WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Big changes are now just weeks away at Calicraft Brewing Company’s original Walnut Creek taproom.
In an update shared this week, Calicraft said the back side of its Shadelands bar has reopened. The brewery also teased another announcement coming in approximately two weeks, when construction fences are expected to come down and customers will finally be able to use the new beer garden.
A photo shared by Calicraft shows just how different the property already looks.
The familiar shipping-container bar now sits alongside a broad, newly paved gathering area with built-in planters, young trees and space for outdoor tables. Much of that completed work has remained separated from customers by temporary fencing while construction continues.
Once those fences disappear, Calicraft visitors should have considerably more room to spread out.
The pending beer garden opening is the latest stage in a massive redevelopment at Calicraft’s original home at 2700 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek’s Shadelands district.
Calicraft closed its original taproom in 2025 and moved operations into an adjacent outdoor setup centered around a 40-foot shipping-container bar. That sounds a bit rustic and barebones, but it’s actually quite nice.
That allowed the brewery to continue serving customers while its old building was demolished and a substantially more ambitious replacement was constructed.
The outdoor bar has remained open throughout much of the project, hosting food trucks, live music and other events. However, fencing and active construction have limited how much of the surrounding property customers could use.
That appears about to change.
Calicraft’s announcement did not provide an exact opening date for the completed beer garden, but the brewery said followers should expect another update in about two weeks.
The beer garden is only one component of the larger transformation underway at the property.
Previously released plans call for a new two-story taproom and restaurant, along with brewery, winery and distillery operations. The finished venue is also expected to include a large bar, tasting areas and covered outdoor seating.
The general contractor for the project, PB Brown, recently said the building structures and exterior facade were complete, with crews working on site improvements and other finishing stages.
The development also includes a massive 160,000-square-foot SecureSpace Self Storage facility. That helps explain why the new building rising behind Calicraft looks considerably larger than even an ambitious brewery project would require.
PB Brown’s latest description puts Calicraft’s new home at approximately 7,500 square feet. Earlier descriptions of the project placed the broader Calicraft venue at approximately 10,000 square feet, potentially counting additional hospitality and outdoor areas.
Either way, this will not simply be a reconstructed version of the old taproom. Calicraft is building something closer to an all-purpose food and beverage destination.
The Walnut Creek company has expanded well beyond its roots as a traditional craft brewery. Calicraft acquired Fairfield’s former Heretic Brewing operation in 2024 and subsequently opened a large taproom in Davis and Calicraft Upstairs, its rooftop cocktail bar in downtown Walnut Creek.
Those newer venues serve cocktails, cider, wine and food alongside Calicraft’s beers. Similar additions are planned for Shadelands, where a permanent restaurant is eventually expected to replace the current reliance on visiting food trucks.
Calicraft has not announced when every component of the new Shadelands complex will open. The outdoor portion, however, appears much closer.
If the brewery’s latest timeline holds, the construction fences should begin coming down and Walnut Creek customers could be enjoying the new beer garden before the end of August.
We’ll follow this closely and keep providing updates. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter here so we can keep you in the loop.
