What do you actually do with a free afternoon in Redding when it’s too hot to hike and you’re not in the mood for a full sit-down meal? If you haven’t been to Cowtown Brewing Company out on Eastside Road, that’s your answer.
Cowtown opened quietly a few years back without much fanfare, which is probably why a lot of people from the west side of town still haven’t made the drive. The taproom sits on a working ranch property, and that’s not just marketing — there are actual animals nearby, an open-air feel, and enough space that you don’t feel like you’re elbow-to-elbow with strangers. The porch out front gets afternoon shade before most other spots in the area, which matters a lot when you’re talking about a Redding summer.
The draw here isn’t standard IPAs, though they have those. Cowtown has leaned into mead and hard cider in a way that most local spots haven’t bothered with. If you’ve never had a dry mead on tap, this is a low-stakes place to try one — the staff knows the product and won’t make you feel like you’re asking a dumb question. The rotating fruit ciders are worth asking about too; they source local when they can, and the flavor profiles are more restrained than the candy-sweet versions you find at grocery stores.
On weekends, there’s usually a food truck parked outside. The lineup rotates, so there’s no guarantee of what you’ll find, but the scheduling gets posted on their social media ahead of time. Plan around that if you’re making a special trip and want food sorted. During the week it’s more of a drinks-and-snacks situation — they keep some packaged charcuterie options and that sort of thing behind the bar.
Bring your dog. Seriously. The outdoor space is dog-friendly, and given the ranch setting, it doesn’t feel like an afterthought. You’ll see regulars pull up with their labs and heelers and settle in for two hours without anyone bothering them. Kids have been there too during family-friendly hours, though it obviously depends on when you go.
Flights run around eight to ten dollars and let you work through four options without committing. Pints are priced close to what you’d pay anywhere else in town — roughly six to eight dollars depending on what you order. Nothing here is going to shock your wallet.
The drive out takes about ten to fifteen minutes from downtown Redding, depending on traffic on Highway 44. It’s not a long haul, but it feels like you’ve left the city once you get there, which is kind of the point. Late afternoon on a Saturday, when the light gets long and the temperature starts dropping, is probably the best time to go. That two-hour window before sunset hits different out there.
It’s not trying to be a destination brewery with a full kitchen and trivia nights every Thursday. What it is — a laid-back place with thoughtful drinks and room to breathe — is exactly what a lot of people around here are quietly looking for.
