So, it’s been a beer-soaked nine months since I moved to San Francisco from brew-boomtown Denver. But even at my liver-punishing drinking pace, I haven’t technically been able to taste everything NorCal has to offer. (If you’d like to help me on my quest, feel free to buy me a pint next time you see me around town!) As I’ve explored the Bay Area beerscape, there have been so many standouts. In no particular order, here are three of my personal faves:

Cask 200 – Sante Adairius Rustic Ales

The great thing about this solera-style barrel-aged Belgian Saison is that it’s never the same beer twice. Every time brewer Tim Clifford pulls off beer from his 660 gallon cask, fresh beer goes in and mixes with what’s left in the cask. The old beer “teaches” the new how to ferment in a style borrowed from fortified winemakers. When I tried it at RateBeer’s Beauty from a Barrel Gallery, it was tangy, bright citrus, with a little funk and a lot of delicious.

17^th Anniversary Ale – Firestone Walker Brewing Company

This rendition of Firestone’s perennial blockbuster is by far my favorite of their anniversary ales. And I swear, it’s not just because we had to drive all over the peninsula to get our hands on a case (foreshadowing: There are a few epic verticals in our future.) There are beautiful caramel candy notes in their 17^th Anniversary Ale, a bourbon aroma and a surprising smoothness that hides what could have been a hot 13% ABV. To dream up this brew, local industry pros gather, make their own blends from what Firestone has available, and then blind taste test to see who concocted the perfect mix. No wonder it’s so damned tasty.

Biere de Chocolat – Almanac Beer Company

Oh, with the panoply of amazing specialty brews coming out of Almanac, how could I possibly choose one of their regulars? I can almost always find it in the store. Many of the Bay Area’s better restaurants somehow have it available, even when they’re not boasting a stellar beer list. It pairs with practically everything and pleases palates both refined and otherwise. Biere de Chocolat will always have a special place in my heart because of its versatility and ubiquity – that and the fact that it manages to be chocolaty without the obscene sugar content.