This list of breweries in California, both current and defunct, includes both microbreweries and larger industrial scale breweries. Brewing companies range widely in the volume and variety of beer produced, ranging from small breweries to massive multinational conglomerates. Since 1983, California has allowed breweries to sell beer on their premises, giving rise to numerous brewpubs and microbreweries.
Breweries in California produce a wide range of beers in different styles that are marketed locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In 2012 California's 458 breweries, importers, brewpubs, and company-owned packagers and wholesalers employed over 7,000 people directly, and more than 109,000 others in related jobs such as wholesaling and retailing. Including people directly employed in brewing, as well as those who supply California's breweries with everything from ingredients to machinery, the total business and personal tax revenue generated by California's breweries and related industries was more than $5.1 billion. Consumer purchases of California's brewery products generated another $1.1 billion in tax revenue. In 2012, according to the Brewers Association, California ranked 1st in the number of craft breweries, and 19th per capita with 325.
For context, at the end of 2013 there were 2,822 breweries in the United States, including 2,768 craft breweries subdivided into 1,237 brewpubs, 1,412 microbreweries and 119 regional craft breweries. In that same year, according to the Beer Institute, the brewing industry employed around 43,000 Americans in brewing and distribution and had a combined economic impact of more than $246 billion.
Breweries by county
Top Three Breweries in California | Beer Geek Nation Craft Beer Reviews - So this is a short list of my top breweries in the state of California. Yes, I know there are a ton of them that I could have picked but as I explain in the video I felt that these were ones...
Alameda County
- 21st Amendment Brewery in San Leandro
- Ale Industries in Oakland
- Altamont Beer Works in Livermore
- Bison Brewing in Berkeley, makers of organic beer. The brewery opened in 1997 and closed in 2008; the beer is now contract brewed at several locations
- Buffalo Bill's Brewery in Hayward, the first brewpub licensed in California since Prohibition
- Cleophus Quealy Beer Company in San Leandro
- Diving Dog Brewhouse in Oakland
- Drake's Brewing Company in San Leandro
- Eight Bridges Brewing Company in Livermore
- Faction Brewing in Alameda
- Fieldwork Brewing Company in Berkeley
- Hoi Polloi Brewpub and Beat Lounge in Berkeley
- JP DasBrew in Fremont
- Oakland United Beerworks (formerly Linden Street Brewery) in Oakland
- Old Kan Beer & Co. in Oakland
- Pacific Coast Brewing Company in Oakland
- Pyramid Breweries in Berkeley (closed 2015)
- The Rare Barrel in Berkeley
- Shadow Puppet Brewing Company in Livermore, opened in 2016
- Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse in Berkeley
- Trumer Brauerei in Berkeley
- Woods Bar & Brewery in Oakland
- Working Man Brewing Company in Livermore
Amador County
- Amador Brewing Company in Plymouth
Butte County
- Feather Falls Casino Brewing Company in Oroville
- Feather River Brewing Company in Magalia
- Miners Alley Brewing Company in Oroville
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico
- Western Pacific Brewing and Dining in Oroville
Contra Costa County
- Black Diamond Brewing Co. in Concord(Closed 2017)
- E.J. Phair Brewing Company in Pittsburg
- Farm Creek Brewing Company in Walnut Creek
- Elevation 66 Brewing Company in El Cerrito
- Schubros Brewery in San Ramon
El Dorado County
- Mraz Brewing Company in El Dorado Hills
Fresno County
- The Mad Duck Craft Brewery in Fresno
- Fresno Brewing Company in Fresno
- Tiogaâ€"Sequoia Brewing Company in Fresno
Humboldt County
- Eel River Brewing Company in Fortuna
- Humboldt Brewing Company
- Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka
- Mad River Brewing Company in Blue Lake
- Redwood Curtain Brewing Company in Arcata
- Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville
Kern County
- Kern River Brewing Company in Kernville
- Temblor Brewing Company in Bakersfield
- Lengthwise Brewing in Bakersfield
- Dionysus Brewing Company in Bakersfield
- Local Craft Beer in Tehachapi
Lake County
- Kelsey Creek Brewing Company in Kelseyville
- Mount St. Helena Brewing Company in Middletown
- O'Meara Brothers Brewing Company in Lakeport
Los Angeles County
- Absolution Brewing Company in Torrance
- Alosta Brewing Co in Covina
- Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles
- Arrow Lodge Brewing in Covina, CA
- Beachwood BBQ and Brewery in Long Beach
- Bravery Brewing in Lancaster
- Brouwerij West in San Pedro.
- Congregation Ale House in Azusa
- Cosmic Brewery in Torrance
- Claremont Craft Ales in Claremont
- The Dudes' Brewing Company in Torrance
- Eagle Rock Brewery in Los Angeles
- El Segundo Brewing Company in El Segundo
- Golden Road Brewery in Los Angeles
- Gordon Biersch Brewing Company in Burbank
- Hand-Brewed Beer in Chatsworth
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company in Universal City Walk
- Kinetic Brewing Company in Lancaster
- King Harbor Brewing Company in Redondo Beach
- Lagunitas Brewing Company in Azusa
- MacLeod Ale Brewing Company in Los Angeles
- MillerCoors brewery in Irwindale
- Monkish Brewing Company in Torrance
- Ohana Brewing Company in Los Angeles
- Pacific Plate Brewing Company in Monrovia
- Progress Brewing in South El Monte
- Red Car Brewery in Torrance
- RT Rodgers Brewing in Sierra Madre, CA
- Skyscraper Brewing Company in El Monte
- Sanctum Brewing Company in Pomona
- Scholb Premium Ales in Torrance
- Smog City Brewing Company in Torrance
- Strand Brewing Company in Torrance
- Timeless Pints Brewing Company in Lakewood
- Three Weavers Brewing Company in Inglewood
Madera County
- South Gate Brewing Company in Oakhurst
Marin County
- Marin Brewing in Larkspur
- Moylan's Brewery in Novato
Mariposa County
- Yosemite Ale Werks in Mariposa
Mendocino County
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville
- Mendocino Brewing Company in Ukiah
- North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg
Merced County
- Bobcat Brewing Company in Merced
Napa County
- Downtown Joe's Brewery in Napa
- Napa Smith Brewery in Napa, founded in 2007
Nevada County
- Boca Brewing Company in Boca (opened 1876, closed 1893)
- FiftyFifty Brewing Company in Truckee
- Nevada Brewery in Nevada City
- Tahoe Mountain Brewing Company in Truckee
Orange County
- Anaheim Brewery in Anaheim
- Barley Forge Brewing Company in Costa Mesa
- Beach City Brewery in Huntington Beach (opened in 2014, closed in 2016)
- Bootlegger's Brewery in Fullerton
- Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim
- The Bruery in Placentia
- The Good Beer Company in Santa Ana
- Laguna Beach Beer Company in Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Beach
- Left Coast Brewing Company in San Clemente
- Noble Ale Works in Anaheim
- Old Orange Brewing Company in Orange
- Riip Beer Company in Huntington Beach
- Tustin Brewing Company in Tustin
- Valiant Brewing Company in Orange
Placer County
- Auburn Alehouse in Auburn
- Boneshaker Public House and Community Brewery in Rocklin
- Crooked Lane Brewing Company in Auburn
- Dragas Brewing in Rocklin
- GoatHouse Brewing Company in Lincoln
- Knee Deep Brewing Company in Auburn
- Loomis Basin Brewing Company in Loomis
- Moonraker Brewing Company in Auburn
- Out of Bounds Brewing Company in Rocklin
- Roseville Brewing Company in Roseville
- The Monk's Cellar in Roseville
Plumas County
- The Brewing Lair of the Lost Sierra (formerly UnderCover Ale Works) in Blairsden-Graeagle
- Waganupa Brewing in Chester
Riverside County
- Aftershock Brewing Company in Temecula
- Area 51 Craft Brewery in Riverside, taproom, opened in 2013
- Black Market Brewing Company in Temecula
- Blind Pig Brewing Company in Temecula (opened 1994, closed 1997)
- Inland Empire Brewing Company in Riverside
- Ironfire Brewing Company in Temecula
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company brewpub in Temecula
- Refuge Brewery in Temecula
- Wiens Brewing Company in Temecula
Sacramento County
- Buffalo Brewery in Sacramento (closed mid 1970s)
- Claimstake Brewing in Rancho Cordova
- Device Brewing Company in Sacramento
- Rubicon Brewing Company in Sacramento, opened in 1987, closed in 2017.
- Track 7 Brewing Company in Sacramento
San Bernardino County
- 3 Iron Brewing Co., Colton
- Desert Barn Brewery in Hesperia
- Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands
- Hangar 24 Craft Brewery in Redlands
- I & I Brewing in Chino
- Oak Hills Brewing Company in Hesperia
- Ritual Brewing Co. in Redlands
San Diego County
San Francisco City and County
- 21st Amendment Brewery
- Acme Brewery (opened 1907, closed 1958)
- Almanac Beer Company
- Anchor Brewing Company
- Barrel Head Brewhouse
- Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant
- Black Sands Brewery
- Cellarmaker Brewing Company
- CervezerÃa de MateVeza
- Fort Point Beer Company
- Hamm's Brewery (opened 1954, closed 1972)
- Harmonic Brewing
- Jackson Brewing Company (opened 1859, closed during Prohibition)
- Local Brewing Company
- Magnolia Brewing Company
- Rainier Brewing Company (opened 1933, closed 1953)
- San Francisco Brewing Company (opened 1985, closed 2009)
- Southern Pacific Brewing
- Speakeasy Ales and Lagers
- Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company
- Thirsty Bear Brewing Company
- Triple Voodoo Brewing
San Joaquin County
- Fossil Fuels Brewing Company
- Morgan Territory Brewing in Tracy; taproom, opened in 2015
San Luis Obispo County
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles
- Tap It Brewing Company in San Luis Obispo
San Mateo County
- Devil's Canyon Brewing Company in Belmont
- Half Moon Bay Brewing Company in Princeton-by-the-Sea
- Highway 1 Brewing in Pescadero
- Hop Dogma Brewing in El Granada
- Alpha Acid Brewing Company in Belmont
Santa Barbara County
- Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company in Buellton
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Buellton
- Island Brewing Company in Carpinteria
- M. Special Brewing Company in Goleta
- Pure Order Brewing Company in Santa Barbara
- Telegraph Brewing Company in Santa Barbara
Santa Clara County
- El Toro Brewing Company in Morgan Hill
- Gordon Biersch Brewing Company in San Jose
Santa Cruz County
- Boulder Creek Brewery & Cafe in Boulder Creek
- Discretion Brewing in Soquel
- Santa Cruz Aleworks in Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing in Santa Cruz
- Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola
- Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz
- Uncommon Brewers in Santa Cruz
Siskiyou County
- Dunsmuir Brewery Works in Dunsmuir
- Etna Brewing Company in Etna
- Mt. Shasta Brewing Company in Weed
- Siskiyou Brew Works
Solano County
- Anheuser-Busch InBev brewery in Fairfield
- Heretic Brewing Company in Fairfield
- Right Eye Brewery in Suisun
- Mare Island Brewing Company in Vallejo
Sonoma County
- Bear Republic Brewing Company in Healdsburg
- Carneros Brewing Company in Sonoma
- Fog Belt Brewing Company in Santa Rosa
- Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma
- Moonlight Brewing Company in Santa Rosa
- New Albion Brewing Company in Sonoma (opened 1976, closed 1982)
- Old Redwood Brewing Company in Windsor
- Petaluma Hills Brewing Company in Petaluma
- Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa
- Sonoma Springs Brewing Company in Sonoma
- St. Florian's Brewery in Windsor
- Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville
- Third Street Aleworks in Santa Rosa
Stanislaus County
- Dust Bowl Brewing Company in Turlock
- Sandude Brewing Company in Turlock (tasting Room in Modesto)
- St. Stan's Brewery in Modesto
Ventura County
- Enegren Brewing Co. in Moorpark
- Casa Agria Specialty Ales in Ventura
- Institution Ale Co. in Camarillo
- MadeWest Brewing in Ventura
- Red Tandem Brewery in Ventura
- Surf Brewery in Ventura
- Topa Topa Brewing Company in Ventura
- Westlake Brewing Co. in Westlake Village
Yolo County
- Bike Dog Brewing Company in West Sacramento
- Jackrabbit Brewing Company in West Sacramento
- Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch in Davis
- Three Mile Brewing Company in Davis
- Yolo Brewing Co.
See also
- Beer in the United States
- History of California wine
- List of breweries in the United States
- List of microbreweries
References
Further reading
- Brooks, Jay R. (December 16, 2013). "Brooks on Beer: 23 new NorCal breweries this year". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 31 January 2014.Â
- Levin, Sam (September 5, 2013). "California Beer Bill Would Permit Growler Refills at Breweries". East Bay Express. Retrieved 31 January 2014.Â
External links
- California breweries directory
