Albany Gets New Beer Bar, Burger Joint

The Berkeley beer boom has extended its tentacles into nearby Albany, with the area's first beer bar, Albany Taproom, opening recently. According to Berkeleyside Nosh, the beer program is focused on small local breweries and international beers, and features 32 thoughtfully selected taps from producers like Drake's, Ballast Point, Dogfish Head, Oskar Blues, Highwater, Heretic, and The Bruery, as well as a long list of bottles. A short bar menu includes snacks like spicy chicken wings, fried chickpeas, and flatbread with a trio of dips.

Also newly opened is Grazzy Burgers, which is next door to Albany Taproom and specializes in "field-to-fork" burgers made with grass-fed beef. Options include an Asian citrus-soy glazed patty with cabbage slaw and a merguez lamb burger with harissa ketchup and yogurt-mint sauce. Fries and salads round out the selection, and drinkers at Albany Taproom are welcome to bring in burgers from Grazzy.

· Burgers and beer duo debut in Albany [Berkeleyside Nosh]
· The First Beer Bar in Town [East Bay Dish]
· Burgers & Fries [East Bay Dish]