About a mile outside the hustle and bustle of charming downtown Winters sits Berryessa Brewing Co., a 20-barrel craft brewery founded in 2011 that serves as the city’s first and only production brewery.
The family—and dog-friendly outdoor taproom, co-founded by Chris and Lori Miller, along with partners and local Winters farmers Dan Martinez and Santiago Moreno, is located at 27260 Hwy. 128. Since the taproom portion of the business opened in July 2012, it has been serving a heavy slate of craft brews to the Winters and Yolo County communities.
“We have had so much support from our local community,” Lori said. “When we first started, there weren’t that many breweries around. Now, there are so many so I feel so grateful we have so many dedicated patrons.”
Walking up to the taproom and production brewery, one will notice a fantastic outdoor patio. Beers can be purchased as 16-ounce pints or 10-ounce half pints. If you can’t pick just one, you can ask for a taste or the sample tray of six of their crafted beers. Snacks are also on the menu, but a food truck is usually onsite to offer a full meal to those interested.
On a weekend afternoon, lively music comes from the stage.
“We try to keep the bar high here and bring in great acts,” Lori said. “We really put as much into the quality of the experience as the quality of the beer. We want everyone to enjoy really good beer but to also have a good time and come back.”
While the craft brewing movement began in the 60s and 70s, it has seen a bit of a boom period during the past 15-20 years. Lori feels it has been very beneficial to everyone in the business.
“I think craft beer has just become more and more popular, which is a wonderful thing,” she said. “It became a thing that people got really interested in doing, and there were more educational opportunities to learn how to do so locally, with one way being the UC Davis Masters Brewers Program.”
While there may be other taprooms in Winters, Berryessa Brewing Co. is the only production brewery in the city. According to Miller, that’s not the only thing that sets them apart from others.
“First and foremost, there is the passion in what we are doing,” Miller explained. “When you walk into any business, that (passion) is apparent, and you see it right away. Additionally, we are fortunate to be in such an awesome location. It could have been hit or miss. We are sort of out of the way, but it’s so beautiful here, and there is so much space; the view is incredible, it’s outside, and all ages are welcome. People come to us for a place to relax, so there isn’t just one thing that sets us apart. In addition, the quality of the beer is top-notch. It has been since day one.”
If you are looking for variety, then you’re in luck. A fun feature of Berryessa Brewing Co. is the number of different beers on hand. Core beers include imperial or double Indian pale ales, regular IPAs, two different lagers and a pilsner.
A seasonal rotation expands the menu and introduces an imperial stout and a sparkling fermented botanical beverage.
“Brewing a selection and eclectic variety of beers is really important to us, so while we do pay attention to current trends, we definitely try to brew all across the board and give everyone something they might want when they come by or buy our beer from the grocery store,” Lori explained. “When people think of craft breweries, they might think of super hoppy IPAs a lot of the time, so if you can give them something that is very palatable, light and refreshing, and just tastes clean, they will be pleasantly surprised.”
Recently, Berryessa Brewing Co. was awarded Brewery of the Year, raking in six medals during the 2024 Brewers Cup of California, which was held at the Crest Theater in Sacramento this past March.
The competition, organized by the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild with support from the Central Coast, Central Valley, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego brewers guilds, recognizes the best craft beers in California.
“I think it’s always a huge honor to win any award,” Miller said. “There are so many breweries out there. I think it’s always really nice to be recognized for what you are really passionate about and your hard work. A lot of times, people don’t even know or understand some of the value competitions have. It really builds morale on the brew team. Brewing is an art, skill and craft like being a chef or artist, so I think anytime you are recognized for putting yourself out there, it’s a big deal.”
The competition had a total of 1,300 entries from nearly 200 independent craft breweries. Berryessa Brewing was recognized with gold medals for its Separation Anxiety IPA in the American-Style Strong Pale Ale category, La Fuerza Aztec Lager in the Field/Historic Beers category, Powder Pillows Pilsner in the Collaboration Beer category, which was a collaboration with Moonlight Brewing co, Buddhas Hand IPA in the Experimental Pale Ales/IPA category, a silver medal for Trendy Triple IPA in the Other Strong Ale category and a bronze medal for the Whippersnapper English Mild Brown in the Milds category.
The wins for the brewery added up to gain them the prestigious award for Brewery of the Year 2024, an award given to one brewery each year encompassing the state of California.
“The community’s support means so much,” Miller said. “It means we are in business. We really appreciate it all. We have recognized and known all the people who have come in from day one, and it’s always really special to see them again and again. We try to give back to the community as much as they give to us. All the businesses in Winters are fantastic and have kept the bar high. No matter where you go, you will have a great experience.”
To learn more about Berryessa Brewing Co., please visit the website at berryessabrewingco.com.
