Hops and Fog Brewing Company

Hops And Fog Brewing Company fills a small, reworked building right in downtown Pacific Grove. The entrance sits close to the sidewalk, easy to spot if you’re coming from Lighthouse Avenue. Inside, most of the space is taken up by a long bar and a handful of tables – not much room to spread out, but enough for a few groups or solo visitors to settle in. The bar lines one wall, with taps visible behind, and brewery art and hop-themed paintings filling up the rest of the wall space. Out back or along the side, a few outdoor tables pick up the overflow or suit anyone looking for fresh air. The beer list rotates, always balancing house brews with guest taps. Early on, the brewery leaned on guest beers – local IPAs, a brown ale, a Belgian, sometimes an Irish red or a hazy IPA – but their own lineup has started to take shape, with more planned. Cider shows up on tap from time to time. The food menu stays straightforward: wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, each one coming out with a thin, chewy crust and a handful of toppings. Choices rotate, but regulars will spot margherita, il diavolo, pesto, and the occasional apple pizza. There’s usually a couple of sandwiches – caprese or Venato – plus grilled cheese sliders with tomato soup, focaccia rounds with olive oil and balsamic, a kale salad, and squash soup if it’s on the board. The place keeps its original bones, with old details from the building showing through. It feels close, a little noisy when it’s full, and the art brings in some color. Most people end up at the bar or squeezed into a table until a spot opens outside. The brewery sits just off the main drag, so it’s an easy stop after a walk through town or the beach. Restrooms are tucked inside, standard for a spot this size. Brewing happens on-site, though the setup is small – more nano than full-scale – and one of the owners is usually around, working the bar or checking on tables. Hops And Fog is the first brewery to open in Pacific Grove, and the building itself has been pulled into the new use without losing its old shape.