The Public House recently took over the old Acme Chophouse space at AT&T Park, and although it is a stand-alone restaurant as Acme was, also open on non-game days, it has really upped the ante in terms of ballpark brews. The tap selection is amazing – 20 total, plus a cask, the majority of which are dedicated to local brews.
The cask ale, which I had, is Billy Sunday Bitter, brewed specifically for Public House by Magnolia Brewing in the Haight. This is a classic English-style bitter, which just enough hops to sit atop a rich malt backbone. Served exclusively on cask, it is a smooth and flavorful drink, seamless on the palate.
Although the Public House looks like a great space, on game days it’s a zoo. It takes patience and fortitude to place your order at the bar. I’d love to come back when the Giants are away to really enjoy the experience.
Also new at AT&T Park is Anchor Plaza. The Plaza consists of an Anchor booth, which has Steam, Liberty Ale, Porter, and Summer Ale on tap, as well as mixed drinks featuring Anchor Distilling’s Junipero Gin. Other food and drink stands surround the plaza, which has plenty of picnic-style seating to enjoy your purchases.
I ordered the Liberty Ale, which was great as always, but I was a bit disappointed they didn’t have something a bit more unusual available (like maybe something from their new Zymaster Series which, oddly enough, was available at the Public House). In any event, it’s a nice addition to the park, and since it’s tucked behind the centerfield scoreboard, a less crowded place to pick up provisions for the game.