The City Beer Store & Tasting Bar
Categories: Bars, Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA1168 Folsom St
(between Hallam St & Langton St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 503-1033
- Hours:
Tue-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
Neighborhood: SOMA
"Outside seating... Heat lamps... Good beer on tap... Divey... Good music... Pool table... I love this place..."
190 Reviews for The City Beer Store & Tasting Bar
This place is really awesome. To all them people who have doubted how this little store could've survived... what a gigantic "in your face" given by the crowd that gathered on last Friday. It was effing jam packed.
The owner of the store is super friendly and knowledgeable. This tiny little beer specialty shop/bar allows you all the freedom and fun, in store or to go, as you wish.
One little complaint about the ventilation inside... kind of why I have not popped open a bottle in there. Maybe install a fan somewhere? Even on colder days the air seemed a bit stiff.
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I like this place.
Several of which I've tried.
Hundreds of which I have not.
The City Beer Store & Tasting Bar = A self explanatory 5 stars.
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I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. Being a beer geek and having been here a ton of times, I really just can't say enough about this place. First, Craig and Beth are just awesome and very nice people. Every time I've come in with questions, comments, etc, they've always been extremely helpful. The selection is great, and, if they don't have something, Craig always makes the effort to get it for you. My only complaint is now that people know about CBS, its so crowded! I'm glad Craig and Beth are doing well, and I'm just stoked we have a place like this in the city.
Not quite a store, not quite a bar, this place skirts the liquor laws by allowing you to choose your beer from the fridges, pay for it, and then drink it on premise. That alone wouldn't make this place 4 stars, but happily it also boasts a choice beer list, nice staff and a great local feel.
The shock value of how good this place is in relation to the surrounding area is astounding. I would call this an oasis. It is solid in terms of atmosphere and the selection is done lovingly. I raise my glass to this place and wish it the best. The beer and wine here will broaden your horizons and make you wish this place was next door to your house.
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Talk about bein' a kid in a candy store!
My first trip involved a couple of drives around the block, as it is kinda dark inside and I couldn't tell if they were open. In order to find them, I used Google Maps (there weren't any pics of people peeing outside unfortunately) and it showed a bright place with a folding sign on the sidewalk. My first trip didn't have the sign and it definitely looked closed. I finally parked, walked over, opened the door and found out, it was truly happenin' inside. People sitting on the couch, people sitting at the table near the door, and the tasting bar was packed.
Since this was my first visit, I casually walked in and pretended like I knew what I was doing. Didn't matter if I was a newbie, the owner(s) were unbelievably unpretentious and friendly! Questions? Answered without beer snobbery.
Lots of fantastic beers from around the world, both in coolers and on shelves. Lots of tasting as well at the small tasting bar.
Now, this place is neither large nor somewhere to hang out for hours on end as it is a store. But, it is a great place to try someting new and hang for a little while before taking your reasonably priced purchase home.
Gan Bei!
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It was fated that my brother and I would go here.
He doesn't get into the city all that much, but he made a special trip for me because I heard about this place at my local pub in Brooklyn. So we braved the Friday night crowds and headed out. We almost missed it as we were driving, because the entrance is a little subterranean, but my eagle-eye spotted it and we got a parking spot right in front - yes right in front on a Friday. It was fate.
The interior is small and has limited seating - but there beer selection is vast and well chosen. We ambled around the shelves for about a minute when two stools opened at the bar/counter. Fate again. I had my chicken purse with me and that immediately opened up the conversation with Craig, the barkeep, about a chicken that had adopted them and taken up residence in back. Beth, the other barkeep, joined in the conversation as well - and the two of them talked to us like we were old friends. We later learned they are married and own the place.
Over the course of our three-hour stay, we had many a good beer and top notch suggestions from Craig and Beth. I mentioned a few Colorado beers that I liked and Craig said he'd try to get them - I said I lived in NY so wouldn't be able to come back for them, he said no matter, he trusted my judgement and wanted to try them himself. ?!!? Awesome.
My brother returned a few weeks later and they remembered him - and THAT'S how you run a business.
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Best concept ever!!! We ended up here with a bunch of guys after a work dinner and I have to say it did not take a long time before we actually felt we were hanging out in somebodies basement.
Very nice beer selection and very honestly priced. No way to beat that!
I love this place!!!
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You will not find a place that embodies the spirit of SOMA more than City Beer Store. It's a little garage that is inconspicuous until you see all of the people hanging out there.
First question to myself: Is someone having a garage party?
Don't come here looking for Bud Light - there are beers with hints wine, bourbon and even chocolate milk flavors. I haven't tasted anything like it, even though these brews failed to entice my palate. I do know other people really enjoy it though, so it's definitely worth a shot and points for having some unique flavors. Luckily if you want something more typical, there's plenty of bottled beer in the coolers.
The bartenders were nice and there's cheese and bread for you to snack on. Give it a try if you're in the neighborhood!
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One of my favorite places to visit on a sunny Sunday afternoon, City Beer Store is a is a beer enthusiast's paradise. I come for the ridiculous assortment of Belgians and Belgian styles--that they sell Lost Abbey beers is enough to warrant five stars, in my opinion--but they've also got everything from IPAs to Scandinavian porters. Yes, it's expensive, but I think the selection justifies the price. I make a point of only buying beers that I can't get elsewhere; 'cause believe me, that Chimay, that Pacifico...all the widely distributed stuff is gonna be cheaper at BevMo.
The brushed metal bar isn't really my style, but I guess that's just how SOMA rolls. If it were up to me, every bar would have dark wood, roaring fireplaces, and moose heads; but I digress. Luckily, City Beer Store's Sunday bartender helps to tone down the industrialized feel with her friendliness and unpretentious (yet extensive!) beer knowledge.
Constantly rotating taps keep things interesting, so there's always something new to try.
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Hubster and Hot Rob have been talking, no *gushing* about this place for a while now and I got to tag along even though I don't drink beer, mainly b/c they were looking for a designated driver and they promised to buy me Little Star afterward.
Really small place but it was pretty packed with hipsters and beers of all kinds. I was impressed by the couple working the place, they obviously knew what they were talking about and were cool and easy going (word is they're married).
Hot Rob ordered a cheese plate (I felt like such a hipster doofus) and though I can't remember the different kinds we got, it was all very tasty.
If you like beer, you should come here.
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Four stars because the cheese & salami plate was a little light for the dinero. Great beer, good company, fun space.
I really like the place. As a quasi-employed consultant, I lounged the afternoon away with some pals quaffing beers, having a laugh, and enjoying SF. Check it out - you won't be sorry.
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Chocolate milk stout.
Super sexy company.
A bunch of other posers around (but they don't really contribute to this review)
Great peeps doing the pouring.
Bring. It. On.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/30/2008
Okay, so when it comes to a beer connoisseur, I'm a walking oxymoron. I used to work at a… Read more »
Loved it here. Where can you go to buy beer and hang out, eat cheese and bread, and drink good beer. The choice on tap is at the owners whim which works for me. It is better than having to drink the normal 5 beers on tap in all the average places in San Fran. Friendly atmosphere. Beer geeks can sit and talk. Love it. Get there now!!
City Beer Store is everything i love about SF. Owners serving up the beer at the bar, an entirely unique selection of brews - any of which, due to the owners lobbying for a one of a kind license, you can pop and drink onsite - and a great vibe to the space that matches the experience.
I drank with a friend on a Thursday around 5PM and we sat right down, though it was crowding up by the time we left an hour later. Get there early if you want to sit.
Oh and not that you would but don't buy a sixer of the 21st amendment watermelon beer and bring it to a group event expecting to be applauded for your cool indy taste . Imagine opening a can of Coors Light, dropping three watermelon jolly ranchers in, letting it sit open in the fridge overnight and then drinking it right after you brush your teeth the next morning.
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This place is incredible. Best selection of fantastic beers anywhere within city limits for sale.
I like the wierd Japanese style Heff with the funny owl on the front. A must try if you like belgian style white beers.
It's a small place and kinda a cross between a bar and liquor store but they still seem to attract a crowd for happy hour and even on weekends. I come here a lot since a lot of my friends live upstairs.
I'll also be moving into my own condo above this place. Can't wait! Love you city beer!
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Well, I have to say I am now addicted to really good beer! This place has such a fun atmosphere, and they always have everything I like... I wouldn't send anyone anyone anywhere else for beer.
There are a lot of belgian beers, belgian inspired beers, and other brands. The atmosphere is pretty mellow. There isn't a lot of seating so you kind of kick it at a bar table or sit on the walkway steps as some people to eloquently did. Anyway, the husband wife duo are very knowledgeable about their product (confirmed by another friend) and are open just late enough to get your pre-drink on. They also have the usual food fixings. A cheese plate and bread.
Check the hours for when you should go. They take cash or credit.
Love this place! An easy stop with a great selection of beers. If you truly appreciate the best in beer, this is the place! Very reasonable prices. Nice people and a few beers on tap if you want to linger for one or two...
I was afraid I might be disappointed after reading the other Yelp reviews. Worried that the reality might not live up to the hype, I nonetheless convinced my boyfriend to hop on the bus with me and give it a try (not that it was to hard to convince him). It's a little hard to find, it is true. But I have to say...it lives up to and exceeds the hype. It may just be the best place I've ever been for a drink.
The selection is fantastic. A wide range of styles and breweries, foreign and craft brews. Clearly selected with taste and by people who really appreciate fine quality. The cooler featured everything from special edition Hitachino Nest New Year ale, aged since 2004 to the Uncommon Brewery...in cans. San Diego breweries were well-represented (go team!) with a fine selection of Port Brewing, Alesmith, Ballast Point, and Stone (to name a few). Of course they had Bay Area favorites including Russian River, Speakeasy, and Lagunitas. And of course Belgian classics like Chimay and Duvel. It was clearly a fine selection.
What is special about the store is that you can mix and match bottles to create your own pack...it doesn't even need to be six beers. I wish more places did this. We were able to assemble a collection of brews to bring home that we had never tried without having to buy six of each.
Even more spectacular than that was actually hanging out in the tasting bar. They had five or six taps, with a wide range of styles (black wit, golden ale, hoppy lager, etc.), and we tried several. My favorite ale of the night (and it might be one of my all-time favorites) was the Bruery's Black Wit. Dry, fruity, with spicy notes and a dark color, it was truly fine. I talked about it for days, and probably will continue to do so. The Moonlight hoppy lager was flavorful, though it had a slightly cheesy smell that increased as it warmed.
Here is my favorite part of the place, though. It was relatively quiet, totally unpretentious, and comfortable. We could have a conversation in normal voices. We spent time talking with the owner about the Moonlight brewery operation (one man, one barn). It was a place to go and appreciate good company, good conversation, and finely crafted beverages. I wish somebody would do this in San Diego.
Saturday afternoon while searching for a cold drink all over SOMA without luck (most places close around 2-ish), we found this gem. Small beer place but with a gigantic selection of beer, cold and on shelves. It's a beer paradise! They also serve small food plates to complement.
Really like the fact that they are a bit lower than street level, makes it more in the shade and gives a cool sensation of the place.
Great place if you are in search of some great international beers to tease your taste bud on a hot weekend afternoon!
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Neat that they have so many high-end and exotic beers. But my two main complaints that the prices aren't just high, they are unnecessarily high. Even the medium-range beers are far pricier than a regular store - $10 is the cheapest six pack I saw. My other complaint is that it felt more like a bar than a store. I thought it was going to be a larger store with a bar shoved off to one side where you can get some ideas. But it seems like people were only in here to drink beer, not to taste beer and then buy some to take with them, which is what I was looking for.
It's pretty easy to like this place considering I live around the corner. I love the pay as you go, pick what you like selection and they will even keep your beer chilled in their refrigerators if you pick a bottle that exceeds one pint pour.
I love the kitchen area with a dishwasher. Grab your drink, sit at the counter and pretend you're in a long lost friend's SOMA loft.
My fiance is a serious beer lover and initially, he was thrilled to find this place. HUGE selection, friendly owners, always a few super obscure special beers on tap, and you gotta love the fact that you can try whatever you want right there for $1 over what the price on the bottle says. All those things are the "good". The first 5 times we've been there have been great experiences.
Here's the bad:
First off, recently (and I mean within the last month or so), it seems that their prices have skyrocketed. Like astronomically so. City Beer's prices are now at least $2 per bottle over what you'd pay elsewhere. In some cases, more than that, depending on how rare the beer is. Perhaps this place has gotten so popular that the owners figure they can get away with charging as much as they do because the demand is so high. Whatever.
Next, the owner and my fiance have always been very friendly when we've been in the store. Perhaps we caught them on a bad day, because this last visit (a Saturday afternoon), he couldn't even be bothered to give my fiance the time of day. His wife was also far less than pleasant. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, because hey, everyone has bad days. But bad days coupled with outrageous prices does not make for a fun beer drinking experience.
I'm thinking we'll give this place one more chance and then start looking for a new place to buy specialty beers.
I went here for the first time last night after reading about it 7x7 a while ago. I like the feel of the place, sort of small and industrial but it's not a normal bar (being that it's more of a store..)
I appreciated the choice between 5oz or 10oz pours and having fun taking beer as seriously as people do wine. Also, yummy. I believe the beer selections they have on draft change monthly but you can also drink any of their bottles beers on the premises except with a $1 "corkage" fee which is a little iffy but you don't mind so much after having one with a 11% alcohol content.
Great great place to learn about beer. They have alot, like alot! I really don't like the dive bar-ish culture that come with beer drinking, but at this place you can do the beer tasting like you are tasting wine.
I don't drink beer and I know nothing about beer. The owner gentleman suggested that we start with Belgium style beers. We tried 4 kinds, single, double, triple and others, and it was very very interesting. This one beer we tasted tasted like wine and smelled like soy sauce.... weird. But I can definitely see the food pairing possibility with these interesting bottles.
I will go there again to lean about different kinds of beer. There were many guys there that smelled like feet. Maybe I'll go on weekdays, hopefully less guys.
It's a strange hybrid of a liquor store and a bar. I wouldn't feel comfortable buying beer "to go", and I don't exactly yearn to hang out there, either.
That said, it's a nice, clean place with a killer beer selection. If you're in SOMA in the middle of the day, it's not like there's much else to do... but I don't really see what the fuss is all about.
It in a way, reminds me of my most beloved spot to drink in Orange County; Hollingshead's...and in a way, is totally different. Definitely a more hip SF vibe and crowd. But at the same time, it's small and it's obvious they know and love beer.
A bit on the pricey side, but for beer you know you can't get anywhere else it's completely worth it. I'm glad it's more or less on my way home from work. I'll be sure to visit here quite a bit in the coming months.
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I was enjoying a beer from their vast selection (no light options, but for a place like this that's all good), and commenting to my friends how much I liked the chill vibe and friendly, attentive service (it feels like the owner simply decided to open his kitchen to the public), and the next thing you know I'm getting mocked that I'm totally gonna yelp this place. I was insulted. I hardly yelp anything.
Fine. You win. See above for review.
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Beer heaven. Had a White Knuckle and a Blind Pig on tap. Why oh why do they have to close so early? (9pm) Boooooo...
Whatevs. My boss loves this place and that is primarily why I go. It isn't a bad place. Far from it. It's just small and most of the beers on tap there are just not light enough for me.
Let it be known though I am a strict wheat and pilsner girl. Anything darker than that I begin to eye suspiciously. And everytime I've been there, the taps are filled with dark. Le sigh. But I will say that they will let you taste anything and everything on tap before you make a decision. I just wish it was more to my taste.
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I love the fact that you can go here and try anyone of the beers on the shelf. The owners are very nice and knowledgeable about everything revolving around malts and hops. I personally love IPA's/Double IPA's, they have some here you cannot find anywhere else in the city: Pizza Port Hop 15, Flying Dog Double Dog IPA, Avery IPA to name a few. I just wish there was a little more space in there! Great place for hop heads..
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Low-cost independent booze source? Check (Mike's Discount Liqours)
Low-cost independent wine source? Double Check (Dozens of great wine shops to choose from in the city)
Low-cost independent beer source? Haven't found one yet. But when I heard about a place in SOMA called City Beer Store, I thought for sure this was going to be a big ol' warehouse with Safeway-esque prices on all the classic beer brands. But not so. It's a small little basement room specializing in the large-bottle stuff, with a selection roughly equivalent to that at Healthy Spirits. They have most of your typical yuppie beer six-packs as well but they'll run you a good $9.99.
Of course, what really sets this place apart is that you can drink your beer (for a $1 corkage fee) right here in the store, at the little bar where they also have rotating specials on tap. As you might expect, this has become quite the little underground after-work drinking spot, and the handful of stools fill up fast; I'll have to see if I can nab a spot for one of their Thursday tasting flights sometime.
Oh yeah, you can get real mead here, too, albeit in pricy 375 ml bottles. $9.99 for California stuff, $13.99 for English.
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If you took the Toronado, gave it a hot shower and a formal education you would get City Beer Store. Awesome place to go during the day when it's quiet and bother Craig when he's trying to get work done. Included in the price of a pint is some of the best beer recommendations and insight from the staff that you can't find anywhere else. They boast one of the city's premiere bottled beer selections and 6 tap handles that always feature small and obscure craft ales. It benefits from its proximity to the Mascone Center which is nice when they host MacWorld Expo type events and bring interesting people in from all over the world. San Francisco is lucky to have this place.
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This place is amazing. The owner is really friendly and chill. We had some really good beer and I bought a few too. There were a lot of belgian blondes that I have never heard of. They are over 8% too so you can get a good buzz on after drinking one. Inside is a really relaxed environment. Before I went there I thought it would be a frat house type of place but boy was I wrong. Please try it out!!
When I first walked in, I was less than impressed. Okay...it sells expensive beer and lets you drink it on-site. So?
Then, I thought more about San Francisco (which I've been to often, but where I do not live) and did some math. The prices for "to go" six-packs and big bottles is approximately what you'll see for the same craft beers in LA (I'm a homebrewer, so I tend to forget how expensive good commercial beer has gotten). But when you consider that you can then pop open those very beers for just $1 "corkage," it gets more economical than drinking at any bar. A decent beer in most bars is $4-6, right? Your six-pack would have to cost over $20 to be worse than that (and don't give me that pint vs. bottle nonsense. Most pints are not a real 16 oz. pour). I wonder how many people complaining about the expense of a six-pack here would happily drop the same $10 on a glass of wine or a foofy cocktail. The $5 drafts in smallish glasses were actually fine for the quality and high alcohol content of the beers I got. Support local microbrews!
Enough math. The proprietors are also great -- nice people and they really know their brews. Best customer service I've received lately. First, they gave me a free taste of a beer I wanted to make sure I'd like it, since it was an unusual interpretation of the style (Green Flash Le Freak = hoppy for a Belgian). I liked it, so I ordered it. My order finished the keg, and so the pour was *ever so slightly* short and foamy. I wouldn't have even cared, but they gave it to me for free. Wow.
If you just want to get loaded, this is not the cheapest way to do it. The "scene" is strictly beer nerd, so that's not for everyone, either. But if you're all about the beer in a foodie sort of way, or looking to educate yourself about good brews, City Beer Store can't be beat.
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What a great little place. The owner is really nice and knowledgeable about beer and helped us pick out great beers. The selection is really good and the atmosphere is great too...not sleezy, dirty bar atmosphere. Everyone just chillin and enjoying their beers and company.
One of the best things happening in SF... period.
Small, intimate, great service with a friendly atmosphere.
My enjoyment and knowledge (which coincides) of all things beer has vastly increased since I became a regular patron of this establishment. All of my Beer Enthusiast friends envy my geographic proximity to such a gem establishment.
Craig and Beth are some of the last "good people." And meeting good people is one of the main reasons why I drink good beer in the first place. Quality begats those who appreciate it. (Not to mention they have great taste in music, as well. Isn't that always the case with good people?)
After my first time there, I instantly became an evangelist of CBS. I wish them all the success in the world!!
Cheers.
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There is one thing I like about this place above all else: they let you taste the beer before buying it. For those of us who tend to drink the same (pale ale) type of beer all the time, getting to take a quick swig of a fruity belgian beer or a bacon-y smoked one (ick) is far preferable to purchasing one and then feeling obligated to drink it all. Other perks include the collection of bottled beers in the fridge that greatly expand on the on-tap options and the delicious cheese-nut-salami-and-bread plate. The sage cheddar is outrageously tasty, and the salted almonds are hard to resist. I highly recommend getting one of the food platters while you sip your various beer samples or pints.
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I've only stopped by here once. I went with the founder of Mateveza cause he let me know about the Thursday tasting night. All he had to say was that they had 6 double IPA's on Tap at the same time. I nearly blew it in my cube. It was a good time, and a fairly easy cab ride from North Beach.
I would definitely go back, its just a matter of making that trek down to SOMA. The folks who own the place know their stuff and will answer all of your questions and offer great suggestions. If you know and love beer you should check this place out. Cheers.
