Where Wine Country Meets Beer City
Where Wine Country Meets Beer City
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County's Beer City
We are where wine country meets beer city, where world-class wine meets the epicenter of American craft beer.
They say it takes a lot of beer to make good wine, which is fitting because we are home to some of the best brews in the United States.
Sonoma County's thriving craft beer scene has over 25 breweries, and new breweries are opening almost every month.
Our annual FeBREWary celebration honors Santa Rosa’s brewing heritage showcases artisan producers in the craft beer industry, educates the greater public, and unites those who make local beer with fans who love it. And our wildly popular Santa Rosa Beer Passport, part of FeBREWary, is your guide to explore the world-class craft beer scene in Santa Rosa.
In Santa Rosa and Sonoma County we're always in the mood for a toast. An essential guide for beer events where Wine Country meets Beer City can be found here.
As always, please drink safely and responsibly with a designated sober driver.
What's On Tap in Santa Rosa
Choosing the best city in America for microbreweries is, like judging the best beer, very subjective. The most obvious metric to look at is the total number of small brewers in a city, but that doesn’t tell you anything about quality. You can look at online ratings, but those, by their inherent nature, are entirely subjective—and even then, one or two good breweries doth not the best city make. Heck, even the definition of “city,” can be debated. What if there are good breweries outside the city limits? Do those still count?
Portland has more breweries, and the highest-rated beer made in the United States currently comes from a small town in Decorah, Iowa―Toppling Goliath Brewing Company’s Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout. However, there is no better place in America for craft beer than Santa Rosa, according to an interactive database that ranks local beer scenes by measuring the quality of beer produced in a community and the number of craft brewers it supports.
Sonoma County's thriving craft beer scene has over 25 breweries, some historic and some new. In fact, some say the “microbrewery” movement started in Sonoma County with New Albion Brewery in 1977. If that is not enough enticement to pour a cold one, Santa Rosa has over 577 total tap handles at our breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms within a five-mile radius of our offices.
Still not convinced? Santa Rosa is home to the Russian River Brewing Company who’s Pliny the Elder, a double India Pale Ale (IPA), was rated the best beer in the world 8 years in a row. Third Street Ale Works in 1996, and our newest beervana, Flagship Taproom opened in 2020. Plus, Fogbelt Brewery in Santa Rosa grows its own hops and even releases a fresh-hopped IPA every year.
Russian River Brewing Company | Santa Rosa and Windsor
Having won just about every beer award you can think of, including having five of their beers on the 100 Best Beers in the World List from RateBeer.com, you really can't go wrong here. RRBC is most well known for Pliny the Younger, the amazing Triple IPA that is released for only two weeks a year. People travel from all over the world just to get a pint of this brew.
RRBC's Windsor brewpub features a diverse gastropub menu, year-round patio seating and a 1 acre pet-friendly beer garden for hanging out with friends and family. The tasting room features 8 or so of RRBC's most popular beers offering 5 oz tastes and growlers filled quickly so you can be on your way. And daily guided tours by reservation and free self-guided tours. The gift shop offers growlers, bottled beer, and plenty of cool
Beer Baron | Santa Rosa
What began as a mission to share unique, craft beers to the patrons of Livermore, CA, The Beer Baron has quickly expanded into a family and community of beer lovers across the Bay Area. Owners, Harpreet and Raj Judge, first opened The Beer Baron’s doors in 2012 in the heart of downtown Livermore in the historic Schenone Building, a long-time hotspot for good company and satisfying libations. Today, The Beer Baron has four locations throughout the Bay Area - Livermore, Pleasanton, Oakland, and Santa Rosa.
Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen is located in Downtown Santa Rosa, off 4th Street. We are a Bar & Kitchen focusing on craft beer and cocktails, excellent food, live music, and great company. Whatever it is your're looking for, The Beer Baron has you covered.
HenHouse Brewing Company | Santa Rosa
HenHouse remains committed to being the freshest and most fun beer on the shelf. In 2022 they released 165 different beers! These ranged from small batch releases exclusive to our tasting rooms, to collaborations with many of the most exciting breweries going, to genuinely precious barrel-aged brews, to fundraising beers brewed in coordination with local non-profits! The Freshtival is their annual beer festival, which raised $45,000 last year to support the Bay Area Brewers Guild, a nonprofit that helps keep our industry and community awesome.
Belly Left Coast Kitchen + Tap Room | Santa Rosa
By “Left Coast”, Belly emphasizes their dedication of focusing the menu, and a majority of their beer and wines, towards the five Pacific states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. They utilize seasonal products to continually rotate specials, in addition to enhancing some of our more regular staples. They resource our product from local purveyors, as much as they are able to, and additionally from resources all along the West.
Brew Coffee & Beer House | Santa Rosa
Brew Coffee & Beer House was born from years of work in coffee. Obsessive attention to detail is what we call craft. It has the power to elevate an experience, change a day, crack a smile. Craft is central to what we’re building at Brew — a welcoming space, beautiful coffees and beers, and delicious things to eat.
Other great places to taste Sonoma County's best craft beers in and around Santa Rosa
