loud,” and “Subliminal Gold IPA” are a few examples. With over 20 fresh beers on tap, there’s plenty to choose from at the taproom.

19449 Riverside Drive, Suite 101, Sonoma, 707-938-7422, sonomaspringsbrewing.com

Maci Martell contributed to this article.

The post Russian River and More: Best Sonoma County Breweries for First-Time Visitors appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

There’s long been an inside joke among winery folks that their favorite beverage is beer.

Every year during harvest, when I stop by local hot spots like El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma or the Restaurant at North Block in Yountville, I can count on finding groups of winemakers hanging out at the bars, holding craft brew mugs in their grape-stained hands.

They love wine but they’ve had enough, they’ll admit. And so, perhaps, have younger drinkers, according to recent statistics.

It’s no secret that the wine industry is facing challenging times, as Gen Z and millennial consumers are exploring alternatives to wine, like cocktails, hard seltzers and beer — or nonalcoholic drinks. Many traditional wine tasting destinations are feeling the pain, with visits declining.

To meet new demands, the industry is pivoting. Winery behemoth Constellation Brands Inc., for example, just reported that beer now represents nearly 82% of its sales, according to the company’s annual earnings report. Last week, Constellation even entered negotiations to sell its entire wine portfolio to two other top producers.

So it won’t surprise me to see more wine tasting rooms entering into partnerships, offering beer and other drinks in their expensive-to-operate spaces. Here are some of my current local favorites pouring wine and beer.

Mad Fritz Brewing Co. and Jessup Wine Cellars

The Mad Fritz taproom opened last spring in Yountville, sharing a charming stone and clapboard cottage with Jessup Wine Cellars on Washington Street. The tiny-batch, high-end beers have been a cult favorite around Napa Valley for more than a decade, poured at The French Laundry and Solage Calistoga among other upscale joints and so coveted that there is a waiting list for the members club.

Husband-and-wife owners Nile Zacherle and Whitney Fisher (both longtime winemakers, by the way) use craft-malted single-variety barley and French oak barrels to age the double or triple fermented beers for up to 12 months.

Flavors change seasonally and the beers usually have delightful names referencing Grimms’ Fairy Tales, such as The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg, a funky, dry saison with a hint of pineapple. My favorite is the mildly bitter and spicy Peach Project, made with organic peaches from Cervantes Family Vineyard in St. Helena and Triumph hops from the Alexander Valley Hops farm in Sonoma County.

The beer bar is tiny — it used to be the Yountville town jail long ago — but hip with its record player and vinyl collection. A sign encourages you to “Yo! Be your own DJ!” and select records (but please heed a newly taped-up sign that says, “Now! Don’t steal them!”).

Step into the adjacent lounge and you’ll find the Jessup Wine Cellars wine bar, a comfy spot to sip standouts like the 2019 Juel blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Petite Verdot.

“We definitely get couples where one wants wine and the other wants beer,” Zacherle said. “I think, as a collective property, we offer a lot of variety.”

Technically, that couple would not sit together, given licensing differences between a beer and a wine business. But with the shared footprint and open wall between the two rooms, the happy pair can toast each other mere feet apart.

6720 Washington St., Yountville, 707-968-5058, madfritz.com

6740 Washington St., Yountville, 707-944-5620, jessupcellars.com

Coyote Sonoma and Wilson Artisan Wines

Ken and Diane Wilson own 11 wine businesses across Sonoma and Mendocino counties, including Coyote Sonoma in Healdsburg. The Coyote space used to be the Sonoma Cider taproom, so it made sense for the Wilsons to fill it with local craft beers, alongside their own wine selections.

Beer lovers will find 18 craft brews on tap, from local producers like Parliament Brewing, HenHouse Brewing, Cooperage Brewing and Russian River Brewing.

Wine lovers have two options. There’s a full tasting room with wine and optional food pairings, open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. There’s also a wine list in the taproom, which is open 4 p.m. until the bar closes Wednesday through Saturday.

Coyote Sonoma hosts live music almost every Friday and Saturday night and has launched a Coyote Sonoma Locals Club that offers complimentary or discounted tickets to most live music events. For $25 per month, club members get one bottle of wine that can be enjoyed on site during a show with free corkage.

“It’s really affordable and particularly attractive at a time where people seem to be more conscious of expenses,” said Wilson marketing specialist Katie Ambrosi. “Even if someone isn’t much of a wine lover, they enjoy the club because it brings such great access to music at a venue with a healthy beer selection.”

44-F Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-395-8846, wilsonartisanwines.com

St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery

St. Clair Brown opened on the edge of downtown Napa in 2013 as a Wine Country wonderland featuring an industrial-chic facility making handcrafted small-lot wines and microbrew beers surrounded by lavish culinary gardens with a café in an English-style greenhouse.

Owners Elaine St. Clair (winemaker and brewmaster) and Laina Brown (winery executive) pulled out all the stops and paid attention to details, like the retro typewritten labels that are tied to the bottles with twine.

I remember the first time I visited back then and how delighted I was when the Napa Valley Wine Train chugged by on the tracks mere feet from that greenhouse. The conductor honked the locomotive’s horn in a long, soulful hello and all of us café guests shared friendly waves with the train riders.

The experience is just as magical now as we can taste flights of wine, beer or even housemade nonalcoholic garden cocktails, with optional food pairings.

You’ll definitely want to try the food, which is presented in jewel box nibbles that highlight produce from the garden, which was planted by organic culinary gardener Peter Jacobsen (he is the owner of Jacobsen Orchards in Yountville and grows specialty fruits, herbs, vegetables and edible flowers for several Michelin-starred restaurants, including The French Laundry).

I still dream of my last visit, when I savored pork rillettes tucked into a glass jar with fig-apricot-lemon compote, and a pretty salad of farro and Rancho Gordo quinoa dotted with pickled radishes, Pinot Grigio-soaked golden raisins, sweet pea sprouts and blossoms.

Check the website calendar, too, for pop-ups in the cellar that turns into a sophisticated speakeasy. To get in, look for the neon peace sign, knock twice and share the password (that changes weekly). Then slip inside for DJ-spun music, wine and beer by candlelight and dancing amid the fuchsia-strobe-lit stainless steel tanks.

816 Vallejo St., Napa, 707-255-5591, stclairbrown.com

The post Sonoma, Napa Wineries Mix It Up With Beer appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Now that shelter in place orders have been implemented in Sonoma and Napa counties, local businesses like wineries, restaurants, and breweries are pivoting their operations to focus on to-go and delivery orders. 

(Here is a list of Sonoma County restaurants currently offering curbside pickup and delivery)

For those who would like to sip on a craft beer while supporting local businesses, orders can now be placed via email, phone or online and be picked up curbside at a number of breweries — listed in the above gallery.

While we will do our best to keep this article up-to-date, changes happen daily so please call in advance to make sure the brewery is open. Also make sure to wash and sanitize your hands before and after you pick up your order, and please refrain from going out if you are sick. 

Breweries that are temporarily closed: 

• Moonlight Brewing in Santa Rosa. Learn more on Facebook.
• GravSouth Brew Co. in Cotati. Learn more on Facebook. 
• Parliament Brewing Company in Rohnert Park. Learn more on Facebook. 
• Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma. Learn more on Facebook.
• Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville. Learn more on Facebook.

The post These Sonoma County Breweries Are Offering Curbside Pickup and Delivery appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Since its start on November 8, the Camp Fire in Butte County has killed 77 people and destroyed over 11,000 homes, the majority in the town of Paradise.

In nearby Chico, the team at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company closed their brewery for health and safety reasons shortly after the fire started. Within days, they learned that many employees, friends and family members had been severely affected by the fire. They decided to do what they could to support their community.

As a first measure, Sierra Nevada opened their brewpub to serve first responders and evacuees, and donated clothing to those in need. As of Monday, the brewery had provided nearly 10,000 complimentary meals and donated over $200,000 in clothing.

On November 12, they launched a Camp Fire Relief Fund through the Golden Valley Bank Community Foundation. The brewery donated $100,000 to kick off the fundraising efforts. According to the Grossman family, who founded the brewery in 1980, “once the fire is out, we will distribute all donated money to partner organizations that are dedicated to rebuilding and supporting the communities that have been affected.”

A few days later, Sierra Nevada announced that they will brew a Resilience IPA, which will be available in January of next year with limited distribution in cans and on draught. 100 percent of the proceeds from the beer will benefit the brewery’s Camp Fire Relief Fund.

Now, Sonoma County brewers are joining the fundraising efforts, just as they did in the immediate aftermath of last year’s North Bay fires.

“Sierra Nevada helped us in our time of need…We are honored to do what little we can to help people in their community,” shared Russian River Brewing Company on Facebook last week.

Russian River is brewing twenty barrels of their own Resilience IPA to be served on tap at both their Santa Rosa (725 4th St.) and Windsor (700 Mitchell Ln.) locations, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Camp Fire Relief Fund. (During last year’s fires, Russian River Brewery launched the charitable endeavor Sonoma Pride. The campaign has raised $1,122,116 for fire relief efforts.)

HenHouse Brewing Co. is also joining the relief efforts. “With the memory of last year’s fires in our backyard fresh in our minds, we knew we needed to help,” shared the brewery on Instagram. HenHouse is brewing their own batch of Resilience IPA to be served at their Petaluma (1333 N McDowell Blvd) and Santa Rosa (322 Bellevue Ave) locations, with 100 percent of proceeds also going to the Camp Fire Relief Fund.

Santa Rosa’s Cooperage Brewing Company (981 Airway Ct.) is also offering a Resilience IPA starting mid-December with all proceeds benefiting Sierra Nevada’s Camp Fire Relief Fund.

Bear Republic Brewing Co. has joined the relief efforts, too. They’ll be brewing Resilience IPA, and serving it at both their Healdsburg (345 Healdsburg Avenue) and Rohnert Park (5000 Roberts Lake Road) brewpubs will be serving the brew with proceeds benefiting the Camp Fire Relief Fund.

Windsor’s St. Florian’s Brewery, named after the patron saint of firefighters, continues to donate five percent of all beer sales to fire-related causes and right now they are collecting gift cards which will be donated to Camp Fire survivors. (Cards can be dropped off or mailed to St. Florian’s Brewery 7704A Bell Road Windsor CA 95492)

We’ll continue to update this list with other beer-focused opportunities to support fire relief efforts in Butte County. Stay tuned.

Is your restaurant, brewery, winery or distillery supporting Camp Fire relief efforts? Tell us about it in an email.

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