The following is an event review by Mission resident Rebecca Renberg.
The launch of The Summit SF’s new beer and wine menu took place this past Thursday night. And though Sept 30th will mark the one year anniversary of the coffee house/gallery/business incubator’s opening, the addition of alcohol has always been a part of the concept.
It’s “been a long time coming,” said bar manager Rosie Mazza. While chef Eddie Lau chose the wine, Mazza selected a flavorful but traditional variety of draft and bottled beer.
She acknowledged the large selection of beer bars in the city. So “instead of trying to out-do, we wanted to go back to basics.”
And one of those basics was one of my menu favorites – the Paulaner Hefeweizen, which includes the delicious, lingering notes of citrus, banana, cloves and bubblegum. Another was the Jockamo IPA, with its hoppy world of balanced floral.
As for bottled beer, Almanac’s Golden Ale, infused with blackberries, is a great choice. Brewed in Sebastopol in limited batches, The Summit scored one of the last cases. Another concoction worth sipping on is Jean Phillippe’s sparkling wine, where fresh green apples meet the mouth.
The variety of options makes for what Mazza hopes will be an educational experience. “My hill to die on with beer is ‘Try Everything.’ Just know what you like.”
To accompany the new drink menu unveiling, the Summit also hosted the exhibition of “I Wish I Could Talk,” by San Francisco artist Superdeux.
It had a lively, and child-like nostalgia feel, especially in the resin sculptures. Bold colors and patterns drew attention to a concept of Japanese-French fusion. There was also an interactive video installation that was done in collaboration with SecretFeature Studio.
The show will be on deck for viewing at The Summit through September 29th. You can also catch more of Superdeux’s work at the upcoming ArtCrank group show on October 21st at 111 Minna Gallery. Beer and wine at the Summit are available now.