Alvarado Street Brewery: Production Tasting Room

There isn’t any food available (although I’ve heard there are food trucks on occasion) and no entertainment provided, but the beer is excellent, and it’s a great spot to relax. If you’ve visited their other locations and love their high-quality beer, this place will give you a fresh taste of their latest creations.

I recently took a road trip up the coast and had the chance to stop at this restaurant after enjoying some of their beers at home. It did not disappoint! The food was delicious, the service in the beer garden was excellent, and, as always, the beer was spot on. I tried the Paloma Pizzazz, which was delightful if you're a grapefruit fan, and the guest beer, Muddlin Forte, was absolutely fantastic. The only downside was that they were out of all their large t-shirts, so I guess I'll have to shop online instead. I hope to be back in the area soon to try more of their offerings!

At this facility, you can observe the entire brewing process (excluding canning). I had the opportunity to watch a whole box of Yakima Chief hops being added, filling the air with a delightful aroma. This brewhouse produces most of the beer for their retail locations and other taprooms, making it a multi-barrel operation situated in an industrial area. Here, you can engage in deeper conversations about their beers; they also offer takeout options, merchandise, and food. Although I didn't have any food here, I know it's excellent at their other locations. The focus at this spot is more on the beer than the food. The atmosphere is lively, with plenty of local patrons and brewing enthusiasts, giving it a fun vibe. You'll turn left into an industrial area with warehouses, where the focus is on brewing enough beer to meet constant demand rather than aesthetics. A unique feature in the bathrooms is the levers at the bottom of the doors for opening them, which is a nice detail. It's great that this facility is open to the public, as many production facilities don’t offer such access. You’re right in the heart of the brewing operation, which adds to the experience. While I enjoyed the different vibe here, it's not the ideal spot for a date or a power lunch. They have a beer garden at the local MLS stadium in Monterey, and during games, you can get their Land Sea IPA for only $5. They also have two televisions on the wall for added entertainment. Note that they're closed on Mondays and open at 2 PM on the other days. It's a unique opportunity to see what it would be like to work in a brewing environment while sampling from their extensive range of ales. Few production facilities offer this experience, making it special in its own way.

Tired of the downtown restaurant scene? Enjoy being surrounded by tank after tank after tank of fermenting beer? Want to enjoy the quiet serenity of the outskirts of town, knew deep in packing companies and away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets and fast food ‘diarrhetics?’ Make the drive to the boondocks of Salinas and enjoy a friendly experience with similar minded locals. Keep in mind, this brewery may as well be a speakeasy since it’s hidden so well. Listen to your GPS and look for the sign.If you’ve ever had Alvarado beer, then there’s nothing else I can say to impress upon you to have another. It’s that damn good. From hoppy drenched IPA’s to beer smoothies/pastry sours to incredible stouts and everything in between. Their restrooms feature the best beer feng shui decorating, featuring the same design as their much beloved Mai Tai PA. The beertenders are always cool AF and friendly. And while the brewery keeps growing, there’s still quite a bit of space for good occupancy. For those curious, there’s a good amount of swag to choose from should you want to take home some merchandise, as well as to go beer. Food trucks are available most evenings around dinner time.

Peter is amazing! He was an extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and kind representation of Alvarado Street Brewery. I already adored the product, but Peter made the experience 100x better! Open atmosphere, down to earth energy, and amazing selection of draft beers and to-go cans.