Half Moon Bay Brewing Company on the PCH

Just a short jaunt from San Francisco is the picturesque coastal town of Half Moon Bay – the famed spot where surfers from around the globe gather to attend the annual Mavericks surf competition, and a relaxing spot along the Pacific Coast Highway where some lucky locals get to call home.

One thing residents and visitors have in common when they find themselves with a little free time in this coastal neck of the woods, is a visit to Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. Casual and inviting, this quintessential California surf shack was name one of America’s best beach bars by Travel + Leisure magazine. Beer lovers will appreciate the 1,200 square-foot Mavericks Beer Garden and on-site brewery, where hand-crafted, award-winning Mavericks® Beers & Ales are piped directly to the bar. The Mavericks Amber Ale won a bronze medal in the 2012 World Beer Cup, and the Ocho Barril Saison won Best in Show for session beers and the gold medal in the Wood/Smoke Ale category at the California State Fair in June 2013.

At a recent Beer vs. Wine dinner event, guests were treated to a four-course meal prepared by Half Moon Bay Brewing Company Chef Gaston Alfaro with select pairings of beer and wine from in-house brewmaster James Costa and Hatcher Winery’s Sewell Hatcher respectively.

The evening’s dishes spotlighted local farms in every course and although ballots were taken at the end of the meal to determine a winner, it was no doubt a friendly competition where diners, and all those tinvolved were asking themselves…why isn’t beer and wine simultaneously paired with every meal.

Here are some more photos from the event, and a schedule of some upcoming beer and cheese (yup, you heard it right) dinners taking place at the brewery:

March 1-8
Chicken with Cilantro Lime Vodka Cream Sauce, Red Hawk Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes
Paired with Princeton-by-the-Sea IPA

March 9-15
Savory Spinach and Cheesy Artichoke Bread Pudding
Paired with Bootlegger Brown Ale

March 16-22
Gourmet Grilled Cheese Panini with Housemade Beer Bread
Paired with Big Break Ale 

March 23-31
Queso Blanco with Cochinita, topped with Housemade Beer Bread Crumbs
Served with Crispy Pita Chips
Paired with Mavericks Amber Ale

For more info, visit Half Moon Bay Brewing Company