Bay Area Thread

[matedog]

Not sure if srs or not, but just in case. I know I know, they don't brew uber limited, hazy, canned, line inducing IPAs but I can say honestly that I enjoy more of what they put out, than do not. Call me a homer. Or homie. Or both. Also, hoping I'm able to fill club growler at Dealership.

What's the info on the club? All i've found on very brief search was: http://drinkdrakes.com/the-beer/barrel-program/

 

[shanrath]

OK, so you missed The Bruery, Modern Times and Sante Adarius. AKA the best clubs in the state. But you joined Casa Agria and Dionysus even though they'd never actually produced a commercial beer, AHS even though the list was terrible and I didn't even realize that Mraz had a club. I guess you also missed 50/50's club, which was a trainwreck as well. What other clubs were there?

Hangar 24's?

 

[coldstorage]

Do you have any more info on this? The googles aren't working. tyvm

 

[pen15clubmember]

OIC

FWIW I heard you can get growler fills at Anchor now...and you don't even have to be a member!

 

[chemman141]

OK, so you missed The Bruery, Modern Times and Sante Adarius. AKA the best clubs in the state. But you joined Casa Agria and Dionysus even though they'd never actually produced a commercial beer, AHS even though the list was terrible and I didn't even realize that Mraz had a club. I guess you also missed 50/50's club, which was a trainwreck as well. What other clubs were there?

Hangar 24, Bruery, Modern Times, Sante, California Wild Ales, Bear Republic, Track 7, Bike Dog. I am sure I am missing others that escape my mind right now, but I definitely wasn't even close to a member of every brewery club in California. Not even half.

 

[Oaklandtraders]

What's the info on the club? All i've found on very brief search was: http://drinkdrakes.com/the-beer/barrel-program/

 

[matedog]

So 1 bottle and one growler + fill and then discounts on other things?

 

[rrryanc]

Hangar 24, Bruery, Modern Times, Sante, California Wild Ales, Bear Republic, Track 7, Bike Dog. I am sure I am missing others that escape my mind right now, but I definitely wasn't even close to a member of every brewery club in California. Not even half.

Missed Hangar 24, another winner. I mentioned Bruery, MT and Sante. Never even heard of California Wild Ales, bet they're good...

Bear Republic did not have a club last year, so that doesn't count.

It's crazy that so many Sacramento breweries have beer clubs. I had no idea. Though a pint/growler club like Track 7 has isn't really the same as the other beer clubs on the list.

 

[rrryanc]

So 1 bottle and one growler + fill and then discounts on other things?

It's actually not a bad deal, if you're a Drakes cellar fanboy (which I suppose makes it a bad deal). On top of what you listed (and two glasses), it gets you growler fills of barrel aged ****, early access purchases, VIP upgrades to their fests (though there's a lot of couching language in that), and isn't terribly expensive.

Still no chance I'd sign up for this.

 

[chemman141]

Missed Hangar 24, another winner. I mentioned Bruery, MT and Sante. Never even heard of California Wild Ales, bet they're good...

Bear Republic did not have a club last year, so that doesn't count.

It's crazy that so many Sacramento breweries have beer clubs. I had no idea. Though a pint/growler club like Track 7 has isn't really the same as the other beer clubs on the list.

Hangar 24 is definitely NOT a winner lol. Also forgot about Good Beer Company, so yeah not even close to half of the memberships you claimed I had lol.

 

[rrryanc]

Hangar 24 is definitely NOT a winner lol. Also forgot about Good Beer Company, so yeah not even close to half of the memberships you claimed I had lol.

I knew I should have added the /s tag...

 

[ABSTRACTlegend]

OK, so you missed The Bruery, Modern Times and Sante Adarius. AKA the best clubs in the state. But you joined Casa Agria and Dionysus even though they'd never actually produced a commercial beer, AHS even though the list was terrible and I didn't even realize that Mraz had a club. I guess you also missed 50/50's club, which was a trainwreck as well. What other clubs were there?

modem tones? hangar 24, Alesmith (not really a membership tho)

 

[rrryanc]

modem tones? hangar 24, Alesmith (not really a membership tho)

Modern Times is modem tones. Which was the second brewery I listed. As mentioned previously, I forgot H24, but that club sounded like such a disaster the first time around that I can't believe anyone signed up for the second version. Alesmith doesn't really count, I don't think.

So, semi definitive list of brewery memberships in CA available last year:

• Sante Adarius
• The Bruery
• Modern Times
• Good Beer Company
• The Rare Barrel
• Sierra Nevada
• Fifty Fifty
• Libertine
• Hanger 24
• Casa Agria
• Dionysis
• California Wild Ales
• Bike Dog
• Mad Fritz
• Mraz
• Mikkeller
• Chleopus Quealy
  
• Track 7 (ish)
  
• HPB (ish)
• Monkish (ish)

Those are roughly ranked for me, though at some point the list transitions to "I just don't give a ****" and they're all clumped together. Anything I missed?

 

[shanrath]

Modern Times is modem tones. Which was the second brewery I listed. As mentioned previously, I forgot H24, but that club sounded like such a disaster the first time around that I can't believe anyone signed up for the second version. Alesmith doesn't really count, I don't think.

So, semi definitive list of brewery memberships in CA available last year:

• Sante Adarius
• The Bruery
• Modern Times
• Good Beer Company
• The Rare Barrel
• Sierra Nevada
• Fifty Fifty
• Libertine
• Hanger 24
• Casa Agria
• Dionysis
• California Wild Ales
• Bike Dog
• Track 7 (ish)
• Mraz

Those are roughly ranked for me, though at some point the list transitions to "I just don't give a ****" and they're all clumped together. Anything I missed?

I believe Mikkeller SD's Viking Club was around last year too, right?

Also, I'm not sure how to best classify the "beer friends"-style informal clubs run by Monkish and HPB; though, due to the requirement of buying a bunch of each's respective beers in order to be added to them, they may qualify.

 

[rrryanc]

I believe Mikkeller SD's Viking Club was around last year too, right?

Also, I'm not sure how to best classify the "beer friends"-style informal clubs run by Monkish and HPB; though, due to the requirement of buying a bunch of each's respective beers in order to be added to them, they may qualify.

Good point on Mikkeller - surprised anyone signed up for that one as well. Will add to the list.

Not sure about Monkish or HPB - were they open signups that included prepaid beers? Guess they could go under the "ish" category

 

[tosh1]

For some reason you have missed on Chleopus Quealy club.

I was actually a member last year, I did not renew.

 

[rrryanc]

For some reason you have missed on Chleopus Quealy club.

I was actually a member last year, I did not renew.

As someone that lives in the bay area, they had a club?! And did you try their beer before joining the club?

 

[chemman141]

Modern Times is modem tones. Which was the second brewery I listed. As mentioned previously, I forgot H24, but that club sounded like such a disaster the first time around that I can't believe anyone signed up for the second version. Alesmith doesn't really count, I don't think.

So, semi definitive list of brewery memberships in CA available last year:

• Sante Adarius
• The Bruery
• Modern Times
• Good Beer Company
• The Rare Barrel
• Sierra Nevada
• Fifty Fifty
• Libertine
• Hanger 24
• Casa Agria
• Dionysis
• California Wild Ales
• Bike Dog
• Mraz
• Mikkeller
• Chleopus Quealy
  
• Track 7 (ish)
  
• HPB (ish)
• Monkish (ish)

Those are roughly ranked for me, though at some point the list transitions to "I just don't give a ****" and they're all clumped together. Anything I missed?

I guess I should have added the /S tag for California Wild Ales. They did take peoples money early last year, but have yet to deliver any beer. Soooo yeah haha.

 

[tosh1]

As someone that lives in the bay area, they had a club?! And did you try their beer before joining the club?

Win some, lose some.

 

[coldstorage]

Temescal I guess. I mean I think its just growler fills (I think) but thats the deal w/ bikedog too.

Never even heard of Chleopus Quealy...

 

[tosh1]

Never even heard of Chleopus Quealy...

They made a cool tshirt and some awful glassware.

 

[archagon]

the track 7/alvarado st collab is awesome. nice apricot flavor, not too tart, definitely try it if you see it somewhere

Are there any reliable places to find Alvarado cans? I think I've only seen them in bulk at CBS and CRAFT Alameda and they tend to disappear very quickly.

Was surprised to spot a 2016 Fou' Foune and 2012 Hommage just sitting around at Ledger's the other day. Took the Fou' but $60 for Hommage seems a bit silly. (Plus, wouldn't the berry flavors fade over time? I remember Jean van Roy expressing bewilderment as to why anyone would age a beer with so much expensive fruit in it. But to each their own I guess.)

Oh, while I'm here — does Toronado let you buy bottles to-go from their bottle list? I've gathered that they do but I'm a bit scared to ask!

 

[tosh1]

Are there any reliable places to find Alvarado cans? I think I've only seen them in bulk at CBS and CRAFT Alameda and they tend to disappear very quickly.

Was surprised to spot a 2016 Fou' Foune and 2012 Hommage just sitting around at Ledger's the other day. Took the Fou' but $60 for Hommage seems a bit silly. (Plus, wouldn't the berry flavors fade over time? I remember Jean van Roy expressing bewilderment as to why anyone would age a beer with so much expensive fruit in it. But to each their own I guess.)

Oh, while I'm here — does Toronado let you buy bottles to-go from their bottle list? I've gathered that they do but I'm a bit scared to ask!

Alvarado cans sit at some places

Bottles in El Sobrante last Thursday.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

Finally made it to Pacific Standard tonight in Berkeley. Half Moon Bay's east tap room, solid spot with a solid tap list and decent bottles at a reasonable not trying to **** you prices. Can get anything in a tasty 5 oz pour which I appreciated. However, be warned, I got an obvious infected pour of BBA stout from Hop Dogma, and alerted the bar keep. I saw a few employees taste test it, but it was still on when I left. It was sour and acidic AF.

 

[matedog]

Oh, while I'm here — does Toronado let you buy bottles to-go from their bottle list? I've gathered that they do but I'm a bit scared to ask!

Yes they do. Or at least they used to. Haven't done it in awhile.

 

[pen15clubmember]

Yes they do. Or at least they used to. Haven't done it in awhile.

Correct. They sell bottles to go, but not all are available to go. Cable Car is in-house only, for instance.

 

[jedwards]

Those beers were quite interesting, weird is probably the right word, but really enjoyed the ones shared by jedwards.

I honestly enjoyed most of the beers, though primarily for novelty (and with small pours). I joined the club on the strength of the Trip In The Woods stuff released prior (and that series has continued to be quite good), and the AHS beers definitely didn't meet that standard. I did get to hang out at the Chico barrel warehouse and taste a few beers out of the barrels though, which was quite fun.

 

[drgarage1]

Are there any reliable places to find Alvarado cans? I think I've only seen them in bulk at CBS and CRAFT Alameda and they tend to disappear very quickly.

Was surprised to spot a 2016 Fou' Foune and 2012 Hommage just sitting around at Ledger's the other day. Took the Fou' but $60 for Hommage seems a bit silly. (Plus, wouldn't the berry flavors fade over time? I remember Jean van Roy expressing bewilderment as to why anyone would age a beer with so much expensive fruit in it. But to each their own I guess.)

Oh, while I'm here — does Toronado let you buy bottles to-go from their bottle list? I've gathered that they do but I'm a bit scared to ask!

Toronado is pretty reliable.

 

[BrandoSF]

Toronado is pretty reliable.

 

[Teamizm]

Toronado is pretty reliable.

I can confirm, just picked up Mai Tai and Humming Wires. *shhh*