It’s pretty much impossible to say “Napa Valley” and not immediately think of wine. The area is certainly known for its mastery of the grape, but it’s home to another scene that’s been brewing up some buzz: beer.
Though winemaking has been productive in the region since the late 1800s, the beer scene has been going strong for three decades. Ever since the Napa Valley Brewing Company was established in 1987, beer production has steadily grown. Now, artisanal breweries are crafting everything from top-notch IPAs to ambers, wheats, pilsners, porters and more, making Napa a playground for beer lovers. Need more reason to visit? Here are four.
Just like you can join those busloads of people bouncing from one vineyard to the next, so too can you brewery-hop. And it’s actually easier; after all, Downtown Napa alone is home to several breweries, all walkable within a half-mile stretch. Try Downtown Joe’s Brewery & Restaurant, which is housed in a 19th-century building and known for its British- and West Coast–style ales. Meanwhile, Fieldwork Brewing Company, located in Oxbow Public Market, offers a rotating selection of local craft beers, and Tannery Bend Beerworks, Napa’s newest brewery, just expanded into a larger space. There are more to come: Stone Brewing is set to open a taproom and 10-barrel brewery later this year, and St. Clair Brown Winery will dabble in beer production with its forthcoming microbrewery.