Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

WineCountryBEER

 
 

The home of Anderson Valley Brewing is the self-styled quirky town of Boonville. With its own dialect and other oddities, its laid-back culture is reflected in the brewery's style.

Dating back to 1987, the brewery and its taproom have gone through a number of renditions until today it is among the nicest brewery taps around anywhere. The brewpub also includes a well-stocked store for purchasing bottled beer, snacks, t-shirts and various breweriana.

Two of the more unusual brewery features are its shire horses and its flying disc course. You can call ahead and schedule carriage or wagon rides around the 26-acre property. Or if you are feeling more frisky, schedule to play its 18-hole disc golf course. Details can be found on the the brewery web site.

The Brews

Anderson Valley Brewing makes some 10 or more beers depending on how many seasonal or specialties are in stock. They have had great success through the years in beer competitions and are consistent in their quality.

Some taproom favorites to look for include:

Boont Amber -- Great malty amber ale taste. ABV 5.9%

Hop Ottin' IPA -- A very clean and tasty West Coast India Pale Ale. Intense. ABV 7.0%

Barley Flats Oatmeal Stout -- Rich, full and complex, yet smooth. ABV 5.7%

Solstice -- These unique seasonals comes in both a summer and a winter version, so no matter when you visit, you are likely to find one fresh on tap.

 

Brewery plays on quirky Boonville

Location

You will find it right off the intersection of Hwy 128 and Hwy 253. If coming north on Hwy 128 from Cloverdale in Sonoma County, turn right on Hwy 253 and you will see the entrance on the left. Ample parking is found in the brewery lot.

Tours are offered daily at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Closed toe footwear must be worn. Sorry no flip flops. A $5.00 tour ticket includes tour, beer samples, and a coupon worth $5.00 off any retail purchase of $10.00 or more. Call ahead to reserve a place.

Address: 17700 Hwy 253, Boonville, CA 95415-0505

Phone: (707) 895-2337

Go To: Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Web Site


Anderson Valley Brewing Co. is very easy to find being located on the north side of Hwy 253 (Boonville Rd.) within a few hundred feet of the intersection with Highway 128. This is just south of the town of Boonville.

A number of the best Mendocino County wineries are only a little hop north up Hwy 128.

The Bavarian-style brew house at Anderson Valley looks like anything but a California brewery. Behind those glass windows sit beautiful copper kettles. Behind the brewhouse is the rest of the brewery.

Inside the brew house a friendly Anderson Valley Brewery employee explains that this gorgeous copper equipment came from two German breweries that went out of business. It was shipped over and installed here in the mid-1990s.

Back in the rest of the brewery you see the more common fermenters, tanks and other equipment... with one big difference here: This brewery is solar powered.

The taproom is open daily 11:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m. and is open until 7 p.m. Fridays. In addition to bar seating there are a number of indoor tables and a tree-covered outdoor beer garden, so you can bring a lot of friends.

The taproom chalkboard proudly announces what's on tap today. Be adventurous and try a sampler. Sampler sets are sold in several quantities, so you can select the number right for you. A special beer will normally be offered on cask too.