Over the weekend, I finally got a taste of the brand-new Almanac Summer 2010 Vintage Blackberry Ale (which we all jokingly referred to as the most-hyped beer in SF), and it was damned tasty. Refrescante. So head on over to SHOTWELL’S BAR this Thursday July 14th for a pop-up night, when Almanac Beer will be celebrating the launch of their brewery, and serving up some delicious street food. On the menu: Wise Sons Deli’s pastrami Mission dog (a homemade all-beef hot dog wrapped in pastrami and topped with beer-kraut), Kitchen Sidecar’s banh street taco with beer-braised carnitas, and Nosh This’ chocolate-covered beer caramels (cash only for the eats, peeps). You’ll be able to compare the 2010 Vintage Blackberry Ale in the bottle and on draft, and enjoy a pour from the special keg of Sour Summer 2010, 100% barrel-aged with Belgian wild yeast. It all starts at 6pm. 3349 20th St. at Shotwell.
Next Wednesday July 20th, ~SOCIAL KITCHEN & BREWERY~ will be celebrating the anniversary of its Brewmaster’s Dinner Series with a “Hot Summer Sun” dinner prepared by guest chef Tyler Morrish, a sous at Osteria Coppa in San Mateo (see, he has to bring the sun from San Mateo). The menu will include: wild arugula, pluots, toasted hazelnuts, ricotta salata, Social Kölsch vinaigrette paired with L’Enfant Terrible, a Belgian-style table beer; chilled white gazpacho, toasted barley, herb oil, dill flowers paired with Simon Saison, a Belgian-style farmhouse ale; seared skin-on chicken breast or market ratatouille, marinated zucchini, hop-scented braised butter beans paired with Easy IPA, an American-style ale; and lemongrass panna cotta, White Thai Affair sabayon, fresh stone fruit paired with White Thai Affair, a Belgian-style golden ale spiced with lemongrass and galangal. Only $40, which includes the beer pairings. Reservations can be made by calling 415-681-0330 after 4pm.
And ~A16~ has a new beer list (including Allagash, Birrificio le Baladin, Birra del Borgo, Birrificio Montegioco, The Bruery, Jolly Pumpkin, Panil, Pausa Cafe, Pretty Things, Upright Brewing, and Victory Brewing), put together by Michael Meier, their resident beer expert. Swing by any Thursday evening this month to chat about beer with Meier—who will be behind the bar—and executive chef David Taylor will be preparing a special menu of items designed to pair with a couple specific beers.
