The Jug Shop

Visited November 2018 the night before Toronado Barleywine Fest. Made the hike from Civic Center BART which maybe wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had. Oh well, helped me burn a few calories. The store is a pretty unassuming liquor store on the corner of Polk and Pacific and they actually have a parking lot, a rarity in the City. The store is well stocked, though it is much more wine focused than it is beer. They have a number of cooler doors as well as some room temperature storage on shelves. While the selection was certainly solid, it isn't going to blow you away. The cold beer is mostly focused on local Bay Area, or at least Northern California, offerings. They did have some semi-interesting Belgian and Scandinavian imports as well. Pricing seemed to be pretty reasonable. It's an okay place. If you're in the area, certainly not a bad stop to pick up some bottles, but not really a reason to go out of your way to come in.

Dropped by after a swim in Aquatic Park. The jug shop is close to everything. They move a block away from their original location. Large store: 80% wine, etc. 3x 3door coolers filled with beers. Good selection. Lots of locals. I didn’t buy anything, because I’m looking for specific breweries. Still very good though.

Big store, lots of beers. Locals and imports, belgian, german and Danish beers. Rack in the far left corner with some barrel aged stuff. Overall i did find the selection really good and left with a full backpack. Nice service and prices. Some times does tasting from what they told me.

I was really impressed by the range and the price, service was friendly.

Quite ok shop with a good beer selection in fridges. I bought some Almanac-cans and a few more. There was also a shelf with more exclusive beer in the far left corner.

2 minutes walking from our hotel, Castle Inn. Good selection of local craft beer, though no big surprises. I wish they had more small singles. I always seek local craft beer and can’t buy many six packs or to many bombers. (Visited June28th 2016)

surprised they are ranked so low. Went to an SF beer week tasting there that was very well put together and did a little bottle shopping as well. Nice selection...and they have their own parking!!

Visited January 15, 2014.

Finally made it here. I’ve been hearing about this place for a while now and last month I even walked right by it on the way back from dinner at the German / Austrian (ratable) place a few blocks up the street but I didn’t stop here. It looks impressive at first glance considering how much wine and liquor they have, how big the place is, and how the employees are all wearing beer shirts but over all the selection is just alright. You’ll find the beer in the corner of the store to your left when you first enter. There are half a dozen fridges full of beer across from some shelves with beer. In the next aisle over there is a small shelf that also has beer on it mixed in with the liquor. They have a good selection of German beers which I won’t complain about, they have some Belgians (decent selection), and they have kind of a hodge-podge lineup of American beers. They have a large sign in the back of the store that advertises Almanac but I saw no Almanac beers. I don’t know if I’ll be stopping in again unless I need some Lagunitas and I happen to be in the area (probably for Leopold’s Gasthaus), though I can get Lagunitas anywhere on the peninsula.

Eric and crew do a bang up job of bringing excellent beer to the masses! Creative, one-of-a-kind Friday tastings and a great selection of bottled oddities make this place a go-to. All they need now is some decent signage and an exterior paint job...beer mural?

Sure, it’s mostly wine. Beer selection is rather modest but interesting (though sometimes they have treasures from their last event.) HOWEVER: Beer tasting and special events with guest brewers are very cool, with a smart and talkative crowd that shows upl. It’s worth getting on their mailing list if you are local.