The Best of the Brews from Humboldt County

Four Local Award-Winning Breweries on the North Coast Worth Trying

Feb 11, 2009 Betsy Husband

Northern California is known as a wine and food destination, but Humboldt County, on the far North Coast, is a culinary capital with wine, local food, and great beer.

Humboldt County’s culinary scene is on par with some of the best of California. There are over 30 local wineries, many of them out-classing well-known vintners both in California and abroad. The luscious and local Humboldt Fog Chevre can be found throughout the United States and even in Europe.

And four local breweries have made a big splash on the beer scene.

A California “Pub Crawl” should start in Humboldt County and work its way down the state. The most northerly brewery is in McKinleyville—where, as the sign coming into town declares, “the horses have the right-of-way.”

Six Rivers Brewery

Six Rivers is known as “the brew with a view.” Sitting on a hill overlooking the Arcata Bottoms, the Mad River, and Humboldt Bay, Six Rivers Brewery consistently has 10 microbrews on tap. The beer variety changes with the season, and unless they’re already sold out, the Chile Pepper Ale is a definite must for those who want hair on their chest.

This is a popular Humboldt County music venue, showcasing both local and traveling musicians. But it’s also a favorite local family restaurant where the friendly atmosphere, diverse menu, and full bar keep bringing patrons back time and again.

Mad River Brewing Company

Brewmaster Bob Smith has been a key player at Mad River since 1989. The Mad River Brewing Company is located in Blue Lake, a tiny town of 2,800 people just nine miles east of McKinleyville, off Highway 299. Their ultra-popular Steelhead Pale Ale is the flagship beer but the Porter, Stout and new IPA are in a league of their own too.

This is a favorite local beer that is sold from Alaska to Florida. In a nod to the Reggae aficionados, they sell a Jamaica Brand Red Ale and Sunset IPA. Tours are offered on a drop-in basis, but they don’t have a pub where they sell beer and food.

Lost Coast Brewery

Lost Coast Brewery is in Eureka, the county seat. Their beers are easily recognized by their distinctive labels created by local artist, Duane Flatmo. The cool graphics are so popular that the labels have become collector’s items along with coasters and bottle caps. The T-shirts, tanks, and sweatshirts are all worthy gifts, and their online store makes them easily accessible.

This is a popular brewery for two reasons: the beer is extraordinarily good, and the food is too. They open every day at 11:00 a.m. and offer free Wifi, bringing in the “techies” who need a place to get on-line. Their Great White is one of those beers that everyone seems to enjoy, and the Downtown Brown has a nutty flavor that’s almost chewy. Lost Coast beers are distributed in 19 states.

Eel River Brewing Company

This place is full of personality. Its motto is: Be natural; drink naked. And for a long time its ad campaign centered on their Climax beer with the question, “Have you had your Climax today?” While they still sell Climax at the brewery, they don’t bottle it. How could they possibly bottle a Climax?

Eel River Brewing Co. along the Redwood Highway in Fortuna, was the first fully certified organic beer in the United States. This is one of Humboldt County’s top dining destinations, serving locally grown grass-fed beef and other local Humboldt County food.

Start your California Pub Crawl by trying the best of the brews in Humboldt County.

The copyright of the article The Best of the Brews from Humboldt County in Beer, Cocktails & Beverages is owned by Betsy Husband. Permission to republish The Best of the Brews from Humboldt County in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Lost Coast Brewery