Ruth McGowans Brewpub

Great service. Killer beer selection. Traditional pub food. Outdoor seating for those with dogs.

After a day that started at 3 am, featured flight delays getting to SFO, thick traffic on 101 and getting to my original hotel only to learn they’d given my room away, I needed beer badly. My hotel story ended positively, as they both found me a new room and drove me to the place, but That beer still called.
I was welcomed immediately even though it was a busy Friday, and my server was friendly and attentive. Had a taste of a couple brews before deciding on the floyd ipa. My second was the DIPA. Both delicious and well made.
Hunger had long set in, as my «lunch» consisted of a quick Bowl of Japanese soup at 11 am in SFO (my flight delay caused me to just miss my bus to Sonoma). The three piece fish and chips and a side salad did the trick.
I love living in the west. Nice to see places like McGowans do well!

We have been here quite a few times and have thought the beer was descent and the food generally edible. But I believe last night was the last time we will be going. We stopped in for «Taco Tuesday» as advertised on their door, ordered the only tacos on the menu (the fish tacos) and had a few beers. When our bill came we were informed those weren’t the tacos on special. We suggested that when someone comes in, on Tuesday and orders the only tacos on the menu, that it might be a good idea to inform people those weren’t part of the deal. Our waitress responded with «huh I guess your right!» Then went on ahead and charged us more then twice what we had planned on spending. The food and beer are probably two star, the service brings it down to one star. I’d go to Railroad Café instead, food is better.

Although it’s a quaint little town, I really enjoyed the service and recommendations of our server. We had a great burger and an excellent beer. Don’t let the small town vibe fool you — this place is full of heart!

I’ve been stopping in here for many years now, but this is the first time under the new management. I had my usual burger, medium well, with grilled onions. When it was set down in front of me, I was quite stunned; it looked like a giant bun with nothing in it. Lifting off the top bun, I saw, thankfully, that there was a small patty there (which turned out to be be weller-​than-​well) and onions that had been on the grill top for less than a minute. If you’re going to charge $ 2 extra for grilled onions (really?), then at least grill the damn things.
Beer was good, but the food was not something that would make me want to stop back again. Such a pity, this has always been a place that I’ve looked forward to returning.

Kitchen is better than ever, service is now a well-​oiled machine, and the house beer selection is focused and on point. Love having this place in our town.

If you are looking for a place to try out a wide selection of beers while also eating delicious food, this is the place to go! My boyfriend is the beer-​goer, so I don’t have much to comment on that. The friend Brussels sprouts are very unique and tasty. You must try them! They are perfectly crispy, mixed with bacon, and are coated with a tangy sauce. We also ordered the fried green beans, burger, taco salad and fish and chips. They have food to satisfy everyone and it is reasonably priced. Will be back for sure!
Our server was very attentive while we were ordering our beer and food but seemed to forget about us once the food came out. It wasn’t too busy, but we had to take our check to the bar to pay.
Other than that, it was a great experience with delicious beer and food!

We’ve been customers of this place for a long time. It’s never been above average, but you could always get a good turkey burger and ok salad. Now the new owners have taken the turkey burger off the menu for some reason-​probably too healthy, and there aren’t many choices left for someone who wants to eat light. As a previous reviewer said: pretty much everything is fried. You can get a couple of boring salads, but if you want to go there more than once a month you’re out of luck for variety. I would really like to see some better options than Caesar with chicken on the menu!
The service is usually good, unless they’re very busy, in which case it all goes to hell.
Still, if you’re visiting the area and want a decent beef burger and good beer, stop by.

My wife and I had our first date here four years ago. Since then we have returned over and over again. The food is amazing, try the fish and chips, the beer is spectacular. If you pay attention after you order the fish and chips you can watch the waitress bring the beer from the bar to the kitchen! They have a revolving beer list and guest beers and ciders. All around just an awesome place to hang out.

Do yourselves a favor and stop here if you are going through or to Cloverdale. The salads, burgers, fries, appetizers, and beer are all delicious. Fried green beans were very good and the spicy sauce is great!

Good food, friendly service, good beer. Not great, not amazing, but solid and a little something for whatever you’re craving.

This place was adorable. The staff was really friendly + there was a street festival going on the evening we stopped. The garlic fries were a bit pricey but really good. It seemed to be a similar price-​point to Orange County though, which I found a bit odd. Not sure I’d stop here again but the beer was really good.

The Brussel sprouts were burnt and my «Cobb Salad» was anything but a Cobb salad. The brewskis were okay and the waitress didn’t even know the menu. I’d definitely try this place again, maybe it was an off night.

Great to hear there are new owners! I didn’t go to this place for over 2 years due to the relatives of the owner being so rude! The food is still equally as bad as before which was very disappointing. Looks like they cleaned the place up quite a bit, and I really hope they are going to get rid of the hideous pink exterior, please. I wish the new owners would reduce the number of fried food selections, the oil tasted old and fries were way over cooked in that oil.
How about house cut fries, clean and simple, with a bit of sea salt, yummy! Love the beer, the blonde is yummy, so fortunately the same brewer is still in residence. FYI there was a small group of people who sat in the room off the main area and they had to get up and come to the bar to get someone to notice them, disappointing. I will come back for the brew, friendly bartenders, and the friendly folks at the bar, but definitely not the food. Happy to hear you’re changing the name to Cloverdale Ale Company, much more marketable and easier to pronounce. Cheers

All the points get awarded for their excellent customer service and interaction from the staff. They lost star points because the beer selection and the food is just OK. I came for the beer, and had hoped to wash it down with some tasty goodness, sadly I didn’t finish my beer (lack of taste) and while the food was fully consumed, it was nothing memorable.

Had their Brussel spouts for an appetizer Awesome. Beer good service good.
Only complaint they let people smoke in the eating area on the patio.

Average burger, average light beers, above average Belgian and dark beers, and above average Reuben. Good service.

Great food, great beer. Would be 5 stars but the waitress wined when I asked her to cut my burger in half. Couldn’t be that hard. Everything else is awesome.

First a factoid: McGowan translated to English is Smith.
OK, the owner of the B&B where we stayed had told us that this was a good place for beer but begged us not to eat here. He was right about the beer. The trend in beers in CA brew pubs these days is the more hops the better and to hell with what the traditional style of the beer is. Not here. Between us we had four pints and I wish I could remember of what. I remember the stout though. In the same league as a good pint of Guinness. We looked at the menu and thought pub grub. We had something, again do not remember what but it was decent pub grub. If we lived there we would be regulars.

Epiphany in burgers and brewskis. Ain’t much to say ‘cept: one of the tastiest, heartiest, boss burgers around. The bun is one of THE BEST around.
Though my grey cells are few and far between as well as frequently lacking in resilience, there is one thing I will forever remember:
that thick yummy juicy high quality grain-​fed beef-​y patty nestled in its bready bosom of a heavenly bronze bakery bun, airy-​soft on the outside, crisped up ever-​so-​golden on the cut side, buttered lightly, perfectly springy through-​out. OH SO GOOD.
Heaven bless ye, Ruth McGowan’s Brew Pub for this grand burger. Plus, wonderful beer varieties brewed on the premise– something for all tastes including those of us beer novices. Mighty Shillelagh Belgian Trippel is a must try, especially at Happy Hour.
Golden french fries, crunchy delicious country-​style cole slaw accompanied my burger. I opted to add mushrooms. None of your standard wimpy shrinking watery ones; these hearty baby portabella-​ish slices really stood up to the rest of the burger. Lovely slaw.
Service staff are friendly, welcoming, delightfully helpful with suggestions and extremely attentive. They host live music on occasion too.
This downtown Cloverdale pub is just 20 minutes north of Healdsburg in wine country. If you love beer, burgers and find yourself in northern Sonoma County, Ruth McGowan’s absolutely NEEDS to be on your radar.