By Dana Eastland. HEALTHY SPIRITS is now open in Bernal Heights, according to Bernalwood. The new liquor store has moved into the former Chuck’s Grocery space, and, like their other two locations, is focused on offering high-quality small-batch spirits. Their particular focus is on whiskey, beer, and agave spirits (tequila and mezcal), but they offer a full range of choices for getting your booze on. There are also various spirit clubs that avid spirits fans can check out. Hours are Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm. 249 Cortland St. at Bocana, 415-374-7838.
It’s never to early to start planning for SF Beer Week, which is coming up January 22nd through 31st. The official schedule is now live, with more than 150 events to keep you in all the suds you can manage. Tickets to the opening night gala went on sale this morning and will sell out quickly, so get yours now. Event locations, times, and costs vary; check the website for details.
For the whole month of December, FAT ANGEL is offering lots of special beers. They’ve got 26 special bottles in stock, plus a unique tap offering each week. They are also serving spiked seasonal cakes from Sainte G. Cake Company’s baker Krista Juracek. Each cake is made using the weekly special beer on tap, so this week it’s mocha mousse with brownie crust featuring Drake’s Jolly Rodger. Other highlights include carrot cake with spiced cream cheese frosting featuring 21st Amendment’s Fireside Chat and chocolate peppermint cupcakes made with The Bruery’s 8 Maids-a-Milking. 1740 O’Farrell St. at Fillmore, 415-525-3013.
Raise a glass to the end of Prohibition at 21ST AMENDMENT’s San Leandro brewery on Saturday December 5th. The annual Repeal Day Bash celebrates the 82nd anniversary of the end of Prohibition and includes a We Want Beer parade, a live marching band, cigar lounge, and casino games (for charity, of course). There will also be food trucks, plenty of food, and, yes, beer. The event is free to attend; food and drinks can be purchased separately. All ages welcome. The party goes from 12pm-5pm, and they are even offering a free shuttle from the San Leandro BART station. 2010 Williams St. at Westgate, San Leandro, 510-595-2111.
There are some exciting new wine offerings at ~RN74~ from lead sommelier David Castleberry. The new specials include Magnum Mondays, when a special magnum bottle will be opened and poured by the glass at a special price. Then there’s Half Bottle Hump Day on Wednesdays, when special half bottles of wine will be available at half price, to encourage guests to try a wider range of wines. They are also pouring Unicorn Bottles periodically, when rare, hard-to-find, or otherwise very special bottles will be pulled from the extensive cellar and offered by the glass. Follow along on Instagram for details about which bottles are on offer.
And finally, every evening they are offering the Flying Blind series of blind wine tastings. The nightly flights showcase classic, benchmark examples of wines from around the world and are a great way to learn more about regions and styles for the enthusiast or even those studying for the sommelier certification.
ROSE PISTOLA, Southern Wine & Spirits, and Brassfield Estate Winery have teamed up to raise money for victims of the Valley Fire in Lake County, who are still struggling to get by as we enter the holiday season. For every bottle of Brassfield wine sold in North Beach until the end of the year, the winery will donate $1 to the ongoing relief effort. Southern Wine & Spirits will be matching whatever they raise, as will Rose Pistola. The winery’s Eruption red blend will be available on special at the restaurant by the glass or bottle, and retail bottles can be purchased at Coit Liquor in North Beach.
