Paso Robles is synonymous with world-class wine. From delicious Cabernet Sauvignon to expressive Rhône varietals, thanks to small, passionate producers and a region that still values craft over hype, Paso Robles consistently delivers bottles that overperform for their price. But if you think Paso’s beverage story ends at the corkscrew, think again.
For thousands of years, fermented beverages have brought people together to slow down, share meals, tell stories, and mark moments worth remembering.
Paso Robles embraces that tradition in all its forms: expressive wines, thoughtfully brewed beers, and small-batch spirits made by local artisans. The result is a community that values quality over quantity, where each bottle reflects a deep respect for craft, place, and balance, and invites guests to experience wine, beer, and spirits not as products to consume, but as experiences meant to be shared.
Beyond wine, Paso Robles has become a standout destination for craft beer and small-batch spirits. From world-class breweries pouring iconic IPAs and barrel-aged beers to local distilleries crafting smooth vodkas, whiskeys and other spirits. Whether you’re exploring Paso Robles breweries, discovering craft beer in Paso Robles, or stepping inside a distillery for a behind-the-scenes experience, Toast Tours curates the journey, so you can relax, learn, and enjoy every stop along the way.
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From Vine to Vessel: The Craft Beer Revolution in Wine Country
In Paso Robles, collaboration has always mattered more than competition. Inspired by the region’s wine pioneers, the local beer community grew around the belief that shared knowledge and collective progress create better results for everyone. The brewery scene in Paso Robles helped shape the modern craft beer movement in the United States. Like the local wine industry, Paso Robles beer is driven by an appreciation for quality, place, and thoughtfully sustainable production. This shared mindset has allowed beer to evolve here not as a side note to wine, but as a serious, respected part of the region’s tasting culture.
At the center of craft beer in Paso Robles is Firestone Walker Brewing Company, the brewery that put Paso Robles on the map for beer. Founded in 1996 on a Santa Barbara County vineyard using converted winemaking equipment and relocated to Paso Robles in 2001, Firestone Walker brought immediate credibility through traditional barrel-aged techniques, innovation, and consistency at scale. Beers like Union Jack IPA established early acclaim, while the release of 805 Blonde Ale in 2012, now one of the most successful craft beer brands in the United States, propelled the brewery onto the national stage. Today, Firestone Walker stands among the most influential craft breweries in California, known not only for world-class beer, but also for sustainability leadership, festivals like the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival that draw brewers and beer enthusiasts from around the world, and a legacy that helped turn Paso Robles into a true beer destination.
Must-Visit Breweries and Styles
Firestone Walker helped attract and mentor brewing talent, and several former team members went on to open their own must-visit breweries, adding depth and creativity to the local scene, from Eric Ponce’s Cellar Fermentation to Brendan Gough’s Liquid Gravity and Max Montgomery’s There Does Not Exist.
That collaborative spirit also attracted other standout breweries, making Paso Robles a must-visit destination for craft beer lovers:
- BarrelHouse Brewing Company in Tin City: A family-owned craft brewery with a lively beer garden, live music, and rotating small-batch beers. Known locally for crowd favorites like Mango IPA and Big Sur Double IPA, plus seasonal and barrel-aged releases, BarrelHouse regularly draws crowds for events, concerts, and community gatherings, and has been voted a local “Best Brewery”.
- California Coast Beer Company in downtown Paso Robles: A beer destination housed in a refurbished auto shop, known for approachable ales, lagers, and Belgian-style beers that pair well with smoked BBQ and other comfort foods. The spacious indoor/outdoor setup, live music, and classic craft lineup make it a fun stop for locals and visitors alike.
- Paso Robles Brewing Company near downtown Paso Robles: A classic brewpub with a welcoming vibe, Paso Robles Brewing Company pairs a wide range of styles, from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts, with elevated pub fare and a pet-friendly patio. Their beers are served from sealed European-style tanks rather than traditional kegs, preserving freshness and flavor from the first pour to the last. The result is beer that tastes remarkably fresh and true to style, giving visitors a local favorite that’s both authentic.
- Wild Fields Brewhouse in downtown Atascadero: A lively family-friendly brewpub with arcade games, mini bowling, and a relaxed atmosphere that appeals to both beer lovers and casual visitors. Wild Fields has earned serious acclaim, including multiple gold medals and Brewery of the Year honors at the Great American Beer Festival and four golds from the World Beer Cup, putting it on the national craft beer map.
- Ancient Owl Beer Garden in downtown Atascadero: Not a brewery, but a vibrant beer garden and taproom with a rotating list of craft beers, local and regional, alongside bottles to take home. Its relaxed outdoor space and curated selections make it an excellent stop for variety and conversation.
Paso Robles brewers are constantly experimenting, unafraid to blend the worlds of beer and wine by aging stouts in retired wine barrels or fermenting with local fruit, ensuring there is always something new and exciting to try.
The Spirit of Paso: Distilleries Redefining ‘Grain-to-Glass’
If the brewing scene is vibrant, the distillery scene is truly unique. The story of Paso Robles distilleries begins with winemakers Alex and Monica Villicana, who found themselves with high-quality free-run juice (saignée) that didn’t fit their wine portfolio and chose innovation over waste. Navigating California’s complex distilling laws, they founded Re:Find Distillery, becoming the first legal distillery in San Luis Obispo County. By transforming wine byproducts into vodka, they laid the foundation for what would become one of the most distinctive spirits communities in the state of California and helped establish Paso Robles distilleries as a destination rooted in creativity, sustainability, and shared knowledge.
As the distillery scene grew, Paso Robles’ deep connection between wine, beer, and spirits became even more apparent. While wine byproducts get distilled into vodkas, brandies, and grappas, whiskey begins with grain, and in many cases, that grain mash is brewed by Firestone Walker.
This same rising-tide mindset led to the creation of the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, now the only organized distillery trail in California: a rare, interconnected experience where award-winning whiskeys, grape-driven spirits, and collaborative craftsmanship come together.
And for cocktail lovers, Yes Cocktail Co., while not a distillery, is a local brand that creates all-natural craft cocktail mixers, syrups, and bitters that have won national recognition. Their Paso tasting room offers flights, mixology classes, and vibrant low-ABV and zero-proof options that expand the spirits-trail experience.
Make sure not to miss:
- Re:Find Distillery in the Adelaida District: Pioneered grape-to-glass spirits in Paso Robles, transforming saignée into vodka and gin, as well as producing award-winning whiskeys rooted in sustainability and collaboration. Their unique barrel-finished vodka has become a favorite and often surprises visitors with flavor more similar to aged spirits than typical vodka. Their whiskey earned national recognition in Food & Wine’s roundup of the best American whiskies under $100, and their open, rising-tide approach helped spark the Paso Robles Distillery Trail itself.
- Tin City Distillery in Tin City: A lively destination that produces brandy, whiskey, gin, vodka, and specialty cocktails in a laid-back tasting room where visitors can sip classic spirits or enjoy curated cocktail experiences against the backdrop of Paso Robles’ bustling artisanal hub.
- Grain + Vine Distillery in the Templeton Gap: Handcrafted spirits rooted in agricultural heritage. Joe & Jenny Barton blend grain and grape farming traditions to create unconventional whiskeys alongside traditional gins, rums, and vodkas. Spirit lovers appreciate their curiosity-driven approach and award recognition, including a Double Gold Best of Show at the California Craft Spirits competition.
- Bethel Rd. Distillery in the Templeton Gap: Operated by the Udsen family of Castoro Cellars, Bethel Rd. crafts Italian-style grappa’s, balanced gins, vibrant liqueurs, and complex aged brandies from organically farmed estate fruit. Their passion for old-world tradition and community spirit creates an inviting, educational tasting experience.
- Willow Creek Distillery in the Willow Creek District: Fruit brandies and inventive liqueurs. Founded by Opolo Vineyards in 2013 to complement its wines, Willow Creek produces premium brandies, grappa, and unique specialty spirits like coffee-infused liqueurs, perfect for tasting flights or inventive cocktails.
- Geneseo Distillers in the Geneseo District: this distillery contributes to the area’s reputation for artisanal whiskey, brandy, gin, and other small-batch spirits by focusing on handcrafted quality and community-driven creativity. Geneseo offers visitors a chance to taste regional distilling innovation and connect with the passionate makers behind the bottles.
From grape-based spirits to whiskeys, collaboration drives everything. That spirit of community and experimentation is what makes the Paso Robles Distillery Trail so rewarding to explore.
The Perfect Pairing: Why Paso’s Craft Scene Complements Wine Touring
Paso Robles may be best known for wine tours, but its distilleries and breweries add flexibility, especially for groups with different interests. Not everyone wants a full day of wine tasting, and Paso makes it easy to create balance.
A day might start at a winery and end at a relaxed brewery, include a stop at a winery that also produces spirits, or focus entirely on distilleries, capped with a cocktail-making class.
These experiences tend to feel more casual and social, adding variety to a wine-focused itinerary and making sure everyone feels included.
Skip the Keys, Sip with Ease: Your Toast Tours Advantage
The best spots and experiences aren’t always obvious online. Toast Tours brings local insight and thoughtful planning together to create a day that simply works. When you book with us, you aren’t just getting a ride; you are securing a designated driver, a local guide, and a logistical planner all in one.
Your drink tastes better when the story comes with it. From iconic breweries to small-batch distilleries, we curate relaxed, behind-the-scenes experiences that showcase why Paso Robles has become one of California’s most compelling craft destinations: innovation without ego, quality over hype, and a craft scene that still feels personal and human.
This is a place built on pioneers, community, and discovery, best enjoyed at an easygoing pace. Let us handle the details, so you can enjoy the day.
