The better-beer scene continues its ascent in the South Bay with Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant in downtown Mountain View set to open March 28. There will be wine and cocktails, but the primary focus will be on high-quality beers. Steins will feature 30 taps and a menu of modern American comfort food crafted by executive chef and Bay Area native Colby Reade.
Articles by Andy Lee
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company—not the brewpub but the brewing and bottling facility located on Taylor Street in San Jose—has started offering limited-release, big-bottle beers with special flip-tops as part of the Braumeister Selekt series. The first issue is the Imperial Pilsner Brau, which was released last summer and has garnered much acclaim, enchanting those who’ve been curious to taste a hoppy Gordon Biersch beer.
The fifth annual SF Beer Week runs from Fri., Feb. 8, to Sun., Feb. 17, and a record number of events are planned throughout the Bay Area. Among the many South Bay participants are Harry’s Hofbrau, Wine Affairs, Original Gravity Public House, Rose & Crown, Liquid Bread Gastropub, and Hermitage and Strike brewing companies.
Since this past fall, a group of volunteers has been meeting regularly at various local beer spots to help create CaliforniaÕs first cooperatively owned brewpub, right here in San Jose.
One of the best New Year’s Eve traditions is toasting the year to come with a glass of sparkling wine. Here are some tips for finding the right bubbly.
More and more craft beer hot spots are opening in downtown San Jose, and a beer crawl is an enjoyable way to visit a number of these destinations that serve better beer. Not only do you get to enjoy some heady brews, but you’ll become better acquainted with a variety of establishments to figure out which ones merit return visits.
The fourth installment, KraftBrew WinterBall will be held Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Landmark Ballroom at the San Jose Woman’s Club. The event will feature tastings of more than 35 seasonal and holiday beers, many reflecting variations of bold, complex and spicy notes in aroma and flavor.
The new Liquid Bread Gastropub opened in downtown Campbell just a month ago and is on the fast track to becoming a South Bay hot spot for top-notch food and beer offerings. Liquid Bread boasts 20 rotating craft-beer taps and 70 to 80 bottled beers for in-house consumption or purchase to go. There is also a selection of fine wines and soda.
My family and I recently went to TL Beer Garden in Sunnyvale to check out their beer offerings and atmosphere, but we were surprised by how much we liked the food.
With 12 changing and rotating taps plus 80-100 bottled beers that can be enjoyed onsite or purchased to go, you won’t find any macro beers here. In addition to good beer, Wine Affairs offers a tasty tapas menu and, of course, an extensive wine list.
