4 Unbeatable Breweries in Downtown Monterey (and 2 Can’t-Miss Nearby Spots!)
Craft beer is alive and well on the Monterey Peninsula, with classic breweries and experimental concepts combining for a vibrant beer culture.
These 4 best breweries in Monterey highlight the spectrum of top-notch breweries available for hop snobs, beer newbies, and even those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink! Read on to discover the best beer in Monterey, California and beyond.
Dust Bowl Brewing Company
On the Old Monterey Food Tour one of our first stops is Dust Bowl Brewing Company! This place combines the best of everything our Monterey breweries have to offer.
At Dust Bowl, you can enjoy a cold beer (or hard seltzer!) inside the historic train depot or grab a seat in the extensive outdoor beer garden. The best seat in the house is around their enormous and lively fire pit.
Bring your appetite, because Wedo’s Tacos offers fresh and delicious tacos, nachos, quesadillas and other Mexican food favorites from their truck parked in the beer garden. We recommend the freshly-caught fish tacos or check out their exciting list of rotating specials.
Alvarado Street Brewery
For the last decade, Alvarado Street Brewery has built a Monterey Peninsula beer empire, with locations in Monterey, Carmel, and Salinas.
Each location has their own unique vibe and offerings, but our favorite may be the original spot in downtown Monterey. Alvarado Street Brewery offers a delicious menu brimming with local pub favorites, like delicious burgers, pizzas, and appetizers.
We recommend enjoying this brewery in one of their two outdoor dining areas: the people-watching parklet in the front or the cozy, secluded beer garden out back.
Alvarado Street Brewery is so loved by the locals that they are in the process of opening up a third restaurant and brewery location in Old Town Salinas that was formerly Rabobank, at 301 S. Main. We absolutely can’t wait for this one and we know that you’ll love it too!
Fieldwork Brewing Company
Speaking of drinking beer outdoors, Fieldwork Brewing Company specializes in that experience. Visit this outdoor beer garden in the Uptown Shopping Center, a short walk from downtown.
Drop by often to explore Fieldwork’s rotating beer list, containing everything from hazy IPAs to fruity sours. Fieldwork’s amazing flavors also appear in their line of non-alcoholic drinks called Supertonics.
Fieldwork does not offer its own food, but feel free to order in from nearby restaurants like a deep-dish pizza from Heirloom Pizza.
Peter B’s Brewpub
Monterey’s original craft brewery! Follow the bricks around the back of the Portola Hotel to enjoy Peter B’s Brewpub and across from the historic Pacific House to find a tucked-away gastropub and sports bar.
In addition to dozens of TV screens, Peter B’s offers a rotating beer menu filled with locals’ favorites like Peach Crate and Belly Up Blonde. Beer enthusiasts will love being able to peek into the brew room from inside the restaurant – if you’re lucky you’ll see folks hard at work!
Peter B’s offers a full menu with pub favorites like chicken strips and fried calamari to pizzas and even a delightful dog menu.
Other Brother Beer Co.
Travel along the Peninsula a few miles and you will discover casual, approachable Seaside, a town with its own impressive casual restaurant scene and a large brewery and taproom located in Seaside’s newly-enhanced downtown.
Other Brother Beer Co. provides an airy and welcoming gathering spot where locals grab a beer and a bite from the indoor Snack Shack. You’ll find IPAs, sours, and even some natural wine on the menu here. This place is all about collaboration, so look for special brews with other local beer friends on this list like Alvarado Street.
Hidden Hills Brewing & Blending
Located in the Barnyard Shopping Center, Hidden Hills Brewing & Blending offers hand-crafted ales alongside ciders and local wine.
Get prepared to be a little experimental at this new craft beer spot, as fresh fermentations and aging processes are always being played with here. Does a dark sour aged in tequila and bourbon barrels sound good to you? Expect the unexpected at this captivating new location.