Artichokes, industrial-strength brewing, and a very good reason to take the Castroville exit.
For decades, Castroville has proudly called itself the Artichoke Capital of the World. And fair enough. The humble artichoke has done a lot for the town’s reputation, even if it does require an unreasonable amount of work to get to the good bits.
But beginning Saturday, November 7, Castroville has something else growing.
Alvarado Street Brewery is opening The Plant, its spectacular new brewing facility and taproom at 11440 Commercial Parkway.
And no, this isn’t another agricultural processing plant. Although there will be plenty of fermentation going on.
From Artichokes to Ale
Alvarado Street Brewery started in downtown Monterey in 2014 and became one of the Central Coast’s great local success stories. Its beers have earned devoted fans well beyond Monterey Bay.
Eventually, its Salinas production facility simply couldn’t keep up.
Rather than pack up and head somewhere cheaper, Alvarado Street doubled down on its hometown region, building an entirely new production headquarters in Castroville.
At the heart of The Plant is an enormous 50-barrel, Bavarian-built BrauKon brewing system. Visitors can actually watch the brewing operation while enjoying the finished product.
It’s a little like having dinner in a bakery while watching the bread being made. Except the bread is beer. And there are 20 taps.
Twenty Taps. Two That Are Literally on Ice.
Eighteen taps dispense the brewery’s usual assortment of IPAs, lagers, stouts, and rotating experiments.
The other two are something rather special: Japanese-inspired Sharp Pours.
These ice-encased taps serve beer exceptionally cold, crowned with a creamy, dense cap of foam that helps preserve carbonation and aroma.
Think of it as a very elaborate scientific experiment in making your next beer taste better.
One we suspect will attract plenty of willing research volunteers.
Food Trucks, Games, and Absolutely No Dishwashing
Rather than building another full-service restaurant, The Plant is inviting local food trucks to do the cooking.
There’s a dedicated outdoor beer garden, rotating food vendors, and a game lounge featuring pool, shuffleboard, and darts.
It’s the sort of place where you might stop for a quick pint and somehow find yourself discussing the finer points of shuffleboard strategy two hours later.
And because the beer is brewed and canned right there, visitors can pick up fresh four-packs to take home.
The Grand Opening: Saturday, November 7
The festivities begin at 1 PM, with a lineup that includes:
- DJ TRAPS: 3–7 PM
- Sabor Latin Fusion food truck: 3–9 PM
- A special bottle release and exclusive Castroville merchandise
- Plenty of fresh Alvarado Street beer
The tasting room will be open until 9 PM, then settle into a regular Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule.
Why We Love This
At KRML, we have a soft spot for people who build something locally, grow it carefully, and decide that success doesn’t require abandoning the community that helped them get started.
Alvarado Street could have expanded somewhere else. Instead, it chose Castroville.
That’s good news for local employment, neighboring businesses, food truck operators, and everyone who believes the Monterey Bay region can make remarkable things without moving to a bigger city.
And perhaps best of all, Castroville now has another reason for people to get off Highway 1, explore, and stay awhile.
The Artichoke Capital of the World is becoming quite the place to get a little pickled.
Sorry. We couldn’t resist.
The Plant — Alvarado Street Brewery
11440 Commercial Parkway, Castroville
Grand Opening: Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 1–9 PM
Regular hours: Wednesday–Thursday 3–9 PM; Friday 3–10 PM; Saturday 1–9 PM; Sunday 1–7 PM.
More information: asb.beer
From your friends at KRML 94.7 FM — locally grown, occasionally fermented, and always independently curated.