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Kilowatt: Browsing the old show fliers and photos on the wall of this Mission bar may make you nostalgic for the days when raucous garage bands played on the corner stage — nowadays the Kilowatt is just a regular suds joint, sans live music, but it's a pretty fun one nonetheless. Multiple pool tables, a jukebox stocked with loud old-school rawk, and good happy hour deals on beer make the Kilowatt a fine spot to waste some casual drinking hours on 16th Street. 3166 16th St., 861-2595, barbell.com/kilowatt.
Lucky 13: Punk, country, rockabilly, and heavy metal classics blare from the jukebox of this Castro-adjacent dive that increasingly stands out amid the shiny new bars and restaurants in its neighborhood. Hopefully the Lucky 13 — with its long bar, dark tables, and kitsch-filled recesses — won't succumb to the fancifying trends anytime soon, although even upscale newcomers can appreciate its impressively large microbrew selection and popular happy hour. 2140 Market, 487-1313.
Mikkeller Bar: Denmark's Mikkeller brewing empire came to the Tenderloin in 2013, much to the delight of the Bay Area's beer fans. The minimal, blonde wood dining room and bar — very Scandinavian in look and feel — has 40 taps of rare and respected brews, as well as a menu of upscale gastropub fare like in-house sausages, charcuterie platters, and small plates such as Korean-style wings and fish and potato cakes. 34 Mason, mikkellerbar.com.
The Monk's Kettle: Very few things justify a three-hour wait, but that's the average Sunday night at Monk's Kettle, which gives you a sense of the place's popularity. Yes, this Mission ale-haven is crowded, but not so loud that you can't have a decent conversation without shouting. The menu is heavy reading with descriptions of more than 100 beers in the bottle, 24 on tap, and rare vintage beers in the cellar. Even not-so-rare domestic beers go by a clever moniker: When ordering Grandpa's Suds, do not be surprised to receive Olympia in a can. Chef Adam Dulye crafts comforting California-style cuisine using whatever's in season. The menu changes often, but you can always find a soft pretzel with an ale-infused cheese sauce, and a hearty grass-fed beefburger. Be sure to try the recommended beers paired with each edible item. 3141 16th St., 865-9523, monkskettle.com.
Noc Noc: Walking into this Lower Haight hideout might make you feel like you're at a peyote party with Beetlejuice: Its Tim-Burton-on-a-mescaline-bender decor and singularly surreal, cave-like ambiance make Noc Noc wholly unlike any other bar in San Francisco (or anywhere else, for that matter). Trippy custom-built furniture, walls made of fake stone, ceilings wrapped in sheets of metal, alien lighting fixtures, and electronica bleeping overhead combine to create a mood-altering environment with numerous little niches in which to get lost. Noc Noc doesn't serve liquor — only beer, wine, and sake — but its fantastically demented interior design can give you that far-out feeling even when you're totally sober. 557 Haight, 861-5811, nocnocs.com.
Park Chalet Garden Restaurant: This "garden restaurant" — a sister eatery to the Beach Chalet that's directly behind its sibling on the Great Highway — serves casual dining fare and its own microbrews in a setting that's custom-made for sunny afternoons. When the weather's warm, it's hard to beat the Park Chalet's green grass backyard and its views of the Dutch windmill in adjacent Golden Gate Park. Live jazz and funk bands often set up on the patio to provide music to accompany your microbrew, although if the sound is too loud — or the ocean breeze too chilly — you can always repair to the equally bright interior seating area, where glass ceilings, a stone fireplace, and open arrangement feel almost as natural as the patio itself. Don't skip dessert, particularly the bread pudding. 1000 Great Highway, 386-8439, parkchalet.com.
Rare Barrel: Berkeley's brewery dedicated to sour beer has made big waves in the drinking community. The tasting room here is housed inside the production facility, with its 10 beer taps, is open on Fridays and Saturdays, and also offers sandwiches and salads. 940 Parker, Berkeley, (510) 984-6585, therarebarrel.com.
Rogue Ales Public House: Oregon-based Rogue's local watering hole offers as many as 18 house beers plus a handful of guest taps. This is a prime location for drinking in North Beach if you don't want to feel like you're drinking in North Beach. The vibe is laid-back, although the beer can be spendy, with pints costing a cool $7-$8 (even during happy hour). There's also a full liquor bar where you can try some interesting drinks such as the Bloody Mary with bacon. Rogue serves basic pub grub, too — also with bacon. 673 Union, 362-7880, rogue.com.
Shotwell's: Established in 1891 — though it's gone through numerous permutations since then — this neighborhood bar offers a relaxing atmosphere to get your beer on. Whether you lean toward imports or craft beers, and whether you prefer draft or bottled beer, you'll find the gamut from cheapo pints of Anchor to break-the-bank numbers from rare, remote breweries. There's also some wine, cider, and soft drinks for the hop haters. Make yourself at home among the friendliest subset of the typical Mission crowd, who will be happy to play you a game of 8-ball on the beater billiard table or change the channel to your favorite sporting or even non-sporting event. 3349 20th St., 648-4104, shotwellsbar.com.
Social Kitchen & Brewery: Social Kitchen has revolutionary aims. Not only is it determined to make the food beer-focused, and highlight sustainable and local ingredients, it hopes to attract women and vegetarians, who are often put off by traditional brewpubs. The talented brewmaster likes to tweak expectations with his beers — brewing low-alcohol, food-friendly styles like his kölsch, which drinks like the cava of beers, as well as a peppery, none-too-sweet Belgian golden ale (l'Enfant Terrible), or Duvel dressed up for the Folsom Street Fair. Much of the food falls short of the beer, however. 1326 Ninth Ave., 681-0330, socialbrewsf.com.
