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. A large selection of their packaged beer can also be purchased to go. Snacks are also available, but a food truck is usually on-site 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 1960s and ’70s, it has experienced a period of significant growth over 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.”

After being awarded Brewery of the Year in 2024, by the Brewers Cup of California, the team at Berryessa Brewing Co. is excited to see if they can hold the title for yet another year as the competition is set to announce this year’s award winners during a ceremony at Sacramento’s Crest Theater on Friday, April 25.

“I’m excited, and it’s such a great experience,” Lori said. “The award ceremony being so close to home allows our brew team to be there, and it’s really great to see them reap the rewards of their hard work and talent.”

Along with Brewery of the Year, Berryessay Brewing Co. took home six other medals during the 2024 competition.

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.

The competition had a total of 1,300 entries from nearly 200 independent craft breweries.

Miller mentions that, along with all the support they receive from the community, they like to give back and support the local live music scene that they have carefully curated at their location for the past 14 years. To date, Miller shares that they have contributed over $500,000 to local musicians since opening their doors.

“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. 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.