Sam Adams October Fest ^

Bell's Oberon or Dogfish 120

An enormously useful website for travelers to the San Francisco Bay area is the Beer by BART guide to visiting the area's good beer places using transit.

The Toronado on Haight is, by general consensus in the craft beer industry, one of the diviest bars in the U.S. It's also, by general consensus in the craft beer industry, one of the five or six best beer bars in the U.S. Up the street a little less than a mile or so in Haight Ashbury is a solid brewpub named Magnolia.

Make reservations as far in advance as possible for the Anchor Brewing tour -- it's usually necessary if you want to get in. The Anchor website says the tours are booked up through October but suggests calling a few days in advance to check whether there's been a lucky-for-you cancellation. If you're really lucky, Fritz Maytag himself will conduct your tour.

Don't overlook your options in the East Bay as well. Over there, I'd single out The Trappist, a Belgian-style beer bar in downtown Oakland.

a few years ago when i was a young beer snob i'd listed a favorite by type

now i simply enjoy any new beer without nitpickin and categorizing

if i had to reduce and generalize id say anything from kallamazoo brewing co and dogfish head would do me well ^

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

It is a bit gimmicky, but I also like Schroeder's German Restaurant on Front Street. Nice place to enjoy a beer and schnitzel.

Preference and taste
 

This is an individual preference question. I like Budweiser, but many here think Bud is nasty:D, I also like Sam Adams-Pale Ale, and Boston Lager. When in the UK, I like Stella, so again, it depends on preference and taste.

I like Budweiser, but if I'm given a choice, I'll drink Bud Select before a Budweiser.

That being said, I live in Beer Heaven...so do I REALLY have to only choose one? LOL If I'm buying it by the bottle, then it's Widmer Hefeweizen or Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale. If I'm in a restaurant or a bar, then it's something along the lines of a Hef or Amber Ale...usually. LOL

Tried some of the places while in SFO. Most (except Gordon Biersch) were good to very good. Also tried a couple in Seattle. Elysian up in Seattle had exceptional beers. Thanks for the links.

It's really nice to see how many different microbrews there are now, in contrast to, for example, the early 80's, when many markets had a selection of 3 beers, two of which were "warm" and "cold".

My preferred brew, when I'm out and about and someone else is buying, is Stella Artois or Beck's.

There are lots of micro-breweries producing interesting stuff in the US right now, but for longevity I have to commend Brooklyn Lager.

While working in Chicago this year I was introduced to 312 beer. A very tasty one I might add, shame I can't seem to find it at Total Wine.

http://www.gooseisland.com/

Samuel Adams Golden Pilsner
 

I agree with "Shareholder." Sam Adams makes some of the Best American Beers - period!
Unfortunately, they discontinued my personal favorite, which was named Samuel Adams Golden Pilsner. A full bodied, hoppy, and beautiful golden colored, Pilsner Lager beer. Brewed in the Czech style cold lagered fashion.
Menko:p

Boulevard Wheat is probably my favorite beer overall. One of my favorite things about domestic U.S. travel is trying regional beers (and, in certain places, wines.)

I have several favorite beers.

For a mass-marketed, I can get it anywhere, drink a few, Sam Adams Oktoberfest, hands down.

If I want to sit and drink a single beer, I like Avery The Maharaja Imperial IPA (Boulder, CO) and Lagunitas Maximus Imperial IPA (CA) a lot. They are big, powerful beers with a price to match unfortunately. The Dogfish 90-Minute IPA isn't bad either and much easier to come across.

If you like beer, I highly recommend Roman's Pub in Milwaukee. The proprietor there knows his beer and stocks only microbrews and some imports on tap.

Check out ratebeer.com for a real beer site with thousands of reviews on possibly every beer in the world

Have you had the Dogfish 60-minute IPA? I'm finishing up a case and think it's good but not great. Curious if the 90-minute IPA would be better.