A trip last year to San Francisco for the Craft Brewers Conference gave me an opportunity to explore the city’s bustling craft beer scene and I took full advantage of it. Meeting many of the brewers from the area gave me new places to check out. Stopping by the famed Anchor Brewing Co, as well as hidden gem Beach Chalet, was phenomenal.

When most folks think of San Francisco, they get visions of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grateful Dead, Alcatraz Island, riding the trolley into Fisherman’s Wharf and the smoke filled hippie days of the late 1960′s. Smack dab in the middle of these wonders of the West Coast, in San Francisco’s famed Haight-Ashbury district, sits Magnolia Pub and Brewery.

Photo Courtesy of iNeTours

After a day of walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and strolling through Golden Gate park, it was time for a quick visit at Magnolia before the evening events related to the Craft Brewers Conference. I stopped in with a couple of friends and quickly found a seat at the bar. After ordering their Robust Porter named after American songwriter, Cole Porter, we had the chance to take in the atmosphere. Magnolia’s decor will strike you as a mixture of a neighborhood pizza parlor and the psychedelic vibes of the Grateful Dead. Deep mahogany colored tables, benches and walls make up most of the place, with plenty of murals doused in psychedelic colors. Peeking out from the kitchen area I could even see the brewing equipment. The decor was not as surprising when I found out that the Dead were, founder and Brewmaster Dave McLean’s, favorite band. In fact, McLean credits his intro to craft beer to the times he tried it at Dead concerts.

Although food wasn’t in the cards for us that day, I had noticed the extensive lunch and dinner menus available. Regret is what I felt once we left for not having tried their Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich, or their Short Rib French Dip, for everyone I noticed seemed to be tripping on the flavors of the food they’d ordered.

Look at those taps!

Although it was quite crowded while we were there, you wouldn’t have known if it ever fazed any of the wait staff or bartenders. The servers were whizzing in and out of the kitchen bringing in orders and taking them out, while the bartenders expertly poured every beer, both without missing a beat. My only regret was not bring able to talk with McLean, or Head Brewer Ben Spencer, to thank them for the tasty brews and the great atmosphere in which to enjoy them.

A trip back to San Francisco is definitely in the future.