Jackson Brewing Company (San Francisco)

This catalog of breweries in California features both microbreweries and larger-scale industrial brewing facilities. Since 1983, the state has permitted breweries to sell beer directly on-site, which has significantly contributed to the expansion of numerous brewpubs and microbreweries.

Breweries in California craft a diverse array of beer varieties that are distributed locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In 2012, there were 458 breweries, importers, brewpubs, and company-owned packaging operations in the state, collectively employing over 7,000 individuals directly and more than 109,000 in associated industries such as wholesale and retail. The broader brewery sector, including suppliers of raw materials and equipment, generated upwards of $5.1 billion in combined business and personal tax revenue. Consumer spending contributed an additional $1.1 billion in tax income. That year, California led the nation with the highest count of craft breweries, totaling 325 according to the Brewers Association.

To provide context, by the conclusion of 2013, the United States had 2,822 breweries overall, with 2,768 classified as craft breweries. These were further divided into 1,237 brewpubs, 1,412 microbreweries, and 119 regional craft breweries. The U.S. brewing sector employed approximately 43,000 people in brewing and distribution roles and had a combined economic impact exceeding $246 billion.

Alameda County

• 21st Amendment Brewery located in San Leandro
• Buffalo Bill's Brewery situated in Hayward, recognized as the first brewpub licensed in California following Prohibition
• Drake's Brewing Company based in San Leandro
• Pyramid Breweries formerly operating in Berkeley (1997–2015)
• The Rare Barrel headquartered in Berkeley
• Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse found in Berkeley
• Trumer Brauerei located in Berkeley

Butte County

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Company established in Chico

Contra Costa County

• Calicraft operating out of Walnut Creek

Humboldt County

• Eel River Brewing Company based in Fortuna
• Lost Coast Brewery located in Eureka
• Mad River Brewing Company from Blue Lake
• Six Rivers Brewery situated in McKinleyville

Los Angeles County

• Gordon Biersch Brewing Company located in Burbank
• Karl Strauss Brewing Company based in Universal City
• Lagunitas Brewing Company operating in Azusa
• MillerCoors brewery situated in Irwindale

Mendocino County

• Anderson Valley Brewing Company headquartered in Boonville
• Mendocino Brewing Company located in Ukiah
• North Coast Brewing Company based in Fort Bragg

Mono County

• Mammoth Brewing Company operating out of Mammoth Lakes

Napa County

• Stone Brewing found in Napa

Nevada County

• FiftyFifty Brewing Company located in Truckee
• Nevada Brewery based in Nevada City

Orange County

• Bootlegger's Brewery operates locations in both Fullerton and Costa Mesa
• The Bruery is based in Placentia

Placer County

• Auburn Alehouse can be found in Auburn
• Slice Beer Company is located in Lincoln

Riverside County

• Blind Pig Brewing Company was active in Temecula from 1994 to 1997
• The Karl Strauss Brewing Company maintains a brewpub in Temecula

San Diego County

• AleSmith Brewing Company is situated in Miramar, within San Diego
• Alpine Beer Company is located in Alpine
• Aztec Brewing Company operates out of Vista
• Belching Beaver Brewery has several establishments across San Diego
• The Karl Strauss Brewing Company runs multiple venues throughout the county
• Ballast Point Brewing Company maintains various locations within San Diego
• Situated in Mira Mesa, San Diego, is the Green Flash Brewing Company
• The Danish brewery Mikkeller has multiple spots across San Diego
• Mission Brewery is based in Middletown, part of San Diego
• Located in Vista, the Mother Earth Brew Co serves craft beer
• The brand Pizza Port operates in both Carlsbad and Ocean Beach, a neighborhood of San Diego
• The now-closed Saint Archer Brewing, ceased operations in 2022
• The historic San Diego Brewing Company, which closed in 1942
• Located in Escondido, the well-known Stone Brewing

San Francisco City and County

• The innovative 21st Amendment Brewery
• The historic Albion Brewery, which operated from 1870 to 1919
• The contemporary craft producer, Almanac Beer Company
• The iconic and longstanding Anchor Brewing Company
• The combined dining and brewing venue, Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant
• The modern craft brewer, Fort Point Beer Company
• The former regional brewery, Hamm's Brewery, active between 1954 and 1972
• The historic regional brewer, Rainier Brewing Company, from 1933 to 1953
• The defunct craft brewery, San Francisco Brewing Company, which operated from 1985 until 2009
• The craft beer producer known as Speakeasy Ales and Lagers

San Luis Obispo County

• Located in Paso Robles, the renowned Firestone Walker Brewing Company

San Mateo County

• Based in San Carlos is the craft brewery, Devil's Canyon Brewing Company

Santa Barbara County

• The brewery known as Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, located in Buellton
• Another notable presence of the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, also situated in Buellton

Santa Clara County

• Operating out of San Jose, the established Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
• The historic brewery called Mayfield Brewery, which existed from 1868 to 1920

Siskiyou County

• Located in the city of Weed is the local craft brewer, Mt. Shasta Brewing Company

Solano County

• The large-scale brewery operated by Anheuser-Busch InBev is based in Fairfield

Sonoma County

• Based in Healdsburg is the well-known craft brewery, Bear Republic Brewing Company
• The popular brewing company located in Petaluma is the Lagunitas Brewing Company
• Santa Rosa hosts the local favorite, the Moonlight Brewing Company
• The pioneering craft brewery of its time, the now-closed (New Albion Brewing Company) which operated from 1976 to 1982 in Sonoma city
• Another prominent Santa Rosa brewery is the celebrated Russian River Brewing Company
• Also located in Santa Rosa is the craft producer known as the Third Street Aleworks

Stanislaus County

• In Modesto can be found the local establishment known as the St. Stan's Brewery

Yolo County

• The German-style brewery called Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch operates out of Davis (Davis)

See also

• Beer in the United States
• History of California wine
• List of breweries in the United States
• List of microbreweries

Further reading

• Brooks on Beer: 23 new breweries launched in Northern California this year, San Jose Mercury News
• California Beer Legislation Could Allow Breweries to Refill Growlers, East Bay Express

External links

• Directory of California breweries on RateBeer.com