Mikkeller Bar, A Tenderloin Beer Mecca

Grid View

The eyes of the beer world are turned to San Francisco today, as Mikkeller Bar SF, one of the U.S.' most hotly-anticipated beer bars, opens in the Tenderloin. A collaboration between Chuck Stilphen of The Trappist and Mikkel Borg Bjergsø of the titular brewery, it's a massive American take on the Copenhagen original, with 40 gleaming taps of incredibly rare brews from around the world.

The beer offerings are led by four Mikkeller brews exclusive to the bar, known as the Tenderloin Series: a brown ale, pilsner, lambic, and hoppy wit. Another nine Mikkeller solo brews and collaborations are available as well, as are rare treats from the likes of De La Senne, Prairie Artisan Ales, Evil Twin, Jolly Pumpkin, and 8 Wired. Locals like Drake's and Iron Springs round out the selection, which includes two beers on cask. There's also an extensive bottle menu. Here's the opening draft menu.

On the food side, chef Michael O'Brien, last of Church Key in D.C., has created a menu of classed-up pub grub, including four varieties of housemade sausage, soft pretzels, a house-smoked pastrami sandwich, and a handful of entrees like steak frites and ling cod with gremolata. He's also at work on a house charcuterie program. Here's the full food menu.

The 80-seat space includes a massive, 30-seat four-sided bar that dominates the room, and an additional 36 seats in the downstairs cellar/sour room. The former Crash Nightclub is unrecognizable, having been stripped to the bricks, and tasteful murals from Mikkeller label artist Keith Shore grace the walls. Other features include antique streetlight fixtures from Copenhagen and steel beams that date to 1907. As previously discussed, the bar is currently in its soft-opening phase, with a grand opening (and visit from Bjergsø) planned for August 9. Hours are Sunday-Wednesday, 12 pm-12 am, and Thursday-Saturday, 12 pm-2 am.

· Mikkeller Bar Gets Chef, Targets July 4 Weekend [~ ESF ~]
· Mikkeller Bar [Official website]