Bay Area Thread

[bumbillbee]

Ugh I wish I could make it (especially since it's a print), I've never seen it but I'm definitely down for a future meetup there!

 

[tosh1]

So Drakes... this Blood Orange Hopocylpse is damn good.

 

[rrryanc]

So Drakes... this Blood Orange Hopocylpse is damn good.

I had it on Saturday at the festival and was not impressed. Tasted like an amber IPA, I got no citrus at all. Black was pure alcohol, Green and White were pretty good. Your tastes may vary I suppose.

 

[drgarage1]

I had it on Saturday at the festival and was not impressed. Tasted like an amber IPA, I got no citrus at all. Black was pure alcohol, Green and White were pretty good. Your tastes may vary I suppose.

I had it on Saturday at the festival and was not impressed. Tasted like an amber IPA, I got no citrus at all. Black was pure alcohol, Green and White were pretty good. Your tastes may vary I suppose.

A friend of mine at Drake's said red draft so far was a pilot batch that needs tweaking. The bottled batch coming later should have more citrus.

 

[rrryanc]

A friend of mine at Drake's said red draft so far was a pilot batch that needs tweaking. The bottled batch coming later should have more citrus.

Ya, that's what I was told as well. It seemed like it needed more than small tweaks though.

 

[drgarage1]

Ya, that's what I was told as well. It seemed like it needed more than small tweaks though.

I was being polite.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

So Drakes... this Blood Orange Hopocylpse is damn good.

I've never had a drakes beer that I thought was above average at best quality (most being absolute ****), but I've been hearing more and more in the last 6 months+ that some of their beers are actually pretty good coming out. Hell I recently had someone who's opinion I trust say that 1500 was actually great, last time I had it (2012ish) it was horrible. Tasted like butter.

I keep reading/hearing positive reviews I'll rethink my swear off and give them another shot.

One thing that consistently pisses me off about drake owned establishments tho (Dealership, TripleRock, Barrel House) is the lack of carb on random beers. I went to check out the dealership a month or so back, and first beer I ordered came to me absolutely flat. This happened to me at Triple Rock so many times in the past that I stopped going there.

 

[drgarage1]

I've never had a drakes beer that I thought was above average at best quality (most being absolute ****), but I've been hearing more and more in the last 6 months+ that some of their beers are actually pretty good coming out. Hell I recently had someone who's opinion I trust say that 1500 was actually great, last time I had it (2012ish) it was horrible. Tasted like butter.

I keep reading/hearing positive reviews I'll rethink my swear off and give them another shot.

One thing that consistently pisses me off about drake owned establishments tho (Dealership, TripleRock, Barrel House) is the lack of carb on random beers. I went to check out the dealership a month or so back, and first beer I ordered came to me absolutely flat. This happened to me at Triple Rock so many times in the past that I stopped going there.

1500 is great.

 

[stupac2]

1500 is great.

The new Berlinerweiss they've been doing is great as well. I've gotten a couple kegs of it and it's such a good one to have around.

 

[corby112]

I'm staying in Berkeley on Sunday and monday(1/31 and 2/1) and was planning on driving into SF on both days. Unfortunately, I just found out about Super Bowl City. How bad is the traffic going to be driving into the city? Any recommendations on the best approach?

 

[HeavySpeedway]

I'm staying in Berkeley on Sunday and monday(1/31 and 2/1) and was planning on driving into SF on both days. Unfortunately, I just found out about Super Bowl City. How bad is the traffic going to be driving into the city? Any recommendations on the best approach?

Awful, awful, awful.

BART is the best approach.

 

[corby112]

Awful, awful, awful.

BART is the best approach.

Thanks, that's what I feared. I was thinking driving in Sunday late afternoon/early evening after Rare Barrel wouldn't be as bad and maybe BART on Monday? I'll just keep an eye on traffic and play it by ear.

 

[Arbitrator]

Traffic will actually be empty during the Super Bowl, as will be any nice restaurants you want to hit. I'm really glad I don't give a **** about the Niners.

 

[corby112]

Traffic will actually be empty during the Super Bowl, as will be any nice restaurants you want to hit. I'm really glad I don't give a **** about the Niners.

We are going to be there this Sunday(1/31) and Monday(2/1), the week before the Super Bowl.

 

[Arbitrator]

We are going to be there this Sunday(1/31) and Monday(2/1), the week before the Super Bowl.

Ah. I saw that but I also have no idea when the Super Bowl is. Would have been great to meet up again, but alas, I'll be out of town. Weekend days, take BART + Uber in the city if it's convenient. There's really no reason to drive in the city.

 

[corby112]

Ah. I saw that but I also have no idea when the Super Bowl is. Would have been great to meet up again, but alas, I'll be out of town. Weekend days, take BART + Uber in the city if it's convenient. There's really no reason to drive in the city.

Thanks for the advice! Too bad the timing doesn't work out. Would love to catch up over some beers. I'll be in NorCal for a few days hopping around from Berkeley/SF to Napa, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, etc. before heading back down the coast toward LA/Anaheim and ultimately SD.

 

[stupac2]

Thanks, that's what I feared. I was thinking driving in Sunday late afternoon/early evening after Rare Barrel wouldn't be as bad and maybe BART on Monday? I'll just keep an eye on traffic and play it by ear.

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.

 

[MarkIntihar]

If TalkBeer had a top ten list of "Bay Area Breweries to Hang Out At", what would that list look like?

Asking for a friend.

 

[RyanG1]

If TalkBeer had a top ten list of "Bay Area Breweries to Hang Out At", what would that list look like?

Asking for a friend.

Sara
Fieldwork
Cellarmaker
Russian River
Rare Barrel

Then I have ZFGs

 

[benbikes4beer]

If TalkBeer had a top ten list of "Bay Area Breweries to Hang Out At", what would that list look like?

Asking for a friend.

Sara
Fieldwork
Cellarmaker
Russian River
Rare Barrel

Then I have ZFGs

Yeah I was gonna say, there's some heavy hitters, but I couldn't name you 10.

I enjoy romantic sunsets at Faction. Best place to cuddle with your favorite neckbeard.

 

[Sage1]

Loop Faction in with a tour at the St. George distillery next door. But otherwise yeah Ryan_G’s list is accurate. And TBH RR is only worth it nowadays if you can go on extremely off-hours.

 

[benbikes4beer]

Drive to RR for your mandatory pint of Pig. Grab bottles. Leave. Hang out at Lagunitas instead.

 

[Arbitrator]

Sara
Fieldwork
Cellarmaker
Russian River
Rare Barrel

Then I have ZFGs

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.

 

[stupac2]

Sara
Fieldwork
Cellarmaker
Russian River
Rare Barrel

Then I have ZFGs

Drake's is pretty good now that they always have food. They get 0 respect but are making some good beer. The Blood Orange Berliner last night was great.

 

[RyanG1]

****, forgot Faction. That is a good spot.

Also, Sierra Nevada Taproom which sort of qualifies and is close to Fieldwork and Meh Barrel.

 

[MarkIntihar]

Of all the other breweries in the area, those are the only 6 or 7 that are putting out decent beer? That's disappointing.

 

[benbikes4beer]

Of all the other breweries in the area, those are the only 6 or 7 that are putting out decent beer? That's disappointing.

If you don't like that percentage, don't come to San Diego then.

 

[MarkIntihar]

If you don't like that percentage, don't come to San Diego then.

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.

 

[benbikes4beer]

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.

On the flip side we're really spoiled. The places that ARE relevant in San Diego (and the Bay Area) are stellar. We're also ********.

 

[RyanG1]

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.

There are some upsides: food, weather, baseball teams, etc.