Craft Beer Radio

If you're going to Russian River, you should probably visit Bear Republic in Healdsburg and Lagunitas in Petaluma. Also, a tour of the Anchor Brewery in SF is something you should try and do (make reservations ahead of time). And while you're in SF, you have to go to Toronado. One of the best beer bars in the country.

California is a big state and if you are lucky enough to cover both southern and northern on a beer trek I am very jealous. I have also been researchiing San Fran, Napa and Sonoma for my trip to CA next week. Socialretard listed some of the best for Northern CA but I will add Magnolia brew pub (not far from Toronado in SF) and City Beer Store in SF if you are interested in grabbing some good bottles. They offer a great bottle selection and also have a few beers on tap. With so many great beer places in CA it's hard to choose where to stop. Enjoy the adventure.

Brian in Philly
www.iambeerwise.com

If you're driving, that's a long freaking trip. It sounds awfully ambitious if you ask me, but if you're game, here's a trip for ya.

On the way into San Diego, stop in Alpine. Here you'll find Liar's Club (great pub) and Alpine Brewing (great hopped up brewery).

Descend into San Diego and you'll want to check out SD Brewing Co. They frequently have great guest taps, a nice stop.

North a ways you'll find Stone and Lost Abbey. Lost Abbey isn't much to look at, just a lot of barrels. Stone, on the other hand, should be treated like a trip to Disneyland - you won't want to be in-and-out of here in an hour, but likely hoping to spend several hours touring the facility and gardens. If you are one a tight schedule, I would make Stone the top priority for a stop, the place is simply unreal.

On your way North, you can stop in Carlsbad to stop at Pizza Port, a good stop on the way out of SD.

Orange County doesn't have a whole lot to see, but there's a new brewery called "The Bruery" that makes nothing but Belgian inspired beer. Good too.

Now you'll have a choice to make here, take the coast highway or highway 99. Coast will be a longer, more scenic route, and you can stop at Firestone Walker. If you're on the coast route, FSW is a must stop brewery - their specialty beers are out of this world, far too under-appreciated. Further north, as you get close to the Bay Area, a quick stop at Moonlight Brewing would be a good choice. This small place makes really good beer. Once you get to the city, there's really only one mandatory stop: Toronado. This bar simply kicks ass. Grab a good sausage next door, or a schwarma two doors down, sit back and enjoy the best beer in the world.

If you choose the 99, a stop in Fresno will be necessary, Sequoia Brewing. They make great beer, some better than others, and offer a good stopping point right off the highway. In Modesto you'll find Valley Brewing, which is a little unheard of, but they make some really great stuff. You can grab a bite to eat too. Further north, Elk Grove Brewing is a place I appreciate whenever I can - service and food are marginal, but the beer is always good. Once you hit Sacramento you'll need to check out Rubicon Brewing for a quick history lesson: this place won the GABF gold for American IPA the first two years it was an accepted style, setting the benchmark for what an IPA should be. It's the same beer today it was then, but you can quickly see how far the style has progressed. Great beers at Rubicon, my favorite local watering hole. Also in Sacramento is Sac Brewing, you won't be disappointed in anything there, I promise.

Wine Country, beer lover's paradise. Blue Frog is a good first stop, their Hefe is among my favorite in the US. It sounds like you're ultimately heading north, even still, so here's a best-case for ya, not what I do, but I try and do a round trip. Lagunitas for a pint or two. 20 minutes north to Russian River for... just get a hotel in Santa Rosa, you won't be disappointed. 20 minutes north, Bear Republic. I love the beers, but this place sours me more every time I visit - bad service and food. Now, follow me on this. In healdsburg is a little winery called Hop Kiln Winery, you simply must stop here with a fully charged camera. This is a turn of the 20th century place that was originally a hop farm and kiln. The kilns are still in place, it's one of the more picturesque places you'll find. If you're into wine, however, stop next door at Rochioli (sp).

One of my favorite places in the region is Stumptown Brewing, along the Russian River. Sit on the deck, order some BBQ and beer, and enjoy the view. The beer is good, not great, but this place is awesome.

The rest is simple, if you're going up all the way along the coast, North Coast and Lost Coast are must see places. Fort Bragg is a great town too, nice shops and a great ocean front. At this point, however, beer will be secondary, nothing beats the scenery of this region - in fact, just thinking of the north coast makes me think it's time to go camping.

The stops in San Diego are for sure Lost Abbey and Stone, and they are just five minuets apart from each other. Most of the breweries are only open Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons i.e. Lost Abbey, Alesmith, Green Flash, Lightning, Alpine. The Brew pubs have normal hours i.e. Pizza Port, Stone, Coronado, Oggies. Then there is also O'Brien's Pub The Neighborhood and we are also getting a Toronado location soon. If you have a Friday and a Saturday in San Diego; I would suggest that you go to Lost Abbey and Stone Friday night, then do Alesmith, Ballastpoint, and Pizza Port on Saturday. I think Alesmith and Ballast Point do tours on certain days and Stone runs them all the time. Here is a good site to check out with a lot of info about San Diego beer; http://www.sandiegobrewersguild.org/. Sounds like you are going to have a great trip. Napa should be great too. I love that place. There i would suggest Quintessa (you need a reservation), Mondavi, Coppola, Stag Leap's Celler, Sterling, Conn Creek, Pine Ridge, BV (the reserve room).