Enjoy Craft Beer and Breweries in Sonoma County

Sonoma County now has more than two dozen operating breweries, eight cideries, and 15 distilleries, with more opening all the time. Indeed, Sonoma County’s craft beer scene has become such a rich tapestry that it has compiled a Craft Beverage Map showing local breweries, as well as cideries and distilleries.

Sonoma County’s craft beer scene culminates in February with Russian River Brewing Company’s popular annual release of Pliny the Younger. This brewery’s second, larger location in Windsor features tours of its beer-making facility.

This month also celebrates FeBREWary, a ground-breaking craft beer and community event from Santa Rosa breweries, produced in conjunction with California Craft Brew Week.

What’s the buzz (pun intended) about? All of Sonoma County’s independently owned operations showcase beer as art. Take brewers Paul Hawley and Remy Martin, who use exclusively California-grown hops at Fogbelt Brewing Company, which has locations in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg.

In Petaluma, Taps Restaurant and Tasting Room owner Eric Lafranchi features some three dozen beers from around the world on tap.

In Rohnert Park, Parliament Brewing Company offers a rotation of small-batch beers featuring fun names like Whatchamacallit IPA and Friend From Vermont New England Pale Ale.

Also in Rohnert Park, Old Caz Beer keeps a rotating array of brews on tap, where you might find something intriguing to wet your whistle, such as Steady State German Pilsner, Chismosa Mexican Amber Lager, and Catastrophe Rye IPA.

Local craft beers are also featured in nightlife spots like The Block, Brewsters Beer Garden, and Taps Restaurant and Tasting Room in Petaluma.

Don’t miss these popular spots for a cold pint: 

• Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma
• Fogbelt Brewing Company in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg
• Shady Oak Barrel House, Santa Rosa
• Barrel Brothers Brewing Company, Windsor 
• Cuver, Windsor
• Crooked Goat Brewing, at The Barlow, Sebastopol
• Seismic Brewing Company at The Barlow, Sebastopol

With so many choices, experience them all to find your favorites. Check out our fun recommendations for your brewery itinerary: Beer Trail Itinerary.

You can’t beat a brewery cycling tour for a great day of sampling Sonoma County brews with a guide from Getaway Adventures or Ace It! Bike Tours. 

Find a complete list of Sonoma County’s breweries, distilleries, and cider houses.

Discover more things to do, restaurants, and hotels and lodging in Sonoma County.

---

Written by Carey Sweet