List of breweries in California
This catalog of breweries in California encompasses both operational and closed establishments, including microbreweries as well as large-scale industrial producers. The scale and output of these brewing enterprises differ significantly, ranging from modest craft operations to extensive multinational corporations. Since 1983, legislation in California has allowed breweries to sell beer directly on-site, which has encouraged the establishment and expansion of numerous brewpubs and small-scale breweries.
Breweries throughout California craft an extensive variety of beer styles that are distributed across local, regional, national, and international markets. In 2012, the state was home to 458 breweries, importers, brewpubs, and company-owned packaging and wholesale businesses, collectively employing over 7,000 individuals directly and more than 109,000 in ancillary roles such as distribution and retail. When factoring in suppliers of raw materials and equipment, the total tax revenue generated by California’s brewing sector and related industries surpassed $5.1 billion. Additionally, consumer purchases of brewery products contributed another $1.1 billion in tax income. According to the Brewers Association, that year California led the nation with 325 craft breweries, ranking 19th when measured per capita.
To provide perspective, by the close of 2013 there were 2,822 breweries across the United States. Of these, 2,768 were craft breweries categorized into 1,237 brewpubs, 1,412 microbreweries, and 119 regional craft breweries. The brewing sector employed approximately 43,000 people nationwide in production and distribution roles and generated an economic impact exceeding $246 billion.
Alameda County
- 21st Amendment Brewery located in San Leandro
- Buffalo Bill's Brewery based in Hayward, notable as the first brewpub licensed after Prohibition
- Drake's Brewing Company situated in San Leandro
- Pyramid Breweries formerly operating in Berkeley (1997–2015)
- The Rare Barrel located in Berkeley
- Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse based in Berkeley
- Trumer Brauerei situated in Berkeley
Butte County
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company headquartered in Chico
Contra Costa County
- Calicraft operating out of Walnut Creek
Humboldt County
- Eel River Brewing Company located in Fortuna
- Lost Coast Brewery based in Eureka
- Mad River Brewing Company situated in Blue Lake
- Six Rivers Brewery operating from McKinleyville
Los Angeles County
- Gordon Biersch Brewing Company located in Burbank
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company based in Universal City
- Lagunitas Brewing Company operating out of Azusa
- MillerCoors brewery located in Irwindale
Mendocino County
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company situated in Boonville
- Mendocino Brewing Company based in Ukiah
- North Coast Brewing Company located in Fort Bragg
Mono County
- Mammoth Brewing Company located in Mammoth Lakes
Napa County
- Stone Brewing based in Napa
Nevada County
- FiftyFifty Brewing Company situated in Truckee
- Nevada Brewery operating in Nevada City
Orange County
- Bootlegger's Brewery with locations in both Fullerton and Costa Mesa
- The Bruery found in Placentia
Placer County
- Auburn Alehouse located in Auburn
- Slice Beer Company based in Lincoln
Riverside County
- Blind Pig Brewing Company operated in Temecula from 1994 to 1997
- Brewpub of Karl Strauss Brewing Company located in Temecula
San Diego County
- AleSmith Brewing Company situated in Miramar, San Diego
- Alpine Beer Company based in Alpine
- Aztec Brewing Company located in Vista
- Belching Beaver Brewery, present at multiple venues throughout San Diego
- Numerous locations of Karl Strauss Brewing Company across the county
- Several branches of Ballast Point Brewing Company within San Diego
- Green Flash Brewing Company found in Mira Mesa, San Diego
- Multiple sites of Mikkeller throughout San Diego
- Mission Brewery based in Middletown, San Diego
- Mother Earth Brew Co operating in Vista
- Locations of Pizza Port in both Carlsbad and Ocean Beach, San Diego
- The now-closed (2022) Saint Archer Brewing
- The former (closed 1942) San Diego Brewing Company
- Stone Brewing established in Escondido
San Francisco City and County
- 21st Amendment Brewery
- Historical operation of Albion Brewery from 1870 to 1919
- Almanac Beer Company
- Established presence of Anchor Brewing Company
- The combined dining and brewing venue: Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant
- Craft brewery: Fort Point Beer Company
- Formerly active from 1954 to 1972: Hamm's Brewery
- Operated between 1933 and 1953: Rainier Brewing Company
- The defunct (1985–2009) San Francisco Brewing Company
- Craft beer producer: Speakeasy Ales and Lagers
San Luis Obispo County
- The brewery of Firestone Walker Brewing Company situated in Paso Robles
San Mateo County
- Located in San Carlos: Devil's Canyon Brewing Company
Santa Barbara County
- Brewery of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company based in Buellton
- Another location of the brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Company, also in Buellton
Santa Clara County
- The brewing company of Gordon Biersch Brewing Company operating in San Jose
- Historical operation of the now-closed (1868–1920) Mayfield Brewery
Siskiyou County
- Brewery named Mt. Shasta Brewing Company, located in Weed
Solano County
- An operational brewery by Anheuser-Busch InBev found in Fairfield
Sonoma County
- The brewery known as Bear Republic Brewing Company, situated in Healdsburg
- Home to the brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company, located in Petaluma
- Based in Santa Rosa: the brewery named Moonlight Brewing Company
- The historic (1976–1982) operation of the now-closedNew Albion Brewing Company inSonoma
- Located within Santa Rosa: the brewery known asRussian River Brewing Company
- Also based in Santa Rosa: the establishment calledThird Street Aleworks
Stanislaus County
- St. Stan's Brewery located in Modesto
Yolo County
- Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch based in 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 NorCal breweries this year – San Jose Mercury News, December 16, 2013
- California Beer Bill Would Permit Growler Refills at Breweries – East Bay Express, September 5, 2013