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Southern Pacific Brewing: Large and airy, the Southern Pacific's warehouse-like taproom is a comfy and bright space in which to try its microbrew selections (plus a few guest beers as well). Don't just fill up on stouts and porters, though — there's also a food menu full of hearty grub to complement the brew. 620 Treat, 891-9775, southernpacificbrewing.com.
Speakeasy Tap Room: The local brewery's 12-tap Hunters Point taproom is speakeasy-themed, naturally. No grub yet, but you're welcome to bring your own, and there are occasional food trucks on Friday night. 1195 Evans, 642-3371. goodbeer.com.
Steep Brew: When asked "What would improve your grocery-shopping experience?" we typically reply, "Sixteen taps of fresh craft beer with a local focus." Evidently, Whole Foods Potrero was listening, and built a café-cum-beer bar into the store with 16 taps and a brief, healthy menu. 450 Rhode Island.
Thirsty Bear Brewing Company: Microbrews and Spanish tapas don't seem like the most intuitive pairing, conceptually, but Thirsty Bear's owner, Ron Silberstein, has made them work for more than a decade. The two-story, industrial pub and restaurant is often thronged, pulling in a regular SF crowd as well as lanyard-wearing business types who drift over from the convention center. It helps that Silberstein's beers are well made, from the lightest of the wheats to the darkest of stouts, and certified organic to boot. The tapas aren't uniformly oustanding, but the tortilla would satisfy a Castilian grandmother, the patatas bravas are always a hit, and the kitchen has a knack for seafood. 661 Howard, 974-0905, thirstybear.com.
Toronado: In the pantheon of beer bars, Toronado occupies the tallest throne. For more than 20 years, the T has been a mecca to beer lovers near and far, offering delightful and often rare draft selections at cheap prices and even cheaper during happy hour. The bottled selection — not so cheap. There are so many beers you'll never be able to drink a pint of every brew you'd like to try. The bar also rotates taps frequently, so don't count on a specific beer being available during a return visit. Newcomers and even regulars discuss how the bartenders have turned "customer service" into an oxymoron, as they are quick to chastise you for lollygagging while ordering or even mispronouncing your order. Toronado is crowded and loud, but it is conveniently located next to Rosamunde, which serves a plethora of perfect sausage pairings to take back inside the bar. 547 Haight, 863-2276, toronado.com.
The Torpedo Room: Chico's Sierra Nevada brewery's first Bay Area taproom is in Berkeley. Fifteen taps offer familiars like Sierra's Pale Ale along with experimental brews, customers can get growlers to go, and there's a short menu of bar snacks. 2031 Fourth St., Berkeley, (510) 647-3439, sierranevada.com.
Zeitgeist: San Francisco's worst-kept secret may be Zeitgeist's huge beer garden, where throngs converge to share crowded picnic tables, smoke in the sun, and drink pitcher after pitcher of cold suds. The beer selection is excellent, as is the Bloody Mary, and you can get burgers and such from the patio's barbecue on the weekends. The punky bartenders are still notoriously — and justifiably — unwilling to tolerate rude yuppie customers, however, so be nice, tip well, and remember to program your favorite Black Flag songs on the jukebox. 199 Valencia, 255-7505, zeitgeistsf.com.
The Willows: Brother and sister team Tim and Liz Ryan have taken a fun approach to their new spot, a spinoff of The Sycamore. Full bar, a beer den with 12 rare selections on tap, American classics for snacking, plus pinball, pool, and video and board games. 1582 Folsom, 529-2039, thewillowssf.com.
Woods Polk Station: The new bar from the owners of Cervaceria de MateVeza has a rotating beer list of house beers and "guest beers," along with authentically Argentine empanadas from El Porteño. Wall-mounted pegboards keep the beer menus handy, and the warm wood and teal interior is a refreshing change from the city's endless parade of industrial-chic. 2255 Polk, woodspolkstation.com.
