Distillery tour + tasting = I know more about vodka, gin, and absinthe than I ever bothered to learn in all of life. The docent (if that's what they would be even called) was extremely knowledgeable and presented an excellent tour of the distillery. Friendly and welcoming to guests/patrons, and so interesting as you can taste different flavors and variations of spirits at the end. A super cool gem in Alameda. Oh, did anyone ever mention the amazing view of SF? read more

I'll make this simple. Just go.... The tour & tasting is a great value at $20. You'll not only learn a lot about the distilling process, you'll also learn some fun and quirky history. Before the tour ends, you'll understand that this is a small, high quality distillery, run by people that care about their craft and love what they're doing. read more

My love for Hangar One should be carved onto the side of a proverbial tree. Every spirit that's distilled is utter perfection. The tasting menu is well thought out, starting with the brandies, moving through vodkas, tea liqueurs, then single malt whiskey and the added tequilas for an extra $10 (total $20). Just a few weeks ago St. George's released the first absinthe produced in the US since 1912. Remarkable. Upon exit my friend literally purchased the entire list. These guys make it easy to go local. It's also a small miracle I can type right now. read more

This place is so special. I came here as part of a big group tour on a rainy day and was greeted warmly by the staff in the beautiful high-ceilinged tasting room. As a big group of biosciences grad students, our guide was actually an engineer by training and took the time to explain to us some of the more nuanced (read: nerdy) aspects of the distilling process. I learned quite a bit about the infusion of flavors and the experimentation and art of it - would hugely recommend this tour. Favorites during the tasting (as are echoed by many) Spiced Pear Liqueur - awww yea. give me some of this and a nice book and I'll be happy. Green Chile Vodka - such a unique scent and taste! I'd love to try a Bloody Mary with this. NOLA coffee liqueur - So rich! Tasted better than most coffee tastes. Absinthe - I was actually a big fan of this. The profile is interesting and takes a bit warming up to. By the time we were done learning/tasting, the rain had cleared up and we were rewarded with a gorgeous view of SF. Outside picnic tables and cornhole games to be had as well :) Would love to hang out here again and just enjoy a nice day. If you fancy a big ol' mug of beer, Faction brewing co. is right next door which has some great choices! read more

1. I'm surprised more of my friends haven't been here. 2. I'm really surprised I beat Nique to this review. 3. A Sunday Antique Fair/Tasting is an excellent pairing. 4. My preference is to avoid the crowded times so as to afford the one-on-one correspondence with the very cool, knowledgeable, attentive pourers. 5. Take the tour. 6. If you have a party of 10 or more you can have a mixology lesson in the private room upstairs. I haven't done this yet but plan to. 7. Mythbusters is really close by. Listen for their cannons blowing cannonball-shaped holes in Alameda ticky tacky. 8. The Hornet is nearby too. It's haunted. 9. It's hard to believe that the base hasn't been redeveloped, but so long as it isn't you've got splendid views of SF from the tasting bar. 10. The tasting menu changes. Come often. 11. St. George's absinthe rocks and lore has it that too much wormwood makes you crazy which is why it was outlawed in the first place but I've had it and I don't feel very crazy at all. Why are you staring at me so hard? 12. It's less than a mile from the Alameda ferry dock to the tasting room door. Tell me a ferry from SF to a tasting then a ride back maybe with a baguette you brought with from the Ferry Building wouldn't be the perfect way to spend a day. You can't. Because it is. Thus endeth my 12 Step St. George's program. read more

Lou"cifer" our tour guide gave us the history of absinthe. He debunked the myths of its hallucinatory properties and told us of the ups and downs of St. George getting a bottle label approved through a US regulatory agency. Apparently a monkey playing drums on human skulls with bones as drumsticks didn't receive the agencies approval. Another was rejected because the most prominent word on the label was "Absinthe". Yet another was rejected because they used a number on the label. No numbers were allowed. I guess no one in the agency drinks Jack and Coke (Jack Daniels Old No. Seven). Hangar One is located in an old airplane hangar on the former Alameda Naval Base. The tasting room boasts a spectacular view of San Francisco bay with even clearer views from the picnic tables just outside of the tasting room. The tasting menu ($10) consisted of two fruit brandies, five vodkas, one whiskey and four liqueurs. Mt. Meenao Late Harvest Viognier wine (not on the tasting menu) was my favorite. The most usual was the Qi Black Tea Liqueur that tasted like BBQ sauce (yuck!). For $10 you can try Absinthe Verte which taste like black licorice. They will pour water in it so you can see the green fairy but they didn't break out the special silver spoon and sugar cube. TIP: Pack a picnic lunch and if you have any extras like cup cakes or whatever don't forget to share with the cool staff at Hangar One. read more

Had a group of 12 and they did great in accommodating us (even when a few were late). The tour was good although if you can't stand for too long or have a short attention span, you may want to just go straight to a tasting. Overall, our group had a great time. The staff was wonderful and the drinks were excellent. We are definitely recommending this place as a must. Great for tourists & locals. read more

St. George Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Alameda, California

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1 star for awesome Adrienne who generously donated her time, talents and a load of delicious hangar one vodka to the Rocket Dog Rescue benefit at Red Devil Lounge. Adrienne ROCKS...give that girl a raise! 1 star for the beautiful former airplane hanger they currently reside in. The view of SF is unrivaled and the actual renovation of the building has to be seen to be believed. Gorgeous. 1 star for the wasabi vodka. Adrienne suggested it in a bloody mary and i can't imagine a more delightful pairing. you have to go the the distillery to purchase their specialty vodkas but it's sooooo worth it. I hear they have a chocolate vodka too??? i must investigate more. 1 star for existing on Alameda, the fucking coolest place on earth and not just because i grew up there okay maybe because i grew up there! and the final star for having a range of yummy eaux de vie, liqueurs, and whiskey in addition to their perfect vodka. we are so lucky to live near one of the finest hand distilleries on earth. you are a fool not to visit. a god dammed fool! read more

Came here for a birthday shindig and it was pretty interesting and fun. They gave an informative tour with the occasionally witty commentary then we proceed to taste the different blends. I would definitely recommend with a group of friends/boothang daytime date. Note: You will not get drunk off the tasting they are only permitted to give a certain amount to their patrons. But afterwards you could hop over to the brewery next door and get a little loose and funny. read more

St. George Spirits - Absinthe. - Distilleries Near Me - Alameda, California

If you asked what my top 5 favorite things to do in the Bay Area were if I found myself with some free time to wile out, the list would look a little something like this: 5. Spending a clear, brisk Saturday morning along the water's edge, sampling goodies at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. 4. Going on a run, or generally being active somewhere in Golden Gate Park... followed by a raucous brunch at Lime. 3. Kickin' it with my schizophrenic chums along Market between 5th & 8th streets, shouting non sequiturs at passersby and soiling our underpants. 2. Spending a lovely afternoon doing nothing at all atop The Shelf in Dolores Park with a beer in one hand and Trevor's famous truffles in the other. 1. Hopping the ferry to Alameda to bum around the Hangar One distillery, loitering like there's no tomorrow. As you can see, there aren't many things I enjoy more than an afternoon on the east side of the Bay Bridge with fantastic spirits, bright sunshine, and the glorious panoramic landscape of San Francisco as it sits idle some 12 miles off in the distance. The St. George Spirits building (parent brand of Hangar One) sits on land that had strategic military importance during the WWII era. But in 1997, the military base was decommissioned, and a wild pack of savages began operating out of the unoccupied spaces that was once a very important Government property with direct access to San Francisco and Alameda Point. I believe it was in the early 2000s that Hangar One moved into the palatial warehouse space, and they've been distilling their artisanal creations ever since. They have all sorts of spirits under their belt. While vodka continues to be their bread and butter, they also have an absinthe, a whiskey... and their pride and joy, their piquant eau de vies. They actually do tasting flights for something ridiculous like $15 for 10 tastes, and you get a chance to try just about everything they offer. If you're anything like me, you'll immediately fall in love with their pear eau de vie, dig on the their Buddha's Hand citron... then get a little fuzzy at about the 4th or 5th offering. But don't fret, it's just about impossible to get a hangover drinking their creations, because these folks are artists with an amazing product. No matter what you prefer, rest assured that Hangar One only uses fresh, *real*, ingredients in all of their spirits. For instance, one barrel of the pear eau de vie uses upwards of 100 pounds of real pears to complete the batch. They smash those delectable fruits and infuse it straight into the alcohol, leaving a sexy elixir that just pops in your mouth. Same goes for their Mandarin blossom, Buddha's Hand citron, Kaffir lime, et al. No messing with the artificial stuff here... you can bet the farm you're always going to get the Real Deal Holyfield! They also do a lot of fun experiments there at Hangar One, even if they don't necessarily make it to the shelves of your favorite local watering hole. They've dabbled with ingredients like candy cap mushrooms, wasabi root, noble fir, and even goose liver! They actually broke it out for the first time on Anthony Bourdain when he visited the distillery during his whirlwind tour of the Bay Area (even if the footage was left on the cutting room floor), and they affectionately called the concoction "Foie-dka." While a huge fan of what they do, I can safely say I'd pass on that offering.... For those of you concerned about drinking and driving, fear not, as the Red and White Fleet is the perfect way to traverse the waters of the San Francisco Bay, leaving you a short walk away to the distillery once you exit the ship. It's honestly one of the most enjoyable things you can do in our fair region. Especially when you have Sharon Needles in tow, and visions of Cold Hangar Bangers frolicking like snow angles in your head. read more

If you love Vodka and have dreams of bathing in it, then Hangar One is a must stop destination for you. I attended a recent birthday party here, and had a blast. Trust me, this joint is one not to be missed, even If you are dreading the drive or don't really fancy Vodka as much as a certain Saint's Fan we all know and love-uhurm Betty N. Our tour was scheduled to start at 1PM, and I arrived a little early to do some exploring on my own. Our Vodka tour was very informative. Andie was AWESOME She truly projected her voice, humor, knowledge, and volume during every part of the tour. In other words, I could still hear her as the loud fermentation machines were going off. She kept me entertained. After the tour, we were escorted up to the Pilot's Lounge. It was here where we got to taste all that Hangar One had to offer. $30 dollars got me: 2 fruit brandy tastings 5 Hangar One Vodka tastings 1 Whiskey 2 Qi Spirits 2 Aqua Perfect Liqueurs I couldn't stay through all of it, and since I was driving, I tried going for more of the essence and smell technique rather than the GULPS. The Buddha's Hand and Kaffir Lime Vodka's would be great for lemonade. I enjoyed all the citron flavors. The lounge was spacious and our server friendly. Everyone had a blast, and I kept thinking to myself...what an awesome idea for a party...even a corporate Christmas party! Hangar One Vodka may not be at your local store. If it's not, request it, demand it. Let's support the local booze folks! I know I will be looking for it at my Bev MO! read more

They say that your true personality emerges when you're drunk... Some people become sad and cry over their pet who died 20 years ago. Some become angry and pick fights with anyone who makes eye contact with them. Some will want to discuss their erectile disfunction with you in detail. I, on the other hand, am a loud and happy, sunshine drunk. I am an overly complimenting, lovingly gushing, ask you to be my bridesmaid even though I've just met you and am already married drunk. I am also a spendy drunk. If you want to sell me a time share, get me drunk and I will buy two. Last Saturday at Hangar One somewhere between the single malt whiskey and the flavored vodkas, I emerged a pure caricature of my drunken self. I gushed over the beauty of the tasting room and the stunning view, made sweet sweet love to the sleek concrete counter top and threatened to come back after hours to STEAL it. I was hysterical over the deliciousness of the spirits and purchased several bottles of vodka, one in each flavor. The kafir lime vodka reminded me of lime popsicles of my childhood and I haiku'ed about that. I even declared my intention to rent the tasting room for my birthday party. which will be followed by a vacation in my new time share in Flori... WHAT? i shouldn't have asked for second tasting of everything... At least I don't regret my vodka purchases. Go here. With a DD. It's really a good time. read more

I had the distinct and unique opportunity this afternoon to spend time with St. George Spirits' master distiller, Lance Winters. Personally open and terminally intense, Lance is just a dude who's really good at making great tasting spirits. His daring but prudent creations aren't run of the mill products based on market trends, but rather divine works stemming from personal inspiration. Case in point: a lover of the sea, Winters distilled a kelp vodka (a project he intends to take to Japan). To the folks at St. George Spirits, it's all about artisan distilling and the flavors that come directly from the source -- whether it's a mandarin blossom or Buddha's hand. In today's pilot experiment, I watched as Lance put the next flavor's ingredients into a food processor then mixed in neutral grain spirit to sit overnight. I dare Absolut or Stoli or any other commercial brand vodka to do the same and maintain that quality into mass production. The distillery itself is a sight to behold. Located in the largely deserted Alameda Navy base, St. George is a renegade operation in its products as in its location. If zombies were to organize, the Hangar would be their headquarters. Off in the distance, San Francisco winks and even closer, a runway that's been long-since abandoned tells stories of years past. It even makes a cameo in the opening credits of Myth Busters (yeah, that's the vacant runway). Indoors you'll find a giant open space with a well-appointed tasting room and if you're really lucky, you'll get to check out the pilot's lounge. Don't forget to say hi to the shark from Deep Blue Sea (yes the movie, seriously). With an impeccable nose and taste for perfection, the St. George staff maintains the highest level of spirit scrutiny. It's not ready until it's perfect and it's not perfect unless it was produced with a small-batch mentality. We're truly lucky to have something so special stationed in our backyard. read more

My BF and I decided a few days ok to ride our bikes into Alameda and check out St. George Spirits. we were even lucky enough to get to say hello to their master distiller, Lance Winters, who's really, REALLY good at making great tasting spirits. Winters distilled a kelp vodka, a personal favorite of mine, because like he, I love the sea! On that days pilot experiment, we watched Lance add the next flavor's ingredients into a food processor with neutral grain spirit overnight. They do this with each flavor, something I don't know of any other distiller doing. I only wish I knew how he got all of his whiskeys to have that touch of cocoa flavoring!! The distillery itself isincredible. It's home is a mostly deserted Navy base, Inside their is a well-appointed tasting room and pilot's lounge. If you are super well behaved and buy 3 cases of vodka- you may get lucky enough to see a presentation (JK, it's not that easy- you actually have to arrive at whatever time their having one!). I honestly don't know how often they occur. Some hot blond seemed to have Lance's attention that day so we couldn't ask too many questions! read more

I'll keep this brief, since you can get plenty of play by play in all the other reviews, but YOU MUST GO! It's pretty much a moral imperative. Lance is a superlative host whose hospitality is only matched by his hilarity and spirit...but then again, I suppose that's the booze talking. There's so much more to this place than vodka...you never know what goodies they'll have hiding in the back. rye, 5-year apple brandy, and something just a bit more out of left field: http://tinyurl.com/p9fwq5 read more

At this point, I feel like St. George and I are besties. Like, that motherfucker loves me and I love him back. In fact, I am currently imbibing a Terrior gin and tonic and loving the shit out of St. George and St. George alcohol. Whenever friends and family come to visit, one of our must-do's is St. George. I recently took my mom on the St. George tour and tasting, and she was absolutely giddy with how awesome it was. The locale is beautiful as well, so bring some food and have a nice picnic outside watching the clouds roll by and looking at the wonderful San Francisco skyline. Come on - it's $15 for a legit booze tasting! Take a DD to Alameda with you! I've never had to wait very long to get a space at the bar, but please call and make a reservation if you're bringing a group larger than four. It will save you (and I'm sure them) a lot of time. Must haves: Terrior Gin Absinthe Spiced Pear Vodka Qi Black Tea Liqueur Hangar One Vodka You're bummed you missed the: Firelit Coffee Liqueur Get ready for the: Single malt whiskey! read more

This place is so fan-damn-stastically fun, it's ridiculous!! I wish I could give it more stars for the awesome service we received here. I came here with eight friends for a birthday celebration yesterday and we all had the BEST time! And I don't even like vodka! :) I arranged this by calling a week ahead of time and booking a private tasting table, complete with your own knowledgeable pourer. For parties of 12 and under, they have you at a table in the tasting room. For parties of 12 and more, they'll put you in the distillery warehouse. And if you do end up in the distillery warehouse, just be aware that your tastings will cost $15 per person. Otherwise, the standard tasting is $10 pp. The first thing I noticed was that everyone that was working in this place looked like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves and that just created a great vibe already. We joined the 1pm tour, expertly given by Andy, which was super informative and very entertaining! Then went and paid for our tasting before going to our table with Brad as our pourer. Let me be completely clear here, you WILL get pretty tipsy and for $10, this is an awesome value. Brad was tons of fun! We tried so many types of yummy flavoured vodkas and liquers... Most of them didn't even taste alcoholic - it just tasted like juice! Then at the end, you get to keep the little shot glass :) We all walked out with at least one bottle of alcohol, and matching t-shirts, ha! Yep, THAT'S how much fun we all had!! We all joined the "Drinking Squadron," and you should too!! I highly recommend this to everyone!! Just wish they had a club (a la wine clubs) so they can send me a bottle a month :D P.S. Grey Goose, I don't think we can be friends anymore. I've just realised that you can't give me what I need. read more

If you're in the Bay Area and you're looking for a cheap and enjoyable way to spend the day, you should definitely check out St. George's Spirtis in Alameda. Another requirement is that you should be a drinker-- not necessarily of epic proportions, but the more you know and like about alcohol, and more you'll probably enjoy this experience. Do not be alarmed by the strange location. SGS is located on an abandoned naval base now largely populated by gaggles of geese and weeds. I haven't seen a location this inauspicious since I first drove up to Urth Caffe in Downtown LA. You might feel like you're in a scene from CSI: Alameda, but you're really just approaching one of the best kept tourist secrets of the SF area. The absolute best part of St. George Spirits is the tour. Led by Andy, aka the "Vodka Vixen" who leads you through the distillery like a stand-up comedianne on speed. She's hilarious, she's informative, and she makes the tour really spectacular. Best of all: THE TOUR IS FREE! One hour of insight on how a small batch distillery works, at no charge. Yahtzee! The second best part is the actual tasting. $10 gets you the tasting menu which includes over a dozen different flavors of eau de vie, vodka, whiskey, and liquor. I must say that I'm not one for doing 12 shots in a row, and by the end of our tasting session my friends and I were dying for a reprieve. We were actually coaching ourselves through the last few rounds! I'm sad to report that in the end we all agreed that while the price was right, the tasting left us a little disappointed. Sure the infusions were great, but I can only handle so much straight vodka. The biggest regret we all had was that while everyone talks about how great their vodka is going to make your mixed drinks, they do not offer any mixed drinks on the premises. This is because they don't have the license for it, and I strongly urge them to get one because that would have made things so much better. The Chipotle infused vodka was a big hit in my group, but we were dying to try it in the Bloody Mary that was mentioned during the tour. One more thing that should be mentioned about this place: Hangar One was the first distillery to put out an absinthe in 2007 after the US ban was lifted. After hearing this factoid, I knew I had to try their product. I'm not a big absinthe fan, and while I was still reeling from the tasting menu, I could tell that their stuff is quality. See attached photos of yours truly beaming at her absinthe glass. Aside from the product, the place is a lot of fun to hang around in. Everyone who works there looks like they're having a great time and, boy, are they eager to please! So check this place out, but a word to the wise: bring some saltines on your trip-- you're gonna need them to help soak up some of that sweet, sweet booze. read more

St. George Spirits - Moi et mon absinthe - Distilleries Near Me - Alameda, California

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Walk in the Woods - Inside a delicious tasting room. Came for the vodka, fell in love with their gin. The gigantic shark clearly protects the distillery. If the shark wasn't there visitors might try to run off with barrels and boxes. If you're going to have an adult beverage and you want a finely crafted spirit the people at St. George have done a fantastic job using their love of the craft and their creative genius. "A walk in the woods" the tour guide described to us what inspired their Mt. Tam Gin. When you sip this gin, and I've never been a gin fanatic, you can literally taste and imagine being on a hike. I thought the bartendress was being animated purely for the sake of our tour, but she was in fact correct, and I love walking in the woods! If you have a group and are looking for something to do this could be a nice little adventure. Beautiful views of the city, plenty of parking, and unique spirits that are not always available in the liquor store. Date Rating: 7 Pick up Scale: 7 (easy to talk to people drinking in a distillery) Strong Suggestion: Bring a designated driver, take the ferry, or hire a car service. read more

Avoid coming here mid-day on a Saturday unless you want to battle for gin against a gaggle of bachelorette parties. Our tasting at 4 pm was much quieter and nearby Faction Brewing offered a great place to go while we waited. The Nola Coffee Liquor is life changing but a few of their other spirits weren't my thing (mainly the green chili vodka) although I really do appreciate an adventurous project like that. Would love to come back and do the tour, but make sure to book in advance. The outdoor patio offers a nice view of the Bay and city. read more

St. George Spirits (aka Hangar One Vodka) is open on the weekends for a $10 tasting fee, but the REAL deal is at their big, fancy-shmancy open house when EVERYTHING they make is open for tasting, PLUS they have other people there supplying all sorts of delicious foods to partake in as palate cleansers in between shots -- er, uh, sips -- of their various distillates. The best $30 I could spend! Today was the third Open House of theirs I have attended, and this was by far their best event ever! Ok, so the people servings oysters on the half shell weren't there this time . . . but yelp*™ was there!!! So, too, were Boccalone (with their salumi, truffled mortadella, cured meats, and all things pork); El Huarache Loco (with amazing chicken-mole sliders and more); La Cocina (with all sorts of tasty treats); June Taylor Jams (with their amazing assortments of jams, preserves, and syrups); Recchiuti Confections (with all sorts of chocolates and truffles); and much, much, MUCH more! What follows are MY short tasting notes/opinions of what they were offering. Hangar One Vodka: smooth, supple on the palate, no alcohol burn; very fine indeed. Hangar One "Budda's Hand" Vodka: infused with this citrus, native to South Asia, it's more complex than simply "lemon," and absolutely excellent. Hangar One "Kaffir Lime" Vodka: using both the fresh limes and the leaves (often associated with Thai cuisine), this one is -- uh -- not my favorite. A little harsh on the palate, and it reminds me of the English Leather Lime Men's Cologne I used to use in high school in the late 1960s -- cool and groovy, it ain't! That said, Lynn liked it. Hangar One "Mandarin Blossom" Vodka: Remains my favorite -- they use both ripe Mandarine tangerines and fresh blossoms to create a stunningly aromatic and flavorful vodka that is as smooth as velvet! Hangar One "Spiced Pear" Seasonal Vodka: A wonderful infusion of ripe pear and a subtle hint of cloves make this limited offering a "must buy" (and I did!). Let me say that they had the most AMAZING ice sculptures. Shaped like gigantic bottles of Hangar One, they poured the room temperature vodkas into the top of the sculpture, and you put your glass underneath the bottle to catch the now chilled spirit as it flowed out the bottom. I want one of these in my house! At this point, let me say that I did NOT try everything they were pouring. I am NOT a fan of their single malt whisky, and so I passed on that one. I also passed on the Qi tea liqueurs (no interest on my part). Continuing . . . Agua Azul 100% Blue Agave "Crystal": Very aromatic, smooth, and flavorful -- one of the best "silver" agaves I've had. Agua Azul 100% Blue Agave "Resposado": For me, this has too much smoke and far too much ashen quality on the palate to enjoy, something I also find objectionable in several (but by no means all) true Tequilas. Agua Azul 100% Blue Agave "Anejo": Aged one year in French oak, this still has too much ashen character for me to like. St. George Absinthe Verte: Brandy is first distilled with wormwood, anise and fennel, hyssop, basil, tarragon, lemon balm, meadowsweet, mint, stinging nettles, and other herbs. Then, it is infused with these herbs a second time to get fresher flavors (resulting in the green tint). Simply put, it is EXCELLENT! Then I moved onto the brandies (again, I didn't taste everything -- passed on the basil eau de vie and the grappas, for instance) . . . Aqua Perfecta Poire William (pear) eau de vie: Since Jorg Rupf first began St. George Spirits 25+ years ago, pear has been (IMHO) what he does best. This Poire can stand up as the equal of the finest eaux-de-vie offered from Alsace, Switzerland, or the Black Forest of Germany! Aqua Perfecta Kirsch (cherry) eau de vie: Never my favorite. Aqua Perfecta Framboise (raspberry) eau de vie: Aromatic and flavorful, it's certainly better than the Kirsch, but the Poire remains the star here. Aqua Perfecta Poire William (pear) liqueur: Outstanding, like biting into a fresh pear -- juicy, sweet, delicious, AND with the benefit of alcohol! Aqua Perfecta Framboise (raspberry) liqueur: Too acidity and too sweet for me to drink straight, but it's excellent over really good vanila ice cream! St. George "Heirloom" 5-Year Old Apple Brandy: OK, let me preface this by saying I absolutely LOVE Calvados, the fabled apple brandy from the Normandy region of France. This is not Calvados, but neither was I expecting it to be. The bouquet, interestingly, reminded me of pure Granny Smith apples (a variety not used in Calvados). I never asked what apples they actually use for this, and I could be totally wrong, but for me, the character of tart, green apples dominated both the nose and mouth. Good, but it won't replace my beloved Calvados. St. George "De Profundis" 20-Year Old Pear Brandy: Aged in French oak for 20 years, pure pear in the nose, like the eau de vie, but much more complex, rich and -- truly outstanding! read more

I believe much of our military might should be converted into distilleries, wineries, and breweries, so this place is right up my alley. I've had Hangar One vodka at a number of places in a number of drinks. I love to buy local, and to add some spirits to my buy local list, but their stuff is just DAMN GOOD to boot. The Buddha's Hand citron is amazing, topped only (to my palate) by the Mandarin Blossom. Soooo good. The whiskey isn't a dark scotch whisky, which is more to my liking, but it was fine. The standouts here are really the vodkas, so go for those. The location is outstanding, with a view of the bay and the City, and I believe Mythbusters film a lot of their tests here - I recognize one of the runways. Great little place, it feels like you've discovered a new little world out on the tip of Alameda near the ferry. read more

St. George Spirits had the distinct honor of being this wine junkie's first experience with spirits tasting, and I loved every second and every sip! I visited with friends as a birthday treat, and with our tasting reservation made in advance, we were able to walk right in and belly up. For $15 you get 6 samples of their spirits, 2 each of vodkas, gins, and liqueurs. Our pourer Ryan was an absolute badass, incredibly nice and so knowledgable. He shared so much information with us about each spirit as we went along in the tasting, and he clearly was not reciting from memory, he was speaking from a place of genuine passion - as it should be! As their stellar view of the bay greeted us across the bar, Ryan led us through 3 rounds. We start with vodka - I opted for the citrus and the green chile. The citrus vodka is really special, and yes if you enjoy a cocktail you've had a citrusy vodka before, but this is a product properly derived from fresh fruit and not a standard vodka tarted up with fruity flavoring. Savor the difference! This was extra apparent with the green chile vodka, like nothing you've ever tasted - like a cool burn, bright and powerful. That one won't be magic to all palates, but the adventurous absolutely must give that one a shot. Next we moved into gin, not particularly my happy place - Ryan was very gracious to allow a couple of us to stick with one gin tasting and save an extra sample for the liqueur portion. I sipped their Botanivore gin, an incredible spice rack of bright herby flavors. A very sophisticated and surprising spirit! Finally, the fun stuff - liqueurs, fabulously desserty drinks! With 3 tastes to enjoy, after hearing Ryan's incredible descriptions I opted for the spiced pear liqueur and coffee liqueur, and of course - oh my oh my! - I simply had to finish my tasting with absinthe, my first dance with the green fairy! The spiced pear was as wondrous as described, like a fall dessert swimming in your mouth. The coffee was pleasantly sweet and deliciously intense, and I could practicallly feel the warmth of the fireplace needed to properly sit alongside and sip this delight. Finally the absinthe - the visual experience of it alone is dazzling, as it is served with ice to cut the alcohol content down a bit and help bring out the nuanced flavors. We were encouraged to swirl the ice around, and it changed the absinthe from clear to cloudy, a divine sorcery. I'm not a huge lover of black licorice, but it still had a wonderful intensity and glamour about it, and it was effortless to taste the craft of the spirit. Truly everything I tasted was better than the last, what a grand experience it was! St. George is a wonderful local outing, best experienced by those who will appreciate it - lovers of the craft of spirits will fare far better here than someone thinking this is an easy way to get sloshed outside of a bar. Keep it classy, bring your likeminded kin, and enjoy this journey into the Spirit world! read more

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St. George's Spirit is freakin's awesome. We went there late on a Friday night, and it was so deliciously creepy...As we rolled into the (abandoned?) army base, I clenched the car door, convinced we had gone the wrong the way and would be either a) eaten alive or b) confronted by a terrifying ghost. Actually, the latter would have been sweet. We found St. George's and was so suprised to see it filled with people! There is an gorgeous view of San Francisco, and the pourers were really attentive and friendly. Their tasting is amazing. it is basically a (generous) pour of everything they have for only 10 bucks! Everything they make is excellent, but it is their voldkas that really rocked my boat. Their flavored voldkas, particularly the lemon and lime, are perfection. I'll take 'em straight up, over ice. When we told the pourer we were from SF, she told us to throw our bikes on the ferry on a nice day, and then take a short ride on over. Thanks for the advice! read more

As an Alameda native, I'm incredibly proud to have an artisan distillery like St. George Spirits located in my backyard! Forget the fact that this place has an amazing tasting room, free tours on the weekend, and THE most beautiful view of the SF bay-- (ok, wait wait, DON'T forget those facts- those facts add to St. George's awesomeness!) The thing you should really know is the vodka here is AMAZING! Mandarin Blossom and Kaffir Lime are great. If you're in the mood for alcohol tasting, I highly suggest you take a trip to Alameda. Rock Wall Wine and Rosenblum Cellars are within a stones throw of St. George Spirits. Hangar 1 vodka from here hits the spot- 5 stars all the way. read more

Twelve tastings with 1/2 shot of each = 6 shots for $10. And this isn't Safeway brand vodka or anything, this is good stuff. Not a bad way to get s#@#-faced within an hour. It's an additional $10 for tastings of other premium liquors they offer. Despite this being called a "tasting room", it was delightedly absent the attitude and limited hours of a winery in Napa. They're open till 7:00PM and the staff are great. Music in the air runs from Journey to Lauryn Hill. Amazingly St. George Spirits does more than just vodka. We were able to taste fruit liquors, whiskey, their flavored vodkas, and (for add'l $10) some $70+ dollar tequila made from the whole plant (instead of squeezing the juice out and discarding the rest). There was a funny little info card with the story on how they broke chainsaws and even a wood chipper in their attempts to find a machine suitable to break down those tough fibers. Absinthe is available here, served with ice instead of the stereotypical sugar cube. The reaction causes the green-tinted liquor to go cloudy as the oils in the Absinthe become agitated from the watery ice. If you want the history they're happy to recap it for you. Free tours are available once a day so make sure to check the website and time your trip. The staff here were great, they knew their stuff, and it was really easy to see that they were enthusiastic about their job and loved being there. We weren't pressured to buy anything, although for those that do, it's a bit cheaper than retail. Just one note, the area does get a bit creepy at night. There are a lot of boarded up and run-down buildings all over the place. Overall, a fun place to explore or bring friends for an enjoyable nightcap. Just make sure to drink the glass of water they provide and take it easy between shots. read more

So sitting in the parking lot, staring across the bay at San Francisco and the port of Oakland, it occurred to me that this is a pretty cool spot. I accepted the task of guarding the victuals for our makeshift potluck while the rest of our crew went inside for the factory tour and subsequent tasting session. Sticks arrived a bit later to join me. We just sat outside and split my cooler of Pacificos and his backpack of Tecates... a habit we developed as poor erstwhile musicians looking to catch a buzz while still paying the rent. Actually he's still a musician, I was always just some hack on the drums. I took the tour a while ago on my second visit to St. George's. The canned schpiel I could do without, but learning about the process and composition of the Hangar 1 fruit-infused vodkas and assorted fine spirits they produce gave me a greater appreciation for the booze I was about to slam at the ten dollar tasting. It would be a more substantive, "Now that's some good sh*t!" We peered inside as the crew at the tasting started getting boisterous and flailing about while relaying what I'm sure were infinite stories to St. George's bar staff about recent booze-fueled sex romps. That's okay. We had the food. Which meant we could nosh at our leisure and no one would be the wiser, that is until "She-Who-Should-Have-Been-At-Work" went inside with a birthday cupcake icing stained blue tongue. Good times. Beggin' fer a do over. Pretty soon the parking lot's gonna resemble an air show with people in folding chairs picnicking and drinking outside the hangar watching some imaginary planes performing loops. No need to thank us. Really. read more

I'm not a vodka girl -- more of a tequila girl -- but this place isn't half bad! Came here on a whim one Saturday afternoon with a couple of friends. I had heard of "liqueur tasting", and was curious to try it. For $15, you get a tasting of 8 different vodkas/liquors + a dog tag you can keep. They also offer an hour-long tour of the place, which we did not take up on. Our bartender was very friendly and walked us through the different types of liquor we were tasting. She offered us water, which she constantly refilled. She instructed us to sniff and slowly sip the liquor, which I did for the first few tries, but eventually I just downed it. And absinthe! Did you know St. George's was the first place that legalized absinthe in the United States?! I didn't, and now you do too! Sucks it closes at 7pm, though. I can imagine it getting crazy if it opened until 2 am. Definitely a place to check out! For $15, you get a fun experience and a nice buzz. read more

Did I mention I was half Russian? I saw a couple at the bar with a hot dog when the bf and I arrived and got overly excited. Weiners and wodka? How can it be? But I was misled. If you're smart, you'll make this the last stop on a tour, or bring a picnic lunch, bc some of these tastes can make you feel like Buddha's Hand and Rocky's are one in the same. Basically, for $10 you get 12 shots of hard alcohol. Feel the burn, I dare you! I really liked their pear liquers and the host was gracious and knowledgable. it's an interesting tasting room, very clean, streamlined and showcasing some of their infused vodkas in strange specimen-like jars with the goodies they suck the nectar out of. The kaffir lime was amazing, as was the mandarin. I could just sit with a bottle on the couch and call it a day. The chipotle smokey flavored ones were a bit weird to me and the scotch was very smooth...very dangerous.--like a little liquid James Bond slipping behind your tongue. Mmm, I think I need to be alone now. read more

I took my friend who hates gin and bourbon whisky, she is a die heart scotch drinker, on the tasting tour. SGS won her over....she is now a SGS gin lover and asks for it when we go out to dinner. If you get a chance go by and have a tastings, you will not be disappointed. read more

Tasting is rushed. Info is minimal- care is disregarded. This gin mill IS a gin mill. Get in - get you out. read more

Went back to the Hangar yesterday to do a tour/tasting with some friends who hadn't been and it was EVEN BETTER THAN LAST TIME. The tour was led by the "Vodka Vixen," who was kind enough to shoot me a nice message on Yelp after my last review, and she is absolutely hilarious. The tour was frought with puns and innuendo, both of which I really appreciated. It seemed like everybody appreciated her sense of humor, actually. There's nothing funnier (or more tragic) than "alcohol abuse." Take the tour and see what I mean. Right now they have some awesome seasonal stuff. Last time they had raspberry vodka, which they are now sadly sold out of, but they have replaced it with spiced pear vodka. In the words of the bartender who poured for my group, "it tastes like Christmas." One of my friends remarked that the spices made it taste a bit like Chai, which didn't seem too far off to me. I had to buy a bottle, of course. And to Reina G: Since you disagreed with me about how much booze is included in the tasting despite my insisting that I actually asked the bartenders, I got a little bit more information. If you do the tasting, they will give you a 1oz glass, which they will fill about 1/3 of the way each time. 10 servings * 1/3 oz = 3.3 oz. A shot has 1.5 oz of liquor, so you are getting about 2 shots worth. AND, in case you were not already convinced that the tasting is not that much booze, two of the bartenders agreed that the amount of alcohol you get is about equivalent to ordering one martini at a bar. If you do the absinthe tasting or the tequile (which is delicious), you may become more drunk. If you take the tour, though, you will find out that the goal of Hangar One isn't necessarily to get you drunk, but to provide alcohol with rich flavor that you can truly appreciate... while you get drunk. Just to be clear, I think that the tasting is great and didn't feel like I really had to have more booze at 2pm. I just included it to show that it is perfectly safe to drive to the Hangar (depending, of course, on your ability to handle 2 shots) so you don't have to deal with the ferry. read more

I'm going to just say it: Hangar One makes the best vodkas. I went to a tasting one lovely afternoon with a group of friends. We reserved the upstairs room, brought food and had a private pourer. Not only was he super informative but he was super nice and awesome. My favorite is the Lime flavored vodka. It's sweet and has amazing lime flavor. Basically all the flavors were amazing. For $20, its a pretty amazing deal. I just had so much fun and would love to go for a tasting again soon read more

Gracie's method of "tasting" spirits before visiting St George: drink it, feel the burn, register some sort of flavor, repeat. Gracie's method of "tasting" spirits after visiting St George: sniff from the top of the glass to capture the scent of fresh ingredients, breathe out to remove air from mouth and prepare mind to experience yummi-ness, take a sip, swallow with no burn, breath out and happily savor the fruitiness of the infused vodka, repeat. The server in the tasting room was nice enough to teach me that little technique, which has done nothing short of changing my life and exponentially increasing the level to which I enjoyed the spirits here and have enjoyed other drinks since my visit in early March. Mama Marie and I shared the full tasting. I think I scared her when I said I wanted to drink large amounts of the buddha's hand vodka - but really, it's just that good. All of the spirits are. I wasn't wild about the black tea one, but all of them are delicious. Definitely make time to visit here - and prepare to have your life changed read more

I came here with some friends for our annual Thanksgiving/Christmas get together. We did the tour with the tasting. The tour was super informative and I wasn't sure how it could last an hour considering how much of the distillery you walk around in, but the time flew by and I learned a ton. I loved the enthusiasm of our tour guide. He also had an pretty awesome 'stache. So I was a little disappointed to hear that they didn't have any whiskey available to taste. Also the tour + tasting is $20 and I felt it was a bit pricey to taste 5 spirits (2 liquor, 1 gin, 1 choice, Absinthe). However, the fruit brandy and liquors were amazing and I ended up leaving with the spiced pear! So perfect for the holidays! read more

About 18 of our friends made our way to Alameda via car, ferry, bart to finally get the tour and get our drink on! Paul (?) the tour guide was non-stop funny and you can tell he really enjoys his job. Hearing about their history was actually very interesting and I was even a little sad to go and start drinking when he was done. We piled into a private room and our bartender was funny and you can tell she loved her job too! You got to give it to a company when their employees are that crazy happy. She turned me from a non-gin drinker to I will only have Hanger 1 gin now. I had to slow down my roll because each tasting was like taking a shot and we must have tasted about 7 different bottle/cocktails including the absinthe at the end. We were so convinced that Hanger 1 is awesome, my bf walked out of the store with about everything we tried. read more

Booze is good. It makes me happy. That said, the St. George distillery tour is no longer worthy of a "go-to" rating. You want something unusual to do on Alameda, go tour USS Hornet. Here on Yelp! the 2-star rating means "Meh, I've experienced better," and that's a fact. I *have* experienced better--at St. George Distillery. Last year. Then, the tour was $15/pp, and included a keepsake dogtag, along with an entertaining and educational introduction to the art of distilling. After the tour was the tasting, of some 8 or 10 different spirits...and we got to keep the glass (which is a remarkable glass, just so you know). Now? $20/pp. Seriously? Movies are only $11, and they last 1.5-2 hours. Sure you have to smuggle your booze in, but you get more than a taste, am I right? Dog-tag to wear home as a reminder of your exciting time at St.G? Not so much. Hand-stamp. And a small one, at that. No keepsake glass. We were invited to pay $6 for it. Weak. The tour was entertaining, but schtick is very "House Brand/Open-Mic Comedy Club onOut-Lesbian Night;" the tour person was different but the vibe was identical, almost scripted, with clever bon mots and hanging "wait for it" moments. Entertaining more than stale, but still.... In the tasting room the acoustics are terrible; our host/guide was wholly inaudible above the din, and there were 2 or 3 (3 or 4?) other host/guides who swapped in and out, apparently at random, in a manner that was not conducive to bonding or comprehension. All in all our tour experience was greatly reduced from this same time last year. I can no longer recommend the tour at StG. That said, their spirits are top-shelf, staff are enthusiastic (if inaudible), and the Faction Brewery is right next door. So, not a total loss. read more

Where can you find most people on Sundays? In front of their TVs. Shopping at the mall. In church/synagogue/temple. Where did you find me this past Sunday? Sipping vodka at Hangar One - St George Spirits - Hangar One to be precise. I have been a huge, huge, huge fan of Hangar One kaffir lime vodka for over a year now. Ever since, on one early evening the friends and I found ourselves at one of our favorite haunts and I was trying to think of something to drink... "Try a martini made with Hangar One lime vodka. You won't regret it." My friend then proceeded to tell me about the distillery in Alameda and how they make all their vodkas with *real* fruits - FABULOUS! And once I tasted that martini, I was hooked!! Each and every bar I have gone in since then I always ask if they pour Hangar One ... You'd be surprised at some of the off-the-wall locations that carry the fabulous vodkas. Sadly, more do not carry it than do. Someday ... So, pretty much since that fated day we have all been chatting about visiting the distillery. Yesterday we finally got off our Tokhes' and made our way to the hanger. The distillery is located in the old Alameda Naval Air Station - very cool location, fabulous views of SF (and the origination of the name Hangar One)... We were surprised to see how many people had the exact same idea as us - drinking vodka - straight - on a Sunday. The tasting is $10 for a complete single tasting. This includes 11 on the menu and usually 2 off the menu. Eau de vie + Poire: Sweet yet intense pear flavor + Framboise: Intense raspberry flavor Whiskey (Had no idea that whiskey started as beer?? Go figure.) + St. Georges Single Malt: I am not a whiskey drinker - I generally run screaming... This whiskey was so smooth I was in shock and awe. Interesting enough, I got a slight taste of vanilla. Vodka + Straight: Strangely had a hint of grape and was slightly sweet. Shocked at how tasty this straight vodka was plain. + Citron "Buddha's Hand": Delicious vodka with a wonderfully enveloping taste of citrus. I took a number of pics of this crazy fruit, Buddha's Hand, honestly looks like a scene from "Aliens"... But tastes much better! ;) + Kaffir Lime: My original favorite! Amazingly fresh and vibrant lime flavor. Come to find out they also use the leaves... + Mandarin Blossom: You can smell and taste every single bit of the tangerines that make this delicious vodka. + Alchemist Series Chipotle: SCORE - it was available! This vodka was made with fresh habaneros, red bell peppers, red & green jalapenos and dried chipotle. Might sound random, but it was so delicious with such an amazing kick! Surprising, this vodka also had a slight sweet taste. Delicious! I bought a bottle and can't wait to make a Bloody Mary... Qi Spirits + Qi White Tea: Tastes of oranges and just a hint of spice. Delicious, light, refreshing. + Qi Black Tea: Let me start by saying the pourers even state it is an "acquired" taste. For me, it tasted of an ash tray - no "acquiring" necessary... Very smoky with overwhelming tastes of cedar. The only bottle of the tasting I did NOT like. Liqueur + Mt Meenao: Late harvest viognier with tastes of peaches & melon. And yes it is pronounced the way you think - and it is intentional, as told to me by the pourer... I bought a bottle. + Framboise: Stronger raspberry flavor; intense and smooth finish. I would love to visit the distillery again for a tour or with a large party for a special tasting, etc. read more

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Yummy!!! This was part of our Super-Fun-Saturday-of-New-Things day... Where we explored things we have never done in the Bay Area (even though we have lived here for 8+ years!). St. Georges Spirits did not disappoint! We were able to get a last minute spirit guide tour and it was really fun to learn about the history of their spirits, and taste a variety of spirits they make. When we were there for the tour, they didn't have any Dry Rye Reposado Gin, as that's a limited release and well, it wasn't in season. They have since released this year's allotment and we were lucky enough to get our hands on two bottles. It's very floral/herbal... I think I'll stick with my whiskys most nights, but it's definitely a nice twist on the traditional sipping night cap. read more

I attended their Holiday Open House this past Saturday and had a kickass time! Despite the free shuttle being a good 30-minutes late to pick us up from BART, it quickly got us in the mood to par-tay. The shuttle was decked out in leather couches, blinging lights, and let's not forget the stripper pole in the back. Oh yes, we rode in style to the distillery! The Open House included 3 drink tickets, food, and other tastings for $30 ahead, $40 at the door. The 3 cocktails were all tasty, with the spiced pear one being my favorite. At times, the drink area got pretty congested but luckily they had a gigantic bowl of yummy breadsticks to keep you from getting impatient. Overall, the event was well put together. They had DJs spinning beats the whole time. Food tables were plentiful. You could visit various vendors that offered cheese, jam, chocolate, and my favorite, Yelp swag! Other tastings included tea liquors, brandy, absinthe, tequila, and all the Hangar One vodka flavors. With Ligaya's recommendation, I tried their Citrus Buddha Hand, which was absolutely divine! I'm not much of a straight-up vodka drinker but this one went straight down the hatch. The distillery was a great location to throw a event - plenty of space to walk around and tons of natural lighting. I definitely recommend checking this out next year and I can't wait to go back for a tour! read more