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We're headed to North Cali in a couple of weeks for our anniversary trip, and working on planning my RRBC day. Is Lagunitas worth checking out as well? I've basically got a whole day (Thursday) that I can dedicate to breweries. Thinking of doing a long lunch at Russian River, then heading over to Lagunitas for the 3PM tasting tour.

We're staying in Windsor, and looks like there's a smaller brewery there (Old Redwood Brewing Company), so we might check that out as well.

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I'd start my day in Petaluma and migrate back toward Windsor. If I started my day at RRBC the rest of my day's plans would fall apart. I'd do the early tour at Lagunitas. You could also head up to Healdsburg around 11, have lunch at Bear Republic, drive down to Petaluma, and then head back up to finish your day at RRBC. If you're flying in to SFO, you could knock out Lagunitas and/or Moylan's on the way up, and give yourself more time for BR and RRBC on Thursday.

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The only reason I picked lunch at RRBC is to avoid any possible afternoon happy hour crowds. Your idea seems way better, though.

We're actually flying into San Jose on Wednesday evening. We're using AA miles, and we got better flight options into SJC than SFO.

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If you're there by 4:30 or so, the crowds aren't bad. Also, I assume you're taking 101 north to Windsor, so the stops in Petaluma and Novato are still on the table.

dp

tp

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If you're there by 4:30 or so, the crowds aren't bad. Also, I assume you're taking 101 north to Windsor, so the stops in Petaluma and Novato are still on the table.

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Cool, we'll shoot for that, then.

We don't land until 7:00pm, so I'll have to see if the wife will be up for a stop by Moylan's on the way to Windsor. We'll probably leave Lagunitas until Thursday either way, though. My wife enjoys the tours, so we want to do that for sure.

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If you're there by 4:30 or so, the crowds aren't bad. Also, I assume you're taking 101 north to Windsor, so the stops in Petaluma and Novato are still on the table.

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Cool, thanks for the info. We don't land until 7:00pm, so we'll have to play it by ear. At least traffic shouldn't be horrible by then, I'd hope.

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It was pretty decent. Decent amount of alcohol heat, taste profile similar to terroir. Is 10 a flip top? I stopped buying paradox for the longest time cause they were either gushers or flat. They've seemed to have improved recently. Looking forward to checking out the new spot in divide.

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Surprisingly, no, 10 is a capped. It's the only capped I've had a carbonation issue with. The last flip top I have is #9, and also kilted lass and the cherished.

I still continue to buy them even after the issues I've had. They are good sour beers, priced well, and easy to find. And I love the one-off business model and mentality. Variety.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out for it.

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It was pretty decent. Decent amount of alcohol heat, taste profile similar to terroir. Is 10 a flip top? I stopped buying paradox for the longest time cause they were either gushers or flat. They've seemed to have improved recently. Looking forward to checking out the new spot in divide.

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Surprisingly, no, 10 is a capped. It's the only capped I've had a carbonation issue with. The last flip top I have is #9, and also kilted lass and the cherished.

I still continue to buy them even after the issues I've had. They are good sour beers, priced well, and easy to find. And I love the one-off business model and mentality. Variety.

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Yea I certainly enjoy the majority of them as well. Definitely my favorite brewery in this area. The folks there are good people as well, run into them quite often over at Brewer's Republic.

So, this is a little off-topic for the beer thread, but since so many people in here seem to be pretty knowledgeable about the Sonoma County area, I figured I'd ask...

What are some good nice, but not over the top expensive, restaurants in the Windsor/Santa Rosa/Healdsburg area for a nice anniversary dinner? Nothing crazy like the French Laundry, but still somewhere my wife and I can have a nice, tasty, dinner.

I really love Healdsburg, so dinner up there is always fun just because of the location. Scopa is good, Bistro Ralph is nice, and Dry Creek Kitchen is above average.

I've always eaten at RRBC when in Santa Rosa, or a drunkened In-n-Out burger so I'm no help there. Except for Rossa pizza, its good but probably not anniversary-ish good. Flying Goat Coffee is perhaps one of my favorite espressos in the US if you need a jolt.

Sonoma has some good restaurants if you want to venture there. And over the mountain in Yountville you will blow your head apart trying to pick just one place to eat.

My wife and I managed to get hammered at happy hour one afternoon at RRBC and stumbled over to Flavor Bistro. It wasn't bad as far as I can remember.

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My wife and I managed to get hammered at happy hour one afternoon at RRBC and stumbled over to Flavor Bistro. It wasn't bad as far as I can remember.

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Nice! I'm pretty sure my wife will be driving by the end of the day on brewery day. She's very picky when it comes to beers that she likes, and RRBC doesn't have much that will fit the bill.

Flavor Bistro is ok. I wouldnt go there for an anniversary, though. It was pretty crowded when I've been in there.

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My wife and I managed to get hammered at happy hour one afternoon at RRBC and stumbled over to Flavor Bistro. It wasn't bad as far as I can remember.

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Nice! I'm pretty sure my wife will be driving by the end of the day on brewery day. She's very picky when it comes to beers that she likes, and RRBC doesn't have much that will fit the bill.

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RRBC has some pretty good "normal" beers in addition to their world class stuff. You might be surprised. My wife happens to love Pliny and Supplication, so we end up going overboard whenever we visit.

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I really love Healdsburg, so dinner up there is always fun just because of the location. Scopa is good, Bistro Ralph is nice, and Dry Creek Kitchen is above average.

I've always eaten at RRBC when in Santa Rosa, or a drunkened In-n-Out burger so I'm no help there. Except for Rossa pizza, its good but probably not anniversary-ish good. Flying Goat Coffee is perhaps one of my favorite espressos in the US if you need a jolt.

Sonoma has some good restaurants if you want to venture there. And over the mountain in Yountville you will blow your head apart trying to pick just one place to eat.

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Great timing on this discussion, because right now I am trying to plan a mid July 2 day trip to RRBC and Napa. It'll be our first trip for my wife and I. I want to do lunch at RRBC, head over to Yountville and maybe stop at 1 winery, then dinner at Ad Hoc. Then the next day just keep it simple and take a wine tour bus all day. BSD, do you know how far in advance they open reservations for Ad Hoc? Recommendations on a cheap place to stay in Yountville? Less Expensive but solid place for dinner the second night? Sorry to bring some wine discussion into the beer thread, but got to keep the wife happy. TIA!

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I really love Healdsburg, so dinner up there is always fun just because of the location. Scopa is good, Bistro Ralph is nice, and Dry Creek Kitchen is above average.

I've always eaten at RRBC when in Santa Rosa, or a drunkened In-n-Out burger so I'm no help there. Except for Rossa pizza, its good but probably not anniversary-ish good. Flying Goat Coffee is perhaps one of my favorite espressos in the US if you need a jolt.

Sonoma has some good restaurants if you want to venture there. And over the mountain in Yountville you will blow your head apart trying to pick just one place to eat.

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Great timing on this discussion, because right now I am trying to plan a mid July 2 day trip to RRBC and Napa. It'll be our first trip for my wife and I. I want to do lunch at RRBC, head over to Yountville and maybe stop at 1 winery, then dinner at Ad Hoc. Then the next day just keep it simple and take a wine tour bus all day. BSD, do you know how far in advance they open reservations for Ad Hoc? Recommendations on a cheap place to stay in Yountville? Less Expensive but solid place for dinner the second night? Sorry to bring some wine discussion into the beer thread, but got to keep the wife happy. TIA!

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If you're eating at two places in Yountville, I'd recommend Bouchon in place of Ad Hoc and Bistro Jeanty as you second meal.

I'm more of a wine guy anyways, so I dont mind!

Stay at Petit Logis in Yountville. It's a big room and you don't pay for amenities like spas and valet and that crap. You get a nice bed right next to Bouchon Bakery, which gets crowded early and stays that way all day long. It's literally 5 seconds outside your door. Get there early to get coffee and snacks for the day. I'd also skip Ad Hoc and eat at Bouchon Bistro for dinner. If you are there Thurs-Sun, you can get Ad Hoc for lunch via the Addendum shack out back...they serve the fried chicken! Bistro Jeanty is a good, lower priced option. Redd is nice but is pricier. Reservations are typically opened 2 months to the day.

RRBC also serves some local wine if the wives would rather drink that. I actually discovered RRBC (and the finer side of craft beer) because I was drinking wine all day and really needed a beer. A winemaker told me about a little brewery downtown and it all went downhill from there...

Oh yeah, on Paradox, one of the dudes was telling me a couple weeks ago that they plan on having regular non BA beers on tap at the new spot as well. They are getting their own brew house so they won't have to contract with pikes peak anymore.

Already got our reservations at Bouchon Bistro based on your rec from a couple months ago.

Dis gon be gud

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Already got our reservations at Bouchon Bistro based on your rec from a couple months ago.

Dis gon be gud

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I'm jealous of this trip!

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Already got our reservations at Bouchon Bistro based on your rec from a couple months ago.

Dis gon be gud

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Thanks for the recs! I'll check out Petit Logis and book dinner at Bouchon. We are going to be there on a Sunday and Monday and aren't planning on being around for lunch, so we'll miss out on Addendum. I'm getting really pumped about this trip.

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I'm more of a wine guy anyways, so I dont mind!

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*COUGH*BULL*****COUGH*

With the **** you have or have had, how can you say you are more of a wine guy?

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I'm more of a wine guy anyways, so I dont mind!

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*COUGH*BULL*****COUGH*

With the **** you have or have had, how can you say you are more of a wine guy?

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You've never ventured into the "What's In Your Wine Cellar?" thread, apparently.

Can't we all just get along?

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I'm more of a wine guy anyways, so I dont mind!

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*COUGH*BULL*****COUGH*

With the **** you have or have had, how can you say you are more of a wine guy?

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A man can have varied interests. If you have the means/interest, you can enjoy baller beer, wine, whiskey, and food, without compromising on any.

This is good.

Nice. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on something from the Bruery.

Sick glass by the way.

Thanks. Check Prairie's website often and you should be able to get the glass. I got lucky and was gifted the beer on another beer forum. Bruery makes some really good beers. This one is awesome. I'm a big fan of beers with cherry. Especially sours with cherry. The Wanderer has cherries and blackberries.

What other beer forums are everyone a part of?

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I'm more of a wine guy anyways, so I dont mind!

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*COUGH*BULL*****COUGH*

With the **** you have or have had, how can you say you are more of a wine guy?

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You've never ventured into the "What's In Your Wine Cellar?" thread, apparently.

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I have not.

A few of us are on talkbeer.com. The only other one that I know of is beer advocate. It sucks. Don't go there.

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I'm more of a wine guy anyways, so I dont mind!

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*COUGH*BULL*****COUGH*

With the **** you have or have had, how can you say you are more of a wine guy?

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A man can have varied interests. If you have the means/interest, you can enjoy baller beer, wine, whiskey, and food, without compromising on any

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I know this...I'm just messing with BSD...hopefully, he knows that.

I am a man with interests in wine as well. I spend money on wine for my wife to drink so that she will ***** less about the amount I spend on beer.