Bison Brewing Company - Berkeley
Bison Brewing Company
Description
Tucked on a quiet Berkeley street, Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Room is a cozy, design-forward taproom offering a rotating selection of the brewery's core and limited-release beers. Flights and small pours make tasting easy; snacks like a soft pretzel and grilled cheese fill gaps. Dog- and kid-friendly patio seating, friendly staff, to-go cans and growlers round out a relaxed spot ideal for beer tours or an afternoon hangout—expect modest portions and city-area prices.
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The taproom boasts 12 beers on tap, including popular choices like Hazy Little Thing IPA, classic favorites like Old Chico (Crystal Wheat), and unique offerings like hard kombucha. They also serve snacks and a few food items, such as grilled cheese and soup/salad. I can't recommend their soft pretzel enough—it was incredibly delicious and melted in my mouth. It comes with their famous beer cheese, which I couldn't sample, but that didn't bother me. I enjoyed their Cantaloupe Gose, which was crisp, light, refreshing, and slightly tart; the melon flavor was very prominent. They also offer a great selection of board and card games! If you’re planning a beer tour, be sure to add this stop to your itinerary!
Sierra Nevada is a great local beer to the Bay Area with somewhat of an environmental conscience but this pub os located in the posh area of Berkeley... I can 't believe the community allows this expensive, somewhat pretentious, outdoor mall-like city streets... The pub has pricey and limited selection of finger foods albeit they are quality snacks. Brie and fig toast with tomato soup was really good but portion is small and price is high $15 (I am sure it 's because rent mist be high in this new part of Berkeley). I say avoid this area if you want to 'feel ' Berkeley but if you are there and hungry (like I was) this is not a bad place to snack. Beers not disappointing: Hazy Little Thing 9% fruity, refreshing, not hoppy LUV it and Narwhal dark beer, rich taste LUV IT too.
This is a great place to hang out on an afternoon or evening. I'm not a big beer drinker (love me my wines) but they have a good selection of many beers including the light ones. Pints are $6-$8 and they have 4 oz/8 oz sizes. I've ordered both the pints and a flight. Two flights were around $20 which is already a great price but this time I also happened to find a Groupon which cut the price in half! Highly recommend using one. Staff was extremely friendly and nice, and every time I've been they've been extremely helpful. They also sell packaged beer cans/bottles and growlers. Kiddo-friendly too!
The brewery features lovely wooden decor and creatively uses kegs as light fixtures, along with some impressive chalk art on the walls! Here are a few things to keep in mind: - Indoor seating is available, as well as a small outdoor patio. - They have gender-neutral restrooms. - You place your order at the bar, where they’ll pour your beer, open a tab for you, and you can then find a seat. - If you want food, just order at the bar, and they’ll bring it to you. Considering the space is cozy, they’ll remember who you are and come find you. It's within walking distance to some shopping areas. You can park right in front (metered) or go a block down for off-street parking, but be mindful of any time limits. Also, watch out for cars; they don’t always stop at stop signs in that area. Enjoy yourself, and drink responsibly!
This spot is a relaxed outpost of Sierra Nevada brewing. Having been to their massive location in South Asheville, NC, I can say this offers a completely different vibe. It’s just a small taproom, but there’s a great variety of Sierra Nevada’s offerings. I was fortunate to visit during SF Beer Week, which meant they had some truly unique selections available, including a special release of their 2014 barley wine. I appreciated the option for small pours at reasonable prices, especially since it was Sunday afternoon and I couldn’t decide what I wanted! The fact that we could bring our dog outside was a big plus too. It did get a bit chilly as the sun moved, and there weren’t any heaters, so if you're planning to sit outside, definitely dress in layers! My partner ordered the soup and grilled cheese combo, which was quite reasonably priced for a brewpub. Perhaps if you’re from a smaller town, you might find the prices a bit steep, but if you're used to city prices, you should be just fine. Overall, we had a fantastic time on the patio with really friendly bar staff, and I loved the chance to visit another Sierra Nevada location!
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