San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
From kettle sours to English-style ales to hoppy IPAs, take a break for a pint
Taking a pause for a pint after a stroll on the beach while basking in the summer sun, or even a busy day in the Monterey peninsula, is part of the allure of the beach-town vibe.
Whether it’s lounging in a beer garden, hanging out at the bar or even relaxing while watching passersby, cool beers and ciders are the perfect excuse to take your time.
With breweries and unique styles that range from ultrahoppy IPAs to kettle sours, and English ales to ciders, everyone can find a favorite flavor.
Founded in 2014 as a neighborhood brewery restaurant in a historic 1916 Beaux-Arts building, the company has since expanded to include a brewery and tasting room in
Salinas and a research and development pilot brewery and bistro in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The West Coast hop-forward, progressive ales have become popular with Northern California beer fans. The nearly endless supply of styles range from hoppy to pale ale to sour, and tout playful names like Mucho Mangonada; Citra, Baby!; and Biggie’s Bon Bon Bonanza.
Alvarado Street’s flagship Mai Tai P.A. — packed with Mosaic hops and aromas of guava, lychee and passion fruit — is a three-time Great American Beer Festival winner, including gold in 2018.
Roll on up to where it all started on Alvarado Street, check out what’s happening in the R&D program crafted on a five-barrel brewhouse in Carmel Plaza or head inland to the Salinas taproom and watch the brewing action.
Tucked into the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel, this small artisan brewery and taproom concentrates on small production that results in the team constantly brewing different and fresh beers, so there’s likely to be something new every time you visit.
The changing brew rotation encourages experimentation and is an ideal reason to come
back over and over (sometimes within the same week) to check out what’s new.
Mad Otter Ale, a regular favorite, is a pale ale generously hopped with Cascade and Centennial, with notes of grapefruit, guava and pineapple. Another beloved brew is Peaches N’ Cream, a slightly sour ale brewed with peaches and vanilla bean, while a rotating list of kettle sours can include ingredients like locally harvested prickly pear and che berries from Carmel Valley.
A small selection of guest taps is also worth noting, but only after you’ve enjoyed a few samples of Carmel Craft beer.
A short distance from Monterey Bay’s Asilomar Beach, Pacific Grove CiderWorks’ tasting room is home to craft ciders and perry.
Ciders here are generally 6-7% alcohol and made in old-school small batches. Perry is produced by fermenting pear juice, rather than apple juice, and the slightly sweet beverage — available in both draft and sparkling style — is lower in alcohol than cider.
The fruit comes from owner Tim Calvert’s family orchard and other private growers. Don’t leave without trying the Brandipera, a “pear port” blend of perry and custom-distilled pear brandy aged in French oak barrels in Pacific Grove. A sip has notes of caramel, oak and vanilla, and is 16.9% alcohol.
The tasting room is open on weekends and by appointment, but you can always grab a bottle or two in some local restaurants, the Pacific Grove Bottle Shop, or Bottles and Bins Liquors and Monte Vista Wines &
Tucked behind the Portola Hotel & Spa in Old Monterey is another granddaddy of Monterey’s delicious beer trend, brewing craft beers for more than 20 years.
Head Brewer Natalie Mika has a rich background in wine and viticulture, and she and her team pursue a passion for fermentation science and brew a variety of styles, from Peter B’s best-known award-winning craft beers to the next generation of ales.
Light and fruity options range from Mexican lagers to German hefeweizen to Belgian blondes, with an occasional sour thrown in for good measure. Hoppy fans often get a choice between IPA styles, from hazy to English, to West Coast faithful.
Barrel-aged stars use time to highlight deep flavors of burnt marshmallow and molasses cookie, and those drawn to malty magic revel in porters, stouts,and English amber ale. Looking for something different? Dabble in the delights of Pacific Coast hard cider.