“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom and in water there is bacteria” – Benjamin Franklin
Explore Calaveras craft beer taps, beer houses, and historic saloons below with our guide to some great places to grab a cold one in Calaveras County.
Featured image (above) courtesy of Murphys Pourhouse in Murphys, CA.
1. Calaveras Beer Lover’s Guide to Angels Camp
Where to enjoy beer on tap in Angels Camp, CA
Angels Theatre I Cascabel Mexican Restaurant I Camps Restaurant I My Bar Saloon I Mike’s Pizza I Miner’s Lounge
Throw back a cold one in charming historic downtown Angels Camp, home to one of the most picturesque historic downtowns in California’s Gold Country. Featuring a historic walking tour, up and coming restaurants, locally owned boutique shops, art galleries, a wonderful three acre museum and carriage house, and New Melones Lake (one of the largest reservoirs in California) as well as it’s very own championship golf course, Greenhorn Creek, – there is a lot to do in Angels Camp year round.
Best known for it’s small town charm and huge annual events, Angels Camp, CA is also well known as the setting of the short story that launched Mark Twain’s career (at home and abroad), The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Now that’s something to celebrate!
Special Events in Angels Camp l Calendar of Events l Things to Do in Angels Camp
2. Calaveras Beer Lovers Guide to the Arnold/Upper Hwy. 4/Bear Valley Area
Where to enjoy beer on tap in the Arnold area
Howard’s Mystic Saloon I Bistro Expresso I The Lube Room I Dogwood I Camp Connell General Store I Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen I Snowshoe Brewery
Known as Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway, discover firsthand the reason the Upper Highway 4 corridor received national recognition as one of the few National Scenic Byways in the country. In the Ebbetts Pass region, craft beer drinking destinations are an experience in and of themselves. Home to Calaveras’ only brewery, Snowshoe Brewery, Arnold is a picturesque mountain town located at 4,000 feet in elevation and offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including hiking, bicycling, off-road adventures, golf, lake and river fishing, and first-rate winter recreation. Home to great restaurants, shops, historic buildings, and lively annual events, the mountain is a great place to beat the heat in the summertime, enjoy a snowy getaway in the winter time, and relax in year round. A little further up Highway 4 in Dorrington and Camp Connell, you can kick back and enjoy a cold one in historic buildings, such as at the Lube Room Saloon and the Camp Connell General Store’s Beer Barden – both of which are kid- and dog-friendly!
Special Events in the Arnold Area l Calendar of Events l Things to Do in the Arnold Area
3. Calaveras Beer Lovers Guide to Copperopolis
Where to enjoy beer on tap in Copperopolis, CA
Verona 18 at The Golf Club @ Copper Valley I Drifters Marina & Grill I Gold Dust Pizza I Griff’s BBQ and Grill I
Situated in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Copperopolis features world-class golfing at The Golf Club at Copper Valley Golf Resort and water sports at idyllic Lake Tulloch. Swing by the beautiful Copperopolis Town Square, featuring turn of the 20th century architecture and locally-owned pedestrian friendly shopping, restaurants, wine and Calaveras Olive Oil tasting, festivals, and a fabulous art studio and gallery. With plenty of fun options for craft beer lovers to choose from, you won’t want to miss the chance to enjoy one of those cold ones lakeside at Drifters Marina & Grill (pictured above).
Special Events in Copperopolis l Calendar of Events l Things to Do in Copperopolis
4. Calaveras Beer Lovers Guide to Mokelumne Hill
Where to enjoy beer on tap in Mokelumne Hill, CA
Historic Hotel Leger Saloon I Renegade Winery I Posterity Ciderworks
Mokelumne Hill boasts a charming, historic Main Street which is accessed by turning East onto Main Street from Highway 49. Most lively on the weekend, Mokelumne Hill’s undulating streets feature charming period architecture, a historic haunted hotel and beautiful views that lend old-time appeal to a stroll around town. Though Mokelumne Hill (or Moke Hill, as the locals call it) may be small, it’s charms are plenty, and Mokelumne Hill packs a lot of action into a tiny package. Featuring a historic hotel with attached restaurant and saloon, a new, family-owned and operated cidery, art galleries, antique and gift shops, a local winery offering lunch and dinner as well as well-sourced craft beer on tap, a charming park with a tree trunk slide, a historical society, quaint library and festive annual events, you’ll have plenty to do in Mokelumne Hill before and after grabbing a pint.
Special Events in Mokelumne Hill l Calendar of Events l Things to Do in Mokelumne Hill
5. Calaveras Beer Lovers Guide to Murphys
Where to enjoy beer on tap in Murphys, CA
Alchemy I Firewood Restaurant I Murphys Historic Hotel Saloon I Murphys Irish Pub I Murphys Pizza Co I Murphys Pourhouse I V Bistro and Bar I Watering Hole
Discover firsthand why Murphys, California was voted one of the top ten coolest small towns in America by Budget Travel Magazine. Epic 7 Travel calls Murphys the perfect retreat for an indulgent getaway. Best known for its national award winning wineries, charming historic downtown, and award winning restaurants, Murphys keeps the craft beer lovers in mind. With its nearly two-dozen wine tasting rooms all within strolling distance along charming 1/2 mile long Main Street, its multiple restaurants featuring delicious, high-quality cuisine, boutique shopping and historic architecture all located in the Sierra Foothills, you can break up the action by grabbing a pint at one of Murphys many craft beer lovers options below. Conveniently located within a short drive of Calaveras’ numerous lakes, caves, hiking trails, and winter sports, this historic small town offers good-tasting adventure with a smile.
Special Events in Murphys l Calendar of Events l Things to Do in Murphys
6. Calaveras Beer Lovers Guide to San Andreas
Where to enjoy beer on tap in San Andreas, CA
Gooney’s Bar and Grill Enjoy craft beer in historic San Andreas, the county seat of Calaveras. From the restoration of the historic Gooney’s Bar and Grill to the super cool Calaveras County Historic Museum complex, San Andreas is a tucked away, interesting piece of history that includes the original courthouse and jail where the Gentleman Bandit, Black Bart, was tried and imprisoned. Enjoy browsing some of the best antique stores in Calaveras County, visit and support the animal sanctuary PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society), relish local artistry at the Calaveras Arts Council Gallery, and nearby in Mountain Ranch, explore the state’s first show cave, California Cavern State Historic Landmark.
Special Events in San Andreas l Calendar of Events l Things to Do in the San Andreas Area
7. Calaveras Beer Lovers Guide to Valley Springs
Where to enjoy beer on tap in Valley Springs, CA
La Contenta Golf Course I Brew’Gers I Hawg Dawg l The Parlour Pub
Surrounded by three beautiful lakes, Valley Springs offers abundant outdoor recreation from championship golf course La Contenta to water sports, fishing, swimming and boating to hiking and biking, Enjoy spectacular trails in spring, bursting with wildflowers, summer camping, and serene waterfront sunsets in fall. Valley Springs’ beautiful reservoirs are all within half an hour of each other. Each offers different recreational opportunities, and a variety of topography, geographical features, wildlife and bird watching. After a long day of playing outdoors, you’ll be glad to enjoy one of Valley Springs great places to grab a nice cold craft beer.
Calendar of Events l Things to Do in Valley Springs
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