Welcome to beautiful San Leandro

The pilgrimage to Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa is the equivalent of Mecca to any Californian beer lover, but if you are tired of the crowds and the cardboardy pizza there, why not pay a visit to Drake’s Brewing Company’s Barrel House in beautiful … San Leandro. Maybe not so picturesque, tucked as it is in a warehouse behind a Walmart. But they’ve got some intriguing beers on tap and a cooler of bottled Drake’s beers that can be elusive in Sac, including the seasonal Aroma Prieta, an IPA made with all the trendy New Zealand hops. The hoppy beers at Drake’s run the international-bittering-unit gamut from the dainty 1500 Pale Ale and the fresh-hopped Batch 4000 (at 48 and 55, respectively), to the palate demolisher that is the Denogginizer (at 90). There is also a full selection of nonhoppy braus, including a Märzen that is a textbook example of that style, a Hefe (for the ladies), and three different blends of porters, stouts and ales aged in bourbon and brandy barrels. Take that, Russian River! 1933 Davis Street, Building 177 in San Leandro; (510) 568-2739; http://barrelhouse.drinkdrakes.com.

Beer: Hoptologist (double IPA, on draft)
Brewer: Knee Deep Brewing Company in Lincoln
Where: Burgers & Brew, 1409 R Street; (916) 442-0900; www.burgersbrew.com

Beer: Rainier
Brewer: Rainier Brewing Company
Where: Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co., 1630 S Street; (916) 442-4885, www.facebook.com/HookandLadderSacramento

Beer: Black IPA
Brewer: Mikkeller
Where: Pangaea Two Brews Cafe, 2743 Franklin Boulevard; (916) 454-4942; www.pangaeatwobrews.com