great little place that you could walk right by without seeing. it’s tiny but it’s architecturally thoughtful and laid out well. there are lots of belgiums and a very finely chosen lot of american micros. this place is not about volume but having the right beers that only a few other stores in the bay area carries. and, the staff is great. As of 10/08 they have a decent selection of Port/Lost Abbey Brewing, AleSmith IPA, and some Russian River. I’ve only found these things at Ledger’s in Berkeley otherwise.

This place is smaller than my family room, but what a selection! Great, knowledgeable owners Craig and Beth. She has suggested a few to me that have ALL been winners. Like I said, this place is tiny, but they don’t have one macro in site. They also always have 3-4 on tap to try. Great spot that I now frequent.

Another, MUST STOP if you are anywhere near the SF area. Really easy to get to from the freeways (of course, the traffic ON the freeways still sucks ass). Once you are there, the selection of beer is simply outstanding and Craig is really knowledgeable, very nice and the few beer taps that they have usually has something really nice on. With anything in SF, the prices are a little higher, but it’s well worth it to keep a gem of a store like this in business and keeping the micros coming.

Ok, this place rules. Located in a small little basement, this place is not going to wow you with it’s size or appearance. Thankfully, the bottled beer selection and tap selection more than make up for it. On top of that, the other regulars are this place are totally cool. The bartender/owner is a really good guy with a nice sense of humor. They had a lot of beers I really wanted to buy and bring back with me, but I unfortunately did not have the room. I did have a couple of glasses of Old Viscosity, which was on tap. A must visit. I also think they have a cheese platter that someone ordered. I have no clue what it’s like, though.

Great little place. I had a beer on tap and browsed the great selection. Picked up a few beers I can’t get in Seattle, which was great, and had a nice chat with both of the owners, who were extremely nice and willing to help. I saw them helping other customers and really going out of their way to explain the beers. A wonderful place to pick up some great beers!

Small store in a basement, very well organized. Selection is a few hundred bottles, no BMC stuff unless you are counting stuff like Red Hook. Best selection in a beer store in Frisco. Constantly getting new inventory. My ’go to’ place.

Honestly. It doesn’t get better. Craig not only listens he responds. Hes not (1) ignorant, as are most bar-tends or (2) pretentious--he doesn’t give a shit whatever syle of beer you are into--he will have something to please you. This place is a gem.

Chose this place for the SF stop, from among the many options (mostly because there was space in the backseat for a couple of cases of bottles). Small, and not a lot of storage, but what’s there is well-chosen and well-stored. Dark and cool throughout, so even what’s on the shelves is safe. Lots of imports, actually more import than California stuff. San Diego and LA breweries not as well represented as I dreamed, but that could have been unrealistic expectations of just a down day for socal stock. Great store, great visit, definitely going back someday.

I read about this place all the way in Austin, and on my next trip to SF I was dying to stop by. After doing the Anchor brewery tour, we went straight here and had a great time. I talked at length with a couple other people who were in the store, and tried maybe 5 or 6 beers on tap while in the store. Everybody, including Craig, the owner, was extremely friendly, helpful, laid back and it all made for an awesome experience. The place was even smaller than I had pictured in my mind, but there are still plenty of new beers to be found here. I picked up about 15 beers not available in my area to try and am looking forward to them, and to visiting again one day. This is the type of place I wish was in my city or even better, neighborhood.

Basically a basement, with a bare concrete floor and concrete block walls (though it’s only half a flight down, so it does have windows). I point this out only to make the case that a place’s "atmosphere" has a lot more to do with the attitude, the people, and of course great beer than it does with the physical surroundings, and the atmsophere here is great. This was the best beer bar experience I had in San Francisco. A fairly good-sized and discerning collection of beers, most in coolers for on- or off-premise drinking, plus a few great choices on tap. My drinking companion was new to world of craft beer, and he came away genuinely excited by the friendliness of Craig and all the patrons, and the non-intimidating way they answered all his questions. I’m going to make it a point to visit City Beer every time I go to SF.