If you're going to drink this week, you might as well drink like you mean it.
Woodbury Debuts with Beer-and-a-Shot Bar
The team behind the Alchemist has just opened Woodbury, a friendly urban lodge complete with a taxidermied moose, tractor seat bar stools, classic video games, and a dedicated beer-and-a-shot bar. Besides the beer and shot combos, they're serving cocktails you know and love, standard and craft beers, and filling bar food. The Woodbury Burger is a brisket patty wrapped in caul fat and dressed up with brown butter, fried shallots, crispy pork belly, arugula, and aioli. Pair it with Pesto Mac and Cheese, or have the Poutine on the side, with house ricotta and mushroom gravy. If you're hankering for something harder to drink, slip through the slide door and head up the stairway that leads to the Alchemist. Woodbury is open Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. 685 Third Street
Have a Spring Fling at Castro Village Wine Company
Looking to taste some recently-released rosé wines without having to commit to a full bottle? Drop by Castro Village Wine Company this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday during shop hours for a $15 flight of 2013 rosés from Poe, County Line, Matthiasson, and Arnot-Roberts. If pink just isn't your color when it comes to wine, try a red or white from the by-the-glass menu, which has been recently updated to include Horse & Plow Pinot Gris, Quivira Sauvignon Blanc, Stark Barbera, and Avalon Cabernet. Castro Village Wine Company is open Monday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 8:0 p.m., Friday from noon to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 7:00 p.m. The community wine shop carries wines for all budgets, with more than 180 bottles under $25. 4121 19th Street
New Bar Manager, New Cocktails at The Square
The Square just welcomed a new bar manager, and you're invited to come check out her cocktails this week. Previously with Rickhouse and Tradition, Claire Sprouse brings her experience to the "new kid on the block" restaurant in North Beach, which opened last month. The new drink menu focuses on 20th-century classics and drinks that pair well with The Square's dining fare, ranging from bar snacks to family-style dishes. You can count on finding a muddled Old Fashioned on the list, as well as the Twentieth Century cocktail with gin, cacao, Lillet Blanc, and lemon. 1707 Powell Street
Boozy Brunch at La Urbana
Leave it toLa Urbana to bring booze to breakfast. The modern Mexican restaurant has launched a weekend brunch menu with Morning Cocktails, which are guaranteed to start your day off right. Brunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday with extended hours on Easter Sunday (click here for more Easter brunch options). The breakfast-y booze list includes the Morning Call, a refreshing combination of Luxardo maraschino, absinthe, strawberries & club soda; and the Mezcal Glory Fizz, an invigorating mix of mezcal, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, absinthe & club soda. Even the Pear Bellini is stronger than usual, made with home-made pear-mezcal liqueur and Etoile sparkling wine. And, of course, there's Mexican hair of the dog: beer. La Urbana's take on the Michelada mixes lemon juice, Magui sauce, ice and cold beer in a salt-rimmed pint glass. There's food on the brunch menu as well, including La Urbana's unique versions of Sopes de Casa, Tacos de Pollo con Mole, (Spanish-style) Scrambled Eggs, and Braised Shortribs. 661 Divisadero
Beer Flights at Abbot's Cellar
Abbot's Cellar bar's beer flight program is lifting off this Friday, April 18. Each Friday, they will announce a new theme and offer three 4-ounce or two 6-ounce pours that center around that theme, all week, for $12 to $18. Flight themes could include brewing regions or vertical tastings (same beer, different years). They might also include feature beers highlighting a particular style (ie - IPA, Sour, Barleywine) or different takes on a particular ingredient (ie - chocolate or hops). This week's flight features Rodenbachs, with three 4-ounce pours for $18. The Rodenbach Ale, Rodebach Vintage 2011 and Caractere Rouge are all brewed at Brouwerif Rodenbach in Roeselare, Belgium. All are Flanders Reds, with the addition of fruit in Caractere Rouge. The Rodenbach flight is available this Friday through next Thursday, or until the supply runs out. Flights are only available at the bar, and if you have an idea for a theme, feel free to share it with your bartender. 742 Valencia
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
