70 Days Across America
The Hop Grenade Taproom and Bottle Shop is a craft beer tap room overlooking Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord, California. It pours 20 plus beers on tap and serves a variety of gourmet bites. It is open for lunch and dinner and remains open until late evening.
In This Post
Why I’m Here …
So what am I doing in Concord?
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California. It is about 29 miles (47 kilometers) east of San Francisco. And it is 22 miles (35 kilometers) east of Oakland.
More importantly, Concord was one of the first stops on the Northern California leg of my epic trip, 70 Days Across America.
My previous stops included San Francisco, Los Altos, and Napa.
My stay in Concord was arranged by Visit Concord. The tourism board describes Concord as a Northern California Original. And in my opinion, it is.
The Hop Grenade – Overview
The Hop Grenade in Concord, California, pours an evolving tap list of more than 20 craft beers.
About three-fourths of the brews on tap during my visit were from California.
As for the others, two were from Maine. And there was one each from Missouri, Idaho, and Colorado. Finally, there was one beer from overseas, a dry-hopped imperial from Belgium.
Regarding food, the tap house served a short menu of gourmet bites. Included were artisan flat breads, sandwiches, soups, chili, snacks, and extras. Finally there was a specialty called beer floats.
The beer floats consist of a North Coast Old Rasputan infused with locally made vanilla bean gelato.
Unfortunately, we had dinner reservations at Lima, a Peruvian restaurant next door. So we only had time to sample some brew.
Perhaps if I ever make it back to Concord, I can stay for dinner. Indeed, the menu looked enticing!
The tap house is open for lunch and dinner. It remains open until late evening. The hours are extended at bit on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
The Hop Grenade – Ambiance
The Hop Grenade has both indoor and outdoor seating. The interior had a warm and inviting atmosphere.
However, I visited the tap house in September, and it was very pleasant to sit outside.
My companion and I chose a table in front of the tap house. In addition, there were stools lining the sidewalk, with a wooden platform to place food and drinks on.
These seats were perfect for people-watching.
In addition, there was additional seating with umbrellas along the side of the tap house.
Dog Friendly Cafe?
The tap house was a dog-friendly taphouse, as Rhonda (above) demonstrates. And
she was also a very friendly dog. Not only that, she LOVED posing for the camera!
While the servers at The Hop Grenade were as friendly as the dogs, you could also place your orders digitally. The Digital Dining restaurant post-of-sale software saw to that!
The Verdict …
The Hop Grenade offered the perfect spot to while away a balmy afternoon. While the selection of craft beers was impressive, the dishes on the menu sounded particularly enticing.
Where to Eat in Concord
- Mikuni Sushi Bar – Concord, California>>
- Lima Peruvian Restaurant – Concord, California>>
- CREAM – Concord California>>
Where to Stay in Concord
Location
Hop Granade Tap House – 2141 Salvio Street Suite J, Concord, California. Telephone: (925) 808-7056.
Concord is a city in Contra Costa County, California. It is roughly 29 miles (47 kilometers) east of San Francisco. The drive takes about 35 minutes. And it is roughly 22 miles (35 kilometers) east of Oakland. The drive takes about 25 minutes.
If you don’t drive, the tap house can be reached by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The ride from downtown San Francisco takes about 45 minutes. The ride from downtown Oakland takes about 30 minutes.
From the station, you can walk to Todos Santos Square in about 10 minutes. Just head straight along Grant Street.Then turn left on Salvio Street. The tap house is on the opposite side of the square.
This review of the Top Granade Tap House is part of a series chronicling my epic journey, 70 Days Across America.