San Francisco and Arcata, CA(Jan 26th-29th)

Let me start by saying that San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the states. From the culture to the food to the overall beauty, the city is simply amazing. I have visited San Francisco several times and try to find new restaurants and brew pubs whenever I am in town. There are several brew pubs in the area that are simply fantastic. Over the weekend, I was able to hit up 3 pub/breweries in San Francisco and another one in Eureka. Caroline and I started our weekend at Rogue's Public Ale House near Union and Columbus in the North Beach area of San Francisco. Rogue is simply one of the better microbreweries in America. Dead Guy Ale is in my Top 10 Beers. They offer more than 20 beers on draft, many of which are their own, while also having some Guest Beers. I recommend trying the sampler which will allow you to try 4 of the brews on draft. Not only does Rogue do the beer right, but they also offer up some damn good food. Mine and Caroline's menu selection consisted of a couple of Kobe Beef Burgers, simply the best burger I have ever tasted. All in all, Rogue is top notch and is highly recommended to anyone traveling within 50 miles of San Francisco. Next stop on the trip was San Francisco Brewing Company. It is located near Columbus and Kearney Street in the Financial District. Its a short walk from Rogue. I sampled two beers including the ShanghaIPA, which was very tasty. It was full of flavor and not as hoppy as some other IPA's that I have had in my time. Other beers sampled during our stop included the seasonal Anniversay Ale, Albatross Lager and Emperor Norton Lager. All of which were very good beers. The place itself is very cool and the bartenders were very engaging as well. Overall, San Francisco Brewing Company is a good place to stop in for a few beers while you are out on the town. Our last of the 3 Breweries in the Bay area was at Magnolia Brewery in the Haight/Ashbury District. Atmosphere is the key here. With murals lining the walls and numerous beer selections on draft including several cask ales, it was a very good experience. The Proving Ground IPA, on draught, not cask, was my favorite of the bunch. The cask offers a slightly different taste as it is served slightly warmer and with less carbonation. Caroline's beer of choice was the Bonnie Lee's Best Bitter, also on Draught, not cask. This was probably Caroline's favorite of the 3 that we visited on this trip due to the location and the overall atmosphere. The last stop we made on our trip was at Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, CA. I enjoyed an Alleycat Amber Ale, which was typical of most Amber Ales that I have tasted. Not too hoppy, but full of flavor. I also had the Famous Hot Brown, a Roast Beef Sandwich with Chedder and Bacon, a very tasty sandwich with the Lemon Peppered Parmesan Cheese Fries. Caroline's meal included a Downtown Brown and the "Chicken Little Was Right" sandwich. She enjoyed both, but men, let me tell you that the chicken sandwich is for ladies or men who are looking to watch their girlish figure. Other stops along the way that are highly recommended include Calzone's, an Italian restaurant in the North Beach area of San Francisco. The food is fantastic, and they have Fat Tire on Draft (My favorite Beer). The prices are reasonable as well ($4.50 for a 20 oz. draft). Stella's, a little pastry shop, is located directly next door to Calzone's and has the best Chocolate Croissants I have ever tasted. I would weight well over 400 lb's if I lived within close proximity of that place. The Cliff House, located just south of Lincoln Park on Highway 1, is located directly on the Pacific Ocean. They offer high-end dining, as well as a bistro upstairs. The food is above-average, however, the view is top-notch. Stops to be made on the next San Francisco trip include 21st Amendment brewery and Pizza Orgasmica and Brewery.