The Inland Empire is home to dozens of craft breweries, some of which have made a name across the state and country with the quality and creativity of their beers. Its proximity to Los Angeles makes it a great day trip destination for a beer crawl, whether you’re into sour beers, stouts or Belgian ales. Inland Empire is a large geographic area that spans two counties with too many breweries to cover in one guide, and so this guide attempts to cover the San Bernardino portion of the IE.
Hangar 24
Hangar 24 is a well known name in the brewing world now with three locations and a 15,000 barrel production, but this craft brewery started in Redlands right across the street from the municipal airport. Located near the orange groves, they use local fruits to make a very popular Orange Wheat beer but there are plenty more on the rotating taps from light lager to IPAs.
1710 Sessums Dr
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 242-8111
Ritual Brewing
This large brewery and taproom in Redlands has a diverse lineup of beers with 24 taps, many of which are award-winning. On top of IPAs and a blonde brewed with local honey, they also make less popular styles of beers including a barrel aged barleywine and plenty of Belgian-style ales.
1315 Research Dr
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 478-7800
Ritualbrewing.com
Kings Brewing
Kings Brewing is known for their so-called “fros’e” which is not really a frose, but a sour ale base with tons of fruits added, making for a sweet and fruity beverage. Solid IPAs and stouts round out their tap for those who are looking for something less sweet, and they also frequently collaborate with breweries around the country, so there’s always something new and fun on tap. Originally opened in Rancho Cucamonga, Kings Brewing has relocated to Upland.
296 N 2nd Ave
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 931-6071
Escape Craft Brewery
Escape Craft Brewery has grown quite a bit since opening, winning multiple awards and now with two locations including a new brewery and taproom in downtown Redlands complete with a full kitchen. This brewery’s menu is conveniently divided by flavor profile, from the Sakura wheat ale with cherry blossom tea to their flagship West Coast IPA, Civil Disturbance.
440 Oriental Ave
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 713-3727
Sour Cellars
The atmosphere of this brewery belies the industrial location, complete with red velvet chairs and vintage artwork. As the name implies, Sour Cellars focuses mainly on sour beers and there’s nothing else like it in the Inland Empire. Most of their sour beers are aged in barrels for at least 12 months – some for more than 40 months – though there are non-sour beers for those so inclined.
9495 E 9th St Unit B
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 294-5183
The Stout House
Triple stout, barrel aged golden stout, peanut butter stout, The Stout House is where you go for all your stout needs from the heavier, sweeter styles to the lighter drier stouts that tend to make it on the tap list on warmer months. Despite the focus on stouts, the brewery spends just as much effort on their non-stout selections, so they’re worth a space on your flight.
1294 W 9th St
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 493-7158
Hamilton Family Brewery
Hamilton Family Brewery was one of the early ones that opened up and set the beer scene in Rancho Cucamonga. This family and dog-friendly brewery has become one of the most popular in the area, with a large outdoor patio and rotating food vendors. There’s a wide variety of styles available including a watermelon blonde ale and plenty of hard seltzer slushies for those warmer days.
9757 7th St #802
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 989-7050
Solorio
This Latino-owned brewery in Rancho Cucamonga is relaxed and low-key, but has something for everyone, including a very good Mexican lager and a rotating kettle sour. Among the crowd favorites are the toasted coconut porter and the blood orange DIPA. For those wanting more than just beer, Solorio also serves up a nice michelada.
9395 Feron Blvd K
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 755-5400
3 Iron Brewing Co
The golf-themed brewery has nothing to do with golf, really, but the name and theme came about as the brewery’s owners used a golf club to stir the mash pot back in their homebrewing days. They’re grown a bit since then as Colton’s only craft brewery, with 16 beers on tap, including their popular orange wedge wheat, golden coffee stout and DIPAs.
898 S Via Lata A
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 533-4892