Monterey's Best Store-Bought Beers: A Local's Guide

Monterey County is a great place for beer lovers, with several local craft breweries and beer houses. The craft beer scene in Monterey is fairly recent but has a lot to offer, from prominent and established breweries to simple beer-only joints. One of the most popular breweries in Monterey is the Alvarado Street Brewery, which has been serving locals and visitors with refreshing beers since 2014. Other notable breweries include Peter B's Brewpub, Other Brother Beer, English Ales Brewery, and Fieldwork Brewing Company. If you're looking for a convenient store to buy beer, Daney's Mini Mart offers a large selection of seasonal craft beers, boutique wines, and spirits.

Monterey Beer Festival

About the Festival

Craft Beer in Monterey

Monterey has become a prominent destination for beer enthusiasts, with a thriving craft brewing scene. While the craft beer movement is a fairly recent development in the region, several local breweries are now catering to various preferences. These breweries offer diverse selections of craft beers, from traditional styles to experimental blends, ensuring that there is something for every type of craft beer drinker.

Featured Breweries

• Alvarado Street Brewery: A popular craft brewery with locations in Monterey and Salinas. It offers a range of beers, including staples like the Mai Tai IPA and Peninsula Pilsner, as well as a variety of sours.
• Peter B's Brew Pub: Located in the Portola Hotel, Peter B's is known as Monterey's first microbrewery. They offer award-winning, locally brewed beers and a seasonal, locally sourced food menu.
• Other Brother Beer: A laid-back spot known for their excellent hoppy beers and experimental styles. They also have a bakery, Ad Astra Bread Co., that bakes bread to pair with their beers.
• English Ales Brewery: A family-run brewery specializing in traditional English-style ales, with ingredients sourced from Europe. They have extended their menu to include hoppier flavors and offer a pub-style atmosphere with games.
• Fieldwork Brewing Company: A craft brewery based in Berkeley with a tasting room in Monterey. They are known for their amazing beer selection and a laid-back beer garden.

Where to Buy Beer in Monterey

If you're looking to purchase beer to enjoy during your stay in Monterey, here are some options:

• Daney's Mini Mart: A local convenience store specializing in seasonal craft beers, boutique wines, and spirits. They offer a wide variety of products, including local and hard-to-find options.
• Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms: In addition to wine, these tasting rooms often feature craft beers from the region. You can sample and purchase beers to enjoy at home.

Alvarado Street Brewery

The original location in Downtown Monterey, also known as "the pub", has been open since 2014 and is steeped in local history. The brewery has a cosy beer garden and a patio overlooking Alvarado Street. What started as a father-and-son neighbourhood brewery has now evolved into a creative establishment dedicated to serving good food and unique drinks.

Alvarado on Main, their newest restaurant in the heart of Oldtown Salinas, features revitalized 1930s art-deco styling. The menu includes full dinners, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches, with gluten-free and non-alcoholic options available. The brewery is also family-friendly.

Peter B's Brewpub

The pub has both indoor and outdoor seating, with a pet-friendly patio where you can relax by the fire pit. It also has high-definition TVs for watching sports games.

Beer-themed short film festival

Monterey County is a great place for beer lovers, with several local craft breweries and an annual beer festival. The Monterey Beer Festival, held every summer, offers a variety of beers for tasting and even features the world's first beer-themed short film festival. Here are some ideas for a beer-themed short film festival in Monterey:

Film Festival Ideas:

• Beer and Food Pairing: Films can showcase the art of pairing different beers with complementary dishes or snacks, enhancing their flavour profiles. This could include culinary adventures, food science, or even a romantic dinner with the perfect beer pairing.
• Beer Tastings: Films could explore the different styles and flavours of beer through tastings, allowing viewers to compare and contrast aromas and flavours. This could be a fun and educational way to learn about beer varieties.
• Brewery Tours: Give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process by taking them on a journey from the ingredients to the final product. This could include interviews with brewers, showcasing their passion and expertise.
• Meet the Brewer: A film series or documentary focusing on interviews with head brewers could be a great way to personalise the brewing process and highlight the people behind the beers. These could be in a Q&A format, with brewers sharing their processes, ingredients, and even food-pairing recommendations.
• Homebrewing: Teach viewers how to make their own beer at home with a series of how-to films. This could cover the basics of homebrewing and feature different brewers sharing their tips and tricks.
• Socialising and Beer: Films could explore the social aspect of beer, showcasing trivia nights, game nights, or live music events at breweries. This would highlight the community-building aspect of breweries and how they bring people together.
• Fitness and Beer: Feature yoga classes, running clubs, or cycling groups that combine exercise with a post-workout beer. These films could showcase the health-conscious side of brewery events and how they attract customers who value fitness and mindfulness.
• Seasonal Beer Festivals: Highlight seasonal beer festivals, such as a Pumpkin Festival with pumpkin-carving contests, or a Winter Wonderland Beer Festival with cosy attire and bonfires. Films could showcase the unique beers and activities of these seasonal events.

Film Festival Structure:

The film festival could be structured with different categories or themes, such as:

• Beer Styles: Films could be categorised by beer styles, such as IPAs, pilsners, stouts, or sours. This would allow filmmakers to focus on the unique characteristics and appeal of each beer style.
• Brewery Profiles: Films could showcase specific breweries in Monterey, highlighting their history, brewing process, and signature beers. This would give viewers an insider's look at the local craft beer scene.
• Beer and Food: This category could feature films that explore the relationship between beer and food, including cooking with beer, beer pairings, or even the science of flavour combinations.
• People of Beer: A category focused on the people behind the beers, from brewers to bartenders to beer enthusiasts. This could include documentary-style films that tell the stories of these individuals and their connection to beer.
• Beer Adventures: Films could take viewers on beer-themed adventures, such as a road trip to different breweries, a beer scavenger hunt, or even a historical journey through the evolution of beer.

So, grab a cold one and start planning your film festival! With these ideas and Monterey's vibrant craft beer scene, you're sure to have a successful and entertaining event.

Fieldwork Brewing Company

Well-behaved adults, children, and dogs are all welcome at the Fieldwork Brewing Company's beer garden. Visitors can expect a frequently updated tap list of fresh releases, which can be enjoyed by sampler flight or glass. The brewery also offers fresh beer "to go" in 16 oz cans, growlers, and 32 oz Crowlers.

The Monterey location is open daily for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as pickup. Their hours are 12 pm to 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday and 12 pm to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Frequently asked questions