Magnolia Brewing Company

I came in here with my wife while waiting for our daughter who works in the neighborhood and recommended this place. It’s a cool spot and decorated like an old throwback type of joint. Problem is when we sat down at the bar, the bartender was kinda lifeless. We asked for a specific style of beer but they didn’t have any. That’s ok in its self but the bartender didn’t ask what else we like or usually drink, he just stood there. As we’re still sitting here, 20 minutes later, he’s never said a single word to us. I really don’t know anything about what this place is. There’s a chalkboard with the beer selection but that’s it. There’s a bunch of people here but nobody is eating anything and we’ve never been offered a menu or asked if we’d care to see one. My wife had blonde that was maybe average at best but again the bartender never even asked her if she liked it or not. We are now splitting a hard cider but I’m not even sure what type it even is because the bartender just poured it and walked away. Too bad, we’re kinda hungry and meeting some people tonight who may want to eat here but as soon as they get here were moving on down the street to spend some money!

Came here hoping to get a beer and the hours said they were open until midnight. But when we got here we were turned away and the bartender said they actually closed at ten. Drove a thirty minute drive to get here and will not be making that drive again.

The beer selection is great.
Compared to bbq in Texas, the bbq is not great considering the insane SF price you pay. Sorry. (The same is true for most bbq in SF.) Other people said the brisket was good, I beg to differ. It is just OK, not terrible, but not great.
Atmosphere is more open, less cozy than the Magnolia location in the Haight.

I am very fond of Magnolia’s brews in general and most often go to the location on Haight and Masonic. This location on 3^rd. has the same beers although a complete different vibe. The bartenders are not as friendly as the Haight location. They have a much more business friendly demeanor. The music at the Haight location is better also. One thing that really bugs me is that at the original Haight location every Tuesday most pints are $ 4. No such thing at this location. As for the BBQ here, it is frightfully expensive for the minuscule proportions they give you. And having tried the different BBQ selections more that once, now just avoid it. Dry charred meats that have the flavor background of kerosene or lighter fluid just don’t cut it for my preference. I give it 3 stars only because of the beers and décor otherwise it would get an overall 2 from me and the BBQ a 1. My best recommendation is if you are able make the trip to the Haight Street location. It has better less expensive and a better selection of food items, the same beers with $ 4 Tuesday’s and a cooler, friendlier more hip group of peeps working there. It’s with great in trepidation and only out of my long time fondness of Magnolia I give this location3 stars.

Open and communal space, happening crowd, extensive drinks selection, fun menu. All good up to this point. Then you pay for food. It’s expensive. Then you eat food. Brisket great. Chicken and sausage ok. Ribs and sides not good. Then you’re feeling not happy that you spent $ 120 for an underwhelming meal for 3 while all while sitting at a communal table and eating with plastic forks. They do a great job sucking you in but don’t really deliver and you’ll leave feeling underwhelmed.

We popped in here one Saturday evening and really liked it. The décor inside is like the outside of an old city. The establishment also opened up the area in the back so there was plenty of sitting space. We only had a couple of cocktails and some beers because we already had dinner plans elsewhere though the bbq they had at Magnolia’s smelled amazing! I definitely want to go back here for dinner and more drinks.
Cool place!

Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food Awesome food

Went yesterday with my dear sister and knew as soon as she said brewery in dogpatch it was gonna be a bad time. The set up was really over done. Like were really trying to look rustic and low brow. Everything is new tho so just seemed contrived. The bar was extremely pretentious didn’t feel welcome. Thle bartender was unhelpful with beer selection and snotty.
The ribs were a total rip off. 10 $ for a single rib. Everyone there seemed like they just moved here. Genification at its absolute best.
Next time we shall venture further down 3^rd and get some real San Francisco and some tasty BBQ without the snotty attitude.

Their beers aren’t bad, but man, the prices could be better. So, it’s February, which means strong beer month. At 21^st Amendment, you get a bit of a bigger glass to go with your strong beer, but at Magnolia, it’s a pretty shirt, narrow flute of the good stuff, and it’s at a premium price. Even the cheaper beers go for an average of $ 8; so, let’s say you tip the minimum dollar per drink — it means you’re paying $ 9 for a beer. Normally, I’d say a craft beer might warrant that cost, but when the Proving Grounds IPA tastes low on hops (other than in the after-​taste) at 100 IBU, we might not be having such a a great experience. Don’t get me wrong. I love the ambiance and set-​up, but bbq is super pricey ($ 15 for a half pound of brisket), and beers set you back at least $ 8 – 9. This is an expensive outing for sure, but at least it’s never a bad time at Magnolia.

Great brew and very good bbq in an increasingly lively neighborhood. Brisket was probably the best bbq, although both the ribs and pastrami are great.
Unclear if there is table service — I just went to the bar and to the meat bar. Long tables, so there is some potential for socialization with others. While Magnolia has great beers of their own, they also have guest brews, some of which are amazing.
Overall, a great place for beer and bbq!

We had no complaints about the beer, and the cider was the best I’ve had in years. That said, the dining experience was a mixed bag.
First, your meat doesn’t come on plates. It comes on a sheet of paper on top of a tray. Not a big deal I thought, until I started cutting it up and the paper shredded and started getting in my food. Not ideal.
The brisket was good (although a pretty significant portion was fat, which was disappointing considering the price.) The potato salad, which I was really looking forward to, was a tremendous letdown. It was like eating a cup of blended mayonnaise and mashed potatoes, with some celery thrown in. My wife did say her beef rib was fantastic.
The staff was very friendly and the ambience is interesting. If I went back I’d probably stick to the drinks though.

Meh is about right.
The space itself is beautiful and I loved it. The experience here was just anything but ideal, for the following reasons:
— The bartender was kind of a snot. She started off fine with the first 1 – 2 sentences she spoke to us but then got aggravated quickly when we wanted to try a few samples. I’m sorry, but I’m new to this joint and sorry if I don’t already know how your gazillion beers taste. BYE FELICIA!
— The beer was just ok. Nothing stood out to me. Coming from the brewery capital of the country in Colorado, I think I deserve to be a little snooty about my beer, Felicia.
— They share the space with the BBQ place across the way and it is awkward that they want to keep a tab open when you need to use your card to move across and order food.
— If I had to review the BBQ place separately, I’d say that was pretty tasty. I had the BBQ tacos and they were awesome. $ 10 for 3 tacos (I believe this was a special for a Tuesday) and they were packed with deliciously tender and flavorful meats. Each had a sprinkling of raw onion and cilantro for good measure. Really minimal tacos but they didn’t need anything else.

This place screams hipster — old warehouse and mason jars. They have a great selection of beers and the BBQ is to die for. It’s a bit on the pricier side but definitely worth trying. This is probably our choice of bar in this neighbourhood!

SF brew vets, Magnolia opens a second location in the Dogpatch. Given the locale, it has to be hipster. Huge warehouse space, very dim filament bulb lighting, brown liquor galore and a hot deli set up that churns out decent products from a legit smoker.
The beers are still here, possibly a larger selection. Magnolias brews always tended to be on the fuller and robust side of the spectrum. Pales and IPA’s will not fall short in the malt and hop department. They are burly for the most part, which actually plays well with the new food offerings here, that tend to be bold on their own. There almost seems to be a dizzying choice though, like well over 20 styles that seem to overlap on each other. The good is… in the 2 – 3 that I’ve tried, purty darn solid. Possum Pale and the Brown are legit.
I don’t care for their set up though, it is hipster/​lazy to me. Drinks are ordered at the bar. Food is ordered deli style, to be rung up at the end of the line, in a different area. For the prices, I just prefer to be sat and served on and only pull out my wallet once (at the end). And I really don’t like to get in line several times for a meal. Is that asking too much after a hard yet honest day of work?!
I also find their portioning/​pricing to be a bit challenging. Instead of getting a plate with an appropriate portion of something, everything is sold by weight (deli style). So considering some things have bones, it is kind of hard to gauge how much to order per person. And there are sides to also consider which come in various sizes. The first time we came, we WAY over ordered. We got used to it after that visit.
But the food is pretty good. It is sloppily thrown together on a parchment paper lined sheet tray, but the flavors are bold. I like how none of their meats are sauced, but unique flavored sauces are at the tables for squeezing. After several visits, here is what we’ve tried.
–Smoked Brisket ($ 15ish/​half pound) Pretty darn good. Great beefy flavor, not shy in the fat department. Unfortunately ours that day seemed a bit overdone as it almost could not hold its shape in sliced form. It was literally falling apart. Flavor still good though. I’d try it again for sure.
–Wagyu Beef Ribs ($ 20ish/​pound) Huge ribs and the bones are massive. 1 pound is about 2 ribs. Not as moist or succulent as I was expecting. Kinda dry, but great beef flavor. This benefited from a squirt of one of their vinegar based sauces. The dryness may be an issue of them keeping it warm under lights. They may need to add some moisture/​steam to their holding area.
–House Made Pastrami ($ 15−16ish/half pound) Pastrami is basically corned beef, that has been rubbed with spices, then smoked. Here it taste exactly that. Nice texture, tender and smooth. But the flavors are a bit intense. The salt level is intense. The smoke has a slight sting to it. Great with their home made sauerkraut, but too strong on its own.
–Smoked Duck ($ 25/​pound) This is special. It is so unique that I’ve been telling everybody about it. It is perfectly seasoned/​rubbed, a good salt to sweet ratio. There is just the right amount of smoke to make it delectable. They will hack up it from a whole bird so it can be a bit daunting, with bones and pink juice dripping all over your tray. Request the breast meat if you can, cuz that is the best part. It is incredibly meaty and rich. I’ve actually never seen a duck breast with so much meat. This needed no sauce.
–Coleslaw is vinegar dressed. Very tart on its own but good with the rich, smoky meats. Cabbage retains a good crunch. Closer to kimchee than slaw, I suppose.
–Dirty Rice is a southern rice dish where poultry offal (gizzards, liver etc…)is ground up and incorporated into the fluffy rice. It adds an element of umami to what is a bland grain. Here they are not shy on the offal part. Other places, I often have to search for the offal flavor. Here it is in your face. I actually think they can take the notch down just a bit, as I am sure it may be too strong for the common taste.
–Beer braised collards/​kale. Very good rendition. Tender, great green flavors with just a hint from the beer. I’d get this probably everytime I come in, just straight solid.
–Potato Salad is really good here. Good potatoes, tart mayo based and the perfect amount of crunch from celery and onion. It is the perfect accompaniment to good Q. I applaud them at keeping this simple and basic. If I ever wanted to show a foreigner what American Potato salad was about, I’d bring them here.
Was never much of a fan of their Haight St. location, but this one spoke to me. Very solid and I’ll raise a glass to this effort for sure. Well played Magnolia, well played.

The Good:
+ Excellent craft cocktails and extensive liquor list.
+ Excellent selection of craft brews!
+ Bar bites include jerky and meats.
+ Intricate layout and access to the brew room.
The Not So Good:
— Pricey for cocktails compared to a few other similar spots in the Patch.
— Slower service on a half-​crowded night. Pretentious vibe from the bar tenders handling the liquors.
Bottom Line: A very chic spot to grab a cocktail or be greeted by some fantastic beers. Prices are a little steep in my opinion for what you get in terms of service and quality.

I had no idea that San Fran had such great barbecue to offer but my long-​lost cousin* insisted we check out Magnolia Brewery.
Don’t come here expecting table service or even seats on a bench; when we came, the place was packed and we had to eat standing at barrels. The service was cafeteria-​style. I regret nothing. Mike and I ordered brisket, beef ribs, biscuits, mac ‘n’ cheese, cole slaw, and an unexpectedly good cucumber-​white bean salad.
I am not sure I have ever eaten that much beef in one sitting (standing?). Everything was incredible. I regret nothing.
*Sometimes you and a co-​worker realize that there is a reason why your maiden name and her grandmother’s are the same, and why she is practically identical to your aunt. Small world! She is a doll and has great taste in BBQ.

Review just for the beer and environment. I didn’t get to try the BBQ but hope to someday and factor into a new review!
I knew about Magnolia’s brews from the Aliciella bitter that debuted at California Academy of Science’s NightLife events. I really liked it and found the backstory for the name to be interesting, so I stored Magnolia in my brain’s to-​visit list. I visited last week during a solo city adventure I was having.
I parked a few blocks away and walked over. A yeasty smell hit me as I closed in on the building and all I had to do was follow my nose to Magnolia. However, I ended up walking towards the back of the building… a restaurant or taste room looking doorway was nowhere to be found. I saw Magnolia barrels so I knew I was close. I walked back towards the street and finally found the double doors that led into Magnolia.
The bartender suggested the Proving Ground IPA since I wanted something hoppy. I was already eyeing that and I’m glad I got it. There were some cask options and also some visiting beers marked with a *.
The space is cool and rustic. I liked looking at the full bar and the bartenders moving the ladder around to find the bottle they needed. Super hip and the high ceilings made it feel even more spacious.

I really like that the dogpatch area is developing quickly in the way that it is. The food and bar scene is continually improving and Magnolia Brewing Company is just one more example of why this is the case.
This is a cool combination of a southern bbq meat restaurant combined with a hipster bar. With bench seating and plastic condiment bottles in front of you, a library style rolling ladder and fancy alcohols on one side and what is basically a butcher shop/​cafeteria style display on the other, you definitely get mixed messages. Despite that, I loved this place. All of the meats were fantastic, especially the brisket and ribs. I didn’t care much for any of the sides but that’s not a huge deal.
There is a good selection of beers on tapped, as can be expected from a brewing company and you have a nice selection of cocktails to go with it as well.
Overall, I was definitely happy with this place and will likely come back in the future. It makes a nice place to start the night off if you’re doing some dogpatch bar hopping. «I’m a fan.»

I brought my guy to the new Magnolia Brewing Company before a brewery tour at Anchor Steam. We love beer and wanted to grab a bite before we went.
The new location is really cool, it is an old canning warehouse that still retains a lot of the old historic character of the building. It has charm, but most importantly has great beer and barbeque.
He ordered the beer while I went to order the barbeque for lunch. I may have got a little out of control with my order, but it was well worth it. They make thier own sauces (like kimchee spicy BBQ sauce) which were complimentary to the meal.
My favorite was the barbeque brisket, smoked and tender. It just fell apart and was very delcious. The smoked chicken and housemade spicy sausage were very good. We ordered the potato salad and pickled vegetables to go along with the meal.
It was pricey, but I ended up packing up the rest of our lunch and we ate it for dinner. So if you consider my overall cost for the barbeque versus how many meals we got out of it, it was a helluva deal.
Loved the new Magnolia Brewery and Smoke Stack BBQ. We will return for more!

Super hipster spot. Don’t ask me. Just felt like it. Like I wasn’t cool enough, but I know better. Ha. It’s in the DogPatch, like Mission and Bayshore, old Espirit store area. If you’re familiar, then cool, you’re close to native SF (we can hang!). Ok, enough about the location, more on the food.
It was a while before I ordered but it’s all good. Came here for a Beer Run, fun run, that is. Free beer and I ordered some dark beer, lookin like dark red wine. I was buzzin by the time I was halfway done. Good beer, yes, good beer. The bartender chick looked at me sideways when I told her I don’t know beer. Effin beer snob. It’s cool, no shame in my game. I won’t lie just to kick it. Whatever, so I ordered a brisket. Boy, that meat was SLAMMIN. It has nice pieces of fat to meat ratio. Did I mention I was buzzed? Did I also mention I ran/​walked/​jogged a 10K prior to this? Yeah, so uh, that meat was well deserved!!!