#1- Healthy Spirits

Get ready for a healthy dose of ecstasy. Though San Francisco is getting more and more robust in the craft beer scene, finding a quality bottle shop with substantial variety can often be a difficult task. Your search will prove fruitful should you venture to one of my new favorite places, Healthy Spirits. Already, I can tell this will be the primary depository for my paycheck.

Healthy Spirits has had another location in San Fran in the Castro neighborhood, but they recently opened another location in the Inner Richmond area. To say that I am thrilled would be a colossal understatement. This fine establishment is a heavenly adult candy store. Stalked with phenomenal craft beers, bourbon, whiskey, and even some munchies like hummus and spice rubs, the customer can satisfy all their consumption needs.

Owned and operated by Rami Barqawi and David Hauslein as the beer manager, these two fellas are a fantastic duo providing SF residents with hard to find national and international brews, special releases, and plenty of seasonals. Whether you are from out of town or a resident, I dub this place the ultimate beer run go-to spot. Bottleshop-wise, no other joint comes close in SF.

#2- Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, beer reviews, Beer Travel, places to drink beer

Brewpublic’s Wine Barrel-Aged Beer Tastival looks to be one of the highlights of SF Beer Week 2013.

When Brewpublic teamed up with 16 Tons Beer & Wine in 2010 to organize the first ever Wine Barrel-Aged Beer Fest for the first annual Eugene Beer Week, we had no idea what the turnout would be. Sure we anticipated that the turnout of people would be great, but it was the turnout of wine barrel-aged craft beers that initially had us concerned. To our surprise and happiness, we were able to round up a ton (pun intended) of beers aged in wine casks for this truly killer event (see the lineup for this past event here, keep in mind many of these beers were bottles).

Now, nearly two years later, we’re at it again. This time we’ve teamed up with the best craft beer destination in the East Bay. Beer Revolution is the spot. 48 Rotating taps, more than 500 bottles of cold craft brew…this place breathes craft beer culture from every punk rock nook and cranny! On Saturday February 9, 2013 from 2-11p.m., Beer Revolution is loading up as many of the taps as we can with wine barrel-aged craft brews. In a region rich with both artisan wine (with Sonoma and Napa just to the north) and craft beer (the Bay Area is a hot bed for great brew), we are anticipating some of the most unique and sought after treats around.

Look for more Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, California Beer

So, before we go to lengths to over-think this one, we are offering a number of “Best ofs” for 2012. Agree or disagree, we feel strongly that these beers are indisputably delicious and worthy of world class esteem. This is a fleeting list, so expect it to change on a monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, or even minutely basis. Cheers! Read More…

Posted under beer awards

By Kim Schimke

Gone are the days of wanting to grow up to be a firefighter, astronaut, or veterinarian. Career day at school in the near future will consist of professions involving fermentation, hops, and sanitation. These are all elements of what I believe to be the single most valuable job in existence, brewing. How does one earn that shiny Brewmaster title? Through busting their butt and drinking a lot of good beer in the process. Case in point is Darren Cummings, the assistant brewer to 21st Amendment’s Head Brewer, Zambo, in San Francisco.

If you have aspirations to be a professional Brewmaster, apprenticing for one of California’s, nay, one of America’s most popular breweries, ain’t such a bad gig. Darren has been at 21st Amendment Brewing for about eight months. Though a lucky fella in that he now has the 21st Amendment name on his resume, he is also in charge of most of the Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, Beer Brewing, Beer personalities, California Beer

By Kim Schimke

I’m not one to turn down free anything. So when Angelo asked me to attend the Widmer Brothers’ Explore Your Craft event in San Francisco at the Terra Gallery, my inner freeloader was quick to accept. Not to mention that the contemporary venue, catered gourmet nosh, singer/songwriter entertainment, and live artist demonstration made me feel like a pretty classy broad for an evening. Widmer did a fine job of hosting an event that combined the finest offerings in life: beer, food, music, and art.

Having 14 different beers to sample, this night was a marathon, not a sprint. If I were writing a short novel, I would name all the varieties and my tasting notes on each. But, for the sake of brevity, I will stick to the standouts. I was very pleased with the Pitch Black IPA. This IPA had a very nice finish and the tasty malt flavor was evident. A very drinkable IPA. The Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, Beer & Art, Beer & Music, beer and food, beer reviews, California Beer, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

Sean/Shawn/Shaun Fest at The BeerMongers was a lot of fun. Brewers Shawn Kelso (10 Barrel), Sean Thommen (Amnesia), Sean Burke (Commons), Shaun O’ Sullivan (21st Amendment), Sean Green (homebrewer), and publican Sean Campbell (The BeerMongers) were among the many who shared the namesake on this fun, festive, and flavorful evening.

• Beers for the night included a range of Sean/Shawn/Shaun brews:
• 10 Barrel (Bend, OR) “My Name Isn’t Shawna” Stout-Shawn Kelso
• Amnesia (Portland, OR) “DesolaSean” Keg hopped IPA-Sean Thommen
• 21st Amendment (San Francisco, CA) “ShaunO’s Strong Red” blend-Shaun O’Sullivan
• Lazy Boy (Everett, WA) “The Shawning” IIPA-Shawn Loring
• The Commons Brewery (Portland, OR) “Plum Brett: Limited EdiSean”-Sean Burke

Here’s a bunch of photos from the event: Read More…

Posted under beer events, Beer personalities, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

KillerBeerWeek is nearly half way through and we’ve already put our livers to the test. So many truly killer beers have been sampled and so many beery friends have made it out to help us celebrate our fourth year running Brewpublic. So far, all of the events have been well attended and we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing so many stellar brews. Now we prepare for a night of craft beer industry superstars named Sean, Shawn, or Shaun who make our lives much tastier.

The BeerMongers presents a celebraSean of sensaShawnAle brewers and craft beer folks who have won our affectShaun with Killer Beer!

The BeerMongers is run by Publican Sean Campbell, so as far as talented Shawns goes, it takes one to know one…or many…

We’ll feature special releases from Sean/Shawn/Shauns including 10 Barrel, The Commons, Lazy Boy, 21st Amendment, Amnesia, and Georgetown Brewing. Here’s your invitaSean! Here’s what you can expect to try from the Shauns: Read More…

Posted under beer events, Beer personalities, beer releases, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

You can get your first taste of Figaro on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 6 p.m. when another weekly installment of Cascade Barrel House’s Tap It Tuesday ensues. According to a recent press release, this live from the barrel tapping features aromas of sweet malts, figs, golden raisins and citrus zest up front with hints of white wine grapes, lemon peel and sweet figs, leading to a crisp lemon sharpness in the finish with a lingering sweetness.

Here’s more on the release of the beer in bottles from the brewery: Read More…

Posted under beer releases, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

As summer approaches more beer labels pass approval for the craft beer drinking seasons to come. As usual, Craft Brew Alliance has a number of exciting new beers on the horizon such as their next Rotator IPA Series release known as IPL (India Pale Lager), a hoppy lager. We notice some new label designs from Speakeasy, Ninkasi, and Henry Weinhard’s. Also it looks as though Pyramid is gearing up for some more interesting new releases like their Smooth & Sweet Oatmeal Stout and Chai Wheat both coming out in bottles.

Here’s a look at more than 65 new craft beer labels that you might find around the Pacific Northwest in the not so distant future: Read More…

Posted under Beer & Art, beer news, California Beer, Oregon beer, Washington Beer

You are invited to the San Francisco launch party for Churchkey Can Co on Tuesday, June 5 from 7-11 pm at Public Works SF. Join us in this ode to the past and have a Churchkey (or two) on us as we celebrate the return of the original flat top beer can. Meet brewer Sean Burke and co-founder Lucas Jones. Cheers!

Posted under Bay Area beer, beer events, California Beer, events, places to drink beer