»In praise of beer

... but not of pilsener, or of lager. Give me a pint of bitters, of ale, and especially a pint from the cask.

Zeitgeist, that place that so perfectly is San Francisco, no longer carries cask ales: they did not sell. The bartendeers at the Toronado look more than usually put out when I ask for a cask ale -- "You know I have to pull that by hand, and it takes a couple minutes, right?" they always inform me. Yes. I am not in a hurry to get the beer: if I were, 40s of the Champagne of Beers are $1.99 ("Out the door!" the sticker on the bottle gleefully reminds me) at any corner shop.

Magnolia, in the otherwise-execrable Haight, produce some very tasty, and fresh beers. Hurrah for their Ruby Red!