Best Bars With Local Brews In The South Bay
Tied House Brewery & Café
954 Villa St.
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 965-2739
www.tiedhouse.com
Tied House, a family-owned brewery, first broke ground in Mountain View in 1987, opened in 1988 and has been a loyal community business ever since. Tied House is the fourth oldest brewery in California, so that has something to say for its staying power. There are now 15 brews on tap, from amber light to a well-rounded oatmeal stout, plus a new brewing company, Heritage Brewing, has been added to the family. Tied House and Heritage are now brewing six days a week, so you will definitely find something to suit your taste. There is a full lunch and dinner menu with pub favorites, and "hoppy" hour is weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check out the website for all the beer choices.
Rockbottom Brewery
1875 S. Bascom Ave.
Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 377-0707
www.rockbottom.com
Rockbottom started life with a simple idea in mind: to create the best place for friends to come and share a beer and a bite to eat. That idea grew to cover more area and bring more friends together. Rockbottom now boasts over 700 original brews and more than 125 industry-esteemed awards and medals to its name. Bravo for doing such a great job. There are so many beer choices here, from pale ales to bold porters and stouts, and all are brewed in-house by local brewers. Socialize at the bar or stay longer and dine in, pairing your drink to something just right from the full-range menu. Browse the website to get the full picture.
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Gordon Biersch Brewery Company
357 E. Taylor St.
San Jose, CA 9112
(408) 278-1008
www.gordonbiersch.com
In 1987, Dan Gordon was one of the most sought-after brewers in the nation, and Dean Biersch, a restaurateur and beer lover, wanted to open a brewery restaurant. Dean was searching for a top brewer so a mutual friend arranged a meeting between the two men. They met, talked beer and shared a vision, and the rest is history. In 1988, a Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant opened in Palo Alto, and in 1997, a state-of-the-art brewery and bottling facility opened in San Jose. Gordon Biersch beers are now sold at the brewery restaurants and distributed around the country. The brewery offers tours and tastings by appointment Monday through Friday. Visit the website to get more information and to schedule a tour.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
10690 N. De Anza Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 865-6970
www.bjsrewhouse.com
BJ's is known for its handcrafted beers on tap. The Brewhouse makes a variety of beer styles from around the world, from its unique assortment of German Kolsch to the edgy intensity of Russian Imperial Stout. A skillful team of brewers brings their vision and wide-ranging brewing skills to BJ's every day to create beer styles customers can enjoy on their own or pair with light bites or full meals from the restaurant's extensive menu. Check the website for full descriptions of the hand-crafted beers available, along with food menu choices.
Britannia Arms
173 W. Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 278-1400
www.britanniaarmsdowntown.com
The Brit, as regulars call this popular downtown San Jose pub, is the perfect place to catch favorite sporting events and get a bite to eat before or after an event at the nearby HP Pavilion. The pub features a menu of traditional British and American favorites, along with a full line of beers, heavy on the local brews. The local bottled and on-tap selection includes Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Summer Solstice, Lagunitas IPA and Scrimshaw Pilsner, to name a few. The Brit offers weekly entertainment with live DJs most nights, monthly drink specials and happy hour drink deals. See the website for complete information.
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Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in San Francisco. She writes on adult education, art and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a member of an independent filmmaking group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
