Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

 390 Capistrano Rd.

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

(650) 728-2739

www.hmbbrewingco.com 

 Jonah and I went to Half Moon Bay Brewing Co in January 2010, on our exploration of coastal breweries between San Diego and San Fransisco.  What a wonderfully beautiful place even in the winter months.  Sit back, stare at the water, have a brew: could things get any better?  

 

Of course I got the taster tray!  Although the waiter didn't know much about the beers, or beer in general, we worked our way (light to dark) through the tasters.  Jonah went with the porter, it ended up serving as our pallet cleanser between samples.  I enjoyed all the house beers; Pillar Point Pale Ale standing out as my favorite.  The real problem I had was with the seasonals, every one had a weird mix of flavors.  I didn't even finish two of them.

Wait, I just had a hard time finishing the last two.  So another taster tray bites the dust and to say it again, enjoyed the house beers.  Half Moon Bay Brewing Co was a nice, warm stop on our way to snowy Bend.  I would go back for the ambiance alone.

I have to give a big thanks to my husband Jonah.  Thanks for enjoying beer as much as I do, visiting all these breweries with me and a lot of times taking the wheel so I can get the taster! Cheers Jonah!

 

If you want to check out some more pictures of the city of Half Moon Bay, my baby sister Kathryn just visited and posted about the trip.  Find her journey at currently obsessed with...

North Coast Brewing Company

North Coast Brewing Co.
455 North Main Street
Fort Bragg CA 95437
707 964-2739

www.northcoastbrewing.com

Fort Bragg, CA is awesome!  I would totally move there, it's going on the list.  Jonah and I completed the Coast Highway by driving from Santa Cruz north this winter (we drove from the south to Santa Cruz the winter before).  North Coast Brewing Company was a destination brewery for Jonah, Old Rasputin being one of his favorite beers.  There was absolutely no arm pulling to get me to go and order the sampler.  Wow what a sampler.  North Coast has some serious beers, I left a little wobbly.  My favorites?  I'm going to agree with Jonah, the Old Rasputin is an amazing beer, but I'm going to raise him the Scrimshaw Pilsner.  Amazing!

Scaling an Icy Mountain then Drinking a Torpedo

Scaling an icy mountain then drinking a Torpedo, who else had an excellent Sunday?  Jonah, Brian Korth (works at the USFS with Jonah in the Wildlife Dept.), and I headed out this Sunday to scope out Power Creek Trail for visitors we're having at the end of the month.  Well, to put it lightly, it's still quite snowy.  We went from 4 feet of snow on the trail, to trying to climb up the face of the valley, to walking along (and in!) the creek. 

After the hike we cracked open a Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA.  Torpedo is a great beer, a true hop punch.  Sierra Nevada invented their own contraption for dry-hopping to pack as much hop flavor as possible.  This is a serious beer for serious "need-a-beer" times.

Beer in a Can - 21st Amendment Brewery

Do you live in one of these states?  Even if you don't you might find 21st Amendment canned craft-brewed beer in your grocer's fridge.  To find this outstanding beer you can go to the brewery's Can Vendor Locator, but all the places I've found this beer are not on the list (i.e. Market of Choice in Eugene, OR).
My first experiences with 21st Amendment were taster cups at multiple beer festivals in Oregon.  It definitely made an impression.
My first full pint of 21st Amendment was at their brewery in San Fransisco, a trip that pushed me to start this beer blog!
My first can of 21st Amendment was bought at the Fred Meyer on SE Hawthorne and SE Cesar Chavez (if it's in this FM, maybe it's at the one near your house).  We got a 6-pack of the Bitter American and it was awesome!
My first can of 21st Amendment in a restaurant was at the Spenard Roadhouse in Anchorage.  Happy St. Patty's Day, it went well with a glass of Knob Creek.

Let's pause a moment to talk about 21st Amendment using cans instead of bottles.  The brewery's reasoning is simple, cans keep beer fresher and they're better for the environment.  Living in Alaska, cans are awesome.  First off, they are easy to bike and hike with (light and easy to open, plus the empties can be crushed to take up little space).  Second, in Cordova, we don't recycle glass!  Before Jonah and I jumped on the ferry to Cordova last month we stopped in the Brown Jug in Anchorage and stocked up on Bitter American, Brew Free or Die, and Black in Black.  This is what our fridge looked like:

 Did I mention that I love love love the Bitter American?
Cheers 21st Amendment!

January 2011 Review

Arbor Brewing Company - Ann Arbor, MI
Black Star Co-op Brewery - Austin, TX
Coalition Brewing Company - Portland, OR
Jolly Pumpkin - Ann Arbor, MI
Portlandia Brewing Company - Portland, OR
Rochester Mills Beer Company - Rochester, MI
North Coast Brewing Co - Fort Bragg, CA

Ok,, let's get started

I have been meaning to start this blog for awhile but it's hard to know where to begin. I have been visiting breweries around the country for years, and while I've been taking good notes (most of the time) it's hard to review them all. So I will start with trying to list them all, then one by one I'll post the reviews sound good. Plus you have my solemn oath that I will try very hard (most of the time) to keep up with my new adventures.
** I'm going to use the double star as an indication of a brewery that has no pub and I couldn't get into the brewery for a sample, but found a bar close by with their beers.
): I'm going to use the frown face for pubs that I found out too late don't brew the beer on premise.

East Coast:
Trinity Brewing Co. ~ Providence RI
http://trinitybrew.com
Boston Beer Works ~ Fenway Park, Boston MA
http://www.beerworks.net/html/locations_fenway.html
Salem Beer Works ~ Salem MA
http://www.beerworks.net/html/locations_salem.html
Cottrell Brewing Co. ~ Pawcatuck CT **
http://www.cottrellbrewing.com
Harpoon Brewery ~ Boston MA
http://www.harpoonbrewery.com

Florida:
Orlando Brewing ~ Orlando FL
http://www.orlandobrewing.com/

Michigan:
Motor City Brew Works Inc ~ Detroit MI
http://www.motorcitybeer.com/

Colorado:
Odell Brewing Co. ~ Fort Collins CO
http://odellbrewing.com/
The Fort Collins Brewery ~ Fort Collins CO
http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/
New Belgium Brewing ~ Fort Collins CO
http://www.newbelgium.com/
CooperSmith's Pub & Brewing ~ Fort Collins CO
http://www.coopersmithspub.com/
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery ~ Vine Street Pub, Denver CO
http://www.mountainsunpub.com/
Estes Park Brewery ~ Estes Park CO
http://www.epbrewery.com/
Golden City Brewery ~ Golden CO
http://www.gcbrewery.com/
Breckenridge Brewery ~ Coors Field, Denver CO :(
http://www.breckbrew.com/
Flying Dog Brewery ~ Denver CO :(
http://www.flyingdogales.com/
Great Divide Brewing ~ Denver CO
http://www.greatdivide.com/
Wynkoop Brewing Co. ~ Denver CO
http://www.wynkoop.com/
Bull & Bush Pub & Brewery ~ Denver CO
http://bullandbush.com/

Idaho:
Brownstone Restaurant & Brewpub ~ Idaho Falls ID
http://brownstonebrewpub.com
Trail Creek Brewing Co. ~ Twin Falls ID
http://www.trailcreekbrewing.com
Sun Valley Brewery ~ Hailey ID
http://www.sunvalleybrewery.com

Wyoming:
Suds Brothers Brewery ~ Evanston WY
http://sudsbrothersbrewery.com/
Bitter Creek Brewing ~ Rock Springs WY
http://www.bittercreekbrewing.com/
Altitude Chophouse & Brewery ~ Laramie WY
http://www.altitudechophouse.com/

Washington:
Fish Brewing ~ Fish Tale Brew Pub, Olympia WA
http://www.fishbrewing.com/
Roslyn Brewing Co. ~ Roslyn WA
http://www.roslynbrewery.com/
Big Time Brewery & Alehouse ~ Seattle WA
http://www.bigtimebrewery.com/
Elysian Brewing Co. ~ Tangletown, Seattle WA
http://www.elysianbrewing.com/tangletown.html
Hale's Ales ~ Seattle WA
http://halesbrewery.com/
Snoqualmie Brewery & Taproom ~ Snoqualmie WA
http://www.fallsbrew.com/
Walking Man Brewing ~ Stevenson WA
http://www.walkingmanbrewing.com/

Oregon:
Calapooia Brewing Co. ~ Albany OR
http://www.calapooiabrewing.com/
Standing Stone Brewing Co. ~ Ashland OR
http://www.standingstonebrewing.com/
Barley Brown's Brew Pub ~ Baker City OR
http://www.barleybrowns.com/
McMenamins ~ http://www.mcmenamins.com/
Back Stage Bar ~ SE Portland OR
Bagdad Theater & Pub ~ SE Portland OR
Blue Moon Tavern & Grill ~ NW Portland OR
East 19th Street Cafe ~ Eugene OR
Grand Lodge ~ Forest Grove OR
High Street Brewery & Cafe ~ Eugene OR
Hillsdale Brewery & Public House ~ SW Portland OR
Kennedy School ~ NE Portland OR
McMenamins Cedar Hills ~ Beaverton OR
McMenamins Corvallis ~ Corvallis OR
McMenamins Greenway Pub ~ Tigard OR
Murray & Allen ~ Beaverton OR
Northbank ~ Eugene OR
Oak Hills ~ NW Portland OR
Ringlers Annex ~ SW Portland OR
Ringlers Pub ~ SW Portland OR
Riverside Pub ~ Beaverton OR
The Old St. Francis Pub ~ Bend OR
Bend Brewing Co. ~ Bend OR
http://www.bendbrewingco.com/
Deschutes Brewery & Public House ~ Bend OR
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/
Silver Moon Brewing ~ Bend OR
http://www.silvermoonbrewing.com
Eugene City Brewery ~ Eugene OR
http://www.rogue.com/locations/rogue-breweries.php
Ninkasi Brewing Co. ~ Eugene OR
http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/
Oakshire Brewing ~ Eugene OR
http://oakbrew.com/
Steelhead Brewing Co. ~ Eugene OR
http://www.steelheadbrewery.com/
Mt. Hood Brewing ~ Government Camp OR
http://www.iceaxegrill.com/mthoodbrewco.php
Big Horse Brew Pub ~ Hood River OR
http://www.realbeer.com/nmvbp/bighorse.htm
Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom ~ Hood River OR
http://www.doublemountainbrewery.com/
Full Sail Brewing Co. ~ Hood River OR
http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/
Alameda Brewhouse ~ NE Portland OR
http://www.alamedabrewhouse.com/
Amnesia Brewing ~ NE Portland OR
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/9685/?view=beerfly
BridgePort Brewpub & Bakery ~ NW Portland OR
http://www.bridgeportbrew.com/
Cascade Brewing Co. ~ Raccoon Lodge, SW Portland OR
http://www.raclodge.com/
Deschutes Brewery & Public House ~ NW Portland OR
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com
Hopworks Urban Brewery ~ SE Portland OR
http://www.hopworksbeer.com/
Laurelwood ~ NW Public House, NW Portland OR
http://www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com/
Lucky Lab Beer Hall ~ NW Portland OR
http://www.luckylab.com/
Lucky Labrador Brewing ~ SE Portland OR
http://www.luckylab.com/
The Mash Tun Brewpub ~ NE Portland OR
http://www.themashtunbrewpub.com/
MacTarnahan's Brewing Co. ~ NW Portland OR
http://www.macsbeer.com/
New Old Lompoc ~ NW Portland OR
http://www.newoldlompoc.com/lompoc_home.html
Lompoc Brewing ~ Hedge House, SE Portland OR
http://www.newoldlompoc.com/hedgehouse_home.html
Lompoc Brewing ~ 5th Quadrant, N Portland OR
http://www.newoldlompoc.com/5thquadrant_home.html
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery ~ SW Portland OR
http://www.rockbottom.com/
Rogue Public House ~ NW Portland OR
http://www.rogue.com/
Roots Brewing Co. ~ SE Portland OR
http://www.rootsorganicbrewing.com/
Tugboat Brewing Co. ~ SW Portland OR
http://www.d2m.com/Tugwebsite/
Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. ~ N Portland OR
http://www.widmer.com/
Cascade Lakes Brewing Co. ~ 7th st. Brewhouse, Redmond OR
http://www.cascadelakes.com/locations/7th_St._Brewhouse/

California:
Napa Valley Brewing ~ Calistoga CA
http://www.calistogainn.com/
Pizza Port Brewing Co. ~ San Clemente CA
http://www.pizzaport.com/
Firehouse Grill & Brewery ~ East Palo Alto CA
http://www.firehousegrill.com/
Stone Brewing Co. ~ Escondido CA
http://www.stonebrew.com/
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. ~ Half Moon Bay CA
http://www.hmbbrewingco.com/
Huntington Beach Beer Co. ~ Huntington Beach CA
http://www.hbbeerco.com/
Ocean Avenue Brewing ~ Laguna Beach CA
http://www.oceanbrewing.com/
Los Gatos Brewing Co. ~ Los Gatos CA
http://www.lgbrewingco.com/
English Ales Brewery ~ Marina CA
http://www.englishalesbrewery.com/
Redondo Beach Brewing Co. ~ Redondo Beach CA
http://www.redondobrewery.com/
San Diego Brewing Co. ~ San Diego CA
http://www.sandiegobrewing.com/
21st Amendment Brewery ~ San Fran CA
http://www.21st-amendment.com/
Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery ~ San Fran CA
http://shop.magnoliapub.com/
Thirsty Bear Brewing Co. ~ San Fran CA
http://www.thirstybear.com/
Creekside Brewing Co. ~ San Luis Obispo CA
http://www.creeksidebrewing.com/
Downtown Brewing Co. ~ San Luis Obispo CA
http://www.downtownbrew.com/
Santa Barbara Brewing Co. ~ Santa Barbara CA
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Barbara-CA/Santa-Barbara-Brewing-Company/83266603049
Santa Cruz Ale Works ~ Santa Cruz CA
http://www.santacruzaleworks.com/
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing ~ Santa Cruz CA
http://www.santacruzmountainbrewing.com/
Seabright Brewery ~ Santa Cruz CA
http://www.seabrightbrewery.com/