Every February, it seems, all eyes turn toward Sonoma County -- at least those wearing beer goggles do. That’s when Santa Rosa’s Russian River Brewery releases their extremely limited Pliny the Younger, a triple-IPA that’s said to be among the country’s best.
But the British beer connoisseur knows you don’t have to wait for February, and you don’t even have to go to Santa Rosa, to get good suds all year round. Travel Guardian UK has just published their list of Best West Coast Brewpubs, and it includes The Bear Republic Brewing Co.
The self-described “hophead” editors laud it as follows:
Bear Republic is home to the iconic Racer 5 IPA, brewed with the classic west-coast combination of chinook, cascade, columbus and centennial hop varieties, which has brought home the booty from America's most prestigious beer festivals. It flows fresh from its own friendly, no-frills brewpub, which is complete with bear-themed taxidermy, decent food and a great little sun-trap of a garden.
Other local brewpubs on the list do include Russian River Brewery, yes, but also Anderson Valley Brewing in Boonville and rising star 21st Amendment in San Francisco’s baseball district.
The Bear Republic brewing team will be showing off their suds at two upcoming events this weekend, first on Saturday at the so-called “Beerfest – The Good One” at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.
It’s billed as a “festive microbrew and food tasting extravaganza with more than 40 of Northern California’s best microbreweries and gourmet food purveyors.” Ticket includes all food and beverage tasting plus souvenir glass. It starts at 1 p.m., and pouring stops at 4:30. Beerfest benefits Face to Face, Sonoma County AIDS Network.
Then on Monday June 3, Bear Republic will be one of three brews poured at Ale for ALS at Santa Rosa's Third Street Aleworks, a unique benefit event that gives different brewers the same hops blend to see what they come up with.
The Bear’s entry is called Red Racer, and pint sales at the event and at the Healdsburg brewery all summer long will continue to benefit ALS research.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
