Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

As we approached the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company on a cool wintery Saturday night, we could tell there was a fun vibe going on.  Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” was playing and people in tuxes and dresses were celebrating a wedding in one of the outdoor patios.  Overlooking the harbor in Half Moon Bay the views are spectacular during the day and romantic at night.  We walked around the restaurant and entered on the bar side.  Despite the patio heaters on the larger patio there were only a few people braving the foggy dampness and we scooted inside quickly to be seated. The bar was full and basketball was on the televisions entertaining the guests.  I thought of the wedding reception on the other side of the building and noticed that the noise levels didn’t clash at all, making it a great place for events any time of the year.

We had a reservation and were seated pretty quickly.  The servers were attentive and right away talked to us about their beers.  I love an amber ale, so I started there because I love it’s caramel flavor. It was smooth and just right so I ordered a second. 

My husband was driving and opted for soda this particular evening, allowing me a little more leeway in the sampling department.  So because we are near the ocean, I always enjoy ordering seafood at it’s freshest.  Baja tacos were my choice to go along with this tasty beer, and I decided on the half order of crispy shrimp!  Two corn tortillas filled with shrimp arrived shortly after our order along side housemade salsa, cilantro, and cabbage, topped with chipotle ranch. Rice, black beans, guacamole, and Texas style spicy cole slaw also appeared on the full plate and I was eager to dive in.  Each taco bite was crunchy from the batter with warm fresh shrimp.  A squeeze of lemon finished off each bite and it was really good.  The rice and beans were okay, not adding much flavor but the guacamole was tasty.  Still wanting a little more of a kick, I decided to order a porter called “Let Me Show You Something.”  The name had me enticed as did the description: “rich malty sweetness with notes of caramel, toffee, and chocolate!”  If it stopped there I’d be sold, but it continued: “A blend of Anaheim, Guajillo, and Chipotle peppers add a sweet, fruity, lightly smoky touch.” Each sip ended with a spicy kick that was a great finish for my tacos!

My husband chose the Rib-eye sandwich which was a large portion for dinner!  Medium-rare grilled Braveheart rib-eye, served on housemade beer bread, topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions and Mavericks® Beer Mustard spread.  Usually served with fries, he made a smarter choice and added a salad.The meat was cooked perfectly, the mushrooms and onions added tons of flavor and the beer mustard spread was something he is still talking about.  He puts mustard on EVERYTHING, and I’m wondering if they in fact sell their branded spread…  Half Moon Bay Brewing Company takes full advantage of all of the fresh, seasonal, local ingredients in abundance on the Northern California coast and it’s reflected.

Dessert is often too much after a great meal like this, but we decided to share the Chocolate Loving Spoon Cake–chocolate fudge between two layers of dense chocolate cake, served with chocolate sauce and fresh whipping cream.  Rich it was, but I’m a chocoholic and each bite was a little taste of heaven in my mouth. We made it through about half between us, and the rest paired well with my coffee the next morning.  Other dessert option include a Beeramisu and a Chocolate Porter Float (for adults only) that replaces root beer with their Pit Stop Porter, something I’m ordering on our next visit!

As we left, the bar was still going strong and the live music of Groovity had begun.  It’s a great spot to enjoy and it’s located just down the street from the Inn at Mavricks if you want to make it a weekend getaway!

Happy hour, a vast children’s menu, fun bites, and a lengthy gluten-free menu makes this spot perfect for a romantic evening, a family dinner, girl’s night out, or when you want to get something great on your special diet.  I am looking forward to a second and third visit and definitely during the day for the best view of the coast.  Check out Half Moon Bay Brewing Company online to learn more, http://www.hmbbrewingco.com/.

Our meal was hosted, gratuity and opinions were 100% ours.