road trip chronicles
1. 21ST AMENDMENT
BREWERY
2. SOUTHERN PACIFIC BREWING
3. MAGNOLIA GASTROPUB AND
BREWERY
4. SOCIAL KITCHEN AND
BREWERY
5. MIKKELLER
6. MONK’S KETTLE
7. CITY BEER
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S
an Francisco is consistently
ranked in the top tourist
destinations in the world.
The city is renowned for its
cool summers, fog, steep rolling
hills, eclectic mix of architecture,
and landmarks including the
Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, the
former prison on Alcatraz Island,
and its Chinatown district. It is also
a primary banking and finance
center.
San Francisco is also home to
many world-class breweries, brew
pubs and beer bars. Like the city
itself, these establishments offer
an astonishing array of variety one
During our second day, we
visited beer bars. Our first stop
was Mikkeller. The business is
a partnership between Chuck
Stilphen, founder of the Trappist
and Trappist Provisions in Oakland,
and Danish brewer Mikkel Borg
Bjergsø.
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would expect from a large city.
During this trip, we covered a lot
of ground and decided to make it
a two day trip. In total, we visited
five breweries and four beer bars.
During the first day, we visited
breweries and on the second day,
we visited brewpubs/beer bars.
Our first stop was 21st
Amendment Brewery. This
brewery is conveniently located
only a short distance from the San
Francisco Giants Stadium.
They have eight rotating beers on
tap and a full service restaurant.
Their beers are all solid and several
have won awards, including
the 2010 World Beer Cup Gold
Medal for their Imperial Jack, a
collaboration brew with Elizabeth
Street Brewery.
Our second stop was Southern
Pacific Brewing. They have 20
beers on tap, including several
guest taps. They also feature a full
service restaurant.
They have plenty of indoor and
outdoor seating and the beer and
food lineup is solid. During our
visit, we had the Baked Cast Iron
Mac ‘n Cheese made with elbow
macaroni, Tillamook cheddar and
feta béchamel, diced crispy pork
belly and garlic breadcrumbs. It
was delicious.
They have a simple and
approachable menu ranging from
cured meats, artisan cheeses
sausages and other pub fare.
Hops to Table Magazine
9. SPEAKEASY ALES & LAGERS
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Our next visit was Magnolia
Gastropub and Brewery. They
have 10 rotating craft handles with
a range of their signature beer,
guest taps and cask ales.
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8. TORONADO
Our next visit was Social Kitchen
and Brewery. They have seven
tap handles and a full service
restaurant. They have a wide
variety of beer styles that range
from pilsners to IPA to stouts to
barley wines.
We had a unique and tasty brew
called the Citrodora Elegans, a
Belgian wheat beer, spiced with
pineapple, sage and lemon.
For our final brewery of the day, we
went to Speakeasy Ales & Lagers.
They are located on the outskirts of
the city, but the trip is well worth
the drive.
The theme of this brewery is - like
the name suggests - a 20’s style
speakeasy with separate cozy
rooms located throughout the
building.
There is something there for every
beer palate, with a stellar selection
of beers ranging from IPA’s to
barrel aged porters.
While they do not have a full
service restaurant, they do have
food trucks available with a wide
selection of choices. They also
feature awesome live music by
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