Loma Brewing Company
Kevin Youkilis reopened the old Los Gatos Brewing Co. space as Loma in 2016, and a year later it was California Commercial Beer Brewery of the Year at the state fair, two golds and a silver.
Why go
Youkilis, two World Series rings with the Red Sox, bought the space with partners including fellow infielder Nick Punto and rebuilt it around the beer.1 He put his own money in and works the room five days a week.1 There are no photos of him on the walls and his name is not on the sign. I wanted an establishment where the beer and food talk for themselves,
he told the Chronicle.1 The brewery was making about 600 barrels a year when the 2017 state-fair award landed.1 It was up there with winning the World Series,
he said of it.1
Order this / avoid
- Order: the house IPA. Youkilis says he wants to be known as much for his IPA as his OBP.1
- Avoid: coming for memorabilia. The room was built to not be a shrine.1
Good to know
- Two doors. Loma also runs a Manteca location; this entry is the original on N Santa Cruz Ave in downtown Los Gatos.2
- Ordering and private parties run through the site.2
Verdict
could-visit — Two golds and a silver at the 2017 state fair, one year after opening, made this California Commercial Beer Brewery of the Year on Henry Schulman's Chronicle reporting, and that award is why it sits above the valley's other taprooms. Youkilis told Schulman it ranked with winning the World Series, and he works the room five days a week with his name kept off the sign. Nothing newer than 2018 describes the beer, which is the only thing holding it back.