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JUN/JUL 2006 | REGIONAL | WEST
COAST
City Beer Store : It's About Time!
By Angela Wagner
Finally, a proper bottle shop featuring beer opened in San
Francisco. Craig Wathen, a Bay Area beer missionary, opened
the City Beer Store on May 2, 2006. Wathen intends to help
get the word out that beer is a beautiful handcrafted nectar
of love. He says, “I want everyone to see this beverage
the way we do, as an artisanal product of high quality. I
want City Beer to be a catalyst for a more thoughtful approach
to drinking beer.”
Located in the bustling South of Market area of San Francisco,
City Beer has an intimate yet modern feel. The shop occupies
approximately 820 square feet of space. As you enter, it’s
like you’ve stepped into a cool and inviting living
room. There are a couple of tables where you can hang out
and sample beer from the tasting bar. There are also a couple
of comfy leather chairs to curl up in and read something from
Wathen’s beer and brewing library.
Product is maintained well away from the front windows and
kept at proper temperature. Four beers are available on draft
and will frequently rotate. Wathen wants to ensure that both
his bottled and draft products are in the best condition.
Wathen fell in love with beer early on. His “aha”
moment came while traveling in the Czech Republic in the mid-’90s.
While trying a fresh Budvar right from the source and observing
the whole culture of beer, he knew he wanted to be a part
of this industry. From Pete’s Wicked Ale to Gambrinus,
the City Beer Store is a loving expression of a guy smitten
with beer.
Though Wathen feels a certain responsibility to offer craft
beer from local brewers, he will showcase other creative brewing
talents throughout the nation. He hopes to build upon the
great Bay Area brewing pillars established over the last decade
and be a voice in the “Beer 2.0” movement, a second
craft-brewing renaissance where we’re seeing styles
and techniques that are outside the box. Examples are the
almost cultlike love of beers such as Shaun O’Sullivan’s
Watermelon Wheat at the 21st Amendment; Vinnie Cilurzo’s
Pliny the Elder Double IPA at Russian River; and Dave McLean’s
Weekapaug Gruit at Magnolia.
Wathen says, “People are excited by the creativity
and are looking to try new things.” City Beer will be
a great place to do just that.
City Beer Store
1168 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-503-1033
Angela Wagner is a San Francisco–based
writer/photographer.
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