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2195 Old Steese Hwy. North • Fairbanks, AK 99712-1023 • (907) 452-2739 • silvergulch.com

Built in the historic mining town of Fox in 1998, Silver Gulch is one of the largest breweries in Alaska and as of 2011 the furthest north. The corrugated metal exterior gives it the look of a farm facility, but the interior is spacious and cleanly furnished with lots of dark-wood tables, chairs, and booths. In addition to the brewpub’s own ten taps there are around 100 to 125 international beers available in bottles, including a surprisingly deep collection of rare British, German, and Belgian beers. It’s hugely popular with locals so make a reservation ahead of time to secure a spot; try the 5.8% ABV Coldfoot Pilsner, a hybrid of German and Czech styles.

CALIFORNIA

and

HAWAII

California

IT’S GOSPEL AMONG CRAFT BEER FANS THAT MODERN AMERICAN microbrewing was born in Sonoma County at John “Jack” McAuliffe’s New Albion Brewing Company in 1976. That ragtag operation didn’t last long, but McAuliffe’s English-style ales, some with whole peppers in the bottle, did leave a gigantic impression on locals like Ken Grossman, who was on his way to starting what would become Sierra Nevada. And that was almost ten years after Fritz Maytag, another ambitious beer lover, took over the foundering Anchor (of Steam Beer fame) and began to burnish that old company’s shine.

Today, what is happening throughout the state is nothing short of revolutionary: like Napa’s wine boom in the 1970s, and Sonoma’s in the 1980s, there are now pockets of brewing innovation dotting the entire state. From airy coastal beer gardens in San Diego to chic gastropubs in San Francisco and barn-like wine country hideouts in the North—and even throughout Los Angeles—the entire freewheeling, sun-bleached state has good beer to discover. There are nearly a hundred breweries in California, far too many to take in on a single trip. That shouldn’t stop you from trying. Maybe it’s the sunshine, or the sea, or the good vibes from the Golden State’s surfer days and Beatnik nights, but California has always been an inspiring place to travel and, now more than ever, it’s one of the world’s finest places to drink delectable craft-brewed beer.

ITINERARIES

1 – DAY

Magnolia, the Trappist, Toronado, La Trappe, Church Key (San Francisco)

3 – DAY

One-day itinerary plus Zeitgeist, the Monk’s Kettle, Russian River, Lagunitas, Anderson Valley (Central California)

7 – DAY

Three-day itinerary plus the Bruery, Laurel Tavern, Tony’s Darts Away, Stone, the Lost Abbey, Alpine, Pizza Port Solana Beach, and Hamilton’s (Los Angeles & Southern California)

San Francisco/Oakland

MAGNOLIA BREWING CO.

1938 Haight St. • San Francisco, CA 94117 • (415) 864-7468 magnoliapub.com • Established: 1997

SCENE & STORY

Some places just get it right. Magnolia, on the corner of Haight and Masonic, is one of them, and should be your first stop in the Haight, for brunch and a breakfast beer. The carefully aged patina of the place (faded paint, antiquely sconces, padded black leather booths) exudes cool, but the menu is generous. Start with the crispy pork belly served with baked beans, fried shallots, and a poached egg. It makes the ideal base for a beer tasting. Owner and founding brewer David McLean’s recipes manage to be inventive, fresh, flavorful, and artfully balanced, qualities that can be elusive in the anything-goes world of today’s craft beer scene.

PHILOSOPHY

Quirky and classic. Freshness is paramount, and the servers know how to recommend beers to pair with Magnolia’s seasonal, market-driven menu.

KEY BEER

Kalifornia Kolsch (4.8% ABV), Dave McLean’s take on the northern German classic style, all bright, golden hues and lip-smacking finish. It’s the ultimate breakfast beer, as light and bright on the tongue as a good Mimosa. McLean serves it in the proper glass, called a stange, or “rod,” a slim 1⁄5 liter (6.8 ounces) that is only .04 inches thick, akin to the heft of a champagne flute, easy (and soon empty) in the hand.

THE CHURCH KEY

1402