Now is the time for a semi-local brew road trip.
Pick a couple of friends, find a designated driver, promise him or her a
growler of choice – beer to go, fresh from the brewery tap – for the
end of the trip, and visit one, two or all of the mouthwatering
breweries just west of Sacramento. Road trip!
Starting from home, you might want to first hit up your favorite
growler stop, though this all depends on where you plan to spend the
night. Don't let it get warm!
Track 7,
Hoppy and
Berryessa all have growlers. Toss a cooler stocked with ice in your trunk for growlers and 22-ouncers that you pick up along the way.
Did you remember to find a designated driver? Be sure to do so – and
not just your best friend's pregnant wife, because that's just not
fair. Suck it up and take turns. Just imagine the intelligent
conversation you could have sober with brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo at
Russian River Brewing Company.
Head west on Interstate 80 towards Davis. Here's where you make your
first decision. You could take State Route 113 north all the way to
Main Street in Woodland if you'd like to check out
Black Dragon Brewery – either for the taproom or for homebrewing supplies.
Your other option is to get off in Davis and take Russell Boulevard,
aka Lincoln Highway, west towards Winters. Stay glued to Russell (it
becomes Grant Avenue in Winters, so no worries if it changes on you),
and just after you get through town you'll run into
Berryessa Brewing Company. It's almost impossible to get lost; there's just not that much else around.
Your next stop depends on the car you're driving – at least, it does for me.
View Map
Somehow I live in the valley without air conditioning, so I hug the
bay for as long as possible. If you are in a similar position or simply
prefer to road trip with the windows down and the breeze on your face, I
recommend heading south on I-505 to I-80 and then curving west on Route
37 in cooler air. This also adds the possibility of a stop at
Moylan's.
This brewery and restaurant is located in Novato just north on U.S.
Highway 101 after the junction of 101 and 37. You can even see the brew
tank from the highway. Growler refill opportunity! If traffic is bad,
perhaps you should stay for a bratwurst and sauerkraut as well.
You are now about to enter the beer wonderland that is Highway 101.
Lagunitas Brewing Company is in Petaluma – go "Around the World" with
friends and try 16 of their beers as part of a lengthy tasting. After
that is Santa Rosa, where you will find yourself in heaven drinking
Pliny the Elder and munching on Pliny pizza bites at
Russian River Brewing Company (obvious growler opportunity as part of your Pliny parade).
View Map
2. Wait, were you totally repulsed by the idea of freeways and Marin
County gated communities? There's some relief for you on State Route
128. From Berryessa Brewing Company, Grant Avenue will become winding
128, taking you through the Putah Creek Wildlife Area and on to Lake
Berryessa, where I've been known to seek sweet lakeside ecstasy on a
100-degree day.
Berryessa Brewing Company (image by Patricia Willers)
After a fair to moderate amount of curving up, around and over
hills, you'll find yourself heading through vineyards, fields of wild
mustard and beautiful vistas on the way to St. Helena. I know, the
wineries are tempting, but remember, this is a beer road trip. Stay
focused. Highway 128 gets a little messy on the way there – why weave
south and then west and north? I prefer to stay northbound and simply
continue on Silverado Trail. From St. Helena, go west on Route 12 to
Santa Rosa. Please note: If you choose this route, you will have to (and
should) hit up Lagunitas on the way home, because you will not be
passing through Petaluma.
Head west out of St. Helena on Spring Mountain Road. This will meet
up with Calistoga Road and feed into Santa Rosa and your subsequent
Pliny parade.
Itching to continue? Drive just a half-hour farther north to the town of Healdsburg, the home of
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Cloverdale is just past Healdsburg, yes, still on 101, and next is Ukiah, where you will find
Ukiah Brewing Company's organic brewpub and restaurant.
From there? Well, you might as well just persevere and head to the North Coast. An
Old Rasputin
Russian imperial stout is all the better with the rough coastal winds
beating against the window panes in whatever small, cozy Fort Bragg
establishment you choose for the evening.
And that's it! You have everything you need for the beer weekend of a
lifetime. Can you believe all these amazing breweries are within range?
Thank you, NorCal.
Tips for a good time? Make it a long weekend, book a couple of
budget hotels or campgrounds and switch drivers daily. But remember to
switch. Your friend will never forgive you if you skip your turn and
they miss out on Berryessa, Bear Republic and Russian River, you douche.
Good luck, and cheers!
Russian River Brewing Co. (image by Patricia Willers
Originally published at http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/82058/Choose_your_own_adventure_Brew_up_a_road_trip on April 30, 2013.