Please note: This is an older article that was published over 5 years ago. It may contain outdated information, so please double-check any dates, hours, or other information before confirming your plans. Thank you!

A bustling gathering spot since 2000, Half Moon Brewing Co. draws locals and visitors alike with killer views, brews, and grub.

Situated along the shoreline in charming Pillar Point Harbor, the welcoming craft brewery and restaurant offers a sense of place with fresh local seafood, beers brewed onsite, and an expansive, light-strung patio overlooking the water. Travel + Leisure magazine dubbed it one of America’s Best Beach Bars, and Coastal Living mag nominated it as one of the nation’s top coastal breweries. Enjoy a pint around one of the warming fire pits, toe-tap along to live music, and see why it’s been a convivial neighborhood staple for nearly 20 years.

HMB Brewing Co
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., situated along the shoreline in charming Pillar Point Harbor.

What’s On Tap

A certified independent craft brewery, Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. produces a contemporary selection of year-round and seasonal brews. You’ll find everything from a crisp, easy drinking Kolsch to a rich Coffee Milk Stout to a creamy, Belgian-style Saison. Hop heads have their pick of numerous IPAs including the West Coast-style Full Swing IPA and the hazy Juicy Gossip IPA. And, each fall, the brewery is celebrated for its festive Pumpkin Harvest Ale that’s brewed with the region’s famed pumpkins.

“I still enjoy brewing specialty IPAs that are so popular and well-received,” says Brewmaster James Costa. “I’m also excited about growing our barrel-aged beer program, and doing more pilsners, and possibly a lager in the future.”

Beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.
Piped direct from the brewery, rotating beer selections are served as pints or 4 oz. tasters.

Costa’s hand-crafted brews have consistently racked up accolades and awards including gold and silver medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and California State Fair. Piped direct from the brewery, rotating beer selections are served as pints or 4 oz. tasters, allowing you to customize your own sampler tray. Find a new fave? Bring some home via a bottle, crowler, or growler. Take a peek of what’s on tap at the bar right now.

Seasonal Coastal Fare

If you’re craving classic pub grub to pair with your pale ale, Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. delivers with crowd pleasers such as crispy artichoke hearts, heaping plates of nachos, and a bacon and chipotle-fueled Smoked Monster Burger. It’s also one of the few places in town where you can try an Impossible Burger, the new plant-based patty that has the foodie world abuzz.

Crab roll
The brewery transcends traditional brewpubs with fresh, seasonal seafood dishes such as buttery Dungeness crab rolls.

Plus, thanks to its seaside setting—steps from where fishermen hawk fresh crab and seafood from harbor docks—the brewery transcends traditional brewpubs with fresh, seasonal seafood dishes such as buttery Dungeness crab rolls, beer-battered fish & chips, and a shellfish and linguica-studded Portuguese Fisherman’s Stew. Their clam chowder was proclaimed by Food Network to be one of the best outside outside of New England. Drop by weekend days, and you’ll enjoy brunch items such as a Crab Cake Benedict Sandwich and Dungeness Crab Omelette. And don’t forget the kiddos and the pups! The patio is dog-friendly, and an activity-filled kids menu offers faves such as mac n’ cheese and chicken tenders.

Helping Sustain the Coastside

It’s not just the brews that will fill you with warm fuzzies. Half Moon Brewing Co. is an active participant in preserving the region’s natural landscape and vibrant community. It was the first certified green business on the San Mateo Coast, and the kitchen adheres to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s lauded Seafood Watch Program which ensures menu items support healthy oceans. On the brewery side, they were the first in California to produce a beer made with recycled water, and spent brewing grain is given to local farmers for feed and homemade dog bones. In addition, the company has pledged more than $800,000 to local community efforts including event sponsorships and high school scholarships.

Seafood Sampler
The kitchen adheres to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s lauded Seafood Watch Program which ensures menu items support healthy oceans.

“We’re so proud to be members of the wonderful Half Moon Bay Coastside Community,” says owner Lenny Mendonca. “We love it when neighbors help neighbors, and we’re all neighbors on the coast.”

From coastal chow to community ties, you’ll find much to cheer at the the Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. Swing by for a pint and a bite, and enjoy the warm atmosphere and neighborly vibes they’ve fostered for almost two decades.

Garrick Ramirez is a freelance writer and photographer who loves sharing compelling destinations within California. As a native, he has yet to tire of exploring the many cities, small towns, and natural splendor found throughout the state. His travel guides have appeared in the SF Chronicle, Via Magazine, and The Mercury News among others. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and son.