WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – A long–mysterious construction site across from Trader Joe’s in downtown Walnut Creek has finally become what beer fans were hoping for — a full–on craft brewery and taproom, now open and pouring.
Barebottle Brewing Co. has officially opened its Walnut Creek Taproom & Kitchen at 1375 S California Blvd, directly across the street from Trader Joe’s at 1372 S California Blvd. It is the San Francisco brewery’s first taproom in the East Bay.
The grand opening was held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, following months of build–out and teaser posts from the brewery and local media–us included! The space takes over the former Pinky’s Pizza building that locals have been watching for more than a year.
From San Francisco to the 925
Barebottle started in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood and has since expanded to several Bay Area taprooms, including Menlo Park and Santa Clara.
The brewery is known for experimenting with new recipes, using local ingredients when possible, and even printing homebrew–sized recipes on its cans so fans can recreate the beers at home.
We’ve visited them at their mini local in Salesforce Park, high above San Francisco!
The Walnut Creek spot is Barebottle’s first true East Bay outpost, and the company bills it as a taproom and kitchen designed to be a neighborhood hangout as much as a place to drink beer.
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What It’s Like Inside
The new taproom sits just off Newell and S California, in the small strip that also includes The Beehive and other neighborhood businesses, with Trader Joe’s right across the street.
Inside, Barebottle has leaned into its usual beer–hall aesthetic: long communal tables, an open bar with a large tap wall, and plenty of room for groups. Photos and descriptions from the brewery highlight:
- A big, family–friendly taproom with space for parties and events
- A dedicated games area with a new pool table, shuffleboard, ping pong, table soccer/foosball, pinball and arcade–style games
- TVs for catching sports
There’s also an outdoor patio where dogs are welcome, making it a good option for people walking over from nearby neighborhoods or after a grocery run.
Beer, Wine, Coffee and Non–Alcoholic Options
Barebottle says the Walnut Creek location will typically have 20–30 beers on tap, plus several wines, kombucha, coffee, and other non–alcoholic options.
The brewery is known for frequently rotating its tap list rather than sticking to a small set of year–round beers, and for drawing recipe inspiration from around the Bay Area.
Expect a mix of hoppy IPAs, lagers, sours, and seasonal specials, along with some of the brand’s core beers that fans may know from cans on store shelves.
Wine drinkers won’t be left out either. Barebottle began making its own wine several years ago and now serves a small list of in–house red, white and sparkling options at its taprooms, including Walnut Creek.
And if you’re not drinking alcohol, the Walnut Creek taproom offers hop water, sodas, and kombucha, plus coffee from Barebottle’s own roasting program.
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Detroit–Style Pizza From Joyride
Unlike Barebottle’s original Bernal Heights taproom, which relies on food trucks, Walnut Creek is set up as a full taproom and kitchen. The food side of the operation is handled by Joyride Pizza, a San Francisco–based mini–chain that specializes in Detroit–style pan pizza.
On Joyride’s menus elsewhere, that usually means thick, crispy–edged rectangular pies with toppings like classic cheese, pepperoni, veggie combinations, and more adventurous options, along with salads, garlic knots and a few desserts.
Barebottle’s Walnut Creek FAQ notes that guests can even pre–order from the Joyride menu so their food is ready at the start of an event or reservation.
We weren’t clear if food is available now, or if it’s a feature that’s coming to the WC location once they’re fully established. We’ll have to stop by and try it to see!
Family–Friendly, With Space for Events
Barebottle is leaning into the idea that this should be a place for everything from kids’ birthday parties to office happy hours. The Walnut Creek page highlights that the taproom is family–friendly, with games and food, and that pets are welcome on the outside patio.
The company is also actively marketing the space for private and semi–private events. Through Barebottle’s reservations system, guests can book everything from a few reserved tables up to a full–taproom buyout for large parties, with options to pre–pay for a portion of drinks or use drink tickets.
Hours, Location and How to Visit
Barebottle Walnut Creek Taproom & Kitchen
- Address: 1375 S California Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94956 (across from Trader Joe’s)
- Hours: Sunday–Wednesday 12 pm–10 pm; Thursday–Saturday 12 pm–11 pm
You don’t need a reservation to drop in — Barebottle says it always keeps at least half its tables for walk–ins, though Thursday through Saturday evenings are expected to be the busiest.
Parking options include the Trader Joe’s lot across the street, nearby garages, and neighborhood street parking, but be sure to check posted signs and time limits.
Whether you remember grabbing slices at Pinky’s in the old days or you’ve just been watching construction from the Trader Joe’s parking lot and wondering what was coming, the wait is over. There is now a fully–fledged brewery, kitchen, and game–filled hangout steps from downtown Walnut Creek.
If you stop by, let us know what you think of the new space — and which beer and pizza pairing is your favorite.
