Beer @ The Warehouse, Port Costa, CA
After a discussion about Belgian beer, a suggestion was floated to visit The Warehouse in Port Costa. After picking folks up at the BART station we drove into the middle of nowhere, and when I started to feel doubtful, kept going. Passed through a deserted ghost town where the houses look forlorn and shut- evidently only vampires live here. Stopped at the end of a dirt road in a gravel lot next to train tracks and the delta.
Grotty old faded building with battered paint peeling doors and windows.
Inside the dim interior houses a bar, a stuffed snarling polar bear diorama -complete with half rotted stuffed seal, dogs playing poker tapestries, pin ball machines, a fortune teller, cobwebs and fringed light fixtures, and a motley collection of local old timers, spandex'd cyclists, bearded motor cyclists and people who're just plain lost.
You'll appreciate the endless list of exotic beer- If you're lucky Gina will take you back to the walk-in beer cooler, which when it opens has a faint pearly glow and sounds of angels singing hosanna.
The menu is generally limited to free popcorn, dogs/links, turkey and "cheese product", but on Sundays expands to a full BBQ accompanied by a live band and "free" (if you buy a drink before noon) sides -where salad is defined as macaroni, potato or coleslaw.
The space is great for chill hanging out, great stories and hyperbole.
Service is gruffly nonchalant casual, you have to keep track of your own tab.
Juke box has (according to my friend) an excellent selection of tunes. Pick the right one and the staff will all howl and turn the volume UP!
Definitely a must for beer aficionados- if you like Toronado, you'll love the Warehouse Cafe.
ps these fabulous pics were taken by Mike