Brewery
Unclaimed profileMare Island Brewing Co. – Ferry Taproom
Vallejo, CA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Mare Island Brewing Co. – Ferry Taproom is the brewery's original 2014 location, with 20 taps, a full kitchen, and a beverage program that reaches beyond beer. The draft list runs from Saginaw Golden Ale and Ivy Bells Pilsner to Hydraulic Sandwich IPA and Nuclear Sandwich Double IPA, with a guest cider tap. Wine drinkers get a compact but real list, including Mare Island Winefitters selections and a mimosa flight. Non-alcoholic options cover hop water, NA beer, tea, and soda.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Saginaw Golden Ale, a 4.3% ABV, 21 IBU draft at $6.75, or explore the range with a sampler flight. For a non-beer drink, the Up Housewives Sauvignon Blanc is $12.00 a glass, and the Classic Mimosa is $14.00.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Beer drinkers who want a broad house roster on draft, wine drinkers who want a few by-the-glass options, and anyone looking for non-alcoholic beer or hop water alongside a full kitchen.
- When should I go?
- The taproom opened in 2014 and offers a rotating seasonal tap list; one guest mentions enjoying beers while watching the sunset.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Draft beers are $6.75–$10.50, single cans $3.25–$5.50, and 4-packs $11.50–$19.00. Wine by the glass is $10.50–$14.00, bottles to go $36.00–$52.00, and non-alcoholic drinks $2.50–$6.00.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A 20-tap brewery taproom with a full kitchen, a guest cider tap, sampler flights, and a wine list that includes Mare Island Winefitters selections and a mimosa flight. Cans and 4-packs of house beers are available to go, and the non-alcoholic list includes both NA beer and hop water.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Wine
A compact but serious wine list for a brewery taproom, with Mare Island Winefitters selections and other producers. Eight named options span sparkling, rosé, white, and red, including a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, red blend, Pinot Noir Rosé, and two sparkling wines. Mimosas and a mimosa flight are also offered, and bottles are available to go.
Menu strengths
- — Eight named wine selections, including sparkling, rosé, white, red blend, and Pinot Noir.
- — By-the-glass pricing is moderate, from $10.50 to $14.00.
- — Bottles to go range from $36.00 to $52.00, and a $20.00 corkage fee is listed.
Standout selections
- — Up Housewives – 2023: Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Coast, $12.00 glass; $44.00 bottle to go.
- — War Worker – 2022: 100% Chardonnay, California, $13.00 glass; $48.00 bottle to go.
- — Dig On For Victory – 2018: Red Blend, Sonoma Mountain, $14.00 glass; $52.00 bottle to go.
- — Domaine Laurier – n.v.: Brut Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wine, California, $12.00 glass; $44.00 bottle to go.
Pricing: By the glass $10.50–$14.00; bottles to go $36.00–$52.00; corkage $20.00; Classic Mimosa $14.00, flavored mimosa $15.00, mimosa flight $24.00.
Beer
The core of the program: 20 taps with a broad range of house styles, from Saginaw Golden Ale and Ivy Bells Pilsner to Hydraulic Sandwich IPA and Nuclear Sandwich Double IPA, plus Coal Shed Stout and Farragut's Farmhouse Barrel Aged Saison. A guest cider tap and sampler flights are available, and cans and 4-packs are sold to go.
Menu strengths
- — 20 taps with core, seasonal, reserve, archive, non-alc, and collab beers.
- — Sampler flights allow comparison across the draft list.
- — Cans and 4-packs to go, with single cans $3.25–$5.50 and 4-packs $11.50–$19.00.
Standout selections
- — Saginaw Golden Ale: 4.3% ABV, 21 IBU; $6.75 draft, $3.75 can, $13.00 4-pack.
- — Ivy Bells Pilsner: 5.1% ABV, 31 IBU; $7.75 draft, $4.25 can, $15.50 4-pack.
- — Hydraulic Sandwich IPA: 7.1% ABV, 51 IBU; $8.50 draft, $4.75 can, $17.00 4-pack.
- — Nuclear Sandwich Double IPA: 9.1% ABV; $10.50 draft, $5.50 can, $19.00 4-pack.
Pricing: Draft $6.75–$10.50; single cans $3.25–$5.50; 4-packs $11.50–$19.00.
Nonalcoholic
A non-alcoholic list that includes both NA beer and hop water, plus tea, soda, juice, and sparkling water. Rationale NA Mexican Lager and NA Hazy IPA are $6.00, Dry Dock No. 1 Hop Water is $3.25 a can, and Tejava iced tea is $5.00. Cans and 4-packs of hop water are available to go.
Menu strengths
- — Includes non-alcoholic beer and hop water, not just soft drinks.
- — Dry Dock Hop Water is available by the can and in 4-packs to go.
Standout selections
- — Rationale Non-Alc Mexican Lager: $6.00.; Rationale NA Beer (Hazy IPA & Mexican Lager): $6.00.
- — Tejava Iced Tea: $5.00.; Dry Dock No. 1 Hop Water: $3.25 per can; $11.50 per 4-pack to go.
Pricing: $2.50–$6.00; Dry Dock Hop Water $3.25 per can, $11.50 per 4-pack to go.
How it sits with the food
The Ferry Taproom houses a full kitchen, so the beverage list can be paired with food on site.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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