Peek inside Alameda’s Faction Brewing
Come for the beer, stay for the view — that’s Faction Brewing’s slogan, and it’s an appropriate one.
This dog and family-friendly brewery is perched at the western edge of Alameda Island, next to the old runway on the now-closed Alameda Naval Air Station. The brewery has extensive indoor and outdoor seating. On a nice day, be sure to grab a table outside and enjoy the view of the San Francisco skyline, across the bay. And you’ll find a food truck parked just outside. On the day we visited, it was Fist of Flour Pizza. Other trucks in the rotation include Grilled Cheez Guy, Scolari’s Good Eats and Lumpia Company.
This brewery has more than just a nice view, though. The 19 beers on tap rotate frequently and include more pale ales and IPAs than you can count (especially after trying several). Their brewers keep things interesting by brewing many other styles, as well, including a saison, a Belgian dubbel and tripel,
California Common, porter and coffee and milk stouts.
Fortunately, three helpful companions allowed me to taste all of the beers. Sample your way through a flight of five 5-ounce tasters for $12.50, or opt for a pint. The pint tab ranges from $4.50 to $5.50, depending on the beer — a bargain in the Bay Area. The brewery also fills growlers.
I was impressed by the quality of the beers. Many had interesting twists — the Belgian dubbel was made with dates, for example, and the porter followed a recipe from the 1800s that calls for molasses. Don’t miss: For a unique experience, try the Anomaly Milk Stout (6.5 percent alcohol by volume, 30 IBU). It’s made with star anise, TCHO chocolate, cacao nibs, coffee and lactose sugar (that’s where the “milk” comes from). The anomaly is that it has an amber color, rather than the intense black of a normal stout.
Details: Open 12-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 12-6 p.m. on Sundays at 2501 Monarch St. in Alameda; www.factionbrewing.com.