Local Breweries in Santa Cruz

By EF Homes

We point people toward Santa Cruz’s brewery scene using the same logic we use for real estate: the best spots have a strong sense of place. On the Westside, Swift Street’s maker campus sets the tone for an afternoon that can move from tasting rooms to coffee to dinner in a few blocks. Over in Midtown and Live Oak, you can park once along Soquel Avenue or East Cliff Drive and keep the evening going with food, patios, and walkable errands.

If you want a local routine that feels easy, you’ll find it in the neighborhoods that sit close to these taps.

Key Takeaways

Nautical themed taprooms featuring globally acclaimed hazy IPAs and lagers.
Eco-conscious organic brewhouses utilizing locally sourced California ingredients.
Experimental blending houses specializing in wild fermentation and barrel aging.

Humble Sea Brewing Co.

Humble Sea Brewing Co. has redefined the Westside retail corridor with its fun, maritime inspired branding and a rotating tap list that celebrates the "kooky" spirit of the Central Coast.

Nautical Highlights At Humble Sea

Socks & Sandals: This flagship hazy IPA represents the pinnacle of the brewery's "foggy" style, offering a smooth mouthfeel and bright tropical fruit notes.
Nautical Puns: The ever changing menu features clever sea themed names like "Kookumber Gose" and "Shellvis Presley," adding a playful layer to the serious craft.
Fonda Felix Empanadas: The onsite kitchen provides artisanal empanadas daily, while a rotation of premium food trucks like Sleight of Hand Pizza occupies the parking area.

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

As a woman owned and eco-conscious institution, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing has spent nearly two decades championing organic ingredients and traditional brewing methods.

Organic Craft Essentials

Boardwalk Blonde: This approachable blonde ale captures the nostalgia of the nearby Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its crisp finish and balanced malt profile.
Local Food Pairings: The onsite kitchen serves a sophisticated menu of Cubano sandwiches and El Salchichero bacon BLTs that highlight regional purveyors.
Dog Friendly Atmosphere: The taproom is a favorite for pet owners, even offering cold smoked marrow bones from a local butcher for four-legged visitors.

Shanty Shack Brewing

Shanty Shack Brewing embodies the bohemian spirit of the Midtown and Live Oak border, featuring a vibrant outdoor space that feels like a private neighborhood gathering.

Eclectic Small-Batch Brews

Oh-La-La Kettle Sour: This vibrant red ale features olallieberries from the nearby Gizditch Ranch in Watsonville, delivering a jammy and tart finish.
Rotating Hop Series: The "Train Hopping" hazy IPA utilizes a shifting lineup of hops to ensure that every batch offers a new sensory discovery for regulars.
Live Music Stage: The backyard patio frequently hosts local musicians, creating a high energy social environment that supports the city's artistic community.

Woodhouse Blending & Brewing

Woodhouse Blending & Brewing focuses on the intersection of traditional styles and non-traditional barrel aged experiments within an expansive, art-filled industrial space.

Blended And Barrel Aged Specialities

Brazilian Street Food: The onsite kitchen, Berrante, serves authentic Brazilian snacks like pão de queijo and coxinha that pair perfectly with their wood aged blends.
Milkshake Hazies: Their innovative approach to the hazy IPA includes "milkshake" variants that offer a creamy texture and bold, dessert like flavor profiles.
Satellite Pizza Taproom: A new expansion near the UC Santa Cruz entrance provides a pizza focused experience that brings Woodhouse brews to the Upper Westside.

Gilman Brewing Santa Cruz

Gilman Brewing has recently expanded from its East Bay roots to establish a stylish taproom in the heart of Midtown on Soquel Avenue.

Coastal Vibes In Midtown

Smashburgers: Their quarter-pound lean beef patties are pressed onto a griddle and topped with house made burger sauce for a high fidelity comfort food experience.
Paint & Sip Nights: The taproom serves as a creative space for community art events, allowing residents to engage with their artistic side over a cold pint.
Grafted Wine Selection: For those seeking alternatives to beer, the "Santa Cruz Portal" features an impressive list of amphora aged Chardonnays and Pet Nats.

Sante Adairius - Santa Cruz Portal

Widely regarded as one of the top breweries in the world, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales maintains a secondary tasting room known as the "Portal" on Water Street.

Rare And Rustic Curations

Bookies Pizza: The Portal is home to some of the city's best Detroit style "inauthentic" deep dish pizza, known for its crispy cheese edges and thick, airy crust.
Mixed Fermentation: The tap list consistently features complex sours and barrel aged curiosities that reflect age old brewing methods with a modern California twist.
Indoor Bike Storage: Reflecting the city's cycling culture, the taproom includes secure indoor racks to accommodate the many residents who arrive via the nearby San Lorenzo River path.

Balefire Brewing Company

Balefire Brewing Company has breathed new life into the East Cliff Drive corridor, occupying a space that has long served as a community watering hole.

Live Oak’s Newest Neighborhood Hub

Moped Red Ale: Named after the brewer's cat, this Irish-style red ale was the first recipe Murphy ever wrote and remains a cornerstone of their introductory menu.
Leeloo IPA: This American IPA offers a classic West Coast profile with a balanced bitterness that appeals to longtime residents and new visitors alike.
Live Oak Location: Situated near the intersection of East Cliff and 17th Avenue, the brewery provides a vital social link for residents of the diverse and active Live Oak district.

FAQs

Which of the best breweries in Santa Cruz are most family friendly?

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and Humble Sea are exceptionally family friendly, offering spacious outdoor beer gardens and food options that cater to all ages.

Do these breweries offer alternatives for those who do not drink beer?

Most of the top tier breweries in Santa Cruz, including Woodhouse and Gilman, feature a curated selection of local wines, ciders, and non-alcoholic options like kombucha or artisanal sodas.

Can I purchase cans or bottles to-go from these local taprooms?

Yes, nearly all the best breweries in Santa Cruz maintain a robust to-go program, offering 4-packs of cans, crowlers, and specialized 750ml bottles for their barrel aged releases.

Contact EF Homes Today

The best breweries in Santa Cruz sit in real, lived in pockets like the Westside near Swift Street, Midtown along Soquel Avenue, and Live Oak by East Cliff, and each area supports a different kind of daily routine.

If you’re planning a move and you want your weekends to feel built in, connect with us today at EF Homes.