Family-Friendly Breweries & Tap Houses in the Sacramento Area

It can be hard to find something to do that the whole family will love. Too often, “family friendly” means the kids go nuts on a playground while mom and dad wait it out. Or, even worse, mom and dad enjoy themselves while the kids squirm in their seats out of boredom. But there’s no reason both parents and kids can’t have a good time – the secret is finding the right places to go. Enter the family-friendly brewery. These places cater to adults but at the same time have plenty of activities for the little ones to stay busy. The following are our favorite picks for family-friendly breweries in the Sacramento area.

Drakes at the Barn

Photo courtesy Drakes at the Barn

This West Sacramento hotspot near Raley Field has an expansive grassy area where the kids can run wild. There are plenty of picnic tables to go around, or you can bring your own chairs and picnic blankets and claim a spot on the lawn. An onsite restaurant serves wood-fired pizza, and there are rotating food trucks as well. Fire pits set the scene once the sun goes down, with live music to boot.

SacYard Community Tap House

SacYard has something for everyone: live bands for music lovers, cornhole and foosball for the kids, even wine for non-beer drinkers. Misters keep you cool in the summer, fire pits warm you up in the winter, and a covered indoor seating area makes it a good place to hang out year-round. They have tons of special events throughout the year, including pop-up markets, tap takeovers, fundraisers and yoga classes.

GoatHouse Brewing Co.

Photo courtesy GoatHouse Brewing Co.

Yes, there are goats at GoatHouse Brewing in Lincoln. Yes, you can pet them. Yes, you can feed them. You can even do yoga with them during goat yoga classes! Children are welcome (although they must be supervised – this is a working farm after all!), so bring the whole family and relax with a Wee Laddy Scotch Ale or Jähn Lemon Belgian Blonde.

Porchlight Brewing Company

This no-frills brewery in East Sacramento is a chill neighborhood hangout spot where locals come to watch the game, listen to live music and toss back a double IPA or oatmeal porter. There are plenty of board games for the kids, as well as foosball table and a classic arcade machine with 20 different games. Food trucks, live music and trivia nights round out the offerings.

Tilted Mash Brewing

This industrial-esque brewery in Elk Grove is known for its chill vibe and family-friendly space. The taproom itself is designed for grownups, but there’s an adjacent play room just for kids, complete with toys and games. There’s an open-air communal seating area in the back with a ping-pong table, giant Jenga and a stage for hosting live music and comedy acts.

Red Bus Brewing Company

Photo courtesy Red Bus Brewing Company

Just a few blocks from Historic Sutter Street in Folsom, Red Bus Brewing is a kick-back spot to hang out with friends and family. While mom and dad relax with a Socket Set IPA or Check Engine Light Lager, the kids can play in the game room, complete with foosball, board games and toys.

Crooked Lane Brewing Company

This Auburn brewery has everything you’d want in a family-friendly hangout space: an outdoor biergarten, large covered patio, board games and even house-made soda. Live music and trivia nights keep the adults entertained while they sip a hazy IPA or Vienna lager, and food trucks serve everything from tacos to gyros.