The ladyfriend and I are heading to San Francisco in a few weeks, and I was wondering if you guys had any microbreweries/brew pub recommendations I should check out while in the bay area?

The last time I was there was for the Dead's NYE show in 2003, and judging by how little I remember, I probably had a great time...

~dave.

Moylan's in Novato, Bear Republic in Healdsburg, Lagunitas in Petaluma

and this search result lists a whole bunch of them:
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=microbreweries+in+san+francisco&fb=1&gl=us&hq=microbreweries&hnear=san+francisco&view=text&ei=aYeSS6LIKYT6sgP2jqj8Aw&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CAwQtQMwAA

Have fun while you're here!!

Toronado and City Beer.

If you can drive a bit, head up to Russian River in Santa Rosa.

in sf there are a few breweries:

in sf proper:
Speakeasy
Thirsty Bear
21st Amendment
Magnolia
Beach Chalet
SF Brewing Company
Pizza Orgasmaca (Chestnut location)
Gordon Biersch
Anchor Steam

in Marin/Petaluma/Santa Rosa:
Iron Springs (San Anselmo)
Marin Brewco (Larkspur)
Moylans (novato)
Mill Valley Beer Works
Lagunitas (Petaluma)
Sonoma BrewCo
Russian River (Santa Rosa)
Bear Republic (Healdsburg)
Stumptown (Guernville)
3rd Street (Santa Rosa)

plenty of options. Toronado and City Beer Store would be best options for centralized efforts

There is the rogue pub right in San Fran. As well.

mroakley... are you out in Brentwood/Oakley? I'm in Concord

Defiantly go to Bear Republic. They have a restaurant right in town thats OK. If you like wine at all there is a vineyard called Lambert Bridge that I highly recommend. Its right outside of Healdsburg.

There's the Pyramid Ale Pub in Walnut Creek and EJ Phair's in Concord. That's going off memory....

Good bier here
Call ahead for brewery tour scheduling
Trumer Brauerei Berkeley
1404 Fourth Street
Berkeley, California 94710
510.526.1160

"There is the rogue pub right in San Fran. As well. "

spoken like a foreigner (it's San Francisco or 'The City') locals get the shudders if you call it San Fran or Frisco

thanks guys. lots of great options here.

Bear Republic in Healdburg, Anderson Valley in Boonsville, went to both last nov....great beers and places to try out. Nice break from the wineries too.

Also went to Rogue brew pub. I think it is in Washington Square near Coit tower. Its OK.....nice selection of Rogues of course but really just a small restaurant/pub.

The Rogue Brew Pub is a good spot, if I had a chance I would go get some Sour Dough Bread too.

On a side note, if you see people looking and laughing at what seems to be you, they are waiting for a crazy bum who has tree branches in his hands to jump out and scare you, the unsuspecting tourists. I almost punched him in his dirty face when he made me spill my coffee, and then continued to mock me in front of my wife. And with the price of anything there, you know he would've deserved it. You have been forewarned, "the city" has the meanest and worst bum problem I've ever seen in the states.

Hop monk tavern is Sebastopol is another good one with really good food to go with quite good beer

y'know... none of us have said, "c'mon over and have a pint!"... my apologies... I would but my house in the middle of a big remodeling project.

I often stay in the SOMA when I go to down there and would recommend to stop by City Beer. It is tiny but they have good schtuff on the limited taps and often times have a lot of bottles I cant get in Oregon.

Great selection of Port Brewing / Lost Abbey beers. Make sure you pick some of those up.

21A is ok...wasn't too impressed with their beer or food last time I was there. I have heard great things about Toronado and a couple of places in Berkley(one was a Belgium theme I think cant recall the name...google it).

I would recommend spending your beer money in Sonoma and Marin rather than the Bay Area. Speaking as someone who grew up and lived in the Bay Area for 25 years...It is kinda a wasteland for good craft beer. There are some great beers to be had but if you are coming from out of state and want to hit some of the best beers around I would recommend going across the Bay and out to the wine country.

Just my two cents....

+10 for Bud... gotta leave the city to find good micro breweries...

A couple more...

SF Belgian Beer spots:

La Trappe (North Beach)
Church Key (North Beach)
Monk's Kettle (Mission)

Oakland:
Trappist
Beer Revolution