Past Articles

Napa Smith Brewing Co. has taken on the job of educating Napa County about local craft beer, demonstrating that it can pair with food every bit a s well as Napa County wine does.

The World Beer Cup, organized by the Brewers Association, is the largest and most prestigious international beer competition. See how wine country breweries fared.


Thirsty Bear Brewing Company in downtown San Francisco has introduced a limited edition Stave Series and it sounds great. The new beers are being offered at the brewery restaurant during March and April.


From the Editor’s Glass

New profile pages now up for Napa Smith Brewing, Moylan’s Brewery, Moonlight Brewing, Mendocino Brewing and North Coast Brewing.

Wine Country Beer’s 2010 tour of California wine country breweries was a success. From this tour we will be bringing you a series of new feature articles in our WCB Blog.

To view a great bunch of up-to-date photos of some of the breweries we recently visited, go to the Wine Country Beer Facebook page and click on the Photos tab.

Please Drive Responsibly

When visiting the breweries and wineries of California wine country, if you are driving, please do so responsibly. Never drive while impaired. Have a designated driver or take a limo or tour bus. Purchase some good bottles to take home or back to the hotel and enjoy later.

DMV Alcohol Impairment Chart from California Driver Handbook

The Mendocino Loop relaxes, straightens priorities

Do you ever feel your busy life has you running around in circles? Then maybe it’s time to take the Mendocino Loop. This is one circle that might actually help get your life back on a more even keel.

Not only does the Mendocino Loop take you to great breweries and wineries, but also to great scenery, both inland and coastal. Quaint little towns with laid back, interesting locals who are as hospitable as the day is long. You’ll notice the pace here is a bit more relaxed than that in the relative metropolises over in Sonoma and Napa counties. Time tends to melt away slowly here. You notice that another day has passed and you smile. See complete details, suggested stops and itineraries...

 
 

Wine Country Beer Self Guided Tours

Even though much better known as a fine wine destination, the wine country regions of northern and central California are also a craft beer wonderland. Wine Country Beer explores some of the places, culture and history that make wine country such great beer country. Use this guide to locate and tour these incredible artisan breweries.


We celebrate the fantastic flavors created at the great local breweries of California wine country.

 

Wine Country Beer North Coast

Tour Stops


Explore These

Great Wine Beer Regions

  1. BulletSonoma County

  2. BulletNapa County

  3. BulletMendocino County

  4. BulletLake County

  5. BulletCentral Coast

  6. BulletSan Francisco Bay Area

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Napa Smith Brewery knows wine and beer

When the Smith family from Napa County decided to get involved in brewing, they took their last name and their county and put them together to make the trade name Napa Smith. That’s probably the only common thing about this brewery and the craft beer it makes. It’s beers are definitely a cut above the ordinary.

When deciding on a brew master they didn’t do the common thing, like hiring a young assistant brewer from another shop. No, they did the uncommon thing by hiring one of the most experienced craft brewers in the country, Don Barkley. With Barkley’s help this brewery has rapidly become a Wine Country favorite.

You’ve got to have a lot of pluck to open a brewery in the heart of Napa County anyway. Maybe that’s why the Smiths also run a winery—to sort of hedge their bets. Our guess is that their brewery operation will do just fine. Maybe they’ll forget about wine and just keep making those great Napa Smith beers.  MORE...

Brewmaster Don Barkley handles the beer at Napa Smith Brewing Company.

Wine enthusiasts appreciate

complex layered flavors, and that is something craft beer has plenty of. The best place to start exploring craft beer is right in the heart of California wine country.