The East Bay’s Headlands Brewing Is Tripling Down With Its Third Beer Garden | Eater SF

"Opening Friday, January 24 at 2999 Oak Road #A in Walnut Creek, this third East Bay beer-garden location leans into a family-friendly, backyard-barbecue brewpub model and was created by converting a sliver of sidewalk greenery into a full-fledged beer garden set amongst five tall redwoods with ample seating, fire pits, multiple TVs, a children's play area, and space for dogs. Owner Austin Sharp attributes the brand's resilience to installing beer gardens in smaller towns and focusing on direct-to-consumer sales in taprooms — a strategy he hopes to duplicate here — and he says, "We want to be an outdoor brand," and, "We want to be doing this sort of beer garden-brewpub, backyard barbecue, kind of vibe." The food program is led by chef Jose Gonzalez, formerly of 4505 Meats and the Cooperage, who oversees menus across all three locations and is finally able to stretch his talents in this space thanks to the addition of a hood (allowing for fried items such as fries). Menu highlights include smash burgers (a popular carryover from the Lafayette spot), offerings from a newly acquired smoker including an upcoming tri-tip sandwich, plus lighter salads and sandwiches. The beverage lineup features 20 taps mixing house favorites and opening specials — expect West Coast and hazy IPAs, a new Czech-style pilsner, a South German-style hefeweizen, and a couple of guest taps to support other local breweries — alongside frosé frozen-rosé drinks and a list of local wines. A cocktail menu developed by Jae Daaboul (of East Bay Spice Company, now-closed Hopscotch, and Parche) broadens the offerings with drinks such as the Wascally Wabbit (a gin-based cocktail with Lillet and ginger-carrot shrub, plus lemon, dill, and cayenne) and the Boulevard Treat (French oak-finished bourbon with Campari, banana cordial, and salt). Coffee service will be added in the coming weeks as a morning extension of the lunch program, and the location’s proximity to BART makes it an easy, relatively short walk. Sharp emphasizes the welcoming, lingering vibe the team aims for: "We’ve always had an outdoor vibe, a relaxed brand, and our spaces are that," and, "Everybody should feel welcome — we’re not going to get too judgy on anybody walking in the door, just come in, take a load off, and have a beer." - Dianne de Guzman