LIBATION DESTINATION /// NEIGHBORHOOD EXPLORATION
Photo courtesy Hop DeVine
This microbrewery is on a mission to create hand-crafted, artisan beers with a wink at Bay Area history. While visiting, taste their current line-up of seven tasty offerings, ranging from a smooth Belgian-style wheat with spicy characteristics (Whistleblower, 4.8% ABV) to a rich and creamy stout (C’est Noir, 10.8%). If you like them hoppy, fill your growler with Old Jabberwokki (see what we did there?). For a more traditional taste, order a pint of their 9 to 5, a crisp, clean, pale ale made for the working man and woman (6.2% ABV).
2:00 PM It’s time to grab a bite to balance
Hop DeVine
all that alcohol consumption. But, no need to pause the drinking. Hidden away in a nondescript shopping center, Hop DeVine serves all the best the valley has to offer — wine, beer, and grub. Fill your stomach with tri-tip sandwiches made to perfection and wash it all down with a brew flight. Large picnic-style tables fill this gastropub, but the best seats are at the bar, where you have a clear view of their high-tech tasting menus — LCD screens that provide everything you need to know about the listed brews, including whether or not they are serving from the bottom of the barrel.
5:00 PM According to the old adage, A SPIRITED DETOUR While the craft beer scene has enough offerings to keep you tipsy all day, Livermore’s newest foray into beverages is spirits. Sutherland Distillery takes you to the other side of town for a unique beverage tasting experience. Inside, the true essence of the city is captured in the décor: recycled barrel racks and work tables made from reclaimed wood. Inside each poured glass, this essence is echoed by Sutherland using unique ingredients available in the surrounding rich agricultural lands. There’s no discrimination here when it comes to variety—tip back rums, vodka, rye whiskey, and bourbon before heading out the door.
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time well spent is never wasted. Well, for lack of a better phrase, Tap 25 might be the ideal place to wind up an afternoon. It’s the first stop on our brew tour that takes tasters to Livermore’s budding downtown, in a coveted area called Blacksmith Square. With 25 flavors always on the ready (hence the name), the focus here is on American microbrews. Revisit favorites from the day or sink your teeth into something brand-new. The day of our visit, they were heavy on the San Diego imports, but also had some Northern California choices peppered in. Live music, provided by local bands and singer-songwriter types, provide the soundtrack for your boozy early evening hours. Grab a seat on their patio — tucked
Winter 2018