I went to a junior college in the mountains near Chico (Quincy, Ca) about 15 years ago. Sierra Nevada was sold cheap there! We used to party in the winter and stash the beers in the snow while playing music. Spring was like Christmas and Easter all rolled into one. We'd walk around the yard and find Big foot ales, porters and stouts left over from previous parties as the snow thawed.
Mendo and Humboldt counties make some pretty good beers too: Lost Coast and North Coast breweries.