Sacramento Beer and Cider Breweries
For decades, Sacramento has been home to an extremely robust craft beer scene. Throughout the greater region, there are nearly 100 independently owned breweries and taprooms, and that’s not counting many restaurants that have excellent selections as well. When temperatures rise, it’s always nice to pop out for a cold one.
Of course you’ll see plenty of IPAs and pub grub, but a number of them stand out for either their pours or their food offerings. In the map below, we’re focusing strictly on independently owned breweries (as opposed to taprooms that carry multiple craft brews), and just in the immediate Sacramento area.
A few favorites of note:
Urban Roots Brewing is not only one of the premier breweries in the area, they are also a source of what we feel is the best barbecue as well. Needless to say their smoked brisket, pulled pork, and links are outstanding, but the real sleeper hits to us are the turkey and the fried fish. Their sister restaurants — Bawk!, a chicken concept, and Cerveceria at the Shack, a Mexican eatery with excellent handmade tortillas — also pour Urban Roots on tap.
Alaro Brewing serves Spanish fare, a nice departure from the usual burgers. Wednesday is paella night, with classical guitar playing in the back patio; the first Wednesdays they bring in a live flamenco troupe!
West Sacramento’s Jackrabbit Brewing makes a kaleidoscopic array of beers, and are most notable for being among a small group of breweries that are making gluten-reduced beer, for people with mild to moderate gluten intolerance. Brewing within Jackrabbit is Onibi Brewing, which makes craft beer with Japanese flair. (Think matcha cream stout, yuzu white ale, and so on.)
Arguably the OG of the local craft brewing scene, Sudwerk in Davis has been churning out artisan beers for more than 35 years. They partner with UC Davis for the Iron Brew competition, where students try their hand at making their own bespoke brew.
Sacrament Brewing has a rooftop bar for those balmy Sacramento evenings.
Ruhstaller BSMT is the drinking establshment associated with the eponymous farm. They brew their beers with hops they grow nearby in Dixon.
As a nod to out adjacency to pear and apple country, there are two notable cideries: Nitty’s Cider and Two Rivers Cider.
Explore the map below for more options. Want to come have a brewski with us? Contact us, and we’ll raise a pint.