Beer Anyone?

After trying food like corn dogs and curry, I want to move toward something I little different. How about trying out a brewery? In the typically foggy Inner Sunset, where on any given day the sun may not even come out, Social Kitchen and Brewery provides us with a great selection beer made on-site. However, don’t be fooled by the brewery label, Social Kitchen and Brewery actually boasts some very tasty food.

            A really good friend who works in the 9th and Irving area referred me to Social Kitchen and Brewery, and he described it as the perfect place to go after work to relax and grab a few drinks. He told me not only does the restaurant have excellent beer and food; he told me the place had a great atmosphere and a really friendly staff as well. 

              First off, when you walk into Social, the architecture and the interior’s design is very well thought out. You can tell that the owners put a lot of thought, time, and money in creating the overall ambiance of the space. Dark wood and some black furnishings give off a very robust look, which is exactly what a brewery/restaurant should look like in my opinion. 

            I came in during happy hour, which is what my friend suggested, and the place was fairly busy. I wouldn’t say it was pack but it definitely wasn’t empty. After sitting down at the table and browsing what they had to offer, I was pretty impressed with their selection of beer. There were a lot of really appetizing choices. There was the L’Enfant Terrible, which according to the waiter and the restaurant’s website is a Belgian-style dark ale. There was also the Rapscallion, a rambunctious Belgian-style golden ale, and the Easy IPA, a floral bittersweet beer. There was more beer to choose from; however, these were the beers that caught my attention. I ended up getting a pint of the Rapscallion and the Easy IPA, and I was not disappointed. Not only did these beers have about seven to eight percent alcohol in them, but they were also so delicious! The Rapscallion was kind of spicy in a way, as well as bold and full-bodied. The Easy IPA was different. It was very bitter and floral, but tell me why it had a slightly funny taste to it. It wasn’t bad, it was actually very good, but I couldn’t help but think it had a little taste of cannabis to it? Especially with the menu stating that the Easy IPA has “a bittersweet treat that’s all flower power,” I couldn’t help but wonder. However, the Rapscallion was my favorite hands down. If I were to drink Rapscallion for the rest of my life, I would die a happy man. 

            The waiter even mentioned that they also have a rotation of beers. The owners are continuously trying to create new concoctions in order for customers to experience beer in new innovative ways. I am certainly interested in coming back here and seeing what new brews they have created. 

           So, I know that all I have been talking about is Social’s beer, but I don’t want you to think that this place is only about beer. They offer some delicious food that pair well with their self-brewed beer. During happy hour, their drinks and food are ridiculously cheap! Ranging from $3-5, they offer appetizers like beer batter sweet potato tempura fries, macaroni and cheese with truffle oil, crispy calamari, and fried chicken sliders. The sweet potato tempura fries are my favorite! I love tempura batter and pairing that with sweet potato fries is utter genius! The calamari was excellent as well. It was crispy but didn’t have too much breading, and the sweet chili sauce really put the dish over the top. Food like this tastes so good with well-brewed beer.

            I unfortunately wasn’t able to eat their entrée items like their burgers or their steak and pork chops, but I heard good things. With all the beer and appetizers I drank and ate, I had absolutely no room left in my stomach!

            Overall, I enjoyed my time at Social. The atmosphere is fun and well designed. The beers are delectable and the food is just as good. They have a great selection of beer, with enough variety to satisfy anyone’s taste palette.

Ah, and I almost forgot to mention; if you hate making decisions of what beer to drink, Social offers a beer sampler where you can have double shots’ worth of each beer that’s offered that day. And once again, don’t let the "sampler" label fool you! A friend of mine who went with me ordered the sampler and got rocked! The sampler is a great choice when you want just a little taste of everything.

 

Anyways, if you ever catch yourself in the Irving area or just finished strolling around Golden Gate Park, and you’re looking for a great place to wind down and grab a drink, Social Kitchen and Brewery is the place for you. Here you can find great beer, great food, and great company. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and the staff treated me very well. Social Kitchen and Brewery is a fine San Francisco establishment, and I plan on returning there again soon.