Local Breweries to Explore in the Winter Months

Spring is still a few months away, but that doesn’t mean you have to hunker down until the sun comes out. Even on gray days, there are plenty of things to do in the greater Sacramento region. One idea is to pay a visit to one of the many local breweries in the area. These spots embrace the cold weather by offering seasonal brews, hearty food, and in many cases, live entertainment to get you through the chill of winter.

Some craft breweries in Sacramento play up the coziness with fire pits and outdoor heaters. Others release wintery ales and stouts. There are also breweries with games, including trivia and bingo, so you and your friends can make an afternoon or an evening of it. Many others offer pub food, while some have food trucks lined up on any given day. So, whether you’re looking for a pilsner or a pale ale, a sour or a saison, following are some of the best local breweries to explore this winter.

Photo courtesy of Urban Roots Brewing

 Urban Roots Brewing | Sacramento

Craving some barbecue with your beer? Urban Roots is part brewery, part smokehouse, turning out brisket, pulled pork, and ribs alongside ales, lagers, and stouts. Their midtown location has a large, cozy interior as well as a heated outdoor patio to keep you cozy on warm winter nights. Plus, you can catch a game or a movie in their barrel room.

Photo courtesy of Jackrabbit Brewing

 Jackrabbit Brewing | West Sacramento

If you’re looking for a friendly, neighborhood brewery in West Sacramento, Jackrabbit Brewing is a good choice. They have ample indoor space plus a small patio for mild days. Most of their beers are gluten-reduced, so you can enjoy a brew minus the bloat. They have food trucks available most days, or you can bring your own food. Each Wednesday, they have themed trivia.

Photo courtesy of Loomis Basin Brewing Company

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Loomis Basin Brewing Company | Loomis

Part brewery, part restaurant, this friendly neighborhood gathering spot is a great choice for a night out any time of year. In winter, the cold weather shouldn’t keep you away — they have a cheery outdoor space warmed by a fire pit, outdoor heaters, and twinkling string lights for ambiance. In addition to every type of beer imaginable, they also offer special events such as game nights, paint and sips, and trivia.

 Moonraker Brewing | Cameron Park

This craft brewery and restaurant in Cameron Park is a community hub, attracting locals with its award-winning brews and special events such as country dancing, trivia, and live music. They produce a range of beers, including hazy IPAs, saisons, lagers, even hard seltzers. Their kitchen turns out pub fare like burgers and pizza, plus tacos and other south-of-the-border specialties on Tuesdays.

 Oak Park Brewing | Sacramento

This longstanding brewery in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood has an intimate, brick-walled tasting room and a true neighborhood vibe. In addition to their craft brews, they also serve burgers and wings, plus brunch on weekends. They also host special events such as art shows, beer tastings, and singles’ nights.

Photo courtesy of Hooby’s

 Hooby’s | Winters

This family-run brewer in Winters is known for its indoor cornhole room, so there’s no need to wait until spring to get your bags flying. In addition to beer, they also have a full kitchen offering pub fare like burgers and tots, plus Sunday brunch. Live music, bingo, and Tuesday happy hour are just a few of the special events they host.

 Burning Barrel | Placerville

The beer menu at this local brewery in downtown Placerville is as varied as it gets, offering everything from porters and lagers to stouts and sours. They also produce hard seltzers and spirits such as gin, vodka, and whiskey. Hungry? You can indulge in fried chicken sandwiches, wings, or salads.

Photo courtesy of Moksa Brewing Co.

 Moksa Brewing Co. | Rocklin

Known for their “progressive IPAs and flavor-focused stouts” (most of them gluten reduced), this Rocklin brewery has a modern, elevated vibe. They don’t have a kitchen, but they do have a rotating lineup of food trucks just about every night of the week. And, if you’re looking for something fun to do, consider checking out their comedy nights, paint parties, or trivia.

 Boring Rose Brewing Co. | El Dorado Hills

There’s nothing boring about this one-of-a-kind spot in El Dorado Hills, which is part brewery, part plant shop! Named for its owners (the Borings and the Roses), you can pick up succulents, tropical plants, orchids and other plants and then cap off your visit with a craft brew. If that’s not enough, they also serve gourmet pizza, panini, salads and wraps. Plus, they have trivia and live music.

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Flatland Brewing Co. | Elk Grove

Located in Elk Grove, Flatland Brewing always has something going on! They host weekly bingo and trivia, plus live music and a running club. Of course, they also serve award-winning beer like IPAs and sours in their family-friendly tasting room. Not a fan of beer? They also produce wine. Plus, they have a gourmet pizzeria onsite.

Photo courtesy of  Crooked Lane Brewing

Crooked Lane Brewing | Auburn

This large craft brewery in Auburn has everything you’d want in a brewery — great brews, live music, trivia, and other special events. In addition to their ample indoor space, they also have a large beer garden patio complete with fire pits and heater. They also serve bar bites like pretzels and pizza.

Three Mile Brewing | Davis

From lagers to ales, pilsners to sours, this cozy brewery in Davis has a varied lineup of craft brews. They have a welcoming taproom where they host events throughout the week, including trivia, live music, bingo, and karaoke.

Photo courtesy of  Solid Ground Brewing

 Solid Ground Brewing | Diamond Springs

Although best known for their traditional lagers, Solid Ground also produces other adult beverages as well, including ciders and wine. Their no-frills taproom has ample space to relax while enjoying a bevvy and a bite from their kitchen, which turns out sandwiches, tacos, and fries.

 Geisthaus Brewing Company | Sacramento

This family-friendly brewery in Sacramento’s Rosemont neighborhood specializes in German-style beers such as pilsners and lagers. Although they don’t have a kitchen, they do have food trucks on site most days of the week. With trivia on Thursdays and monthly comedy nights, there’s no shortage of things to do here.

 Types of Beers, A–Z

•  Amber Ale: Balanced with caramel and toasted malt flavors with an amber color. Smooth and not too bitter.
• Brown Ale: Medium bodied with hints of chocolate, nuts, and caramel. American versions are on the hoppy side but not too bitter.
• Hefeweizen: A traditional German beer made with wheat. A light beer with aromas of bananas and clove.
• India Pale Ale: Perhaps the beer that best defines the craft beer scene in California, West Coast IPAs are crisp and citrusy with pronounced hoppiness.
• Lager: A light, crisp, cold-fermented beer with smooth drinkability.
• Porter: Dark ale with flavors of roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate.
• Saison: A traditional Belgian brew with strong aromatics and a dry finish.
• Sour: A tart, tangy beer often with fruit-forward flavors such as raspberry and pineapple There are even dill pickle-flavored sours!
• Stout: Dark beer with hints of roasted barley, coffee, and cocoa. Some versions have a creamy texture due to the addition of oats, while some are smokey or malty.