If you know craft beer, you already know this name — Sante Adairius has been quietly one of the most respected breweries on the West Coast for over a decade, and the Capitola taproom is where it started. It’s unpretentious inside: communal tables, a rotating chalkboard of farmhouse ales, saisons and barrel-aged sours, and a crowd that’s there for the beer rather than the scene. No food menu of their own, but food trucks show up regularly and you’re welcome to bring in something from nearby. It’s a ten-minute drive from the house, an easy stop after a day at the beach or before heading into Capitola village for dinner. Go early evening on a weeknight for a quiet pour and a real conversation with whoever’s behind the bar — they know their beer and like talking about it. Weekends get busier, particularly when a new sour release drops, so check their page before you go if you have something specific in mind. It’s not flashy, and that’s exactly the point. Bring a growler if you want to take some back to the house for the deck.
