Peter B’s Reopens This Week After Major Renovation

June 24, 2025—A hidden gem has been thoroughly polished up, which means it will be that much shinier, and that much harder to hide.

Tucked in an easy-to-miss corner of the Custom House Plaza complex, Peter B’s reopens Thursday, June 26, after a $2 million renovation.

Don’t let the lofty price tag on the makeover distract from the fact that—while Peter B’s can claim bragging brewer’s rights as Monterey’s original craft beer operation—its truest claim to fame would be it enjoys the highest value happy hour(s) in the area. 

HH deals will help commemorate reopening night, when guests can tap $5 drafts and bar bites 4-6pm, with a live performance by TNT & The Explosions from 6–9pm. The show also marks the kickoff of Peter B’s Thursday Night Summer Music Series, running weekly through October.

Meanwhile the overhauled design, complete with earthy tiles and elements of wood, copper, and stone, 22 new flatscreen TVs, vintage brewing photographs, and a custom reclaimed wood table in the Barrel Room—crafted by local artisan Todd Wilde using Randazzo Salvage—is something to see.

The table, per Peter B’s promotional copy, presents “a striking blend of sustainability, local craftsmanship, and storytelling—just like Peter B’s itself.”

Portola Hotel & Spa Managing Director Janine Chicourrat elaborates.

“Peter B’s has been there since 1996, so there’s a lot of history and stories behind it, and great brewers,” she says. “What our architect was really trying to achieve is making it look like an old working brewery.”

Peter B’s current head brewer Natalie Mika sounds audibly stoked for the rebirth and a chance to showcase new creations against what she describes as “an entire wall” of TVs behind the bar.

“It’s honestly quite impressive,” she says. 

The new beers come inspired in part by time spent away during demolition, in a range of Japanese cities stretching from Tokyo to Hiroshima, and include a white peach cherry blossom ale.

“I had the best time in all of these beautiful plum and cherry and apricot orchards,” she says. “I just fell in love with it.”

For his part, Peter B’s chef Carl Ashurst seems most enthused to nudge the kitchen in a less deep-fried direction, with dishes like a house made black bean burger and baked garlic butter wings in a range of barbecue, Buffalo and mango-habanero sauces.

“People are going to be surprised,” he says, adding plenty of indulgent options like new Detroit-style pizzas will remain.

Other menu highlights include lobster mac and cheese, prime rib chili nachos and maittake “wings,” dialed to complement the landmark beer program.

“We get an idea of the flavor profiles,” Ashurst says, “then match it.”

And now the setting offers further synergy.

Peter B’s Brewpub’s hours are 4-10pm Thursday-Monday (closed Tuesday-Wednesday). More at the Portola Hotel & Spa’s Peter B’s tab.