Bay Area Thread

[snuffy707]

Back when I was just dating my wife.

Does she know about the other girls you date now?

 

[jedwards]

Propolis Brewing at Mikkeller on Wednesday evening. Hometown gruit pride!

 

[MrDave]

You guys may have heard that Wynn from Bartlett Hall is now over at Sante, which is great news for him and Capitola. Don't go assuming the beers at BH are going to start being mediocre again. Wynn's former assistant brewer Nick is now head brewer over there. Of course I'm biased because I know the guy and am happy for him, but I wanted to let you guys know that this dude knows what he's doing and will likely keep churning out beers of the same caliber. I've known Nick for about 3 years, and I have yet to meet anyone that is as passionate about beer and brewing than this dude. So don't start sleeping on BH until - if ever - their beer gives you reason to.

 

[BrandoSF]

You guys may have heard that Wynn from Bartlett Hall is now over at Sante, which is great news for him and Capitola. Don't go assuming the beers at BH are going to start being mediocre again. Wynn's former assistant brewer Nick is now head brewer over there. Of course I'm biased because I know the guy and am happy for him, but I wanted to let you guys know that this dude knows what he's doing and will likely keep churning out beers of the same caliber. I've known Nick for about 3 years, and I have yet to meet anyone that is as passionate about beer and brewing than this dude. So don't start sleeping on BH until - if ever - their beer gives you reason to.

Good to know, but most have these fools have already been sleeping on BH.

 

[stupac2]

You guys may have heard that Wynn from Bartlett Hall is now over at Sante, which is great news for him and Capitola. Don't go assuming the beers at BH are going to start being mediocre again. Wynn's former assistant brewer Nick is now head brewer over there. Of course I'm biased because I know the guy and am happy for him, but I wanted to let you guys know that this dude knows what he's doing and will likely keep churning out beers of the same caliber. I've known Nick for about 3 years, and I have yet to meet anyone that is as passionate about beer and brewing than this dude. So don't start sleeping on BH until - if ever - their beer gives you reason to.

Not gonna lie, I haven't been particularly impressed with what I've had from them (random stuff that shows up at bars in the east bay). Where do you put them relative to Fieldwork, Cellarmaker, and Alvarado?

 

[MrDave]

Not gonna lie, I haven't been particularly impressed with what I've had from them (random stuff that shows up at bars in the east bay). Where do you put them relative to Fieldwork, Cellarmaker, and Alvarado?

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Bartlett Brewing Co? That's a different brewery. Bartlett Hall's stuff doesn't make it to East Bay unless they are having an event. I think it's only ever made it to Good Hop and Hop Grenade.

To answer your question, all of those breweries have put out better hoppy beers better than anything BH has made, but BH has put out hoppy beers that are better than most of the hoppy offerings from those places. So same tier, I suppose.

 

[stupac2]

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Bartlett Brewing Co? That's a different brewery. Bartlett Hall's stuff doesn't make it to East Bay unless they are having an event. I think it's only ever made it to Good Hop and Hop Grenade.

To answer your question, all of those breweries have put out better hoppy beers better than anything BH has made, but BH has put out hoppy beers that are better than most of the hoppy offerings from those places. So same tier, I suppose.

Untappd shows them as being the same thing, but also that I haven't had any of their beers, so clearly I'm getting them confused with some other brewery in SF that people said is worth trying. Digging around it appears to be Barebottle. So nevermind!

 

[MrDave]

Untappd shows them as being the same thing, but also that I haven't had any of their beers, so clearly I'm getting them confused with some other brewery in SF that people said is worth trying. Digging around it appears to be Barebottle. So nevermind!

Barebottle has some good ones, though I don't put them on the same teir as the aforementioned...but higher than say Drake's or 21A in my book.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

LET THE GREAT RANKING OF BAY AREA BREWERIES COMMENCE!!!

 

[jtmartino1]

LET THE GREAT RANKING OF BAY AREA BREWERIES COMMENCE!!!

I’m more interested in the bottom 5.

 

[rrryanc]

LET THE GREAT RANKING OF BAY AREA BREWERIES COMMENCE!!!

theLostWizard

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

I’m more interested in the bottom 5.

5. 101
4. Barrel Head
3. Southern Pacific
2. Black Diamond
THE WORST BREWERY IN THE HISTORY OF THE BAY AREA
1. jtmartino's favorite local brewery.

 

[theLostWizard]

theLostWizard

 

[RyanG1]

I’m more interested in the bottom 5.

1. Sante
2. Fieldwork
3. Cellarmaker
4. Hermitage
5. Russian River

 

[BrandoSF]

 

[drgarage1]

5. 101
4. Barrel Head
3. Southern Pacific
2. Black Diamond
THE WORST BREWERY IN THE HISTORY OF THE BAY AREA
1. jtmartino's favorite local brewery.

Black.

Sands.

 

[matedog]

Black.

Sands.

Ugh, I wrote a mediocre review on Untappd and they gave me a really earnest response basically saying they'd try harder. It made me uncomfortable.

Also, Roses Taproom in Temescal is pretty bad.

 

[drgarage1]

What am i saying? calicraft is the worst

 

[matedog]

What am i saying? calicraft is the worst

I think their Barrel Project stuff is okay.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

Ugh, I wrote a mediocre review on Untappd and they gave me a really earnest response basically saying they'd try harder. It made me uncomfortable.

Also, Roses Taproom in Temescal is pretty bad.

That's a bummer to hear about Roses. Was planning on giving them a stop by next week. Their line up currently on draft is certainly uninspiring.

 

[matedog]

That's a bummer to hear about Roses. Was planning on giving them a stop by next week. Their line up currently on draft is certainly uninspiring.

It's still a nice place. I'd be fine if non-beer friends wanted to hang out there. The coffee porter was decent. The witbier was really bad, but it's not like people generally have high hopes for witbiers.

Also, I tend to be wrong about things.

 

[drgarage1]

I think their Barrel Project stuff is okay.

I was reminded of how their social media manager engaged me after I gave a mediocre review to Uptown Brown on Untappd.

 

[rrryanc]

Black.

Sands.

What's with all the ****** Black ______ places? Black Hammer is one of my least favorite places in the city, literally could not make it through any beer in their taster flight. And because they were Pac Brew Labs, it's not just because it was a new place dialing in the brewing process. So, so bad.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

It's still a nice place. I'd be fine if non-beer friends wanted to hang out there. The coffee porter was decent. The witbier was really bad, but it's not like people generally have high hopes for witbiers.

Also, I tend to be wrong about things.

I'd probably share your sentiments. If you're opening up a brewery, you should be at least good.

 

[cardinalbruintriton]

What's with all the ****** Black ______ places?

 

[pen15clubmember]

That's a bummer to hear about Roses. Was planning on giving them a stop by next week. Their line up currently on draft is certainly uninspiring.

I went when they were just a few weeks old and only kinda liked the saison. Was hoping they'd have it more together now that they're been open around six months. It is a cool spot at least.

 

[MrDave]

My top hoppy spots, alphabetically:

• Altamont
• Alvarado
• Bartlett Hall
• Cellarmaker
• Cooperage
• Fieldwork
• Henhouse
• Moonraker (if Sac counts)
• Sante

Ex-listers now off the radar for me:

• Barebottle
• Bear Republic
• Berryessa
• Drakes
• Faction
• Lagunitas
• Russian River

Worst in the bay:

• Epidemic Ales
• Ale Industries

 

[matedog]

Does Thirsty Bear qualify? That surely should make some worst of the bay lists.

 

[rrryanc]

Does Thirsty Bear qualify? That surely should make some worst of the bay lists.

They probably have a better revenue stream than 99% of the other breweries in town though. Why bother making better beer when you're printing money from Convention Center attendees?

 

[Tlo4sho]

They probably have a better revenue stream than 99% of the other breweries in town though. Why bother making better beer when you're printing money from Convention Center attendees?

Goin’ get even crazier when that expansion is done too.