STILL THIRSTY? Plenty of bars and taprooms tout exceptional beer programs. Check a few of them out. • Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen • Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom • Flagship Taproom • Brew Coffee & Beer House
Brewing Company ➺ Cooperage : Fun music and murals; multiple seating the details
areas (indoor and outdoor); video game stations; good vibes all around what to drink: Cooperage is always doing cool beer collabs, so if you see one on the menu, order a pint. And you can’t go wrong with whatever pale ale (regular or hazy) is on rotation.
Brewing Company ➺ Iron Ox : Impressive calendar of events and food the details
truck lineup; fun collabs what to drink: You can’t go wrong with any of Iron Ox’s tropical lagers and, around the holidays, the More Naughty Than Nice Christmas ale is a must.
Brewing Co. ➺ Civilization : Fantastic downtown taproom with oldthe details
school vibes; music and comedy nights what to drink: Olompali lager and Super Lemon Haze hazy IPA are super fresh, but for something a little different, try the Peach Rings hard seltzer—it tastes just like those peach-flavored gummy candies.
Brewing Co. ➺ Old Possum : Italian winemaker turned brewer; known the details
for collaborations with other breweries what to drink: Get the Garibaldi IPA. It’s named after the California state fish and is crazy crushable, not super hoppy, and oh-so fresh. And for the wintertime, there’s the Interstellar stout.
Brewing Company ➺ Parliament : Family-owned brewery with owl-themed the details
logo and art (fun fact: a parliament is a gathering of owls) 40 | V I S I T S A N TA R O S A . CO M
what to drink: Order the Kaleidoscope hazy IPA. It’s
fresh and complex and not sweet or cloying. It’s utterly delicious.
Brewing Company ➺ Moonlight : Oldest brewery in Sonoma County; Old the details
World-style brews and a family-friendly vibe what to drink: Don’t miss the flagship Death & Taxes black lager (it’s dark but surprisingly light-bodied) or the crushable Reality Czeck pilsner. And the seasonal selections are always fresh.
Brewing Company ➺ Seismic : Owned by wine-country royalty; located in the details
the Golden State Cider taproom; fun atmosphere what to drink: Lighter on alcohol but not on flavor, Tremor California light lager is a lemony-tasting beer made with regionally sourced hops and malt.
➺ OLD CAZ : Kid- and dog-friendly; good food and the details
fun trivia nights; unique and unexpected beers like a lavender sour what to drink: You can’t lose on the crisp, dry, and bright One Way IPA, but don’t forget the award-winning Chismosa Mexican amber lager, which took home gold at the World Beer Cup and best lager from Rolling Stone Spirits Awards. PRO TIP
• Rincon Valley Tap Room & Bottleshop Beer Responsibly When exploring Beer City, leave the driving to someone else. Book a driver with a company like Pure Luxury Transportation, or hop on and off the SMART (SonomaMarin Area Rail Transit) train, which offers three stops in Santa Rosa.
Enjoy FeBREWary Do you love local beer? Sign up for the Santa Rosa Beer Passport! Starting in February, collect points by checking in at participating breweries to win a prize. Turn to page 4 for more.
Of course it’s fun to order what you know, but Heras recommends trying an R&D (research and development) or seasonal beer. “An R&D beer is a really fun way to try what the brewer is testing out, and you get to be the guinea pig,” she says.
VISIT CALIFORNIA/MAX WHITTAKER; ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK
Cooperage Brewing Company