Beer

Beer of the Week: Marin Bourbon Barrel-Aged Old Dipsea

Marin Brewing's Arne Johnson knows a thing or two about fermentation. His parents, both avid homebrewers, began to show him the ins and outs of beer production when he was only 13. Thirteen. At that age, we thought we were big kids for selling our He-Man action figures at a garage sale. Dozens of me ... More >>

SF Beer Week: Monday Event Roundup

There's no such thing as a "case of the Mondays" during SF Beer Week. The streets are awash in bubbly nectar, and you need to do your part to consume it. To ease you back into the groove, today we'll focus on casual "Meet the Brewer" style events. See Also: SF Beer Week: Your Weekend Schedule Stro ... More >>

SF Beer Week 2013 Guide to Cocktails

This coming week will be all about the sudsy, fermented grain goodness that is beer. Beer will be paired with everything, and will find its way into your food, your candy, and your cocktails. Even better, it'll find its way into you. Here are our picks for some of the more bar driven events of the ... More >>

SF Beer Week: Your Weekend Schedule

Don't worry, you're not the only one who is hopelessly overwhelmed by the SF Beer Week schedule. With the help of SFoodie's daily event picks and a few months of intensive post-beer week therapy, we're sure you'll recover from the festivities with some of your sanity intact. For the first weekend of ... More >>

Beer Week Gets Even Better With a Special Hop-On, Hop-Off Shuttle

As a life rule, we tend to avoid any situation that requires us to board a party bus, but this hop-on, hop-off bus from Brewtruc might just be the exception. As Haighteration reports, the beer-tap-equipped shuttle is helping solve the pain of hitting up multiple Beer Week destinations in a night by ... More >>

Strong Beer Month -- Your Beer Week Training Regimen

T-minus one week and counting until SF Beer Week consumes your every waking moment. While you sleep soundly, comforted by fantasies of sugar plums and craft brews, your poor liver lies awake, staring at the ceiling and pondering its inevitable demise. Never fear! Today marks the beginning of the 11t ... More >>

Why American Craft Beer is Better Than Ever: A Brewer's Manifesto

When someone says "I don't like beer" my reaction is almost always the same: "Challenge accepted!" It's not that the so-called beer-hater doesn't like beer -- it's that they don't like any of the beers they've had up until now. Chances are, it's been a pretty narrow selection of what's out there. ... More >>

Please Don't Let Game of Thrones Beer Be Another Marketing Gimmick

Last year, I read all the Game of Thrones books in a manic frenzy, and gained like ten pounds in the process because they made me so hungry. All those detailed descriptions about royal feasts and even simple roast squab or whatever on the road would make my stomach rumble every time, and I wasn't al ... More >>

Beer of the Week: Stone Vertical Epic 12.12.12.

Among the phrases you've never heard uttered, you can probably add "it ages like a fine beer." Perhaps there's good reason for that -- the majority of brews are best consumed fresh. That being said, a large chunk of the craft beer being produced in our current beery renaissance can improve with nume ... More >>

Beer of the Week: Firestone Walker XVI (Release Party Tonight!)

Everything changed when we turned back the clocks. We eat much more hot soup and porridge than usual, carefully consider our scarf options, and retire by 9:30 p.m. Now that hibernation time is upon us, it seems fitting to adjust our drinking habits. For the next couple months, we'll focus on brews t ... More >>

Enjoy Comparative Beer and Cheese Tasting at 'From Ales to Fromage' Event

At some point in your life, you may have cracked open whatever beer was in the fridge, unwrapped a Kraft single, and went to town. Don't worry; we aren't the types to judge. But allow us to recommend an event that goes far beyond macro lager and chemically enhanced "cheese products" -- 'From Ales T ... More >>

Hophead's Guide to Harvest Season Beer Events

There's quite a bit going on in San Francisco this weekend. That is, unless you have a dislike for bluegrass music, displays of aerial acrobatics, and sailors in meticulously starched uniforms. If Hardly Strictly, Fleet Week, and America's Cup just aren't your style, perhaps an array of uniquely hop ... More >>

Beer of the Week: Ballast Point's Spicy Indra Kunindra

We're not gonna sugarcoat this -- you might not like this brew. On the other hand, this might be one of the most unique, exciting beers you've ever tasted. Interested in a beverage that unmistakably smacks of Indian and Thai curries? If so, read on. If not, then get outside your comfort zone and rea ... More >>

Learn to Homebrew at 18 Reasons

Ever dreamed of making beer for a living? We have too. And we would, if it weren't for the long hours, heavy lifting, and overabundance of beards. The truth is, brewing beer on a commercial scale can be a tiresome gig, and most brewers aren't showered in riches (unless you count the beer, of course) ... More >>

New Guidebook Unearths NorCal's Brewing Riches

Your mornings probably look something like this: Wake up, guzzle coffee, ignore dozens of emails, and spend two hours scouring the internet for the latest craft beer news updates. If only you knew a local brew enthusiast willing to visit every beer destination in NorCal and condense his findings int ... More >>

Drink Beer, Save Breasts at Breast Fest

When raising money for charity, people are generally required to put in a little effort. At a minimum, you'll likely have to walk 5k. Heck, you might even be asked to run a marathon. This summer, you can answer the charitable call and do your part to fight breast cancer. And, all you need to do is i ... More >>

Bouncer Discovers a Crafty Illusion Behind Cervecería MateVeza

Jupiter Brewpub Offers a Summer of Sour Beers

There's a reason certain beer styles are released seasonally. Spiced pumpkin beers flood the shelves during the fall, when we celebrate with jack-o-lanterns and sweet potato pie. In the coldest winter months, breweries release their warming, roasty imperial stouts. In the summer months of sandals an ... More >>

SF Beer Week: The Last Hurrah

The City Beer Store​Sometimes, a vacation can make you feel like you need a vacation. SF Beer Week is no exception. After a solid week of carousing, it's easy to get burned out. On Saturday, take it down a notch and settle into a sunny So-Cal vacation. Saturday: Today's events will feature br ... More >>

The 10 Days of Beer Week

Southern Pacific Brewing Brings Beer to 'Fermentation Alley'

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that much-anticipated Southern Pacific Brewing will be open this weekend. The bad news is that they aren't named after South Pacific, the romance musical. We were bummed too.Thankfully, there will be plenty of tasty beer on hand this Friday as you sti ... More >>

SF Beer Week's Coming -- Start Planning Now

​How do I love thee, SF Beer Week? Let me count the ways! On second thought, scratch that. With over 200 events already on the Beer Week calendar, professing our affection would take forever. With the schedule expected to expand significantly over the coming weeks, it's easy to be overwhelme ... More >>

The Jug Shop Ushers in a New Year of Beer Tastings

It's only a few days into 2012, but you've been behaving very well. The New Year diet is working, and tonight you'll be gorging on raw carrot sticks, a handful of unsalted almonds, and a tall glass of water. At the end of the week, celebrate the success of your resolution by breaking it in grand fas ... More >>

San Francisco's Five Best Restaurants for Beer Geeks

hober/Flickr​SFoodie hates the term "gastropub." Hates it. But this city has more and more restaurants that technically qualify. Some are brewpubs where you can eat something more substantial than potato skins and greasy burgers. Some talk up their "beer program" (SFoodie sees that phrase and ... More >>

New California Law Gives Brewery Tasting Rooms a Break

Jason HenryDrake's Barrel House in San Leandro was built expensively under the old law​You walk into a brewery tasting room and order a sample. The beer is delicious, but you can't help noticing that the brewery doesn't have washable tile flooring and the cashier isn't far from the dishwasher. ... More >>

Home-Brewed Beer of the Month Club Avoids the Law

BrewlabYou get a mismatched six-pack of home-brews from the beer CSA.​CSA boxes are like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates: You never know what kind of local, sustainably farmed, organic, heirloom tomato you're gonna get. Sign up for the Brewlab club, however, and one thing's for sure: Your mon ... More >>

City Beer Store Celebrates Five Boozy Years

Jason HenryWanderer, Rouge Baril Baltique, and Open Container, all brewed to mark City Beer Store's fifth anniversary.​With the proliferation of local beer bars, gastropubs, and grassroots brewing operations, it's easy to forget how much our beery landscape has changed in five short years. The ... More >>

Beer 'Week' Ends Sunday. Begin Your Grand Finale Today, Day 9

bittermelon/FlickrMaster cicerone Rich Higgins, left, hoists one at the Nanobreweries of Tomorrow event.​Saturday, Feb. 19 Bracing for the crowds when Toronado opens its doors for the legendary Barleywine Festival? It's okay, there are other ways to prove the strength of your liver. Drinking ... More >>

What To Do This Weekend, Feb. 18-20

Premshree Pillai/FlickrToronado unleashed: See Sat., Feb. 19.​Craving more? Scroll through additional listings here. Fri., Feb. 18: BridgePort Brewing at Otis Otis, 25 Maiden (at Kearny), 6-9 p.m. New brews from 27-year-old BridgePort, paired with small bites from Bi-Rite butcher and charcuti ... More >>

Getting a Taste of PDX During SFBW

NorthwestBeerGuide/FlickrOut-of-towner: Deschutes' The Dissident.​Bridgetown, aka Beervana, aka Portland has much to brag about when it comes to beer culture, but it doesn't yet have a Portland Beer Week (with stress on the "yet"). So some of Oregon's savvier breweries put some flowers in thei ... More >>

Sunday, Beery Sunday: Day 3 of SF Beer Week

Annie&John/FlickrWake and slake: Beer brunch at 21st Amendment.​Sunday, Feb. 13 Onward, soldiers! Day Three awaits, and we're going for the trifecta. Pickle your liver at these lazy Sunday events: ​Start bright and early this morning with some hair of the dog at 21st Amendment: Big Be ... More >>

Saturday Report: Where to Go on Day 2 of Beer Week

bittermelon/FlickrSo many beers, so few hours.​Saturday, Feb. 12 ​It's Day Two. The gloves are off, and the beer beckons. If you're not venturing to Hayward for the 11th Annual Double IPA Festival, local options abound. Ease into your weekend Saturday with an afternoon happy hour of exc ... More >>

SF Beer Week Begins Friday. Here's What to Do on Day 1

bittermelon/FlickrEasy, bro ― you've got nine more days to go.​Pat yourself on the back: Your long, hard nights of liver training are about to pay off. Tomorrow, Feb. 11, you'll begin a 10-day journey of grueling beer consumption known as SF Beer Week. This is your time to shine. If you're i ... More >>

What To Do This Weekend, Feb. 11-13

bittermelon/FlickrUm, did we say there'd be beer? See Fri., Feb. 11.​Craving more? Scroll through additional listings here. Fri., Feb. 11: Food, Wine, and Amore at the Ferry Building Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building (at Embarcadero), 5-8 p.m. Affordable hors d'oeuvres, Napa Valley ... More >>

The Best Barleywine? Our Panel Picks a Winner

Jesse Friedman/Beer and NoshAmerican barleywine daddy Fritz Maytag, at the Anchor Brewery he once owned.​What began more than three decades ago as a small-batch specialty beer made by a local beer hero has grown thunderously into perhaps the most cult-acclaimed craft beer style in America: the ... More >>

Tasting Blind, Great Pumpkin Edition

Brian YaegerOur lineup of pumpkin brews, their identities cleverly hidden.​Seasonal offerings from breweries have reached a fever pitch. It seems you can't experience a solstice, equinox, change in barometric pressure, or Hallmark-sponsored holiday without a slurry of commemorative beers hitti ... More >>

Great American Beer Festival Takes Over Denver, with Plenty of Bay Area Contenders

Brian YaegerS.F. beer geek Jason Henry volunteering at the Cascade Brewing booth at last year's GABF.​Thursday marks the beginning of the three-day, mind-blowing, liver-busting, gut-expanding extravaganza known as the Great American Beer Festival, now in its 29th year. Sponsored by the Brewers ... More >>

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.'s Kirk Hillyard

Justin LewisHalf Moon Bay Brewing Company brewmaster Kirk Hillyard.​Half Moon Bay Brewing Company ― about a half-hour down the coast, just off Highway 1 ― just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Sipping pints by the fire pit at the family- and dog-friendly brewpub has come to exemplify Cali ... More >>

Tasting Blind: Our Panel of Local Brew Experts Rates India Pale Ales

Brian Yaeger​For this month's blind beer tasting, we're tackling India Pale Ales. Though IPAs originated in 18th century England, the style was shanghaied by American craft brewers who kicked up the hops for walloping bitterness and pungency. For comparison's sake, at last year's Great Americ ... More >>

Saturday's Giants Brewfest Was a Clusterf#%k. Here's Our Advice for Next Year

Brian YaegerWe don't mind rubbing elbows. It was the rubbing of everything else that got to us.​Saturday's Giants Brewfest was only a success if you consider that the event sold out. But packed N-Judah cars more than three hours before game time was an early indicator that there would be more ... More >>

The Cosmopolitan, Rincon Center's Party Central

ztij0/Flickr​The place: The Cosmopolitan, 121 Spear (at Mission), 543-4001 The hours: Mon.-Fri., 3:30-7 p.m. (Belgian Beer Garden Fri. 3-7 p.m.) [Note: The Cosmopolitan is closed today for the Memorial Day holiday.] The deals: $3 Budweisers, $4 well drinks, $5 house wines, $6 cosmos, and $3- ... More >>

Will the Sale of Anchor Mean the Death of Quality at S.F.'s Revolutionary Brand?

Brian YaegerFritz Maytag in 2005.​Why, Fritz ― why did you sell Anchor Brewing? And does it mean the end of an era for craft brewing both in San Francisco and across the nation? Of the 4,000 breweries operating in America at the end of the 19th century, a little over 1,500 were back up and ... More >>

Weird-Ass Beer of the Week: Hanssens Oudbeitje 2000

The freshness of the strawberry aroma is surprising given the beer's eight years in bottle.

Happy Hour Deals: The Cosmopolitan

$6 for a Duvel and a pile of fried asparagus is a great deal.

The Beer Whisperer

Hey, Beer Man: S.F. Writer Manages to Land Greatest Job in the World

Three-Course Beer Dinner At Monk's Kettle

King of Beer

In which the Zen suds master of the Richmond reveals his secrets

Best Beer-Drinker's Resource

The Toronado

Night+Day