My exploration of the Bay Area’s vibrant brewery scene — which is now up to eight brew-inspired day trips, from Martinez to Livermore and beyond — took me to Sunnyvale recently.
Settled in the mid-19th century, the city didn’t get its first official brewery until 1993, when Bob Stoddard opened Stoddard’s Brewhouse & Eatery on Murphy Street. That taproom closed a decade later, but the brewery vibe continues today, thanks to Off the Rails Brewing, which opened in the old Stoddard’s location three years ago, and other Sunnyvale breweries.
Off the Rails Brewing
You’ll find Off the Rails near the railroad station — hence the name — and it’s an even better spot to hang out now. The road is blocked to allow pedestrian traffic, so you can amble around the area’s many shops and restaurants before or after your brewery stop.
Saurabh Dwivedi, a financial consultant, tech guy and home brewer, took the leap three years ago and opened his own place. His brewmaster now is Saul Ramirez, who was at Hermitage Brewing until they closed last month, and they make a great team. Dwivedi writes the recipes, and Ramirez brews them up and makes them work.
The dozen or beers on tap offer a wide variety of ales and lagers, along with the occasional kettle sour. Their West Coast IPA, Yolo IPA is a stellar example. I’m partial to Hops on Rye, but I’m a sucker for rye beers. Also worthwhile: Baggage Handler, a Baltic porter; American Lite Lager, which was just as advertised; and a Lazy Hazy IPA. And the brewpub food menu ranges from schnitzel, jambalaya and grilled prawn tacos to a BBQ Vegan Meatloaf — plus weekend brunch.
Details: Open from 4 to 10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at 111 S. Murphy Ave. in Sunnyvale; offtherailsbrewing.com.
Faultline Brewing
One of the earliest Sunnyvale microbreweries is Faultline Brewing, which has served great beer and good food since 1994. Part of that consistency comes from brewmaster Peter Catizone, who joined the team in 2003. He may not be flashy, but he’s an O.G. brewer doing amazing things in this quiet corner of the city.
New owners took over the brewpub two years ago, just before — you remember. They closed for two months, then opened for to-go orders — with signature brews available in 32-ounce plastic growlers for delivery and pickup — and joined forces with Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen to provide meals to people in need.
With 10 beers on tap, including a cask-conditioned beer, the Lakeside Kölsch is their best seller, and it’s easy to see why. Originally from Cologne, Germany, Kölsch is a very delicate, light beer. Many American brewers lose that delicacy, but Faultline’s version will make you think you’re sipping it along the Rhine River. Although Faultline makes one juicy (not hazy, but with a similar taste profile) called Hazed & Confused, most of the beers skew traditional, from F.S.B. (their version of a British E.S.B.) to London Calling, a chocolatey porter, and Lakeview Pils, a very refreshing lager.
Pair those pints with salads, burgers, grilled swordfish, a high-end mac and cheese or a flat iron steak. They also offer Sammy G’s pizza, breakfast pizzas, which are served all day, and weekend brunch.
Details: Faultline is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (weekend brunch starts at 10 a.m.) at 1235 Oakmead Parkway in Sunnyvale; http://faultlinebrewing.com.
Shaka Brewing
Sunnyvale’s newest brewery is Shaka Brewing, which two longtime, home-brewing friends, Shawn Ellis and Karl Townsend, opened in late 2020. The brewery name is a portmanteau of their first names.
They’re a small operation — “small on purpose,” as they put it — with a strong, stay-local philosophy and five inventive, easy-drinking beers available in 16-ounce cans. You can find that beer at 15 Sunnyvale locations, as well as online and at the nano brewery, which is open for 2½ hours a week in an industrial park. (Like I said, they’re small.)
My favorite Shaka brew was the Sunnyvale Pale Lager, a refreshing light lager inspired by German Helles. I also enjoyed the Yardbird Golden Ale, which is brewed with juniper and purple sage, and the Alani, a juicy IPA brewed with mosaic hops and honey malt. A Riley Red, an American red ale, and Dark Matter stout rounds out the lineup.
Shaka wrote the recipe for SF Beer Week’s Silicon Valley collaboration beer — a cold IPA, Pure Harmony, made with local honey — with input from Brewing with Brothas, a not-yet-open brewery. They brewed it at Devil’s Canyon for the beer festival’s Friday kick-off at Off the Rails.
Details: Shaka Brewing is open from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays with food trucks at 175 San Lazaro Ave. #140 in Sunnyvale; shakabrewing.com.
Have a favorite, local brewery that’s knocking it out of the park? Drop me a line at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com and tell me why you love them.
Source: www.mercurynews.com