Magnolia Pub & Brewery

Address: 1398 Haight Street, (at Masconic Ave), San Francisco, California, 94117, United States
Tel: +1 415 864 7468
Email: brewlala@magnoliapub.com
Website: view Magnolia Pub & Brewery’s website
Established: 1997

Review

Magnolia Pub & Brewery resides in a 1903 building which survived the earthquake of 1906. In the 1920s it became home to a pharmacy and the beautiful interior woodwork was installed; three different café incarnations followed, most notably one in the mid-1960s when the burlesque dancer Magnolia Thunderpussy created her celebrated desserts.

This gastro come brew pub installment of the site's history began in November 1997 after eight months of construction that squeezed a seven barrel brewing facility into the basement, installed booths and bars in the upstairs space and restored the historic tile floor and woodwork. A psychedelic mural by local artist, Jon Weiss, completes the place and helps give Magnolia a vibrancy which overrides its vintage.

Magnolia brews a number of cask conditioned ales and all beers are dispensed using British hand-drawn beer engines. I particularly like the bold, West Coast style 'Proving Ground IPA' (7% alc./vol.) but there is a beer for every palate, including a chocolaty stout by the name of Cole Porter. The menu of comfort food runs all the way to shepherd's pie: their onion rings are great.