First of all, it's great to be back in California...long trip from Paris! Anyway, I'm here in Berkeley with nothing to do (my fiance is here for a work conference) this week and just thought I'd go explore your city. I've done a little research but thought I'd ask the locals about their favorite spots. So far it sounds like I should head to Triplerock for a pint but I'm wondering about beer stores. I may make the trek to Oakland and go to Beer Revolution, but am wondering if there is anything closer. I was in San Fran for a couple days and brought some beer with, but I'd like to get my hands on some more RR sours and Pliny if it is available in Berkeley. Thanks in advance and I'd be down to meet up for a beer if anyone is interested... Cheers!
Beer shopping: Ledgers Liquors on University - http://ledgersliquors.com Berkeley Bowl (West has a much bigger selection) - http://berkeleybowl.com/ Whole Foods Berkeley on Telegraph or Oakland on 27th. Beer Rev Bars: Triple Rock and Jupiter in Berkeley Beer Rev in Oakland Trappist in Oakland Drake's Barrel House in San Leandro - usually good barrel aged and sours available on tap (http://barrelhouse.drinkdrakes.com/?page_id=9) Fresh Pliny arrives mid-week, so you should be able to find some. Sours are generally available and I usually find them at Whole Foods or Ledgers. You just missed a huge bottle share yesterday at Beer Rev, but I'm probably around tomorrow night to meet there for a beer. Just drop me a msg if you'd be interested. -Steve
I'd recommend Ledger's as well if you're looking for some RR stuff. For food you could eat each meal in the Gourmet Ghetto (North Berkeley) and would do no wrong. Cheeseboard Collective Juicebar Collective Gregoire Cesar Chez Panisse Cha Ya Saul's For some stuff downtown I've enjoyed Sunny Side Cafe for breakfast and the decent/well priced beer selection at Looney's BBQ for watching basketball games. If you have some time and are into books you can easily spend an hour or two at Moe's up on Telegraph. If you're looking for a bottle of wine, North Berkeley Wine and Kermit Lynch are must stops as well. Have fun down there! I was there on Saturday and I already miss Berkeley again. If you want to meet up for a beer just come up to Russian River, give me a little bit of heads up and I'll bring in a bottle Beatification to share. I'll be there Tuesday night for sure.
Thanks for all the additional info on Berkeley. It would be nice to make it up to RR, but it's probably not going to happen. Had a great time last time we visited but to rent a car and make it back to Berkeley safely, not to mention with a somewhat intact wallet I just dont think it will happen this trip. Thanks for the generous offer to share the Beatification. Looking forward to trying it, I just did a trade in SF this past weekend for 2 of them...
A small, possibly hidden gem is Star Grocery on Claremont Ave. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13969 They have about two coolers full of craft beer that isn't sorted at all, but they get in a good selection of imports and local domestic beers. No RR, but they have some other great beers, and they had some 375 ml Cantillon bottles when I stopped by on a whim recently.
