Spring may be the only season in San Francisco that feels like it does in other parts of the country—only better, of course. We have green, leafy trees and budding flowers like the rest of the country, but our March Madness also includes the Hunky Jesus Contest and Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race. Most importantly, a host of local breweries are rolling out specialty suds just for spring.
Seek out these infinitely sippable vernal beers to stay appropriately hydrated while experiencing the particular joys of a San Francisco spring. Here’s a sampling from five of our favorite craft brewers.
Almanac Brewing’s Farmer's Reserve Strawberry. In the summer of 2014, Almanac added Seascape Strawberries grown at Dirty Girl Farms to a sour blonde ale that was aging in wine casks. Just under a year later, the waiting is over and Farmer's Reserve Strawberry is now available. Almanac co-founder Jesse Friedman described the beer affectionately: “When I think of Spring, I think of bright, freshly harvested veggies and flavors, and the coming of summer. This beer tries to capture that warm weather and brightness in a glass. It’s perfect for the warm days and evenings of spring in San Francisco.”
CellarMaker Brewing’s Typo Pills. Look for this warm weather Pilsner starting in mid-May. CellarMaker co-founder Connor Casey described their take on the legendary Italian Pilsner: “To me it's the perfect beer for what’s often the warmest month in San Francisco. We used a German lager yeast to create a super crisp, dry finishing beer that comes in at about 5.5% ABV. It’s traditionally hopped with Slovenian Celeia and German Tettnang varietals, and we add New Zealand Motueka to create a really juicy, tropical, and spicy character that includes aromas of citrus and lime.”
Woods Beer Company's Sakura Saison and Calendula Kolsch. Brewer William Bostwick explained the inspiration for these new beers: “San Francisco is so wonderfully fragrant these days — cherry blossoms in the morning, warm eucalyptus and rose in the afternoon, jasmine wafting through the streets at night — and brewing beers with these local ingredients is a great way to capture that spirit.” The Sakura Saison is brewed using freshly picked cherry blossoms and jasmine, while the Calendula Kolsch is made with with geranium and rose. Both beers will premiere in early April at The Cerveceria on 18th and Church.
Social Kitchen and Brewery's Sunshine Fix and the Funshine Six. On April 4th, Social Kitchen releases their double IPA called The Sunshine Fix and debuts a new IPA called the Funshine Six. Both beers feature a light and simple grain bill with a splash of flaked rye and are heavily hopped with Simcoe. The Sunshine Fix includes a dank blend of other hops, like Chinook and Amarillo, to add spice and pine, while The Funshine Six adds Citra hops to tweak it into a tropical fruit bomb. Brewmaster Kim Sturdavant says he’s looking forward to patrons twisting their tongues when ordering the beers and then straightening them when enjoying these extra pale and hugely aromatic spring seasonals.
