Beer in Sacramento
February 13, 2011 7:19 PM Subscribe
Looking for good bars in Sacramento who focus in quality beer.
Going to be staying two nights this week. Staying at a hotel close to the convention center.
Looking for a good bar with within downtown-ish (I'm without a bar) which focuses on good beer.
If there aren't any, bars with well-known mixologists are welcome suggestions as well.
Going to be staying two nights this week. Staying at a hotel close to the convention center.
Looking for a good bar with within downtown-ish (I'm without a bar) which focuses on good beer.
If there aren't any, bars with well-known mixologists are welcome suggestions as well.
For questions like this, may I recommend Beerfly?
(I've never been to Sacramento, but Beerfly recommends The Shack and Flaming Grill Cafe)
posted by tsmo at 7:49 PM on February 13, 2011
(I've never been to Sacramento, but Beerfly recommends The Shack and Flaming Grill Cafe)
posted by tsmo at 7:49 PM on February 13, 2011
Easy: Pangaea Cafe.
That place kicks ass. The bartenders are GREAT. Especially if you go there during a slow period, they are likely to let you try anything. They bring in some really great, hard to find stuff and don't charge a fortune for it, either. I really miss that place (I live in the North Bay now).
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 8:20 PM on February 13, 2011
That place kicks ass. The bartenders are GREAT. Especially if you go there during a slow period, they are likely to let you try anything. They bring in some really great, hard to find stuff and don't charge a fortune for it, either. I really miss that place (I live in the North Bay now).
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 8:20 PM on February 13, 2011
Burgers and Brew has a pretty fantastic selection of beers on tap and bottled, and their burgers are delicious. I love their onion rings. It's an easy walk from the Convention Center.
The Bonn Lair is a little bit further out (not walking distance), but is great too.
I miss Sacramento. Sniff.
posted by apricot at 9:10 PM on February 13, 2011
The Bonn Lair is a little bit further out (not walking distance), but is great too.
I miss Sacramento. Sniff.
posted by apricot at 9:10 PM on February 13, 2011
Looks like everyone has it covered. If you like Belgians, then Pangea or the Shack even though neither are within walking distance to the convention center. Flaming Grill is way way far away.
All of the following are within walking distance. Burgers and Brew is more of a restaurant than a bar. Magpie next door usually has a nice Pliny the Elder, but once again, restaurant. Alley Katz has a huge selection, but it's a little weird, bright and the bathrooms were made to fail (it's only been open a few months.)
And one no on mentioned, The Rubicon. It's pretty much the local pub for the town and it has recently risen in quality. They probably have 4 or their own brews and a guest tap. They will definitely have a few types of our excellent locally made cider. I think the blood orange cider is what's on tap right now.
Have a nice visit, sorry that you missed the sunshine.
posted by Duffington at 10:14 PM on February 13, 2011
All of the following are within walking distance. Burgers and Brew is more of a restaurant than a bar. Magpie next door usually has a nice Pliny the Elder, but once again, restaurant. Alley Katz has a huge selection, but it's a little weird, bright and the bathrooms were made to fail (it's only been open a few months.)
And one no on mentioned, The Rubicon. It's pretty much the local pub for the town and it has recently risen in quality. They probably have 4 or their own brews and a guest tap. They will definitely have a few types of our excellent locally made cider. I think the blood orange cider is what's on tap right now.
Have a nice visit, sorry that you missed the sunshine.
posted by Duffington at 10:14 PM on February 13, 2011
Oh and not that you asked, but Magpie is probably the best inexpensive restaurant in town.
posted by Duffington at 10:19 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by Duffington at 10:19 PM on February 13, 2011
Seconding the Bonn Lair and Burgers and Brew. There's also a bar called Shady Lady a few doors down from Burgers and Brew that's 1920's theme and has an impressive old-school cocktail menu and great bartenders. Best old fashions ever. You can easily walk or take a super cheap cab ride from the convention center.
posted by ad4pt at 8:23 AM on February 14, 2011
posted by ad4pt at 8:23 AM on February 14, 2011
Sac resident here--would also recommend Rubicon (not a fan of their food but good beer selection), Burgers & Brew, and Shady Lady. Pangaea and Bon Lair are also great choices but a little off the "midtown/downtown grid"--too far to walk but close enough that a cab ride would be quite cheap (especially compared to fare in bigger cities). Enjoy!
posted by lovableiago at 10:04 AM on February 14, 2011
posted by lovableiago at 10:04 AM on February 14, 2011
Feh, none of you Tomatoes walk down here or what? Pangea's and the BL are no good unless you're gonna hit up a cab. If you're going to go as far as Burgers and Brew (it'd be a healthy walk) you'd be better going a couple more and hitting The Fox and Goose. Likewise, no point going to Bonn Lair when you've got The Streets of London a billion blocks closer. Big-ups for the Rubicon suggestion; also brewing freshies nearby is Brew-it-up, probably the easiest walk of anything I can think of, unless its the Sheraton (whose bar is rather pedestrian, but exceptionally pleasant if you look like you have business there and unpleasant if you look like a walk-in). If I had to pick one, it'd be the Rubicon for its well-roundedness.
Sorry we couldn't have better pedestrian weather for you this week. Just yesterday it was sunny California all over.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:57 PM on February 14, 2011
Sorry we couldn't have better pedestrian weather for you this week. Just yesterday it was sunny California all over.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:57 PM on February 14, 2011
He said good beer, not a bunch of tired ol' British beers. :D
posted by elsietheeel at 2:23 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by elsietheeel at 2:23 PM on February 14, 2011
I love how we all forgot public transit. The light rail goes from very close to the convention center to very close to Burgers and Brew.
Since you haven't been here, several of the places mentioned are in the same block, next door to each other even. If you have a burger and a belgian or two at Burgers and Brew, dessert and a Pliny at Magpie and finish up with an old - timey cocktail at Shady Lady, you have experienced some of the best Sac has to offer. You can also get a froyo and a haircut but I don't know why you would want to.
posted by Duffington at 3:03 PM on February 14, 2011
Since you haven't been here, several of the places mentioned are in the same block, next door to each other even. If you have a burger and a belgian or two at Burgers and Brew, dessert and a Pliny at Magpie and finish up with an old - timey cocktail at Shady Lady, you have experienced some of the best Sac has to offer. You can also get a froyo and a haircut but I don't know why you would want to.
posted by Duffington at 3:03 PM on February 14, 2011
I am the queen of caveats, I don't mean that the burger is the best in Sacramento. It most certainly is not, but it is a serviceable burger.
posted by Duffington at 3:10 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by Duffington at 3:10 PM on February 14, 2011
I take the light rail from Folsom to Rose of Lima Park every day and I still forgot about it.
But Duffington makes a good point about public transportation. Beyond that, you could forget about the R Street options and go to The Shack.
Or as long as you're done before 7pm, you could forget about downtown/midtown all together and go out to Folsom to Samuel Horne's. They've got Sculpin on tap (or they did two weeks ago)!
posted by elsietheeel at 3:51 PM on February 14, 2011
But Duffington makes a good point about public transportation. Beyond that, you could forget about the R Street options and go to The Shack.
Or as long as you're done before 7pm, you could forget about downtown/midtown all together and go out to Folsom to Samuel Horne's. They've got Sculpin on tap (or they did two weeks ago)!
posted by elsietheeel at 3:51 PM on February 14, 2011
Another vote for Samuel Horne's Tavern, which you could probably take light rail to.
posted by Big_B at 4:58 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by Big_B at 4:58 PM on February 14, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
There's also a Pyramid Alehouse on K Street.
It's a shame you don't have a car because there's a great place in Folsom called Samuel Horne's Tavern. In Davis there's The Graduate and Village Pizza has some great beer as well.
posted by elsietheeel at 7:32 PM on February 13, 2011