Belly Up to the Booming East Bay Brewery Scene

 

 

SF Beer Week kicks off Feb. 10, 2023, with barrels of fun at East Bay breweries

The East Bay is hops-friendly, pro-hops, hoppy to see you!

The craft beer and taproom scene is buzzing on this side of the Bay. Whether you like your ale heavy, sour, malty, grassy, creamy, or fruity – there's an East Bay brewery for you.

Besides being home to some of the best-known West Coast breweries, including 21st Amendment in San Leandro and Trumer Pils in Berkeley, the East Bay hosts an astonishing number of up-and-comers. Oakland alone boasts more than two dozen breweries and tasting rooms.

They are part of a statewide trend in craft brewery growth. More than 1,100 craft breweries operate across California, more than any state in the nation, according to the California Craft Brewers Association.

In honor of the annual SF Beer Week in February – a marathon of tastings that will include nearly 30 East Bay breweries – we offer you the following tasting tour guide to the Oakland Ale Trail and beyond. Don't try to hit these all in one day!

 

SF Beer Week 2023 kicks off at 21st Amendment Brewery in San Leandro on Feb. 10, 4:30-10 p.m.

ALAMEDA Breweries

• Alameda Island started out in 2015 as a 20-barrel microbrewery. We especially love their creative product names, like Puffy Skate Shoe (West Coast Imperial IPA), Convertible Pants (West Coast Extra Pale Ale), and Admiral and Tennille (English Amber Ale). Sample beers at the industrial-style tasting room with a patio. Kids and dogs welcome. 1716 Park St., Alameda
• Faction Brewing is the place to be on a beautiful day. Beer lovers come for pales, IPAs, Belgians, porters and stouts and stay for bay and SF city views. Kid and dog-friendly. 2501 Monarch St., Alameda
• Admiral Maltings (The Rake) is a pub in Alameda's former Naval yard specializing in small-batch malting. The Rake pub overlooks the malting floor and serves 20+ draft and cask beers made with their malt. 651A W Tower Ave., Alameda

 

BERKELEY Breweries

• Fieldwork Brewing Co began production in early 2015 and is known across the state for its varied and creative brews. The tap list is always changing! 1160 Sixth St., Berkeley
• Hoi Polloi Brewpub and Beat Lounge is a casual seven-barrel microbrewery with a cozy pub in the Lorin District of South Berkeley. Enjoy craft beers, ciders, and mellow beats at 1763 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley

CONCORD Breweries

• Epidemic Ales opened its taproom during the local microbrew boom in 2016 and today features beers with post-apocalyptic names like Tartastrophe Apricot Kettle Sour and Cataclysm. Try a taster flight or fill your growler at 150 Mason Circle, Suite J, Concord

DANVILLE Breweries

• Danville Brewing Co. is a three-time Great American Beer Festival winner. The popular bar and restaurant is located in historic downtown. 200 Railroad Ave., Danville

LIVERMORE Breweries

• Altamont Beer Works is billed as Livermore’s first craft brewery since prohibition and has earned the title of best East Bay brewery for several years running. Take a taste at their newly expanded 3,500-square-foot taproom (dog-friendly!) featuring 30 rotating taps. 2402 Research Dr., Livermor
• Shadow Puppet Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery with a tasting room serving over 20 beers. 4771 Arroyo Vista, Suite B, Livermore

MARTINEZ Breweries

• Five Suns Brewing was established in 2016 by five Martinez natives who started in a garage and grew Five Suns into one of the most popular breweries and beer gardens in Contra Costa County. Five Suns' diverse tap list includes Valkyrie Blonde Ale, The Way Hazy IPA, OG Burst Orange Guava Wheat Ale, and Reliez Pale Ale. We can see why "Beer Brewed for Every Palate" is one of the brand's taglines. 626 Main St., Martinez.  
• Del Cielo Brewing Co. is a Latinx family-owned brewery and taproom in the heart of downtown Martinez. Founded in 2018, Del Cielo's beers range from Mexican lagers and Czech pilsners to IPAs and creative sours (the Yerba Buena sour gives off mojito cocktail vibes). Del Cielo also is known for creating special brews to benefit causes such as Ales for ALS, Black is Beautiful, Rad Rep (supporting local animal shelters), Bay Area Bike Project, and Always Pride, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. 701 Escobar St., #A Martinez

OAKLAND Breweries

• Ale Industries is on a mission to pioneer bioenergy brewing technologies that save energy and reduce waste. Tastes great and good for the Earth! Their core beers include Cherry Kush and East Bay IPA. 3096 E. 10th St., Oakland
• Drake's Dealership is an offshoot of Drake’s Brewing Co., which has been around since 1989. Drake’s Barrel House in San Leandro is the original on-site, no-frills brewery tasting room with indoor and outdoor seating and up to 24 beers on tap. At the newer Drake’s Dealership in Oakland, you can get wood-fired pizza to go with all that beer. Both are kid and dog friendly. 2325 Broadway Auto Row, Oakland
• Federation Brewing in Jack London Square has a tasting room, two up-cycled shipping containers, and an outdoor beer garden. Their year-round lineup of beers includes The Weeds IPA, Behind You! Blonde Ale, Utopia Planitia Red Rye, and Low Boy Oatmeal Stout. 420 3rd St., Unit A, Oakland
• Ghost Town Brewing, recognizable for its eerie labels, now has two locations where you can taste spooky good beer: 1960 Adeline St. and 3506 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
• Line 51 pours its beers at a transit-themed tasting room that includes a restored AC Transit bus from 1972 with beer taps installed on the side. 303 Castro Street, Oakland
• Lucky Devil Brewery No tasting room, but you can use this map to find their brew
• Oakland United Beerworks serves its award-winning beer at a two-tiered taproom, outdoor fire pits, 12 taps, ciders, and eats in the Jack London district. Founded in 2009 as Linden Street Brewery, it became the first community-based production brewery in Oakland since Golden West Brewery closed in the 1950s. 262 Second St.
• Old Kan Beer & Co, which opened at the old Linden Street Brewery site, is inspired by Oakland's rich brewing history. The brewery name is an anagram of Oakland. Get it? 95 Linden St., Oakland
• Original Pattern, named one of the top breweries in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle, is especially beloved for its Belgian and German styles. 292 4th St., Oakland
• Roses' Taproom near Temescal Alley is a boutique brewery that's all about fostering a sense of community. Join the Mug Club, and a piece of you will always be behind the bar. 4930 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
• Temescal Brewing might have the best slogan: "Fresh Beer. No Jerks." Their labels stand out with ‘80s pastel pinks, blues, and greens. Temescal Brewing is known for its wide variety of beers and creative fruity brews like peachy Conversational Hops hazy IPA and Blueberry Blush IPA. The tasting room and beer garden are located at 4115 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

RICHMOND Breweries

• East Brother Beer Co was named one of the Bay Area's top breweries by the San Francisco Chronicle. They're known for their traditional style, especially pilsners and red lagers, which you can enjoy at the 3,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor taproom and brewery at 1001 Canal Blvd., Richmond.

SAN LEANDRO Breweries

• Drake’s Brewing Co. Barrel House (See Drake’s Dealership above) 1933 Davis St. #177, San Leandro

WALNUT CREEK Breweries

• Calicraft – Come for the craft beer and stay for the food. Eater SF named Calicraft as one of the top places to eat and drink in Walnut Creek. When it comes to beer, Calicraft is probably best known for its whiskey-barrel-aged Double Oaktown. The taproom and beer garden is located at 2700 Mitchell Dr., Walnut Creek.

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Did we forget your favorite East Bay brewery? Let us know so we can add it to the list. The agents at Abio Properties would be happy to chat about your real estate needs over a beer! Call us at 888-400-ABIO (2246) or email us at [email protected].