San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world. It’s also foggy, chaotic, expensive, touristy…and full of great beer! There’s a reason that people love living there, and that people like me love visiting.
I first wrote about the beer scene in San Francisco back in 2018, and a lot has changed since then. Anchor Brewing closed, and 21st Amendment has undergone some big changes. There are also new spots, spots that have grown, and spots that make much better beer than they did eight years ago.
Before you plan a big brewery trip to SF, keep in mind that there are many more brewery-dense cities to visit, like San Diego or Seattle. But what San Francisco lacks in brewery quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. Also, some of the greatest breweries in the world are just outside the City.
If you’re in San Francisco and need a place to get a great beer, here’s where to go.
Best Breweries in San Francisco
Cellarmaker Brewing Co.
Cellarmaker has been my favorite brewery in the City since I first stumbled in eight years back, and nothing has changed after a few more visits over the years. What started as a small SoMa operation in 2013 has since grown across the Bay Area, but the Mission Street taproom is still the spot to go. Instead of creating a few flagships to stock their menu, Cellarmaker constantly rotates small batches, which means the tap list could be entirely different between visits. If you’re into IPAs and pizza, make sure to stop by.
Fort Point Beer Company
If IPAs aren’t your thing, Fort Point should be your first stop. Founded in the Presidio in 2014, Fort Point’s specialties are lagers, including their Kolsch and Italian Pilsner. They have a few locations now, but the beer garden at the Ferry Building is where I visited. Everything about that location just feels like San Francisco in the best way. Odds are that anyone visiting San Francisco will be near this location during their visit.
Standard Deviant Brewing
Standard Deviant has a few SF locations, and both are worth a visit. Personally, I prefer the Pier 70 location since it’s not too far from Oracle Park, since my ideal day in San Francisco includes going to a Giants game. The beer at Standard Deviant is pretty eclectic, which I appreciate, even though I got a Kolsch multiple times during my last visit.
Southern Pacific Brewing
Southern Pacific is named for the rail line that used to run down Harrison Street, so you already know the vibe before you walk in. It’s a huge location that does craft beer, cocktails, and food, so it’s perfect for a group with varying tastes.
Beers to Try in San Francisco
Not trying to tell you what to drink, but if you need a starting point:
Almanac sours — any of them, they’re all great.
Cellarmaker — whatever’s on tap. Seriously, just trust the list, especially if it’s an IPA.
Fort Point KSA — excellent Kolsch that’s available year-round.
21st Amendment Brew Free! Or Die IPA — you can probably find this somewhere in the City.
Beyond SF: NorCal Beer Country
While breweries may be hard to come by in San Francisco, great beer is not. San Francisco is close to brewing juggernauts Russian River Brewing and Lagunitas. They’re a little far for a day trip from San Francisco, but you should be able to find their beer all over the city. So, they aren’t technically SF breweries, but they’re definitely local options.
Honorable Mentions
21st Amendment Brewery
21st Amendment is a long favorite of mine, in large part because they’ve been distributing quality craft beer for well over a decade. Their South Park location was the first place I went when I did my original San Francisco brewery tour. As of right now, the location is closed, but I’m leaving it on this list in the hopes that it will open back up one day.
Almanac Beer Company
Okay, Almanac is technically based in nearby Alameda, but they used to have a spot in San Francisco, and their beer is truly excellent. You can probably find their beer all around the City, so give it a try.
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