Road Trip - LAX --> SFO

Just an fyi and I know you are driving but you may want to split cellarmaker and fieldwork, MT, almanac and the rare barrel. Cellarmaker is downtown SF where as the other stops are across the bay bridge but are really close to each other. Make sure you check out the open times as well because during the week cellarmaker and cellarmaker house of pizza (closed Tuesday) open late. Like someone posted before city beer which is close by cellarmaker always has a good tap list and a big bottle shop with lots options and serves food. But it’s possible going to all options in one day just be prepared for that bridge traffic.

 

Cellarmaker and city beer are walking distance of each other. Then you can take Bart to Oakland, which I’ve done before going to modern times. From there Uber to fieldwork and the rare barrel which are also near each other.

 

First and foremost, it's much safer to ship via FedEx/UPS than taking in your luggage. I always pre print out 1-2 labels when I travel, and use those to ship. Ill ship as soon as I have enough to fill a box, so I don't have to travel with it any more.

Lately I've had the TSA tear through my boxes. Then, watching it get thrown into the plane also sucked. It all arrived ok in the end though. After that I just ship.

Also, when hitting Sante, hit AJ's market for the awesome deli and massive beer selection. A must, amd only like 5 mins away.

 

I've accumulated so many 12 bottle styrofoam shippers that i usually just bring a couple when i travel. I haven't really had any issues, they do a good job taping and with the added handle they take extra care of it.

 

Added handle. Well, I'll be dammed!

 

Yes Cellar & City are very close walking distance. And you'll find some interesting people on the streets between the 2. Last years visit I parked our rented car in front of City Beer. As soon as we got out to go inside City Beer a bum (or guy on meds or both) walked up to our meter and was trying to skim it for money or card info. At first I didn't know what he was doing. Others were in the area trying to sell drugs. This past weekend we walked from City store to Cellar and again more drugs selling across the street and as we were walking to City we saw some young punk on a scooter run a red light and almost got ran over by a car. There were several witnesses who saw this. And the kid turns around and yells at the car for almost hitting him and yelling at us as we witnessed this. Crazy I say. Not the best area for sure.

 

This is what I use.....
https://barebonesliving.com/collections/dining-and-entertaining/products/large-cooler-36-cans
Have never had any issues with cans or bottles. Even in my carry on bag I use sometimes.

 

I’ve never had a problem waking over there but you are correct about the people hanging around there. If you have a little street smarts and keep to yourself you will be safe and like any major city , especially SF , be aware of your surroundings. Honestly I would be more worried about someone breaking into my car then the people on the street. Been to both places many times and never, knock on wood, had problems.

 

I have one of these Polar Bear Coolers that looks like a duffel bag with a bunch of insulation and padding and fits 48 cans. If i had to put bottles i think i'd have to bubble wrap them.

The styrofoam shippers are just so much easier. At least for Southwest they dont want you to tape them as they want to inspect it before checking them in and then they provide tape for you and add all the fragile stickers.

 

Also, if you are flying Alaska, you can check a case of "wine" for free when flying out of SJC/SFO and some other west coast airports.

 

Why only some west coast airports? Why not any or all airports?

 

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/deals/special-offers/wine-flies-free

 

Ah, gotcha. My checked bags are always free.

 

Def try to stop by Cellador in North Hills, Alvarado St / YOE, Fieldwork, and Homage in Pomona, if you can.

Cellador in my opinion is making the best fruited wilds in the WC right now, topping even De Garde. Their work with stonefruit in particular is outlandish, and sort of a game changer. I recently had a tasting where we had Bibliophile next to West Ashley and Cellador blew it out of the water. They are doing genuinely good experimental stuff, hybrid beer-ciders/wine/whisky. Also, their smoked wilds are ridiculously good.

Alvarado St is the Tired Hands or OH of the WC, they do the modern styles superbly well (kettle sours with tons of adjuncts, hazies and WC IPAs/PAs of all sorts, sweet stouts, pilsners...) while their YOE program does barrel fermented wilds and saisons very well. They make arguably my favorite IPAs in cali right now. Overall one of the very best breweries in the state, if not country.

Homage might be overall my favorite brewery in the West Coast right now, topping even Sante; they do everything they do to the highest of levels: pilsners, IPAs, stouts, wilds, saisons... possibly the closest yeast profile to a lambic in the US I have tried (Beachwood comes close). Beautiful taproom too.

Fieldwork does great IPAs above all.

 

If you stop at FW in Buellton, Industrial Eats is a must stop for lunch/dinner.