Sacramento has one of the best brewpubs in the nation, USA Today says. Where to find it
Sacramento is home to one of the best brewpubs in the nation, according to USA Today.
The publication recently polled readers about the top 10 brewpubs in the United States in 2025 — and Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse, 1322 V St. in Sacramento, made the list.
“What’s better than a craft brewery? A craft brewery with an on-premises bar where you can sit back, relax and enjoy a cold one,” USA Today said in a March 5 article.
Urban Roots was No. 5 on the list of the best brewpubs for “food, fun and flavor,” USA Today said, thanks to its “diverse range of craft beers” and popular menu packed with “smoked meats and comfort foods.”
What is Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse?
Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse was founded by Rob Archie, owner of Pangaea Bier Cafe in Sacramento, and brewmaster Peter Hoey.
Archie is credited for launching Sacramento’s craft beer craze in 2008, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
Urban Roots took home the trophy for California Brewery of the Year in 2021 at the California Craft Brewers Cup, as well as two gold medals and two silver medals for its beers.
One of the Southside Park brewery’s India pale ales, Extra Guacamole, was named the “world’s best” imperial IPA of 2024 in a European beer competition, according to Forbes.
Other Urban Roots beers have earned honors at the California State Fair and Great American Beer Festival, according to the brewery’s website.
What’s on the menu at Sacramento brewery?
On Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse’s menu, you can find burgers, barbecue, seafood, salads and of course, beer, at decent prices.
You can get a variety of smoked meat options, including brisket, tri tip and pork spare ribs, for up to $20.
All of the brewery’s burgers cost less than $25 and come with fries, and salads top out at $20.
Urban Roots’ brisket and macaroni and cheese are “particularly popular” dishes, according to USA Today.
Where are the best brewpubs in US?
Urban Roots was the only California brewery to grab a spot on USA Today’s list of the best brewpubs in the United States. Here’s who made the list:
- Lua Brewing in Des Moines, Iowa
- Strangebird Brewery in Rochester, New York
- Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence, Kansas
- Dewey Beer Co. in Dewey Beach, Delaware
- Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse in Sacramento
- Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery in Chicago
- Otherlands Beer in Bellingham, Washington
- Southern Prohibition Brewing in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- The Brewer’s Art in Baltimore
- Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee
How did USA Today come up with rankings?
To narrow down its list of the best beerpubs in the nation, USA Today said it asked a panel of beer experts to nominate their favorites.
The publication then asked readers to vote for their top picks. The beerpubs with the most reader votes earned spots on the top 10 list, USA Today said.
