The West Coast is home to some of the nation’s largest and most well-known craft breweries, but that doesn’t mean you must stick to the major metropolitan areas to find fantastic beer. We take you on a backroads journey through the smaller West Coast towns home to some big-time breweries. From the quaint maritime hub of Port Townsend, Washington, to sunny Petaluma, California, these charming destination towns and breweries offer up an unforgettable combination of community and beer.
Yakima, Washington – Bale Breaker Brewing Company
Yakima, Washington, is the hop-growing capital of the United States, so what better place is there for a brewery to showcase this incredible ingredient? Bale Breaker Brewing has made a name for itself with its Topcutter IPA, which showcases the best of Yakima Valley hops. The brewery itself is situated on a working hop farm and is a must-visit for any beer aficionado.
Tillamook, Oregon – de Garde Brewing
Thanks to de Garde Brewing’s innovative offerings, Tillamook, a city long known for its cheese, has also become a must-visit destination for craft beer lovers. de Garde specifically chose the Tillamook area for the unique strains of yeast that live in the air, as they do not brew their beers with any commercial yeast. This results in lively, farmhouse-style beers that have developed a cult following and are unlike any that most folks have tasted.
Bellingham, Washington – Kulshan Brewing Company
Bellingham is quickly growing out of the small-town category, but with its sheer number of incredible breweries and picturesque Pacific Northwest scenery, we can’t leave it off the list. Kulshan Brewing Company is one of our favorites. They operate two taprooms in Bellingham, and their Premium Lager beer is quickly taking on a cult following.
Eureka, California – Lost Coast Brewing
Eureka is a quirky and out-of-the-way town on the far northern California coast. Visitors and locals love this town for its access to the nearby Redwoods National Park, foggy coastal vibes, and serenity by being off the beaten path. Lost Coast Brewing espouses all of these qualities in a brewery that is as quirky as it is delicious.
Port Townsend, Washington – Propolis Brewing
Port Townsend is a small maritime-focused community with historic architecture that wouldn’t be out of place in major cities like San Francisco. Take a walk through downtown, and you’ll have 100-year-old Victorian homes on one side of the street and a working boatyard on the other. After a day of working on their boats, locals and visitors alike head to Propolis Brewing. This innovative farmhouse-style brewery dreams up beers using local ingredients and old-world techniques, which has resulted in a style of beer all its own.
Hood River, Oregon – pFriem Family Brewers
Visitors come to Hood River for its fruit orchards, outstanding wineries, access to the nearby Columbia River Gorge, and outstanding beer brewed in town. pFriem Family Brewers leads the way and has become one of the most well-known Oregon brewers for its focus on clean, well-researched, and well-brewed beers. Their brewery is an outstanding place to spend an afternoon enjoying the sun while nearby Portland remains socked in with cloudy weather.
Paso Robles, California – Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Located approximately halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles is known for its wineries and olive groves. It is also home to a prestigious brewery, Firestone Walker. In the early 2000s, the brewery released its flagship beer, Union Jack IPA, which propelled it to nationwide fame, and it has been a destination brewery ever since.
Gig Harbor, Washington – 7 Seas Brewing
7 Seas Brewing in Gig Harbor, Washington, may have one of the most picturesque breweries in the country. Located in an old yacht brokerage building, the brewpub looks out over Gig Harbor, the southern end of Puget Sound. You can pull up to the brewery by land or take your boat and tie up to their private dock for a pizza and a Rude Parrot IPA.
Astoria, Oregon – Fort George Brewing
Astoria is known to film fans as the home of the film The Goonies, but it also takes the cake for its brewery-to-population ratio. This maritime outpost in the far northwestern corner of Oregon is home to at least six breweries in its waterfront downtown, with Fort George Brewing leading the way in sheer popularity. Their limited-release beer series draws fans from near and far to try and snag a can, and their popular brewery and pizza pub almost always have a line to get in.
Chico, California – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California, is a northern California town that serves as a base camp for adventures into the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. These mountains inspired the name Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, which has grown from its humble roots to become the third-largest craft brewery in the country.
Baker City, Oregon – Barley Browns Brewing
This small town on the far eastern side of Oregon has beckoned visitors for decades for its gold mining past and nearby access to the Elkhorn Mountains. One brewery, though, has made this town a must-stop destination for beer fans passing by on I-84. Barley Browns Brewing, the masterminds behind Pallet Jack IPA, which is perennially in the running for the best IPA in Oregon, if not the entire West Coast. Their location far from the Pacific Northwest beer epicenters of Portland, Seattle, and Bend hasn’t slowed their ability to produce world-class beers in this incredible town.
Bend, Oregon – Deschutes Brewery
Bend, Oregon, is known for its world-class mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and beer. Over 30 breweries call the Bend area home, but only one can claim to be at the forefront of the craft beer craze. Deschutes Brewery has been serving tasty beers to locals and visitors in this central Oregon town since the late 1980s and shows no signs of slowing down. With a mega-popular downtown brewpub and a cozy tasting room at the brewery, there are plenty of places to grab a brew and take in this incredible place.
Boonville, California – Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Boonville takes the cake for the smallest town on this list, but that hasn’t slowed down Anderson Valley Brewing. Located in the heart of wine country, this brewery is a must-visit for anyone looking to take a break from grape-based beverages. Their events on the lawn are a massive draw for the area and a great way to spend a summer evening in this beautiful part of California.
Enterprise, Oregon – Terminal Gravity Brewing
Another impressively remote town with an outsized brewery, Enterprise is home to a brewery that has punched far above its weight for years. Located near the base of the remote and beautiful Wallowa mountains, the area beckons visitors looking to explore this rugged mountain range. Many of these hikers and backpackers find their way to Terminal Gravity Brewing, which has been a well-known Pacific Northwest staple for years.
Santa Rosa, California – Russian River Brewing
Santa Rosa is home to Russian River Brewing which produces Pliny the Younger, the most sought-after beer on the entire West Coast. Released only once a year, this beer sells out within hours for any brewpub that manages to get its hands on it. This has made Santa Rosa Brewery a must-visit destination for beer fans.
Petaluma, California – Lagunitas Brewing Company
Located just north of the Bay Area, Petaluma is a town in the middle of wine country that is home to one of the most well-known breweries on the West Coast. Lagunitas has been brewing its award-winning beers in this Northern California town since 1993, and it is a must-visit when traveling through this part of the state.
