WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – When you hear “taproom”, you probably imagine a particular vibe. I bet it looks a lot like casual places such as Canyon Club in Moraga.
There’s a big, expansive outdoor space. Kids are running around. There’s plenty of creative beer, but perhaps a dearth of food options. Maybe a man is quietly playing an acoustic guitar. You forgot your hackey sack, but if you’d remembered, it would be an ideal spot to play.
Walnut Creek’s newest taproom, from the ever-popular Calicraft Brewing, is absolutely nothing like that.
Most taprooms lead with beer first. Calicraft Upstairs (1511 Mt. Diablo Blvd) is pitching itself as a neighborhood cocktail bar that happens to have 20 taps, plus wine — aiming more for date-night energy than beer-garden vibes.
After months of downtown buzz (and delays), Calicraft Upstairs is now open. It’s on the roof above Va De Vi (yes, there’s been a rooftop space up there all along). It had a grand opening on December 20 and by all accounts, a very classy New Year’s Eve party.
What to drink: 20 taps plus a serious cocktail program
Calicraft says Upstairs will pour 20 taps of its beers, alongside a cocktail menu built around its housemade spirits and a sustainability-forward approach.
A few signature drinks Calicraft has highlighted:
- “Pink Caddy” — a zero-waste strawberry margarita riff
- “Caprese” — tomato and basil vodkas, clarified tomato water, and a caprese skewer garnish
- “Tokyo Cosmo” — Calicraft’s take on the classic Cosmopolitan with a Japanese twist
This beer-plus-cocktails strategy is also part of a bigger regional shift: even as craft beer demand has softened nationally, some Bay Area breweries are growing by focusing on hospitality — food, cocktails, and broader beverage menus, not just pints.
What to eat: small plates (with a few curveballs)
Calicraft says the food menu is built around small plates from Chef Jeffrey Amber, including:
- Roasted shishito peppers with Japanese seasoning and miso aioli
- “Foxy Nachos” (kettle chips, salami, castelvetrano olives, pepperoncini, fontina, aged balsamic, parm)
- Tinned fish plates
- Savory sourdough waffles (including a “Corn Dog Waffle” with smoked cheddar, beer cheese, and mustard)
We can’t wait to try it ourselves. Join my free 925 News newsletter so I can share a review.
