Bay Area Thread

[stupac2]

I suppose I'm just spoiled where I'm at in Michigan, as there's a handful of places that I'd plop down for an evening and happily drink whatever they have on tap within easy driving distance.

I think part of the thing is that there are actually fewer Bay Area breweries than you might think, especially ones with taprooms. Like, Almanac would probably be worth visiting, but they don't have a taproom. Then you have places like Magnolia and Linden St that make solid-but-unsexy beer so everyone forgets about them (I totally spaced on Linden St and I actually like them!).

It also doesn't help that "easy driving distance" can be ridiculously small around here. Altamont makes good beer, but I've never been to their taproom because who wants to drive out there? Etc.

 

[tosh1]

No-one mentioned Moonlight. Isn't their taproom open now? Couple other places up that way might be worth a stop at. Woodfour and perhaps Henhouse.

 

[RyanG1]

No-one mentioned Moonlight. Isn't their taproom open now? Couple other places up that way might be worth a stop at. Woodfour and perhaps Henhouse.

Saturday and Sunday.

I would have a wonderful time at Moonlight - Lagunitas (I dig the beer garden) - Russian River, in some order.

 

[MarkIntihar]

I think part of the thing is that there are actually fewer Bay Area breweries than you might think, especially ones with taprooms. Like, Almanac would probably be worth visiting, but they don't have a taproom. Then you have places like Magnolia and Linden St that make solid-but-unsexy beer so everyone forgets about them (I totally spaced on Linden St and I actually like them!).

It also doesn't help that "easy driving distance" can be ridiculously small around here. Altamont makes good beer, but I've never been to their taproom because who wants to drive out there? Etc.

I'm looking for solid but unsexy, honestly. I've become much, much less picky in my old age. More concerned with vibe than the ridiculously high quality of the beer.

 

[abecall98]

Russian River is great if you like lines, Rare Barrel is great if you like mediocre sours. I'd toss both off the list, sub in Faction as Sage mentioned, and maybe Altamont as a surprise guest.

Even Lagunitas has gotten too busy.

People seem to forget this place exists, probably cus it's way out of the way, but god damn are their beers great.

 

[RyanG1]

I'm looking for solid but unsexy, honestly. I've become much, much less picky in my old age. More concerned with vibe than the ridiculously high quality of the beer.

A recent evening in SF, Cellarmaker - Toronado (why not?) - Magnolia (Haight Street) - Harmonic.

Or Berekeley/East Bay, Fieldwork - Sierra Nevada - Rare Barrel - Trappist (maybe) - Faction.

Most of these could be hit via a combination of public transportation, walking, uber/lyft.

 

[jtmartino1]

No-one mentioned Moonlight. Isn't their taproom open now? Couple other places up that way might be worth a stop at. Woodfour and perhaps Henhouse.

Honestly, I'm a big fan of Woodfour and Henhouse. But I have no idea if they have taprooms, and I'm too lazy to perform a 10 second google search.

I always drink a lot of Henhouse when I go to State Bird Provisions. It's a great pairing for all the weird/awesome food they serve.

I'm looking for solid but unsexy, honestly. I've become much, much less picky in my old age. More concerned with vibe than the ridiculously high quality of the beer.

I'm in the same boat. I actually would rather drink beer at a decent bar that's not packed full of beer geeks chasing the "latest and greatest".

 

[benbikes4beer]

I'm looking for solid but unsexy, honestly. I've become much, much less picky in my old age. More concerned with vibe than the ridiculously high quality of the beer.

You'd probably dig Triple Rock. The few times I've been there, its been a cool vibe.

 

[jtmartino1]

Any love for Southern Pacific? Decent food, awesome venue, average beer for SF. It's a great spot that's not always packed on weekdays.


All I know is the more people talk about cool breweries, the more I realize San Mateo County absolutely sucks for beer.

"Yay, Devil's Canyon and Steelhead!"

-Said no one, ever.

 

[tosh1]

Any love for Southern Pacific? Decent food, awesome venue, average beer for SF

Agreed on all fronts, been a while since I have been, but always enjoyed that place.

 

[benbikes4beer]

The real question MarkIntihar, is where are you going to MarkIntihar, and what will you be MarkIntihar'ing

 

[matedog]

Agreed on all fronts, been a while since I have been, but always enjoyed that place.

I'd argue below average beer for SF. That **** is like going to BJ's if not for the great ambiance and guest taps.

 

[matedog]

Where in Berkeley are you? If BART is reasonable to get to, it's really the best option. There's some weirdness with the Super Bowl and BART stops, but I think it's only Embarcadero which you don't want anyway. If you're just trying to get from Rare Barrel to Cellarmaker/CBS/Mikkellerbar/whatever then yes, absolutely take BART. Driving into and around the city and parking are just not worth it.

For real. Not to mention chance of break ins. Also, you are drinking, so why worry about whether or not to get that last beer and just get into the metal tube that will take you home.

 

[stupac2]

I'm looking for solid but unsexy, honestly. I've become much, much less picky in my old age. More concerned with vibe than the ridiculously high quality of the beer.

What sort of vibe? Most places listed won't get too busy unless you're there at peak hours, and even then a lot of them will be pretty chill (Cellarmaker and Rare Barrel definitely get crowded in the evenings).

I also forgot about Cleophus Quealy, which isn't far from Drake's and is the same sort of place, old industrial space, good-and-occasionally-excellent beer, food trucks (though Drake's now has a permanent food truck, I think CQ just mostly has them around).

 

[corby112]

Where in Berkeley are you? If BART is reasonable to get to, it's really the best option. There's some weirdness with the Super Bowl and BART stops, but I think it's only Embarcadero which you don't want anyway. If you're just trying to get from Rare Barrel to Cellarmaker/CBS/Mikkellerbar/whatever then yes, absolutely take BART. Driving into and around the city and parking are just not worth it.

Thanks for the info. We are staying at the Doubletree Berkeley Marina, 200 Marina Blvd. Looks like North Berkeley is the closest stop. I will have a DD but BART seems much more convenient with the traffic/Super Bowl City event going on.

 

[preacher1]

Honestly, I'm a big fan of Woodfour and Henhouse. But I have no idea if they have taprooms, and I'm too lazy to perform a 10 second google search.

I always drink a lot of Henhouse when I go to State Bird Provisions. It's a great pairing for all the weird/awesome food they serve.

Woodfour has a cool spot in an industrial market type setting. The food is very good too.

Henhouse slated to open taproom this spring/summer.. Don't recall where but they are not going to be in Petaluma...next town up iirc.

 

[MarkIntihar]

What sort of vibe? Most places listed won't get too busy unless you're there at peak hours, and even then a lot of them will be pretty chill (Cellarmaker and Rare Barrel definitely get crowded in the evenings).

I also forgot about Cleophus Quealy, which isn't far from Drake's and is the same sort of place, old industrial space, good-and-occasionally-excellent beer, food trucks (though Drake's now has a permanent food truck, I think CQ just mostly has them around).

My favorite places are typically the super small taproom types or the pub/sports bar feel with a few TVs to catch a game or two.

 

[matedog]

My favorite places are typically the super small taproom types or the pub/sports bar feel with a few TVs to catch a game or two.

Is it cool if it's super small and super packed?

 

[jtmartino1]

I'd argue below average beer for SF. That **** is like going to BJ's if not for the great ambiance and guest taps.

Yeah, maybe. But when the beer sucks, you can always switch to liquor at Southern Pacific.

But don't forget just how many mediocre breweries are in SF! List from Brewer's Guild website:

21st Amendment
Almanac
Anchor
Barrel Head
Bartlett
Beach Chalet
Black Hammer
Black Sands
Cellarmaker
Fort Point
Harmonic
Headlands
Laughing Monk
Local
Magnolia
Old Bus
Pine Street
Pizza Orgasmica
SF Brewing
Social Kitchen
Southern Pacific
Southpaw
Speakeasy
Sunset Reservoir
Thirstybear
Triple Voodoo
Woods


That said, there's a bunch here I haven't tried, and most I've never visited (if they even have a taproom). I usually try local beers at the Beer Week Opening Gala, where I've been generally disappointed in SF breweries.

 

[AndresR]

Yeah, maybe. But when the beer sucks, you can always switch to liquor at Southern Pacific.

But don't forget just how many mediocre breweries are in SF! List from Brewer's Guild website:

21st Amendment
Almanac
Anchor
Barrel Head
Bartlett
Beach Chalet
Black Hammer
Black Sands
Cellarmaker
Fort Point
Harmonic
Headlands
Laughing Monk
Local
Magnolia
Old Bus
Pine Street
Pizza Orgasmica
SF Brewing
Social Kitchen
Southern Pacific
Southpaw
Speakeasy
Sunset Reservoir
Thirstybear
Triple Voodoo
Woods


That said, there's a bunch here I haven't tried, and most I've never visited (if they even have a taproom). I usually try local beers at the Beer Week Opening Gala, where I've been generally disappointed in SF breweries.

Haha, **** Yeah Beach Chalet! You know it's legit because they also brew their own in house root beer.

 

[HeavySpeedway]

This is where I pimp Alpha Acid, as they are opening a taproom on Sunday. I've rarely had one of their beers (usually at Ale Arsenal, but I've seen them around) that I didn't enjoy.

If you are stuck in San Jose, you could do a lot worse than Santa Clara Valley Brewing, and the vibe sounds exactly up Markintihar's alley.

Markintihar, it sounds like you are OK with smallish beer bars as well, but I just wanted to check on that.

 

[abecall98]

Yeah, maybe. But when the beer sucks, you can always switch to liquor at Southern Pacific.

But don't forget just how many mediocre breweries are in SF! List from Brewer's Guild website:

21st Amendment
Almanac
Anchor
Barrel Head
Bartlett
Beach Chalet
Black Hammer
Black Sands
Cellarmaker
Fort Point
Harmonic
Headlands
Laughing Monk
Local
Magnolia
Old Bus
Pine Street
Pizza Orgasmica
SF Brewing
Social Kitchen
Southern Pacific
Southpaw
Speakeasy
Sunset Reservoir
Thirstybear
Triple Voodoo
Woods


That said, there's a bunch here I haven't tried, and most I've never visited (if they even have a taproom). I usually try local beers at the Beer Week Opening Gala, where I've been generally disappointed in SF breweries.

I don't even know half of those breweries.

Same thing going on in Sacramento area.

 

[MarkIntihar]

Is it cool if it's super small and super packed?

Would prefer not always super packed, but packed on occasion doesn't bother me.

 

[benbikes4beer]

My favorite places are typically the super small taproom types or the pub/sports bar feel with a few TVs to catch a game or two.

Basically you just described O'Brien's down here in SD Except this weekend will most certainly not be chill with the Tion event.

 

[stupac2]

My favorite places are typically the super small taproom types or the pub/sports bar feel with a few TVs to catch a game or two.

The only thing that brings to mind is Cellarmaker. Most places around here actively eschew TVs, and relatively few tasting rooms are small. Linden St could fit the bill but I haven't been back since they added the restaurant next door (called The Dock, supposedly it's really good) so I'm not sure how it's set up now.

 

[HeavySpeedway]

The only thing that brings to mind is Cellarmaker. Most places around here actively eschew TVs, and relatively few tasting rooms are small. Linden St could fit the bill but I haven't been back since they added the restaurant next door (called The Dock, supposedly it's really good) so I'm not sure how it's set up now.

Cellarmaker only turns on that TV for Bay Area related teams, or maybe playoffs. Otherwise, you'd have to practically beg them to turn it on, perhaps buying a round for the whole place.

I think Markintihar would be very turned off by the usual crowds in Cellarmaker, but he'd like the beer.

 

[mapleneck]

No-one mentioned Moonlight. Isn't their taproom open now? Couple other places up that way might be worth a stop at. Woodfour and perhaps Henhouse.

and Cooperage

 

[RyanG1]

Definitely Thirsty Bear! Or Gold Club for some ass and wings.

 

[BrandoSF]

Yeah, maybe. But when the beer sucks, you can always switch to liquor at Southern Pacific.

But don't forget just how many mediocre breweries are in SF! List from Brewer's Guild website:

21st Amendment
Almanac
Anchor
Barrel Head
Bartlett
Beach Chalet
Black Hammer
Black Sands
Cellarmaker
Fort Point
Harmonic
Headlands
Laughing Monk
Local
Magnolia
Old Bus
Pine Street
Pizza Orgasmica
SF Brewing
Social Kitchen
Southern Pacific
Southpaw
Speakeasy
Sunset Reservoir
Thirstybear
Triple Voodoo
Woods


Christ, that is a depressing ass list

 

[bugdoc]

Yeah, maybe. But when the beer sucks, you can always switch to liquor at Southern Pacific.

But don't forget just how many mediocre breweries are in SF! List from Brewer's Guild website:

21st Amendment
Almanac
Anchor
Barrel Head
Bartlett
Beach Chalet
Black Hammer
Black Sands
Cellarmaker
Fort Point
Harmonic
Headlands
Laughing Monk
Local
Magnolia
Old Bus
Pine Street
Pizza Orgasmica
SF Brewing
Social Kitchen
Southern Pacific
Southpaw
Speakeasy
Sunset Reservoir
Thirstybear
Triple Voodoo
Woods


That said, there's a bunch here I haven't tried, and most I've never visited (if they even have a taproom). I usually try local beers at the Beer Week Opening Gala, where I've been generally disappointed in SF breweries.

Also haven't been to most of these, but a number of friends have touted the product from Bartlett Hall, which would seem to be a convenient spot to check out if you take a wrong turn and end up being trampled by the tourist crush in Union Square.