Beer City starts and finishes at Almaden Lake Park, San Jose and runs along the adjacent creek trails. These are flat courses that have a mixture of paved bike paths, gravel trails and a small amount of trail for the half marathon. Beer City San Jose is an open-course event.

Aid Stations offer a mixture of water, Skratch sports drink, and (half marathon only) gels and blocks. All courses are marked with signs and mileage markers.