6 Irresistible Santa Cruz Breweries and Pour Houses
It’s 5 in the evening, the sun crawling toward the last edges of the horizon, the work day is over, and there’s just one thing you want: A nice, cold, beer.
Fortunately, these days, breweries pop up almost as much as (if not more than) coffee shops, and everyone has something else to offer. Choosing the best spots becomes the primary problem, because you want to make sure you’re getting the best product out there. Next time you’re in the Santa Cruz area and have that craving for some hops, here’s six breweries and pour houses we recommend trying out to satisfy that thirst.
Beer Thirty Bottle Shop and Pour House
Beer Thirty is a great place to hang out and have a beer with your friends. While they don’t brew any of their own beer, they have a wide selection of beers from other local breweries, including another of our favorite breweries, Alvarado Street Brewery here in Monterey. Additionally, they have a wide selection of bottled and canned beers for you to enjoy in the space of your own home. Besides that, the outdoor area has a separate section full of games, such as ping pong and corn hole. There’s plenty of space in the backyard, and you’re more than welcome to bring your (friendly) furry friend along with you.
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Sante Adairius has not only one, but two different locations for you to enjoy their incredible beer. One is the brewery itself with a pour house out in Capitola, and the other is a straight pour house in Santa Cruz. Their beers are highly inspired by the Belgian style brewing methods, so fans of blond ales or something in that category will probably find yourselves right at home here. The beers are also barrel-flavored in a process similar to creating wine in order to give more bold flavors that definitely stand out.
Humble Sea Brewing Company
Humble Sea Brewing Company is a small, but busy brewery and taproom that also offers food out of their kitchen. There’s limited seating inside and a good patio outside, but their killer beer has taken off with the locals and you might find yourself with standing room only! The “humble” in the name is there for a reason, too. The bartenders and servers here are always kind and inviting. Any place we’re allowed to bring our dogs always gets an extra plus from us, and even though nowadays it’s becoming more common to do so, we just want to mention your furry friend is welcome here, too! They’ve even got an upcoming dog show, so if you’re free for that, it’s one you won’t want to miss.
Santa Cruz Cider Company
Santa Cruz Cider Company is a fantastic choice for those who suffer gluten intolerance, or those who just enjoy a good hard cider. The Apple City Tasting Room, the first of its kind in the Monterey Bay, is also adjoined to one of our other favorite breweries, the Elkhorn Slough Brewery. We definitely recommend trying out the strawberry cider, but the owners, sisters Nicole and Natalie, are always experimenting with and changing up their flavors. Although the tasting room itself is in Watsonville, you can still find some taps pouring the cider around the Santa Cruz area, so keep your eyes peeled!
Shanty Shack Brewing
Those on the hunt for a smaller-scaled brewery, or a nanobrewery, should look no further than Shanty Shack Brewing! They’ve got awesome beer, delicious food, and a laid-back environment with a lot of cool events. They’ve been open since December 2016, and gain momentum with each passing year. We always love watching small companies grow, and it’s always great to see passion projects turn into full-time careers. Bring a growler, choose a beer, have one there and then fill it up and take it home to enjoy it for a few more days. We doubt you’ll be sorry you did.
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is definitely one of the best brewing companies that offers organic beer. Yes, you read that right! They state that our proximity to the Pacific Ocean challenges and inspires them to make environmentally friendly beer with the protection of the ocean high on their mind. That’s definitely a cause we can get behind! You can also reserve a keg from these guys, so if you’re hosting a party or a wedding or something similar, that’s a great place to buy enough beer for the night! Be sure to check out the tap room in Santa Cruz and see what they’ve got pouring.
