SF Beer Week

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by SMITHAND, Jan 3, 2014.

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  1. SMITHAND

    SMITHAND Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2013 Oregon

    A buddy of mine and I are cruising down to NorCal for SF Beer Week/Younger release this year. Taking a couple days off work to do a little NorCal area brew tour. Can anyone enlighten me on Cellarmaker Brewing? Is it worth going to the brewery? Can you find their beers in SF/Oak pretty easily? Rough plan looks like.....Knee Deep(Thurs), Russian River(Fri), Lauginitas on the way down to SF on Saturday, then on to City Beer Store in SF.....Looking for Oakland and SF recs for the rest of Saturday. Help if you want. Thanks.
     
  2. walterfredo

    walterfredo Savant (1,032) Nov 22, 2011 California
    Trader

    Personally I think cellarmaker is making fantastic beers. Have yet to go to their spot, but the last few times I was at the beer revolution in oakland they had some of their beers on tap. IN Oakland definitely hit up the beer rev, and there's also the trappist...definitely on the pricey side but very classy feel to it.

    Russian River and Lagunitas are only about 15-20 minutes apart, might as well combine those two on the same day. Reading your itinerary...I think you may be a bit confused geographically in regards to where these breweries are. Might want to revisit a map.

    edit: maybe your plan is to stay in Santa Rosa Friday and hit up Lagunitas on the way down to SF, if so ignore my above comments.
     
  3. SageO

    SageO Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2010 California

    I haven’t tried any of their beers, but Faction is definitely on my radar next time I hit SF.
     
  4. nckmllr916q

    nckmllr916q Initiate (0) Apr 30, 2013 California

    Rare Barrel, Faction, Drake's in East Bay. Berryessa Brewing in Winters.
     
  5. AptosBeerDrinker

    AptosBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 California

    If you're going to City Beer you might as well check out Cellarmaker as well. It's about a block away. I haven't been yet but I hear the hoppy beers are great and the sours are a work in progress.
     
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  6. mike_v_sardina

    mike_v_sardina Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2012 Vermont

    Cellarmaker is literally a block and a half from City Beer Store -- so it would definitely be worth the 2 minute walk to visit the brewery either before or after you hit City Beer.

    From what I have heard, the beer at Cellarmaker is great and the tasting room is well run.

    I have heard good things about Faction too, but if you want to stay in SF on Saturday I would recommend Cellarmaker, The Beer Hall, maybe Speakeasy if you have never been out to Hunter's Point. Also, the new Magnolia Dogpatch location is killer with Triple Voodoo's new spot opening up a few blocks away on the same street.

    Cheers.

    Mike
     
  7. SMITHAND

    SMITHAND Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2013 Oregon

    Your edit is accurate. The main event for the trip is the Younger release. Were coming from Portland, so we figured Knee Deep on the way down, then out to Santa Rosa.
     
  8. nckmllr916q

    nckmllr916q Initiate (0) Apr 30, 2013 California

    BTW Knee Deep is a pretty major detour from I-5 split to Auburn.
     
  9. AptosBeerDrinker

    AptosBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 California

    When did it open?
     
  10. SMITHAND

    SMITHAND Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2013 Oregon

    Perfect. Thats exactly what we will do then.
     
  11. rmdownward

    rmdownward Zealot (624) Feb 10, 2007 California

    A word of warning on traffic. A new casino opened between Petaluma & Santa Rosa & has really gummed things up, especially on the weekends, so I'd plan for taking a little extra time between the two.
     
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  12. thewaterispoison

    thewaterispoison Crusader (401) Jun 22, 2010 California

    Cellermaker is a cool spot. I really enjoyed going there and plan on making trips back and it's right down the alley from CBS. Hit up Berryessa on the way from Knee Deep to Russian River and try the Double Tap. Hit up Track 7 in Sacramento on the way too if you have time. There's also Moylans in Novato on the way if you need a pitstop.

    Oakland/East Bay spots are The Rare Barrel, Ale Industries, and Drakes. Speakeasy is SF is good too.
     
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  13. jdense

    jdense Pooh-Bah (1,782) Sep 5, 2007 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Not to hijack thread, but I can't isolate a date for Toronado Barleywine Festival during SF Beer Week. I suspect Saturday, February 15, but their website isn't up to date (IMO, worst beer website in the entire world), though they did have a singular post during 2013:stuck_out_tongue:.
     
  14. AptosBeerDrinker

    AptosBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 California

    Toronado SF gives negative fucks about the internet.
     
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  15. AndresR

    AndresR Pundit (808) Jul 19, 2009 California
    Trader

    Fixed it.
     
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  16. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    Toronado Barley Wine Fest It is usually the first weekend of SFBW, which is Feb 8/9.
     
  17. Apuzarne

    Apuzarne Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2011 Connecticut

    Although I don't live in the city anymore, I know for a fact the Barley Wine Fest always ends SFBW. So it will be the 14th-16th. I went three years in a row and it is a great way to end a crazy week of hangovers. I also believe in the past Toronado has opened a half hour early because of the festival, but I could be wrong about that. Those festivals are always a bit hazy. Hope this helps.
     
  18. walterfredo

    walterfredo Savant (1,032) Nov 22, 2011 California
    Trader

    ^agree with the above post. Last year it was definitely the last weekend of beer week.
     
  19. AndresR

    AndresR Pundit (808) Jul 19, 2009 California
    Trader


    I'll be there, struggling to give to bar keep my $, I'm sure. ; )
     
  20. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    Huh, weird. BW was the weekend before the Celebrator Anniversary Party for, like, two decades.

    Sorry!
     
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