A lunchtime visit to Magnolia in San Francisco's classic stretch of flower-in-your-hair Haight allowed us the opportunity for us to have lunch and for me to research which beer to obtain a growler of. I got a beer flight, while my friend's Kalifornia Kölsch seemed to have a very funky nose (the restaurant itself seemed to have a bit of funky aroma to it, but in a good way). Weedy and sticky, some elements of grains, expressive with a precise finish. I'd need to revisit to get a better sense of it, but based on a few sips, I'd gladly try it again. The newly added Saison del Lily in my sampler had a pretty awesome nose, bright and herbal and lots of fun. Very expressive. Overall, though, it was awfully rich and peachy and reminded me quite a bit of Bailluex's Cuvée Des Jonquilles biére de garde that I had the night before. A bit too rich and plush for my saison/biére de garde preferences, though my friend suggested this might be mightily appreciated by those who find many beers too bitter. The Landlady had a really cool muted fruity nose, and though it seemed loose and undefined at first, the pleasant tart fruitiness really shone and the finish showed the beer's superb grip. This was a continuing theme for Magnolia's beers--they really know how to craft an accomplished finish for their beers. Very deft. The pleasant crunchiness won me over at the Landlady was my final choice for their rather spectacular 2 liter growler. The Blue Bell Bitter had a nut brown color and the aromas played the part with dark clean nuttiness, simple and nice. Simple and cleansing, very good and very clean. Probably the most crowd pleasing of the bunch. The Rabbit Wit was a very unusual beer, a bit more trashy in the nose with suggestions of flowers (quite likeable, really). Rich and tangy at times, loose and watery at others. I actually enjoyed it, but never got a sense of its identity. Would need to revisit this one--seemed to get lost in the bustle of other tastes. The Prescription Pale Ale had a bright lemony nose--noticeable distinct from the previous beers. Some mango sweetness in there as well. Textured, lightly hopped, biting finish. I found this wonderful. My friend appreciated it more for its differentness than its deliciousness. But it certainly made a statement. The Spud's Boy IPA had a nose that was very rich, though it felt much less rooted. Kind of like it was floating on top. Loosey-goosey and pleasant in the mouth with plenty of honeyed citrus. Fine and pleasant.
My first visit to Magnolia had been long delayed, but my limited experiences with their beers on tap elsewhere in the Bay Area were similarly positive and I was delighted to taste such a great range of flavorful beers, with only the Spud's Boy IPA reaching above 5% ABV. Delightful and perfect beers for lunch. I'm glad they are a growler option in the Bay Area--if only they were more BART accessible . . .