The Alembic
The other day I stopped into The Alembic, the new bar on Haight Street run by David McLean of Magnolia Brewery. First I tried the pumpkin ale, both the cask-conditioned and regular tap version. It was delicious, but not as flavorful as I would have liked. I want a pie-in-the-face experience with my pumpkin. Then I sampled a couple of cocktails.
The Sazerac I found to be less strong in anise flavor than I've enjoyed at bars such as Rye, but also more subdued all the way round. That's because they use a different (unnamed) ingredient than the herbsaint used at other venues. I've only recently discovered how much I like the bitter anise flavors that come from Campari and other spirits.
Then I tried The Bone, which is rye whisky with Tabasco sauce and a dash of lime. Yes, it's damn harsh, but also kind of pretty. It's an odd way to enjoy rye whisky, but I highly recommend it. Have it with one of Magnolia's beers on the side.
I will be writing about this bar for various publications coming up soon, so I'll be back tasting plenty o' drinks and will let you know what I like best.
**This is the Alcademics archive- most posts can also be found by going to www.alcademics.com under the same date**
posted by camper at 10/31/2006 08:10:00 PM
1 Comments:
I finally got round to visiting the Alembic a couple of times, and much as I want to like it I was a bit disappointed. Basically it's a terrible bar for beer drinkers, which it really shouldn't be considering it's Magnolia heritage.
My first issue is that the list of beers on the drinks menu is not the real list - so we choose a couple and are then informed that they aren't available, and are given the handwritten 'real' beer list. Why don't they write up what's available (since their taps are unmarked) on that big blackboard thing above the bar?
So I order a couple of beers for my friend and myself. One comes in a pint, one comes in a tiny glass that's about 1/3 of a pint. I hate this - please tell us on the menu what size of glass you intend to server it in. Sure, the small one was only $3, but it's not like it was super strong or anything. If I'm ordering two beers for two people, maybe ask if I want both in pints? Otherwise one of us is left sitting with an empty glass. Magnolia is guilty of this as well to a certain extent, but I find they're a bit better about telling you before hand.
And on a early thursday evening it was full of loud chattering women...
But I'm sure their cocktails are good.
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