San Francisco may only be seven miles long, but you can pack a lot of beer within those parameters. There are approximately 120 breweries in the greater Bay Area, so there’s obviously no beer draught happening in San Francisco anytime soon. (Unfortunately, we might not be able to say the same for water.) So where does one go to hang out to hit up San Francisco’s breweries? When all is said and done and that keg is tapped, you want to find yourself in one of these three hoods in San Francisco where the stouts, sours, and IPAs abound. San Francisco is bestowing locals and tourists alike with an abundant collection of tap rooms and breweries. Hit up one of these three neighborhoods and go get your hops off.

Dogpatch

The Happy Hour Guys / Vimeo

A working-class neighborhood who loves their brew, Dogpatch is about half industrial and half residential. Found on the eastern side of the city and next to the waterfront, it’s a prime area for keg tapping. Check out Speakeasy and Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery.  

Both offer tours and tastings, while Magnolia serves up some gourmet fair to pair with your stout. There’s also Harmonic Brewing and the fun Triple Voodoo Company. They combine brewing techniques from Belgium and integrate it with some West Coast styles to make some truly unique brews. They’re also pup friendly so don’t forget Fido.   

SoMa

Photo by Alex Hendricks / CC BY-SA

SoMa stands for South of Market and is a large neighborhood in the city. Home to many museums, warehouses, and nightclubs, this hood is prime for partying. They have quite a few small-scale and larger breweries, including the Cellarmaker who specialize in hops-heavy beers, the 21st Amendment who bring funky brews like Watermelon Funk Ale, and the ThirstyBear, San Francisco’s only certified organic craft brewery and who serves sustainable seafood and responsibly stewarded meats. Don’t forget about Black Hammer, open literally every day except for Christmas, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving. They boast a large range of lagers and ales using traditional techniques paired with modern innovations. Local Brewing Company is also here. Co-founded by Sarah Fenton, their style is brewing approachable beers that are also rich in character.

Mission District

Photo Courtesy of Standard Deviant

We can’t leave out the Mission. Although the neighborhood has all but pushed out the artists, at least there’s still beer -- and some of the best in the city. Standard Deviant is run by three guys and is fairly new to the scene, having opened in 2016. South Pacific Brewing Company also calls the Mission home. This place is over 10,000 square feet and is in a former machine shop. You can sip your beer on the large outdoor patio with 50 of your closest pals. Then there’s Almanac. They have a lovely garden where you can munch on Hop Salt French Fries and swig your IPA.