3544 Carson Road, Suite 20, Camino, 530-556-5060, hwy50brewery.com 

If you’re a lover of beer and appreciate a beautiful view, Hwy 50 Brewery in Camino is the place for you. My family met some friends there for a relaxing dinner on the sprawling deck while listening to live music and drinking really, really good beer. The atmosphere and menu are both kid-friendly; their French fries were so tasty in fact that my daughters had two orders (one regular and one with house-made chili and melty cheese). We also shared a few brick-oven pizzas that were the perfect sustenance to soak up all the brews, which—let’s be honest—was the most important part of our meal (don’t worry—not for my kiddos). The Hwy 50 IPA had a hint of citrus and was quite refreshing; the Hwy 50 Amber was also a crowd favorite and lacked the bitterness that some ambers can have; our pal, Roy, a self-proclaimed beer aficionado, said the Irish Stout was the best he’s ever had. We were even able to compliment the brewer, Gary Ritz, because he likes to wander around and make sure everyone is having a good time. Hwy 50 Brewery is like hanging out at a friend’s house…if your friend has a scenic yard in the mountains, serves mouthwatering food from an outdoor pizza oven, and brews amazing beer. Yes, everyone needs a friend like Gary, and you can be his buddy seven days a week between noon and 8 p.m. 

—Julie Ryan