You wanna know why I'm so obsessed with Oakland? Because they produce some of the BEST and most unique retaurants, bars, and pubs around! And, let's not forget about the wonderful people that you find here too. Temescal Brewing is a perfect example of this! They offer great beers that are all made in-house, a very chill and fun atmosphere, and they come equipped with a great staff and the most wonderful people around!
I'm a red wine gal at heart, but I've been trying to step my beer game up. I've always been that girl in the group who gets a glass of wine at the pub while all of my friends tease me and get their beers. Like wine, Beer is definitely an acquired taste that I haven't yet "acquired". I've tried it from time to time, but I never quite found what I liked until now.
A few nights ago, I decided that I would go beer tasting in hopes of finding a beer that I liked. I was in the Temescal area and had heard great things about Temescal Brewing, so I decided to check it out. I looked them up on Yelp and saw that on this particular night that it was "bring your own" food night. They usually have food trucks, but I guess they didn't have one this time. No problem! I stopped by Provino down the street and got 2 slices of cheese pizza and headed there. When I walked in, I was instantly drawn to the mellow vibe and comfy décor. There are booths with pillows and a couple of tables available for lounging. I took a seat at the bar and was greeted by Bethany. She asked me what I was in the mood for and I explained to her that I was pretty new to the beer scene and wanted to sample a few beers to find one that I liked. She asked me if I was into sour and dark or something on the lighter side. I definitely opted for something lighter! Bethany gave me the low down on the different styles of beers and she also gave me a "splash" of a few to test them out even before I purchased anything.
You can create your own flights here! It's only $2 for a generous 3 ounce pour, and if you want to try before you buy, try a "splash" which is basically another name for a sample. She informed me that they also had rotating taps and that everything was made right there in house. Nice! I sampled the Mondo Pilsner, "Far and Wide" Blonde, "Are you ready for the country" Kettle sour w/ fruit, the Apricot Saison, and their popular pale ale by the name of "Spa Treatment". I was really digging the cute names of the beers! So of course my favorite one was the Kettle sour with fruit because it was sweet and fruity like a cocktail! But, I also really enjoyed the Pilsner and the Saison. Was this really possible? The wine lady actually found a BEER that she liked? I was so stoked! I created my own flight and went with the Pilsner, Kettle sour w/ fruit, and the Apricot Saison. I sipped and chatted with Bethany and a couple of other girls the entire night! They really made me feel comfortable and my tab for the night was only $6! Whaaat? You can't beat that baby!
Temescal brewing also has a HUGE outdoor patio that can fit up to 200+ people. I know this place is poppin' during the summer time! It wasn't super busy since it was raining that night, but they had a section of their patio covered so that people could still sit outside. Complimentary popcorn too? I'm all for it! The also fill growlers and you can bring your own or purchase their own that come in a few different sizes.
I had such an awesome experience here! I can't wait to come back to try their new beers and to see what food trucks are out next time! When you go, ask for Bethany! She is truly a star! A beautiful, knowledgeable, and super entertaining bartender and hostess! Thanks to everyone at Temescal Brewing for such an incredible night! read more