Bay Area Recommendations

Near Giants stadium....

https://m.yelp.com/biz/garaje-san-francisco

They usually have lota of fresh Fieldwork on. The food is also pretty damn good. Cash only.

Cellarmaker is also a short ride away from the Park.

 

Santa Cruz shops:
- Lupulo
- AJ's Market
- Whole Foods
- Beer Thirty

San Jose Area shops
- Santa Clara Liquors
- Cask n Flask

Most shops that get Moonraker are usually bars that sells singles and 4-packs for a high price, like Out of the Barrel Campbell, or South Winchester BBQ, and are usually gone within a day or two. Seen Hollow bones there though.

 

Palo Alto Liquors is my go to spot and would add Royal Liquors in San Jose. Palo Alto carries Fremont and you can review them on Beer Menus.

I would add 21 Amendment to breweries near Giant's Stadium (although Cellarmaker is better, just not as close).

In Santa Cruz, I would try to hit Sante Adairius ales. They have taproom in Santa Cruz and original in Capitola (about 15 minutes south of Santa Cruz).

 

Also in Santa Cruz is humble Sea if you like IPAs.

 

Hi!

Staying in Berkeley & San Francisco next week. My host in Berkeley is very close to Fieldwork and Rare Barrel...anything else that's MUST try in that city that an out-of-towner wouldn't know about?

In San Fran I'm walking distance from Cellermaker and City Beer Store...will they take care of my brewpub / take home bottle needs?

Also, what's the best "beer bar" in San Francisco?

Any advise is appreciated!!

 

Crafty Fox, Toronado, Liquid Gold, Beer Hall, Fools Errand, Monaghan's, Big Rec, Holy Water all have either a great to go selection, draft list, or both.

 

City beer will cover your bottle shoo needs.

Best beer bar? Everyone will say Toronado because of the taplist but they are the absolute biggest shitheads I've ever encountered. Zeitgeist has a good taplist and a great beer garden out back, right next to Crafty Fox (better beer selection, more expensive).

Also, Jupiter in Berkeley is great. Even better beer garden and great tap list and pizzas.

 

Thanks!!

 

Just saw hollow bones at city beer, great beer btw.

 

YMMV at Toronado's for sure. It helps if the bar staff start to see you frequent the place rather than for the first time.

But as a native San Franciscan, that's my #1 beer bar because of taplist and pricing. I would almost say it's a must visit anyway because of the experience - pleasant or no.

I did want to chime in on Zeitgeist. I've been there a limited times and I don't get the appeal. It's like the griminess of Toronado, but with often boring selections you can get anywhere, and the few rotating taps they do have may have tainted lines? I say that because I tried a Fieldwork hazy there that tasted straight up bizarre. The same day, I went to Crafty Fox (a few blocks away!) and tried the same beer and sure enough... Zeitgeist was the culprit. I haven't been back since.

 

There are some good people working at Toronado, not every one is a shit head. However I do agree there are some "bad apples" there. Also I'd steer clear of city beer regarding to-go options unless you enjoy paying absurd prices.

 

Honestly fuck toronado, but I definitely say try it out because everyones experience is different. They are pretentious assholes but that's just my opinion. The crafty fox might be more expensive ( I don't think so) but the service is way better ( again my opinion). I'm a SF native born and raised and never left , but like that makes a difference right?

 

You're probably right, not everyone is a shithead. Also where's your togo place for beers? City beer seems to be right on for price. If I can find stuff at Gus's market id go there but I don't always find what I'm looking for there.

 

Oh, I'm not arguing against anyone's experience @ Toronado. I get it. And even experienced it.

But I will argue the Crafty Fox vs Toronado price for sure though. Crafty Fox beers are all $7+ ,for < 16oz pours. Toronado gives you $6-7 pints on most things, other than sour / barrel-aged stuff and they have happy hour everyday. I like that Crafty Fox exists, and I do go there from time to time. But I'd be curious to hear why you think it's not more expensive?

Edit: Just trying to find some comparable things

Toronado
Fieldwork Orchard Street $6 (16oz)
Pliny the Elder $6 (16oz)
Yeast of Eden Saison Recolte $7 (7oz)

Zeitgeist
Fieldwork Pulp $8 (16oz)
Pliny the Elder $8 (13oz)
Yeast of Eden Saison Recolte $12 (9oz)

 

Just wanted to comment on the frequency part, why should any place treat you any different regardless of how often you go there? First impressions are everything.

 

Not sure if you are referring to me but I do agree crafty fox is more expensive but id rather spend my money there than toronado. Service is one aspect but also convenience. Parking sucks at both but it's easier, for me, to get to crafty fox.

 

Well you had said before that you didn't think Crafty Fox was more expensive so that's why I was puzzled. But yes, you like the experience better and would rather support them. No problem with that!

 

I didn't think it was expensive, to me, but yes tornado is cheaper.

 

Zeitgeist can burn down for all I care. The one and only time I’ve been there, the bartender there was being a complete ass and throwing people out if people looked at him funny or asked him questions about the beers on tap.

This was years ago...but I’ll never step foot in that place again.