Pints and Pickleball now being served at Modesto’s Contentment Brewing Company
Come for a drink, stay for a dink.
With the recent addition of a pickleball court, glasses clinking with a toast will now be accompanied by the sounds of plastic balls bouncing off paddles at Contentment Brewing Company in Modesto.
“I live near Beyer High School and saw how popular the pickleball courts were there,” brewery owner Alejandro Serrato said. “I had the space out here, so I thought I would try it out.”
Opened Oct. 19, the court is in a spacious outdoor area, located right past the large beer tanks. On opening day, many of his regulars were amazed by the addition, Serrato said.
One of his patrons is an avid player and checked to make sure the court was regulation size. Serrato said she pointed out a few errors and he corrected them according to standards. Not a player himself, Serrato watched YouTube to learn. “It’s harder than it looks, but it is really fun,” he said.
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) topline participation report, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country in terms of participation. The report shows that 19.8 million people played pickleball in the U.S. in 2024, a 45% increase from the previous year.
Serrato has seen the enthusiasm. He said he already had an event booked by a private group to play, and spirits were high and flowing.
There are 18 beers on tap, all made at the brewery, but the flavors are not the only draw to Contentment. Serrato has created a true neighborhood hub, full of activities and places to catch up with friends over a drink.
“I always knew I wanted to brew beer,” Serrato said, “I went all through the Pacific Northwest to visit craft breweries and noticed they were more than just bars, but true community spaces.”
His establishment offers many games and activities. There are disc golf baskets, corn hole, giant Jenga, a shelf full of card and board games, a pool table, a row of pinball machines and two vintage, full-size shuffleboard tables. These are all offered free: first-come, first-served.
Currently, two leagues operate out of the bar: the Stanislaus Pinball League and the CBC Shuffleboard League.
Serrato said a new pickleball league isn’t out of the question. “If people want to start it, then it is possible,” he said. Players are encouraged to bring their own gear, but balls and paddles are available to use.
“I was excited to see it and play,” said musician Kayla Just. She often plays shows at the bar, but she seemed eager to put down the guitar and pick up a paddle. “I used to play a lot, so this is just fun,” she said
Serrato opened the brewery in July 2019. The former 7Up plant and then sheet metal factory is a 7,000-square-foot space with an industrial feel and an artsy vibe.
Serrato is an Air Force veteran, having served from 1999 to 2003. He offers discounts for veterans and even people who arrive at the brewery on foot or on a bike. He calls it a “green” discount. “I wanted the place to be a positive space for the community,” he said.
The court is open during business hours until the sun sets. Contentment Brewing Company is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-9 p.m.; Fridays, 4-10 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-10 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-6 p.m.
For a schedule of all their special events and activities, visit www.contentmentbrewing.com.
