Experience the Top Breweries in and around Stockton, California
Find the best craft beer at breweries throughout San Joaquin County. If you love an IPA, Sour, Blonde, Stout, or Pilsner, this list will surely lead you to the best flavors around.
Craft beer culture has blossomed over the last decade and Visit Stockton has helped shine a light on delicious California brews each year during Stockton Brew Fest. Below we highlight the homegrown breweries we are happy to have in San Joaquin County. Each of them have fantastic flavors and origin stories which the owners and brewers are more than happy to talk about when you stop by. Cheers!
Valley Brewing Co.
Nestled along the Miracle Mile, Valley Brewing Co is a great restaurant that brews some fantastic beers. Valley Brew is a local favorite, featuring tall ceilings and exposed brick in their indoor dining space. Seating is plentiful, with large televisions always playing the best professional games. An extensive patio allows for outdoor dining most months of the year. Also home to the Take 5 Jazz Club.
Valley Brew beer dates back to the 1950’s and has been available off and on through the decades. It most recently became available again in 2015 and the flavors were worth the wait. Current favorites include the Valley Brew Apricot (4.2% ABV), Luna Blanca (5.4% ABV), the Indian Red (5.3% ABV) and the IIPA Uberhoppy (9.6% ABV). House-made root beer and vanilla cream sodas are also available for the first time ever!
Valley Brew beer is sold exclusively on-site at the restaurant.
157 W. Adams Street, Stockton. Check them out on social: @valleybrew
Morgan Territory Brewing
If you haven’t heard about this award-winning brewery you are in for a treat. You’ll find Morgan Territory Brewing just off Interstate 205 in Tracy. This local favorite took home Brewery of the Year at the 2019 California Commercial Craft Beer Competition.
They also won first place ribbons for four of their brews including the Midnight Sea (7.0% ABV) and Dark Reckoning (8.0% ABV). The tap room has a cool rustic barnwood feel thanks to the reclaimed wood planks inside. A large outdoor space allows for games and live music. You can often find a food truck parked outside to satisfy your cravings while sipping new flavors. Fan favorites include the Hoptomic Double IPA (8.5% ABV) and the Zwickle Pig Hazy Double IPA (8.0% ABV). Also, be sure to catch their Oktoberfest 5.8% (ABV) coming out mid-September.
Distribution is heavy throughout the Central Valley at Raley’s, restaurants, and bars.
1885 N MacArthur Dr, Tracy. Check them out on social: @morganterritorybrewing
Dancing Fox
The Dancing Fox is a Winery/Bakery/Brewery/Restaurant on School Street in the cute downtown section of Lodi. This quaint spot has great outdoor dining and a beautiful mural painted on the exterior of the building. Not a lot of people are aware of the beer they make here so count yourself lucky if you get a taste.
Beers at Dancing Fox are made in small batches so the selection changes often. The most popular brews, if you can get them, include a Crushed Pilsner (5% ABV) and the Down the Rabbit Hole IPA (6.5% ABV). To take advantage of all their specialties you can call ahead and order some of their legendary homemade bread to bring home. Another thing that makes this place so cool – they are beginning to distill their own spirits!
Dancing Fox beer is sold exclusively on-site at the restaurant.
203 S School St, Lodi. Check them out on social: @dancingfoxwinery
Five Window Beer Co.
You’ll find this family-owned brewery in Downtown Lodi. Established by local cousins, Joe Ehlers and Charlie Lippert, Five Window has grown to be a regional favorite since their opening in 2017. The taproom is large, with plenty of seating inside, out front, and in the back. Games include a shuffleboard table, connect-four, corn hole, and more. Great local musicians provide tunes for patrons who are enjoying delicious beer and fresh wood-fired pizza.
Favorite brews include the Double Hazy Juicy IPA (8.0% ABV), Watermelon Blonde Ale (6.9% ABV), and the Cup-O-Joe Coffee Stout (5.0% ABV). Up to 15 brews are on tap at one time and large cans are available from the fridge. Customize your own six-pack so you can try a variety of flavors. Five Window also brews their own Root Beer and sells wine slushies featuring wine from the Lodi Appellation.
Stockton and Lodi restaurants/bars are being updated - see website.
9 W. Locust Street, Lodi. Check them out on social: @fivewindowbeerco
Highwater Brewing
Lodi’s newest tap room, opened in 2019, features a beer brand that was born in Stockton. Highwater Brewing is the brainchild of brewer Steve Altimari. Together with his wife, Barri, they provide delicious flavors to beer lovers throughout the Central Valley. The new taproom has an industrial feel and features great food along with entertainment. Their patio has plenty of room for enjoying live music, fun, and some creative beer cocktail creations.
If you love Highwater’s Campfire Stout (6.5% ABV) - smores in a can – you should be on the lookout for their Imperial Campfire Stout (11% ABV) due out in mid-October. At the same time, they should be dropping their Maple Pecan Pie (9.8% ABV) which will be available for the first time in 16oz cans! If you can’t wait that long for something new, mid-September will see the release of the Obscurus 2.0 (6.5% ABV).
Highwater Brewing has updated distribution maps coming online soon!
927 Industrial Way, Lodi. Check them out on social: @highwaterbrewing
IDOL Beer Works
Housed in an old tire shop, with enormous and beautiful roll-up window doors, IDOL Beer Works has atmosphere. A variety of table seating inside and out front allow plenty of space for drinking, and the outdoor courtyard screams personality with a funky mural and fun shade structures. Did you know that LODI spelled backwards is IDOL (how is that for being proud to rep your city).
Gaining experience across the globe, owner and head brewer Grant Hamilton brings something special to everything he creates. Some fun beers on tap you should try include the Idolicious #1 (7.0% ABV), the Dr. Fritz Von Funguzzler (6.2% ABV), and the Ballistic Leprechaun (12.3% ABV). Be sure to look out for that last one, it’s a doozy.
IDOL beer is also available at locations in Valley Springs and Plymouth.
100 S Sacramento St, Lodi. Check them out on social: @idolbeerworks
Lodi Beer Company
Just up the street from Dancing Fox, you'll find Lodi Beer Company. This classic, tall-ceiling, exposed-brick venue is not just a brewery, but a very popular restaurant. Here you'll find some of the best brew food along with delicious dishes the entire family is sure to love. Locals enjoy coming by to see what's new on tap after they are done strolling through the many great shops in downtown.
Bill Wood, an award-winning brewer, has been at the helm at Lodi Beer since 2015 and his flavor combinations never disappoint. Right now their team recommends the Gold Coast IPA (7.0% ABV), Oktoberfest (5.8% ABV), Orange Blossom Wheat (5.6% ABV), and the Umna Hefeweizen (5.3% ABV).
Lodi Beer is sold exclusively on-site at the restaurant.
105 S School St, Lodi. Check them out on social: @lodibeerco
Coming Soon
Brethren Brewing Company is a new brewery in Manteca. Their team is working hard so they can open to the public in 2021. Keep your eyes on this brand so you can be one of the first to enjoy what they create!
Check them out on social: @brethrenbrewingcompany
Home Brewing
Have you ever been interested in brewing your own beer? The Stockton Brew Angels Home Brew Club is a great group to help you on your journey. They have monthly meetings for members and love to share tips and ideas with each other. They enter contests and even poured at Stockton Brew Fest in 2019!
Check them out on social: @stocktonbrewangels
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