Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA. One of the top beer cities

Sonoma County isn't just a wine destination, it's a beer trip, too. According to Wine Enthusiast magazine Santa Rosa in Sonoma County is one of the top five beer cities in the U.S. The five are called "cutting-edge craft beer towns."

The others are Asheville NC, Denver, Philadelphia, and Portland. Honorable mentions go to San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, and Santa Barbara.

Part of the blocks long line waiting the annual Feb 1st release
of Pliny the Younger at Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa
(called the best beer in the world by Beer Advocate)

In Santa Rosa the Russian River Brewery is considered one of the top breweries in the world and well-known to beer geeks. Also in Santa Rosa are Third Street Aleworks and the new Fogbelt Brewery. There are several other breweries nearby--a couple of the more well-known are Lagunitas in Petaluma and Bear Republic in Healdsburg.

Also within Sonoma County you will also find some small breweries you've probably never heard of like:
101 North, Carneros, Dempseys, Healdsburg Beer Co, HenHouse, Moonlight Brewing, Old Redwood, Petaluma Hills, Ruth McGowan's, Sonoma Springs, St. Florians, Stumptown, Warped, and Woodfour.
Some of these are very tiny with their beers only sold locally.

Taprooms in Santa Rosa featuring lots of local and not-so-local microbrews:
Heritage House, Rincon Valley Tap Room, and Sprenger's.

I'm probably missing some Sonoma County breweries as new ones keep popping up.

North Bay Brewery Tours is your way to sample and let someone else do the driving.

Best Beer Cities