Chill Out with a Cold Brew!
Heretic’s Joan of Arc Burger and a cold Petit Rouge. Photo: Michelle Trippi
Heretic Brewing Company
FAIRFIELD – When that beer and burger hunger strikes and you’re looking for a fun place to go, look no more. At the end of Horizon Drive, you will find Fairfield’s favorite cul-de-sac party, burger, and brew haven…The Heretic Brewing Company. My dining companion and I decided to head there for a “Girl’s Night Out”.
Recently abandoning the food truck scene, Heretic has opened a kitchen on-premises where big, beefy burgers reign. After ordering a beer sampler, we decided to try the Fried Brussel Sprouts appetizer. What else could a sprout, bacon, cheese, and garlic lover say but “AH-MAZ-ING”?!?!
My dining companion was pleased to find a vegetarian choice on the menu. Aptly named the Impossible Burger, it’s a veggie patty that “impossibly” lived up to its name and tasted like a beef burger…just as the menu promised.
Obviously, someone had to try one of the gargantuan beef burgers, so I took one for the team by ordering a half pound cattleman’s burger called the Joan of Arc which is described as “Smokin’ hot, just like Joan.” I was served this delicious burger topped with shaved black forest ham, muenster cheese, spicy pickled peppers, house-made smoky French dressing, with a side of tots.
Heretic beer sampler. Photo: Michelle Trippi
Beer and cider samplers and pints of brew are available along with take-home growlers and other fun beer paraphernalia to collect and wear. Tours are also available.
Burgers are THE main menu food item, fresh beer is on tap, and new fun awaits you! I’ve added Heretic to the top of my burgers and brew list.
Heretic Brewing Company is located at 1052 Horizon Dr. Suite B, in Fairfield. You can reach a friendly staff member by calling (707) 389-4573 or you can visit them online at hereticbrewing.com.
The University of Beer has several selections on tap and a full bar. Photo: Yelp/Eric S.
University of Beer
VACAVILLE – School may be out for summer but learning about new beer is always on the curriculum. Head to the “UoB” for an ever-changing selection of brews, a tasty menu, and fun with friends.
When you arrive, you’ll receive an electronic tablet that houses the current tap selections. Organized by the type of beers along with descriptions and prices, it is easy to choose what you would like to drink. Can’t decide? The staff is more than happy to educate you. Not a beer lover? Check out the full bar.
The UoB’s food menu has fun choices such as “Drunken Pig Fries”, “BBQ’d Pork Mac-n-Cheese”, salads and burgers. But whatever you choose to eat with your tap selection, a must have is their dessert, “Beer Infused Ice Cream”. What more, besides the dog-friendly patio, could a beer lover ask for?
The University of Beer is located at 196 Nut Tree Pkwy Suite F, in Vacaville. They can be reached by phone at (707) 474-7545 or visit them online at theuob.com.
Berryessa Brewing Company beer sampler. Photo: Yelp/Eric S.
Berryessa Brewing Company
WINTERS – Mostly known for farming, and scenic orchards of fruit and nuts, Winters has another popular crop…hops! Just outside of town, sits one of the hottest spots for social gatherings, food trucks, live music, and medal-winning brews.
After a day of hiking, we found shady seating outside at one of the large group tables and ordered a beer sampler offering six brew choices; Whippersnapper, Propaganda Pils, Common Sense, Mini Separation Anxiety, House IPA, and Double Tap IPA.
We shared the Tri-Tip Plate, with caramelized onions, apples, and beans fresh and hot from the Buckhorn BBQ Food Truck.
The delicious food and beer and live music was a great way to end our day before heading home to Vacaville.
Family (and Fido) friendly, Berryessa Brewing Co. is located at 27260 HWY 128, Winters. Phone (530) 795-3526 or online at berryessabrewingco.com.
Michelle Trippi writes “Tastes of Your Town”, a monthly feature in the print edition of Your Town Monthly. This article was originally published in the July 2018 Solano and Yolo County print editions.
