Temecula Breweries and Craft Beer: A Local's Guide to the Best Spots and How to Tour Them

Quick Answer: Temecula is home to more than a dozen craft breweries producing award-winning IPAs, stouts, sours, Belgian-style ales, and experimental small-batch brews. The craft beer scene here is growing fast and offers a refreshing alternative (or complement) to the region's famous wine tasting. The best way to experience Temecula's breweries is on a guided tour that lets you taste at multiple spots without worrying about driving. Van'N Boozy's Wine and Beer Tour ($164 per person) takes your group to three stops in a vintage VW Bus, with the option to swap a wine tasting for a full craft beer pour at one of our partnered brewery locations. All tastings, transportation, a local host, snacks, and water are included with no hidden fees.

Temecula's Craft Beer Scene Is Bigger Than You Think

Most people come to Temecula for the wine, and that makes sense. With nearly 50 wineries in the valley, wine country gets most of the attention. But the craft beer scene in Temecula has been growing steadily and it deserves a lot more recognition than it gets.

There are now more than a dozen craft breweries in and around Temecula, many of them producing beers that have earned medals at the Great American Beer Festival and other national competitions. The breweries here range from Old Town taprooms with patio seating and people-watching to industrial-style production breweries with rotating food trucks and live music. Whether you are into hazy IPAs, barrel-aged sours, Belgian-style ales, or a classic West Coast pale ale, there is a Temecula brewery making something you will love.

What makes the Temecula beer scene especially interesting is its relationship with wine country. Several local breweries experiment with aging beer in wine barrels sourced from neighboring wineries, creating hybrid flavors that are unique to this region. You will not find that kind of crossover in most beer cities. The proximity to wine country also means Temecula breweries tend to attract a more diverse crowd than your typical craft beer bar. You will find wine lovers trying their first IPA right alongside seasoned hop heads, and the atmosphere at most taprooms reflects that mix.

May is officially Craft Brew Month in Temecula Valley, with participating breweries offering special releases, deals, and events throughout the month. But the craft beer scene is worth visiting any time of year.

Wine and Beer: Why You Do Not Have to Choose

One of the questions we hear most often at Van'N Boozy is some version of "We love the idea of a wine tour, but not everyone in our group drinks wine. Is there an option for beer lovers?"

That question is exactly why we created the Wine and Beer Tour.

Our Wine and Beer Tour is the same private, four-hour, three-stop experience as our 3-Stop Private Wine Tour, but at one of the stops, your group has the option to trade wine tastings for a full craft beer pour at one of our partnered brewery locations. You still get two award-winning winery stops with up to 12 wine tastings, plus a craft beer experience that gives your beer drinkers something they are genuinely excited about.

This tour was voted Temecula's Most Fun Tour, and a big reason is the energy that comes from a group where everyone is doing something they actually love. The wine lovers get their pours. The beer fans get theirs. And everyone gets the vintage VW Bus experience, the backroad drives, the Bluetooth playlist, and a local host who makes the whole day feel effortless.

The Wine and Beer Tour is $164 per person with all tastings included at every stop. No hidden fees. No separate charges for beer or wine. Just one flat price for the full experience.

Why Tour Temecula's Breweries with Van'N Boozy

Visiting breweries on your own in Temecula is straightforward enough if you have a designated driver and a plan. But a guided tour changes the experience in a few meaningful ways.

No designated driver needed. This is the obvious one, but it matters. Beer tasting adds up just like wine tasting, and nobody wants to be the person who has to skip the stout flight because they are driving. On a Van'N Boozy tour, everyone gets to participate.

We know which breweries match your group. Our hosts visit these spots every week and know which ones have the vibe, the beer list, and the food options that will work best for your specific crew. A bachelor party crew gets a different recommendation than a couple celebrating an anniversary. That insider knowledge is built into every tour.

The VW Bus experience. The ride between stops in a vintage Volkswagen Bus with your playlist on the Bluetooth speakers and Temecula's backroads rolling by the windows is genuinely part of the fun. It sets a tone for the day that you do not get climbing in and out of an Uber.

The best of both worlds. Our Wine and Beer Tour is the only tour in Temecula that seamlessly combines wine country and craft beer in one experience, in a vintage VW Bus, with all tastings included. If your group has a mix of wine lovers and beer fans, this is the tour that makes everyone happy.

It is private to your group. The Wine and Beer Tour is a private experience. Your group gets the entire bus. No strangers, no compromises. Your host caters to your pace and your preferences.

Planning Your Temecula Brewery Visit

Best time to visit: Weekdays are quieter with more personal attention from taproom staff. Weekends bring food trucks, live music, and bigger crowds. May is Craft Brew Month with special releases and events across participating breweries.

Where the breweries are: Most Temecula breweries are on the west side of town, separate from the wine country trails to the east. Old Town Temecula has several walkable taprooms including Stone Church and Ironfire. Other breweries like Electric, Black Market, and Refuge are scattered around the broader Temecula area.

What to expect at a tasting: Most Temecula breweries offer flights of four to six small pours so you can sample a range of styles. Full pints are also available. Tasting fees are generally lower than wineries, usually $8 to $15 for a flight. Many breweries are dog-friendly and most have food trucks or in-house kitchens.

How to combine wine and beer in one day: The easiest way is to book the Van'N Boozy Wine and Beer Tour, which handles everything. If you are doing it on your own, a smart approach is to do wine tasting during the day and hit a brewery in Old Town in the evening, since many breweries have later hours than wineries.

Book the Wine and Beer Tour

Van'N Boozy's Wine and Beer Tour is $164 per person and includes three stops (two wineries and one craft beer location), all tastings at every stop, transportation in a vintage 1970s VW Bus, a local host, complimentary snacks and water, Bluetooth sound system access, and scenic backroad routes. There are no hidden fees.

Non-drinkers are welcome with ride-along pricing at a $35 discount per person, including complimentary water and soda at every stop.

The tour runs about four hours and is available seven days a week. Friday and Saturday slots include 10:00am to 2:20pm or 2:50pm to 7:00pm. Sunday runs 10:00am to 2:20pm. Monday through Thursday runs 11:00am to 3:20pm.

Minimum of four guests Monday through Thursday, five guests Friday through Sunday. Maximum capacity is 21 guests across multiple buses, with each bus seating seven.

To book your Temecula wine and beer tour, call us at 951-401-1001 or visit vannboozy.com to request a tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many breweries are in Temecula?

Temecula is home to more than a dozen craft breweries, with the number continuing to grow. The breweries range from small taprooms in Old Town Temecula to larger production breweries with food trucks and live music. Popular names include Electric Brewing, Black Market Brewing, Bare Knuckle Brewing, Stone Church Brewing, Refuge Brewery, Prolific Brewing, Oscar's Brewing Company, Solaris Beer and Blending, Garage Brewing, and Relentless Brewing.

Can you do a beer tour in Temecula?

Yes. Van'N Boozy offers a Wine and Beer Tour that combines wine tasting at two award-winning wineries with a craft beer pour at one of our partnered brewery locations. The tour is $164 per person and includes all tastings, transportation in a vintage VW Bus, a local host, snacks, and water with no hidden fees. It is the best way to experience both sides of Temecula's drinking scene in one day.

What is Temecula known for in craft beer?

Temecula's craft beer scene is known for award-winning IPAs, Belgian-style ales, barrel-aged sours, and experimental brews. Refuge Brewery's Blood Orange Wit won gold at the Great American Beer Festival, and Electric Brewing Co wins awards year after year across multiple styles. Several Temecula breweries also age beer in wine barrels sourced from neighboring wineries, creating unique crossover flavors specific to this region.

Is there a brewery tour that also includes wine tasting in Temecula?

Van'N Boozy's Wine and Beer Tour is designed for exactly this. Your group visits two award-winning wineries and one craft beer location, with all tastings included. The tour runs about four hours in a vintage VW Bus with a local host, scenic backroad routes, and no hidden fees. It was voted Temecula's Most Fun Tour and is perfect for groups with a mix of wine and beer preferences.

What is Craft Brew Month in Temecula?

Craft Brew Month runs every May in Temecula Valley. Participating breweries and meaderies offer special releases, limited-time brews, exclusive deals, and events throughout the month. Visitors can download the Visit Temecula app and use a digital pass to check in at participating locations and earn prizes. It is the best time of year to explore Temecula's craft beer scene.

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