Girls Pint Out has chapters throughout the United States. Each chapter is as diverse as the ladies that run it. To celebrate our exceptional chapters and their diversity, Girls Pint Out is posting a series of blog posts that highlight each state’s unique craft beer culture. California is sixth in this series.
The state of California is currently home to 540 craft breweries with 240 new breweries in planning making California the largest state for craft beer! With that being said let’s take a mini road trip and check out a few of what California has to offer.
Starting in San Francisco with 21st Amendment Brewery located in the SOMA district not too far from where the Giants play you will find a full service restaurant and fantastic tap list. Whether you want to sit at the bar, sit outside or dine in the restaurant 21st Amendment has your beer enjoying atmosphere covered. For a fabulous pairing try Nico’s Tater Tots w/ Sriracha aioli with Brew Free! Or Die IPA…delicious!
Our next stop is The City Beer Store located on Folsom St (between 7th & 8th) where you can enjoy an assortment of guest beers on tap from Russian River to Ballast Point while building your own six packs! The City Beer Store is also a bottle shop offering great finds like Crux Fermentation Project and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Stepping into The City Beer store is almost like entering a secret club, its dark, the ceilings are low and the exposed pipes holding up the beer tap list double as industrial artwork. The Nosh Menu includes Cheddar Pecan Cheese Coin Crackers and Candied Bacon Caramel Corn. The City Beer Store is a must on your to-do list!
Also located in San Francisco and only a few blocks away from The City 
Beer Store is Cellarmaker Brewing Company a new brewery offering beers such as The Vastness of Space, a sweet Bourbon Barrel Aged American Imperial Double Stout and I See a Dankness Double IPA. The tasting room was custom built with the help of many local vendors and while they do not serve food they greatly welcome you bringing your own and also provide a list of local tasty eats that are within a couple of blocks or deliver.
Let’s not forget the ever wonderful ThirstyBear Brewing Co., located on Howard St., between 2nd and 3rd. ThirstyBear is the one and only organic brewery within the San Francisco city limits and is known not only for their flavor packed beers, but also the delicious tapas you can order right along side them! Oh and did I mention the cheese pairings? You can’t pass up Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam paired with ThirstyBear’s Meyer ESB.
Moving east, across the Bay Bridge and into Berkeley, CA we have Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse, one of the first five brewpubs to open in the United States. The Pinnacle Pale Ale, IPAX Ale and the Red Rock Ale are all a must! Paired with the roof top seating on a warm afternoon, time just fades away at Triple Rock!
Probably the most well-known brewery in California is Russian River Brewing Company who 
brews the famous Pliny the Elder a smooth and delicious Double IPA. Russian River was originally owned by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, CA and when they decided to get out of the beer business they offered the brewery to its Head Brew Master in 2003. Now located in Downtown Santa Rosa, Russian River also brews Blind Pig IPA and Pliny the Elder’s nephew Pliny the Younger a Triple IPA which due to the very long brewing process is only released once a year on the first Friday of February and only available for two weeks (distributed locally and to distributors on draught only) Save the date and get in line!
Heading down south to Southern California we make our first stop in Riverside at 
Packinghouse Brewing Co. located directly across the way from Riverside Municipal Airport. Each year Packinghouse features their “Brew with a View” event where families can watch the airshow and enjoy gourmet food vendors. Packinghouse keeps the party going with Pint Night every other Friday featuring a guest musician and local food vendor and on occasion a craft corner by Mothership Scrapbook Gal. The atmosphere at Packinghouse is relaxing with a true “everybody knows your name” environment. On tap you will find signature brews such as Bell Tower Blonde that’s light and crisp and my personal favorite Double Dry Hopped Heritage. Stop by and have a pint!
Also located in Riverside is Wicks Brewing Co. which opened in 2013 offers a rotating guest tap list as well as their own brews like Wicks Battle Cry IPA. The brewery is also a full service restaurant offering appetizers, sandwiches and flats breads as well as a children’s menu making it perfect for the whole family! But probably the most fun feature of Wicks is the ability to Brew Your Own beer on premises. Recipes are provided or if you have an idea Wicks will help you develop your own. With the help of their on-site brewers they will assist and monitor your beer during the fermentation process. Their graphics team will also assist in a personalized label for your very own beer when your bottling session takes place 3-4 week later!
Our last stop is Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido and is probably the most beautiful brewery in California with lush organic gardens and Koi ponds just outside the brewery. Just like its name, stone is one of the main elements along with wood, metal and water that make a compelling environment. The best seat in the house is the Crow’s Nest that overlooks the restaurant in a loft setting. On draught are Stone’s signature brews, Strong Pale Ale, Smoked Porter and the very hoppy Stone IPA along with guest beers. Want to show your love for each other and craft beer at the same time? Wedding packages are available so bring up to 150 of your closest family and friends and say I DO and cheers!
To reach Girls Pint Out in California, find them on Facebook or reach them by email:
Chico – chico@girlspintout.org
Inland Empire – inland.empire@girlspintout.org
San Francisco Bay Area – sanfrancisco@girlspintout.org
San Jose – sanjose@girlspintout.org
