Sonoma County Beer Guide

Sonoma County has over 400 wineries. You're not surprised there are wineries here, but maybe you are surprised by the number of them. There are also over 25 breweries, many tap rooms, plus a handful of cideries and distilleries, too. Here are the breweries, big and small, the famous, and ones you've probably never heard of.

Lined up for the annual Pliny the Younger release

Several have restaurants, others have food trucks stopping by, a couple even have a full bar. As of the time I'm writing this, many are closed a couple of days a week, usually Mon-Tues.

Cloverdale

Wolf House
Large pub menu, lagers, ales, and IPAs.

Cotati

Grav South
Nice selection of beers, taqueria type food. (closing 11/22)

Guerneville

Stumptown
Home of the famous(?) Rat Bastard Pale Ale. A basic pub menu that includes things like corn dogs and chili cheese fries. Good West County people watching.

Healdsburg

Fogbelt
A newly opened second location (other pub is in Santa Rosa). Same beers, different food menu specializing in pizzas.

Kenwood

Palooza
They make a few of their own beers, plus have other local brews on tap. There's a sizable food menu and sometimes there is live music.


Petaluma

Henhouse
Their second location (first is in Santa Rosa). Known for their many fresh and not too heavy IPAs. Food trucks are often available.

Lagunitas
The big boy and one of the originals that sold to Heineken a few years ago. Tours, indoor taproom plus large outdoor area where you'll sometimes find live music.

Also check out Brewster's Beer Garden with plenty of taps, wine, booze, food, and music most days.


Rohnert Park

Bear Republic
The producers of Racer 5 have a restaurant and pub with indoor and outdoor seating on a small lake.

Old Caz
Everything from hazy and West Coast IPAs, to pilsners to stouts. I've tried a couple of their beers so far (they're fairly new) and am impressed.

Parliament
Small father & sons operation with a bit of local distribution. They opened in late 2019 and (gasp) I haven't been there yet.

Part of Bear Republic's outside dining area

Santa Rosa

3 Disciples
Food from either a nearby Asian or Mexican restaurant. Numerous brews including hazies, sours, and barrel aged selections.

Cooperage
Often hoppy, but not heavy or high-alcohol, just very drinkable. This is a favorite of many locals.

Fogbelt
Decent menu, lots of IPAs, indoor and outdoor seating, the occasional food and beer pairing like the one I did recently of corn dogs and beer.

Hen House
Often creative, usually delicious, and they say "stoked" a lot. Even the can artwork is great.

Iron Ox (formerly Plow)
Lagers and IPAs on the easier-drinking side, all under 7% alcohol. Nothing fancy in here, just the beer.

Moonlight
They've been around for 30 years. Their best-known beer is Death & Taxes black lager. The beers are lower in alcohol than most craft beer, running from 4% to about 6.5% and are naturally gluten free.

Old Possum
Good food, excellent beer. Plenty of outdoor seating.

Russian River Brewing
The King of Beers when it comes to craft brews. Crowded, noisy, possibly lined up to get in. Choose your time to go wisely. Besides Pliny, look for other specialty IPAs that are occasionally available. I've been here more times than I can count. :)

Shady Oak
Specializes in farmhouse, sours, and barrel-aged beers.

Third Street Aleworks
They've been downtown for over 25 years and usually in the shadow of Russian River Brewing. The kitchen is currently shut down, but there's plenty of space to sip one of their many beers.

Also check out Flagship, Juncture, and Rincon Valley tap rooms.


Sebastopol

Crooked Goat
Known for fruit-infused IPAs. They keep 16 taps busy and are always trying something new. Food available from several nearby restaurants.

Seismic
Lighter style of beers.

Woodfour
Good menu, beers have a German influence.

All three of these breweries are within easy walking distance of each other in the Barlow Center.
Sebastopol and Sonoma have a HopMonk Tavern. They have a couple of their own beers, but are mostly a taproom and restaurant.


Sonoma

Sonoma Springs
Nice selection of beers and not very many IPAs. There's a bit of a German influence on the beer and beerhaus vibe.


Windsor

Barrel Brothers Brewing
From pilsner to porter to sour to non-alcoholic, they make it all.

Cuver
Belgian-style brews in an IPA world = some much needed diversity. I haven't been there yet, but the family is from Belgium, so I expect they know what they're doing.  :)

Russian River Brewing
Opening in 2018 the new home to most of their brewing after Vinny, the owner, swore for years he'd never expand production. I guess the money was too good. Tours, a large bar and restaurant, and a big gift shop.

While in Windsor, you can find lots of taps at Barley & Bine Beer Cafe and the Flagship Taproom.