California Brew Pubs

[Muddy Rivers]

We love to stop in local brew pubs when we travel. Many are very unique and have very good food as well. We will be spending some time in San Francisco, then on to Monterey/Big Sur and then of course DL.

Does anyone have any suggestions for good brew pubs? Also if anyone has any favorite place to eat in the above cities/towns or even along the way, we would be thrilled to hear about them.

 

[rpbert1]

We ate here in Long Beach, might be a bit out of your way, but food etc was excellent

 

[Miss SD]

Try 21st Amendment (brew pub) in San Francisco. It's near AT&T Park so it will be crowded before and after Giants games, if you're going during baseball season.

 

[GrandBob]

In Monterey, there's Peter B's, which is in the back of the Portola Hotel. Portola Hotel is the big hotel, right on Custom House Square.

And then in downtown Monterey, there's Brittania Arms and the Mucky Duck. There are more, I'm sure. I think Sly McFly's has a brew pub in there, too.

-Bob

 

[Muddy Rivers]

I just checked it out online, looks great. The menu has a little bit of everything. That's what we like about brew pubs.

Thanks, it's now on our list.

 

[rpbert1]

Forgot to post name,
heres is the link, food was excellent

http://rockbottom.com/

 

[itsalebeau]

Ah, a subject after my own heart. We always stop at brewpubs! We even found one in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming on a trip from Portland to Denver!

Are you driving 101 all the way down?

In SF - 21st Amendment makes good beer (never been there though).

In Santa Cruz is Seabright - http://www.seabrightbrewery.com/music.html

In Buellton is Firestone Walker Brewery - good beer. We have always eaten at Pea Soup Andersen's in Buellton - a favorite since I was a kid!! We always get the traveler's special (all you can eat pea soup and bread). http://www.peasoupandersens.net/

Looks like there are a few pubs along the way that I don't know anything about - in Salinas and Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Anacapa in Ventura...
http://www.beer100.com/brewpubs_a_to_k/california.htm

 

[Muddy Rivers]

We are thinking about following the coast from San Francisco through to Big Sur area and then taking a quicker route to get us to the Anaheim area.

Do you have any suggestions which route besides Interstate/Route (?) 5 works best?

 

[GrandBob]

We are thinking about following the coast from San Francisco through to Big Sur area and then taking a quicker route to get us to the Anaheim area.

Do you have any suggestions which route besides Interstate/Route (?) 5 works best?

There is only one route that goes through the Big Sur region, and that's CA Highway 1. One of the prettiest drives in the world!

The section of Hwy 1 between San Francisco and Monterey is not bad. I recommend it, though to save a little time, you can take US 101 down to Prunedale and CA 156 over to Hwy 1 and Monterey.

Once in Monterey, take Hwy 1 down the Big Sur coast. Leave yourself plenty of time to ooh and ahh over the scenery. If you have time (and the money, it's expensive), I always recommend lunch at Nepenthe's. The views are spectacular!

After you've done the entire Big Sur coast, Hwy 1 links back up with US 101 in San Luis Obispo. They split off again just south of Ventura, and you can choose to take US101, the quicker way to LA, or again take Hwy1 (which at this point is called PCH) down through Malibu.

HTH,
Bob

 

[Muddy Rivers]

Thank you for the suggestion. It sounds like a great route to see spectacular scenery. I can't wait!

 

[itsalebeau]

It is a really beautiful drive!

 

[woody73]

Forgot to post name,
heres is the link, food was excellent

http://rockbottom.com/

We also like Rock Bottom Brewery in Long Beach. It's a 30 minute drive from DL.

Woody

 

[Muddy Rivers]

 

[21stcenturygal]

Can you confirm that teenagers are allowed into brew pubs if they are eating dinner? I'm guessing that it's thensame as at home in a British pub - kids are welcome if they are dining but are not allowed to stand/wait in the bar area.

Thanks

 

[rpbert1]

At the Rockbottom we had DD14 in with us, so my guess is they would all be the same.

 

[21stcenturygal]

Many thanks

 

[Muddy Rivers]

 

[Muddy Rivers]

Just wondering if there are any other suggestions for a brew pub in the San Francisco or Monterey area.

 

[Lm3js]

Magnolia in SF (on Haight Street in Haight/Ashbury area) has good food and beer. Gordon Birsh on the Embarcadero, but it isn't as good and kind of touristy. Speakeasy brewery is in SF, but it does not serve food. 21st Amendment is definitely a must -- it is probably the best in SF. In North Beach - Columbus street, there is the SF Brew Club or something like that -- decent beers, but not sure about the food.