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Available At This Location (arranged by most recent)
Duvel Groen 73, Firestone Walker Hefeweizen 68, Russian River Publication 95
More Beers Available Here
Iron Springs Casey Jones Imperial IPA 90, Anchor Humming Ale 57, Coney Island Freaktoberfest 26, Iron Springs Barstow Lundy Barleywine #1 (Bourbon) 83, Drakes Autumnfest 83, AleSmith Speedway Stout 100, Moonlight Artemis Gruit 100, Moonlight Reality Czeck 91, Moonlight Twist of Fate Bitter Ale 82, Magnolia Proving Ground Pale 82, Pizza Port (Carlsbad) Slap & Tickle Pale 82, Cascade The Vine 96, New Belgium Lips of Faith (Dandelion Ale) 72, Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze 100, Iron Springs Fairfax Coffee Stout 100, Russian River Blind Pig IPA 99, Pizza Port Carlsbad Plant to Pint 94, Moonlight Death and Taxes Black 93, Lost Abbey Isabelle Proximus 100, Mikkeller Single Hop Warrior IPA 93, 3 Fonteinen Hommage 100, Mad River The Mad Belgian 77, Cascade Blackberry Ale 90, Sierra Nevada Stricklander 76, De Ranke XX Bitter 94, Hollister The Pope IPA 80, Fantôme Black Ghost 93, Hollister Hip Hop Double IPA 87, Russian River Mortification 96, Anderson Valley Huge’r Boont 96, Ballast Point Dorado Double IPA 99, Alpine Beer Company Nelson IPA 98, Firestone Walker Abacus 95, The Bruery Hottenroth Berliner Weisse 93, Firestone Walker SLOAMBIC 93, Lost Abbey Cable Car 100, Pizza Port 547 Haight 97, Russian River Hopfather 89, Russian River Empirical 7 86, Speakeasy Hunters Point Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged 89, Lost Abbey The Angels Share 100, Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast 100, Nectar Ales Nectar IPA 93, Moonlight Old Combine 61, Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-) 100, Firestone Walker Parabola 99, English Ales Black Prince Porter 71, Telegraph Reserve Sour Wheat 93, Firestone Walker Double Jack IPA 98, El Toro Deuce 92, Russian River Sanctification 98, Russian River Consecration 100, Port Brewing Brother Levonian 95, Anchor Old Foghorn Ale 98, 21st Amendment Dähm Kölsch 42, Marin IPA Cask Conditioned 42, Bear Republic NorCal California Style Bitter 78, Pizza Port Shark Attack Triple Red Ale 96, Russian River Toronado 20th Anniversary 100, Cascade Kriek Ale 94, Sawyers Triple 95, Lost Abbey Ne Goeien Saison 96, Marin Tripel Dipsea Belgian Style Ale 62, Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 98, 21st Amendment Anchorage Vacation 65, Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA 88, Elysian The Wise ESB 88, Allagash Hugh Malone 86, Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter 97, Port Brewing 3rd Anniversary 95, Pizza Port Cuvee de Tomme 100, Full Sail Keelhauler 70, Guinness Draught 85, Marin Old Dipsea Barleywine Style Ale 94, Dupont Biolégère 80, Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue 99, Lost Abbey Lost and Found 94, Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux 99, Celis White (Belgian) 58, Port Brewing Hot Rocks Lager 86, Deschutes Green Lakes Organic Ale 82, Russian River Pliny the Elder 100, New Belgium La Folie 100, Moonlight Uncle Fudd Rye 61, 21st Amendment Hop Crisis DIPA 97, Anderson Valley Port Barrel Stout 75, Lost Abbey Avant Garde Ale 90, Port Brewing Midnight Sessions Lager (Moon Lit Sessions) 95, Drakes Imperial Stout 97, New Belgium Abbey 93, Speakeasy Double Daddy IPA 93, Pizza Port Hop 15 99, Drakes IPA 97, Big Sky Scape Goat Pale Ale 67, New Belgium Lips of Faith (Dunkleweisse 30°) 90, El Toro Yo Winter Ale 82, Rubicon Old DQ 82, Kassiks Kenai Brew Stop Buffalo Head Barley Wine 82, Green Flash Barleywine 95, New Old Lompoc Old Tavern Rat 94, Redhook Treblehook 80, Hopworks Organic Noggin Floggin Bourbon Aged Barley Wine 67, Widmer Brothers Old Embalmer 81, Triple Rock Brass Knuckles 81, Big Sky Olde Bluehair Barleywine 94, Anderson Valley Barrel Aged Horn of the Beer Barley Wine 94, Ballast Point Brandy Barrel Aged Three Sheets Barleywine 94, Ballast Point Bourbon/Syrah Barrel Aged Three Sheets Barleywine 94, Marin Old Dipsea Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine Style Ale 99, St. Stans Bill’s Brown Bag Barley Wine 99, Bear Republic Old Scoutter’s Barleywine 87, FireHouse Old Volstead Barleywine 88, Drakes Brewers Droop Barleywine 88, Full Circle Good Ass Barley Wine 88, Russian River Pliny the Younger 100, Rascal Creek Old Incinerator Brandy Barrel Barleywine 92, 21st Amendment Lower da Boom Barleywine 86, Valley Brew Olde Inventory BarleyRyne 93, Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine 99, Russian River Supplication 100, Full Sail Dubbel Belgian Style Ale 100, Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 96, FiftyFifty BART 79, Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale (Pugsley Signature Series) 62, Ballast Point Three Sheets Barley Wine 94, Snake River Devils Teat 94, Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine 98, Avery Hog Heaven 98, Glacier Big Woody Barleywine 88, Kona Old Blowhole Barley Wine 92, Elysian Cyclops Barleywine 90, Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later) 98, Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine 94, Ommegang Rouge Grand Cru 99, Ommegang Three Philosophers 98, Russian River Damnation Batch 23/46 (Oak Aged) 98, Russian River Defenestration 88, Russian River Benediction 88, Russian River Rejection 88, Allagash Victoria Ale 90, Allagash Victor 83, Allagash Fedeltá 91, Deschutes The Dissident 98, Lost Abbey Phunky Duck 98, Saison Dupont Vieille Provision 98, Rodenbach Grand Cru 98, Port Brewing Old Viscosity 99, Deschutes The Abyss 100, Schneider Aventinus 99, Drakes Denogginizer 98, Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout 100, Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse 97, Van Den Bossche Buffalo Belgian Stout 76, Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin Stout 90, FiftyFifty Imperial Eclipse Stout 99, Ballast Point Sea Monster Imperial Stout 96, Firestone Walker Saucer Full of Secrets 86, Port Brewing Older Viscosity 100, Russian River Porter 94, Lost Abbey Amazing Grace 97, Struise Tsjeeses 97, Drakes Jolly Rodger (2008) 97, Santa Cruz IPA 62, Marin I.P.A. India Pale Ale 93, Napa Smith Bonfire Imperial Porter 86, Moonlight Toast (Slightly Burned) Malt Liqour 78, Allagash Black 95, Speakeasy Hunters Point Porter 85, De Proefbrouwerij Les Deux Brasseurs 98, Firestone Walker 12 100, Firestone Walker 10 99, Firestone Walker Big Opal 99, Green Flash Palate Wrecker 96, Anderson Valley Hoppy Mendo Estate 96, Moonlight Bony Fingers Malt Liqour 91
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| Pivoyager (36), Gaithersburg, Maryland | | November 25, 2009 The great Toronado! And I don’t mean Zorro’s stallion. It is surely one of America’s finest beer bars and definitly one of the top ten in my visitation list. Having read the previous reveiws I knew one visit could not suffice.
On my recent trip to the Bay Area (see other reveiws), I hit it my second night there; it was a Thursday; it was packed. However, the Beer God was looking down for, magically, a stool became available. Let the show begin with .... Russian River’s Blind Pig. Followed by a sweet Racer 5. Delish! Now the atmosphere - there really isn’t one. This is for drinkers. It is a small room with an average sized bar for about 20 folks. There are high tops behind you as you sit at the bar. Above it all, as you face the rear, is the Happy Board, upon which is written the names of the world’s finest beers - did I mention they had Blind Pig?
I returned for lunch several days later on a Monday prior to an anticipated tour of Anchor Brewing. You can eat here; just step next door to Rosamunde’s Sausage Grill and bring it to the bar. Did I say delish? It was a quiet afternoon with about a half dozen regular quaffers enjoying some peace and quiet in the Haight.
Following my tour at Anchor (Excellent BTW), I hopped onto the 22 bus and made my way back. (Incidentally, the 7 bus goes right past the front door.) It was busy, but not too ... I got a seat and spent several wonderful hours in beery bliss. The beer is great and for the most part cheap: $4.00 for most of them - this does not include the Belgians, of course. At Toronado’s Happy Hour, the beers are even cheaper ($3.00).
Oh yes - it’s a short (20-minute) walk from the exceptional Magnolia (See Reveiw)
My one gripe is that there is’nt one on the East Coast; another gripe is that I had to leave. [Sigh]
While I can’t speak for Tony Bennet, I can say that I left MY heart at Toronado. (You knew that was coming, right?)
And to quote the Governor: "I’ll be back." (You did at least know that one was coming?)
| NScott (2), Albany, Alabama does not count - explanation | | October 22, 2009 Their tap selection is generally beyond compare, and they are the first place in the area where I remember trying stellar brewers like Dogfish Head and Port. Impossible to complain about that! They also host some great events, including a stout festival a while back that was incredible. great events. The downside is generally lousy service and a crowd that can be UGLY DRUNK (including a guy who semi-works there). The happy hour prices are amazing, and the prices in general are fair. Despite the generally iffy service, when it’s not too crowded and you are able to talk beer with the bartenders, it can be very informative. They seem to have a great bottle selection, but I never really get past the taps, as they are so plentiful. | snuffla (5), Chch, New Zealand does not count - explanation | | September 23, 2009 Now i know the service is a little sketchy and the rock on the jukie might put the less prepared on the back foot but I loved this place. The attitude is very much ’if yr here, you’d better know yr beer’ but its weirdly welcoming at the same time.
Awesome selection of beer on tap all displayed on a massive board at right angles to the bar. Happy hour must have been there when I was visiting - $3 i think for domestic beers. Cider on tap too which Ms Snuffla was pleased with.
Operates an fairly cool bring yr own food policy so you can go out at buy some takeway food and bring it in - recommend the sausages from next door. 4 nights in SF and here for 2. Regret that it wasn’t 4. Great bar | | Nuffield (73), Roseville, Minnesota | | September 1, 2009 I loved the fact that you can take the local food in, and that they even collected my basket at the bar and returned it to the sausage shop next door (the sausage shop is amazing--I had a duck and fig sausage that was to die for). The beer selection is fabulous, too. Wow, so many great taps to choose from, from hand-pulled English-style ales from California to multiple Russian Rivers. I loved the prices. I loved the ambiance (beer paraphenalia in extremis). On the flip side, I hated the noise and the crowd, though we were fortunate to find seats at the end of the bar. Also, I hated the attitude--the tips I received being "know exactly what you’re going to order" and "don’t make any comments"--the bartenders HAVE thrown out people just because they don’t like you. I could do without that crap. But undoubtedly a beer mecca, deservedly so. | BigDUK (8), , England does not count - explanation | | August 28, 2009 Visited last month (July 29th). Read about it here and in the GBG West Coast USA book. Wasn’t busy when we arrived, stared at the beer list for a while before trying my 1st Pliny (loved it). Barlady was terse, but in a humorous way (I was accused of being a spy, taking pics with my phone!), had a friendly chat with her in the end (about her wanting to visit the UK), she gave us some great samples and great advice on what to have next and we loved her! The bar is rammed with taps, all (as is the case in the states) beautifully decorated and even spotted a few hand drawn pumps at the end of the bar. The walls are covered in beer paraphernalia and tons of the decorated tap handles. The bogs are covered in graffiti and are awesome for it. I can’t remember how much it cost but what ever it was it was more than worth it. Wish I was a local. This is, hands down, my favourite pub experience of recent years! Its dark, its cluttered, its unapologetic, its awesome. | | miketd (36), Cleveland, Ohio | | August 22, 2009 I wasn’t sure if this place was for me; I’ve heard soooo many stories of the bartenders being horrible and it didn’t seem to fit my temperament. Well, we walked in on a Friday afternoon so it wasn’t completely packed. Took a look at the beer list and ordered... no problems at all. Our bartender was friendly and efficient. I thought the tap list was good, but it wasn’t spectacular. The bottle list was off this day as well. No prob as it was still cool to visit and I did get a couple great beers. | | Taverner (77), San Ramon, California | | August 10, 2009 The Pros: Great beers. Amazing beers. They know and love their beers here. The location is great, the ambiance casual and comfortable, and the beers! Did I mention the beers?
The Cons: Did you ever see the Seinfeld ep about the Soup Nazi? Same thing applies here. The bartenders are downright MEAN. Try to order and if you don’t order in time, they move on. Catching the bartender’s attention is damn near impossible, and if you do expect some verbal abuse. I have a thick skin, and I’ve spent time in NYC - so I can put up with it. But the thin skinned may not like it. | | branspra (14), Arlington, Virginia | | August 6, 2009 Visited on July 31. It is a great place that at first is a bit intimidating, but then quickly becomes a comfortable home. Bartenders were very nice and helpful, even providing us a few tastings that others were not getting. Beer selection was fantastic as is expected and well-balanced between types. No food but you can easily pick something up from the multiple selections on the street. Highly recommended. | petefromoz (1), adelaide, Australia does not count - explanation | | August 6, 2009 [ Updated August 7, 2009 ] I cannot rave enough here to do this place justice - it is AWESOME!!! As a weary traveller on his way home to Oz I asked the barman for his hoppiest US IPA. I was refused - in the best possible way - by being advised that I should work my way up to #1. So, after a Racer 5 and a Blind Pig I was treated to a Pliny the Elder (at which point my good wife popped in from shopping to check on my welfare - responding to an invite to have a whiff of Pliny she replied "it smells like dope").
I’ve read some not so great comments on here about the service. All I can say is that I was hugely impressed with the dude’s friendliness, service and knowledge.
At around 12 noon on Saturday the place was relatively quiet and hoppy hour meant my 3 awesome pints cost me US$3 each - now thats value!!!! Locals at the bar were real friendly too - offering me tastes of their brews - dark IPA included.
I just wish I’d kept room in my luggage for more Plinys!!!! Do yourself a favour - catch a bus to Toronado and enjoy the best session you’re ever likely to have. If only it were my local!!! | tyanow (1), California does not count - explanation | | July 18, 2009 To me, this is the ultimate American beer bar. This is the standard by which I judge all other beer pedlars. It’s the Tor-freakin-nado!
This is the place to try some of the most delicious and distinctive beers from around the world, but especially from the West coast.
Taps are well maintained, glasses are clean and everyone is enjoying beer - what else could you possibly want in a beer bar.
It might be too unrefined for some - who? I’m not sure, but my mom likely wouldn’t like it.
I’ve been going there for almost 20 years and the decor is unchanged or updated and has settled into a perfect west coast saloon.
The only reason it doesn’t get a perfect 100 from me is because the service can dip from time to time and it takes some slippery moves and sharp elbows in order to not have to wait forever during busy moments. |
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