• Russian River Brewing Company - Arrive 10 minutes early and find the guide with the beer umbrella outside the crown jewel of Santa Rosa’s craft beer scene: Russian River Brewing Co.

This is the birthplace of Pliny the Elder, the first commercially produced double IPA in the nation, which was voted the #1 beer in the US by the American Homebrewers Association for 8 consecutive years! This masterpiece, along with other perfected recipes like the Blind Pig IPA, the STS Pilsner, and the Belgian “-ation” series, has earned over 40 medals for this outstanding brewery at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.

The tour begins here with a tasting of these 4 diverse and exceptional award-winning beers, while getting to know each other, exploring the roots of Sonoma County’s beer passion, and discovering why Santa Rosa is known as the microbrew capital of the country.

• Civilization Brewing - Meet the newest rising star in Sonoma County’s microbrewery scene: Civilization Brewing. Famous for cannabis-inspired hazy IPAs like the Pineapple Express and the Super Lemon Haze, as well as their uniquely delightful Sweet Fire apricot habanero gose, Civilization is a small yet impactful brewpub that has already left its mark on the Santa Rosa beer scene.

Enjoy a pint here along with your choice of snacks, and take some time to relax in the cozy retro 1970s atmosphere featuring dark wood coffee tables, plush couches, and oil paintings of waterfalls.

• 575 Ross St - This new location merges the signature Cooperage Brewing experience with the vibrant downtown atmosphere. With a modern taproom featuring skylights, wood-beam rafters, large murals, and ample seating, it’s the ideal place to explore a variety of craft beers on tap, enjoy snacks from daily rotating food trucks, or engage in fun activities with pinball machines, a pool table, darts, and board games. The ever-changing lineup of beers on tap showcases everything from popular favorites to experimental brews, like the Dortmunder Export that won the gold medal at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival.
• Shady Oak Barrel House - The tour concludes at the Shady Oak Barrel House, specializing in barrel aging, farmhouse ales, and sour beers. All of the beers here – even their remarkable IPAs, stouts, and pilsners – have a unique and adventurous twist.

Located in a spacious hangar that was once a 1960s car dealership, the barrels lining the walls are filled with beer aging to be tapped and served to customers. Shady Oak frequently hosts creative events and fundraisers, such as vinyl record swap meets, bike part exchanges, live music benefits, local art shows, stand-up comedy, and trivia nights. With a large outdoor patio on the riverfront, a different food truck every night, and the largest collection of pinball machines in Sonoma County, it’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the evening.

• Experienced guide and beer enthusiast
• 10-16 ounces of craft beer at each of the four breweries
• All fees and/or taxes
• Snacks

This 3-hour walking tour includes 52 ounces of craft beer and highlights four of Santa Rosa’s top award-winning microbreweries: Russian River Brewing Co, Shady Oak Barrel House, Civilization Brewing, and Cooperage Brewing Company.

Participants will be accompanied by a friendly and knowledgeable craft beer enthusiast who will bring the area to life with historical stories of local legends, from Luther Burbank to Alfred Hitchcock, as well as tales of the bootleggers, backstabbers, and black market brewers who shaped the Northern California beer scene.

As you savor some of Santa Rosa’s finest brews, along with a few snacks, your guide will provide insights into how Sonoma County became the birthplace of the microbrewery and why it remains one of the world’s top craft beer destinations.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.