The Jug Shop

mactrail

California

3.54/5  rDev -10.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.25 | selection: 3.5 | $$

A fair selection with enough oddities to make it worth an occasional visit. This is the place I first found Almanac beers. A good place to pick up local beers like 21st Amendment. A lot of seemingly random stuff, but they do seem to have beers that I don't see elsewhere. The selection is not very inspired otherwise. Roomy place but a little cluttered. Prices seem about average for SF.

I started going here a few years ago after stumbling on it along Polk Street. Easiest place to get to from North Beach, on the 45 or 47 trolleycoach. My sense is they have less interesting stuff the last couple of years. There are just so surprisingly few decent places to buy beer in San Francisco. Well, surprisingly few of many things except sushi joints.

02-17-2013 04:46:49 | More by mactrail

elNopalero

Texas

3.94/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

My impressions of this place are that it’s a decent place that has attentive customer service and a selection of beers and spirits which surpasses definitely surpasses the majority of corner stores … but if you’re looking for a serious bottle shop for some hard to find micros or a wider variety then you could do better. (Only in a place like San Francisco!) The times I’ve gone and asked for assistance I’ve found that the “beer guy” knows his stuff for sure. Haven’t made it to any of their tasting sessions but I think that’s a good sign of an active community too.

11-29-2012 08:49:23 | More by elNopalero

emerge077

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped in to check out the selection and wasn't disappointed. Beer was relegated to the left wall, the majority in coolers. Bright florescent lights and bass heavy minimal techno playing... not your typical corporate muzak.

Selection definitely held a few things not seen elsewhere, namely the Upright lineup. Some random imports (12 Percent) and Struise stuff that was unique to this shop. Asked about local/regional beers and was deferred to the beer buyer who was very informative and friendly. Regional CA beers from RR, Ballast Point, Iron Springs, etc. They were admittedly "cleaned out" after the blue angels weekend, but there were still gems the tourists overlooked. They mentioned that they sell singles of everything, but it wasn't marked as such, and didn't look like customers pulled bottles from 6 packs. Good selection of traditional lambics here. Fewer bombers than elsewhere.

Overall a great shop in this part of SF, while City Beer is closed for remodeling (late 2011).

10-11-2011 05:58:43 | More by emerge077

litheum94

California

4.31/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

Stopped by this place while in SF for the weekend. I was planning on spending all my money at City Beer, and ended up spending more here!

Great selection of a wide variety of beers. I was surprised at how many beers they had that I had never seen in my area, given that I only live 45 minutes north. 80% of the beer was refrigerated and everything that was on the shelf was stuff that didn't necessarily need to be enjoyed fresh. Prices seemed very reasonable as well.

Staff was friendly and helpful as well. My only real complaint is that a lot of space was dedicated to wine and liquor, but not every store can cater solely to the beer nerds. Definitely worth a visit.

09-22-2011 15:20:34 | More by litheum94

mikul93

California

4.14/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

This is my go to place for Russian River brews. The beer selection is pretty good. The clerks seem to know they're beer and have suggested some great ones for me to try. They also have frequent beer tastings. The biggest plus for a place in the City is that they have a PARKING LOT! Never have to worry about parking. They're prices are reasonable. I went there last week and they didn't have any Pliny on the shelves. I asked a stock guy and he quickly went into the walk-in and brought out more for me. Very friendly staff.

06-26-2011 00:17:48 | More by mikul93

stupac2

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Went to a blind DIPA tasting last night (I was only able to identify 4 of them correctly, clearly need to drink something besides Pliny when I want a DIPA). The tasting was only $12 for 15 samples, very reasonable. It had a good vibe, although the space was fairly small people spread out into the store and it worked.

As for their regular selection, it was medium-sized and pretty good, if a bit idiosyncratic.

If you're just looking for a beer I'd say that Jug Shop is a pretty good place to stop if you're in the area, but Healthy Spirits or City Beer are much better.

That said, the tasting was awesome, I'll be doing those again in the future.

06-18-2011 15:31:58 | More by stupac2

NorCalgrowler

California

4.51/5  rDev +14.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The name alone should make you go into this store. And they have T-shirts to boot! They were more than kind enough to save a couple of bottles of beer for me for a week while I was away on vacation. I wouldnt have been able to get the limited bottles otherwise. Much appreciated service. The store doesnt have much atmosphere but the beer and wine selection is very good. There is enough for any style, taste, or region to be satisfied. Also, quite a big shop and selection for the city which usually has much smaller stores.

05-05-2011 16:13:29 | More by NorCalgrowler

moz9

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Went to this place and found some hard to find bottles that I didn't see elsewhere. Called ahead of time and the staff was helpful in letting me know what they had. They also had a number of other bottles that I wasn't looking for but ended up buying.

It's also pretty convenient that they have a parking lot outside for easy access. It's in what seemed to be a decent area of town.

Prices seem very reasonable and in line with what you would expect everywhere else. I would say this place and City Beer are must stops in San Francisco with respect to beer stores.

01-09-2011 04:34:40 | More by moz9

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.35/5  rDev +10.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I have been a patron of the Jug Shop for a few years now (off and on). Though they have a much better hard-a and wine selection they do have a pretty decent rotation of beers in stock and always have always had a "beer geek" on hand to point me towards that "something special." For instance, I went in for a 4 pack of BrewDog's Punk IPA, got to talking about Saison's, and walked home with what I came for... and a Saison D' Erpe-Mere (which was brilliant). Their beer selection is a little small, but I gave it a 4 because they really seem to put a lot of effort into picking out good and hard to find brews.

04-16-2010 05:09:55 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

WeeObese

California

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I am not from the SF area, but while visiting this past weekend a friend in the city told me of a holiday beer tasting at The Jug Shop. I wasn't expecting much when I first walked in as the store is mainly wine and spirits, but when I got back to the tasting section and saw the 20 beers many of which are regulars and many of which were specials, I got very optimistic.

Eric the head beer guy who was running the tasting is super friendly and really knows his stuff. He was friendly and informative and he really seems to be trying to get some great beers at the store (I picked up a RR Salvation and a JP Biere de Mars). The selection is not huge but it is on the better end for a store that has to cater to its wine and spirit customers. I have a feeling that the selection will only be getting bigger and better.

I haven't been to City Beer but I would say that this place is definitely worth a stop for any beer fan in SF. Eric runs tastings every Friday and from the one I went to it is a great time.

12-08-2009 04:38:32 | More by WeeObese