Bay Area Thread

[MrFootstones]

MrFootstones might be able to comment on pricing and pour sizes.

I hear you guys and appreciate the feedback. I don't think I have anything to say that one couldn't simply assume. It opened in JLS when that was a relatively cheap, run down area. Now it's a place businesses actually want to be and rent has skyrocketed. The cost of beer has gone way up in 6 years as well. I wish I had a more exciting answer, but "rent and cost" is the reality of things. That and the "pint" glasses used to be the 14oz fakes

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

Still the best beer bar by far in the Bay Area. It's really not even close IMO.

 

[mikehblack]

Still the best beer bar by far in the Bay Area. It's really not even close IMO.

Yep, I'll be going there tonight. Didn't mean to dig on the bar for the increase in prices, just reminiscing. Beer prices have gone up all over the Bay Area the last few years. Still nice to have a bar with that many quality taps, rotating as often as they do.

 

[Arbitrator]

I miss so much about the way Beer Rev used to be. Haven't actually been in about 18 months or so.

Give it another try. I don't go to beer bars much anymore, but Beer Rev is always a treat for me. Last time I went was in March.

Yeah, prices have gone up [everywhere], and I commiserate, but it's still a fun place to grab a beer. There's always something on tap worth trying, even if I don't recognize half the breweries anymore.

I think Harry's Hofbrau San Leandro is criminally underrated, too. I should go there more, too, but see second sentence.

 

[tosh1]

Yeah, prices have gone up [everywhere], and I commiserate, but it's still a fun place to grab a beer. There's always something on tap worth trying, even if I don't recognize half the breweries anymore.

I think it was more the increase on bottles that put me off. It used to be the place I stopped every weekend, grabbed a beer and got some bottles. But it got to the point where I could get every bottle they had cheaper elsewhere, whereas when they opened they had a lot of stuff other people didn't carry and they were the cheapest option.

I live down the road from Harry's, but have only been a couple of times. I too, rarely go to beer bar's anymore.

 

[stupac2]

Oh goddamnit I said I would organize the TB tastings and have completely forgotten. I think I need someone else to do it, I've still got a ton of crap going on with my house and couldn't guarantee making anything.

 

[johnnyramirez]

Did anyone check out the new Drakes spot in Oakland last night?

 

[matedog]

Did anyone check out the new Drakes spot in Oakland last night?

Did not, but they posted this on their instagram:

I might wait until the tap list is full. The venue looks pretty cool. I peaked in a few weeks back -

 

[jedwards]

Gonna hit up Mikkeller Bar tomorrow afternoon for their anniversary, tap list here. Cantillon stuff of course, but also excited for the JW Lee's 25th, Peche n Brett, and Oude Beersel Still Lambic.

 

[matedog]

Gonna hit up Mikkeller Bar tomorrow afternoon for their anniversary, tap list here. Cantillon stuff of course, but also excited for the JW Lee's 25th, Peche n Brett, and Oude Beersel Still Lambic.

I'm heading there at opening. I won't be there too long, just hoping to get pretty much what you just listed (and draining the bank account, I'm sure). Sounds like BeerMoto is going too.

Anyone go last year? I might get there 30 minutes before opening, I have no idea what the turn out will be like.

 

[stupac2]

Did anyone check out the new Drakes spot in Oakland last night?

They were open last night? Earliest I saw was tomorrow (I'll be at the evening session).

Gonna hit up Mikkeller Bar tomorrow afternoon for their anniversary, tap list here. Cantillon stuff of course, but also excited for the JW Lee's 25th, Peche n Brett, and Oude Beersel Still Lambic.

I'm still debating it. I'm with you that the Mikkeller hate is a bit ridiculous, but getting into the city is harder for me now I have a ton of projects I want to do around the house still. We'll probably be a game-time decision.

 

[bugdoc]

They were open last night? Earliest I saw was tomorrow (I'll be at the evening session).

Yesterday was for industry folks.

 

[snuffy707]

Oh goddamnit I said I would organize the TB tastings and have completely forgotten. I think I need someone else to do it, I've still got a ton of crap going on with my house and couldn't guarantee making anything.

You have disappointed the Snuffy greatly.

 

[jeberman]

Anyone at Mikkeller who can report back on how busy it is/how long the line is to get in?

 

[matedog]

Anyone at Mikkeller who can report back on how busy it is/how long the line is to get in?

No line now. Not terribly busy. LPK was still on tap as of 15 mins ago.

 

[Arbitrator]

I forgot who it was that asked about Russian River lines, but here was the line to get into the pub, 10 minutes after opening, today (a non-release day):

I was there to fill a growler for Sideswipe, but even the growler/to-go section had a wait. I don't think it's an accident that the entry stamp looks like a puckered anus:

Beer 2015.

 

[MrDave]

So is the new Drake's spot open now?

 

[stupac2]

So is the new Drake's spot open now?

Yes. It's pretty cool, although I think that service might be wonky for a little while. Ours was so slow our meal actually got comped. But hopefully that works itself out. Food was good though, their fries are the ****, and my fish & chips was excellent. As of right now there's only Drake's stuff on tap, so if that's a dealbreaker for you, well, there it is. But I will say if you're on the fence and you're thinking "oh Drake's only makes gross beer", go and get the Berliner Weiss. I've had a keg at home for a couple weeks and it's great. If SARA had made it people would be creaming their pants about it.

 

[MrDave]

But I will say if you're on the fence and you're thinking "oh Drake's only makes gross beer", go and get the Berliner Weiss.

Far from on the fence, I didn't even realize there was some anti-Drakes sentiment in the area. I see they have 7x70 on which I recall liking last time I had it a year and a half ago. Will definitely check out the Berliner Weiss, thanks for the tip. Do you know if they do growler fills there?

 

[Sage1]

Do you know if they do growler fills there?

http://californiagrowlerfills.com (tl;dr: yes)

 

[stupac2]

http://californiagrowlerfills.com (tl;dr: yes)

He's asking about Drake's Dealership, which is a new tasting room/restaurant that just opened in downtown (uptown? I don't know, 23rd and Broadway) in Oakland. Your answer is actually still correct, they fill growlers of some of the beers they have on tap. I didn't think to ask if they fill non-Drake's glass.

Far from on the fence, I didn't even realize there was some anti-Drakes sentiment in the area. I see they have 7x70 on which I recall liking last time I had it a year and a half ago. Will definitely check out the Berliner Weiss, thanks for the tip. Do you know if they do growler fills there?

I think Drake's is generally considered a second-tier brewery around here, especially now that Cellarmaker has firmly established itself. Nonetheless they make some good beers, and in terms of easy-to-get kegs they're the best IMO, (though if you have connections other places could beat them).

 

[drgarage1]

He's asking about Drake's Dealership, which is a new tasting room/restaurant that just opened in downtown (uptown? I don't know, 23rd and Broadway) in Oakland. Your answer is actually still correct, they fill growlers of some of the beers they have on tap. I didn't think to ask if they fill non-Drake's glass.

I think Drake's is generally considered a second-tier brewery around here, especially now that Cellarmaker has firmly established itself. Nonetheless they make some good beers, and in terms of easy-to-get kegs they're the best IMO, (though if you have connections other places could beat them).

Fresh 1500 still beats all other hoppy session-ish beers in the area, including Row 2, Hill 56. Happy Hops is better, but that's the only one, and I can't remember the last time RR had it.

 

[stupac2]

Fresh 1500 still beats all other hoppy session-ish beers in the area, including Row 2, Hill 56. Happy Hops is better, but that's the only one, and I can't remember the last time RR had it.

Yeah I love 1500. If I didn't get lazy and stop checking into I'd probably have ~300 check-ins to it from all the kegs I've been through. I especially love getting a keg that's like 2 days old, it's so good all month.

I think Fieldwork's stuff is pretty good, but they also don't sell kegs.

 

[Arbitrator]

Fresh 1500 still beats all other hoppy session-ish beers in the area, including Row 2, Hill 56.

This statement so cray that I'm scared, and slightly intrigued.

 

[drgarage1]

This statement so cray that I'm scared, and slightly intrigued.

I stand by it. I love fresh 1500.

 

[jtmartino1]

I stand by it. I love fresh 1500.

Agreed. Would be amazing if it came in cans - our answer to Pizza Port Ponto.


BTW, happy birthday BeerMoto! Hope you had a good one - gotta meet up for some bottles again soon!

 

[blackzag05]

Heading to RR for the first time. Any tips, comments, jokes I should know before walking in and getting #alltheblindpig?

 

[RyanG1]

Heading to RR for the first time. Any tips, comments, jokes I should know before walking in and getting #alltheblindpig?

Get there early. Order all the beers and get Pliny bites

 

[blackzag05]

Get there early. Order all the beers and get Pliny bites

Damn, it's hoppin on a Tuesday night?

 

[drgarage1]

Damn, it's hoppin on a Tuesday night?

very sadly, yes