Press In Case of Raid

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, in an industrial area of San Francisco, as the wife and I made our way to Speakeasy Ales & Lagers.  This area of town doesn't quite feel like the San Francisco that you are used to.  First off, there was little to no traffic and there was parking, easy parking that was free of charge.  The taproom has a decidedly prohibition era drinking establishment vibe.  Although one walks up a few stairs from the parking lot to enter the joint, it feels as if you are in a dark basement or backroom that has been turned into a bar.  You'd almost expect to be greeted by a well dressed gangster asking for the password.  No password is required, though be sure to keep an eye out for any coppers and remember to press the button in case of a raid. See?

I didn't push the button, but I wanted to.

I have had a few of Speakeasy's beers and enjoy them often.  Big Daddy IPA and Double Daddy IPA are a couple of my go to beers.  I had not, however, visited the brewery before.  The wife and I walked up to the bar, decided on a few samples and then found ourselves a comfortable spot to imbibe.  We decided on The Suspect (Belgian Golden Ale), The Informant (Elder Flower Saison), Blind Tiger (Imperial IPA) and Harvey Milk (Milk Stout).

From left to right is, The Suspect, The Informant, Blind Tiger and Harvey Milk

Delicious decisions don't disappoint

Tasting Notes:

-The Suspect is a Belgian Golden Ale whose aroma is reminiscent of lemon drops and its appearance like that of lemonade.  The flavor is dominated by spicy hops and citrus rind that subdue the grainy sweetness.  The effervescence in this light bodied beer, paired with the citrus make for a refreshing brew.

-The Informant is an Elderflower Saison, in which the floral aroma is most prominent. This is followed by the aroma of a dense grainy cracker.  It has a nearly clear, golden hue that is crowned by a persistent, fine bubbled head. The elderflower is the star of the aroma as well as the flavor.  This is paired with a lingering flavor of a ruby red grapefruit.  The fine bubbles on the tongue create a delicate, silken texture that beg for another sip.

-Blind Tiger, an Imperial IPA, compensates for its lack of sight with a powerful aroma of mandarin orange and passion fruit.  As the bold hops fade, you are greeted by the smell of freshly cut grass and graham crackers.  The color of this beer is remarkably similar to the aforementioned saison, the only real difference is a slight haze and less bubbles.  The flavor reminds me of a pineapple upside down cake.  This gives way to a subtle grass flavor and a lingering resinous hop character.   The hops coat your tongue and are not washed away by the medium bodied beer that warms your chest on the way down.

-Harvey Milk is a luscious, sweet stout.  The aroma is that of a dark chocolate mocha and sweet black cherry.  It is an impenetrable black with a faint edge of a dark red wine.  The flavor is similar to a black forest cake paired with a cup of strong roasted coffee.  This beer is velvety smooth on the pallet and literally screams for ice cream.

Photo Credit: The wife

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers is a short trip from Sacramento and is well worth the visit.  The beer is excellent, and the taproom is dimly lit and comfortable.  The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the parking is free.  I will certainly return and plan to bring friends along next time. While the wife and I were visiting, a party bus showed up carrying the guests of a birthday celebration for someone named Joey.  The group of people had a few extra pours of Big Daddy IPA, which two kind ladies from the group offered to the wife and I, as well as a couple other people in the taproom.  I'm sure that this is a slogan of another brewery, but it holds true; good people drink good beer.  Here's to Joey, Happy Birthday!

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Cheers!