Calicraft’s New Walnut Creek Taproom Shows Off Its California-Focused Beer

Calicraft, the East Bay brewery dedicated to all things California, now has a brand-new taproom in Walnut Creek from which to pour its beers. Since 2012, Calicraft has been making its beers here, but this is the first time the public can now come taste them. With 12 taps (including three brewery-only drafts) in 2,000 square feet of space, founder Blaine Landberg hopes to create a community for beer drinkers (even those with kids, as the taproom is kid-friendly). There’s also an outdoor beer garden, and the brewery grows its own hops on site.

Inside the taproom

Calicraft is known for taking California-grown ingredients, such as starthistle honey, Cluster hops, and anise hyssop, and incorporating them into the beers. The three brewery-exclusive beers to start showcase this, with beers like "Barrel Project Zinfandel Sour," which is a sour sparkling ale with Zinfandel grape skins and made with wine yeast, brettanomyces, and lactobacillus then aged in Zinfandel wine barrels with Zinfandel grape skins from the same winery.

There are also growler fills, and merchandise and bottles for sale. Hours for now are Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., though more should open up in September.