st. george spirits

Visited Alameda for the first time and a friend took me to St George Spirits for a tasting. (We didn't have time for the full tour) We arrived around 6pm and there was a great view of the sunset going down over the city across the bay. We had a great view through the large windows of the bar. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We even had the whole place to ourselves which she told us was rare. The drinks were very good. I was a bit skeptical about a "liquor tasting" but it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Will definitely go back and do the whole tour sometime.

Went here last Friday with some friends and were very impressed. Our guide was funny and very informative..definitely knew her alcohol and lots of interesting tid bits and history. Obviously the best part was the booze.The terroir and botanivore gins were probably some of the best gin I have ever had. Granted I'm not a big gin guy but I could definitely rock a martini with the terroir. They described it as tasting the forest in Mt. Tam which is probably the only way to describe it. We also had some rye gin (ginsky) which was very interesting..you could really taste the rye on the back end. We finished on some absinthe which was pretty damn delicious and a great finish to the tasting. The end of the tour was a lot about absinthe too and how it got banned which was pretty sweet.If I wasn't flying I would have bought a bottle or two but if you are in the San Fran area its worth checking out for sure. We paid 20 for the tour and tasting, which is not bad at all for the area. the location is a bit bizarre as its in Alameda in the middle of the abandoned naval base, but there is a brewery right next door and a vodka distillery near by as well so it doesnt need to be a one stop trip.

Came here yesterday with another couple to do a tasting. First time ever doing a spirit tasting so it was definitely nice that we were able to have Zoe our tasting host show us the ropes. She was very knowledgeable, nice, and had a relaxing vibe about her. She made our tasting very enjoyable. Loved hearing all the history and facts about each spirit that we tasted. She showed us the proper technique for tasting a spirit.The location itself is also quite nice. Love the industrial feel and you can't beat the view of the San Francisco skyline across the Bay. Even on a rainy day the view was amazing.The tasting cost $15 per person. Ample parking.Restrooms: 3 unisex bathroom stalls. The one I used was clean and stocked.

The tour was brief and very informative regarding ingredients and special handling of their products. Especially enjoyed the absinthe development. The tasting was also a lesson how to enjoy and discover the flavors within each of their delicious offerings.

Want to know how spirits are distilled? Want to taste some spirits without buying the entire bottle? Want to laugh while learning? Head to St. George Spirits for a fun, informational, 60-90 minute tour of the distillery. You are also "schooled" while tasting about a half dozen of their finest! Book online in advance if possible; the tour groups are kept rather small so that all can "belly up" after the tour. Parking is available and close to the door. It's in a warehouse by the Bay, so be ready for some cool/cold air.

Take the ferry or rent a car but get over to Alameda, an island across the bay from San Francisco and just a stone's throw from Oakland. This former US naval base has been repurposed, including the use of a hangar for St. George Spirits where they make small batches of amazing booze - fantastic gin varietals, brandy, rum, liquors and absinthe, among others. We 6 took the tour which included the $15 tasting plus a 30 minute tour of the distillery with an animated an funny guide. The tasting was great and we were taught how to swirl and sip (not quite the same way when tasting wines). There is a retail store on the premises so you can load up on whatever is available (with small batches there is always the possibility of running out of a product). If the weather is nice you can sit outside and picnic with the San Francisco skyline immediately in front of you. Note: no babies allowed.

We did the “Advanced Training” tour and tasting for $20, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. (A tasting-only version is $15.) Already a fan of their Terroir gin (awesome for martinis as well as gin & tonics and corpse revivers), we discovered a few other of their products worthy of buying. The content of the tour is a bit dry, but was considerably enlivened by our guide, who was clearly an aspiring comedienne. The distillery is in a huge converted airplane hanger on the old Navy base on the island of Alameda, so a bit out of the way from other things of interest, though you could combine it with a tour of the USS Hornet WWII aircraft carrier for an afternoon outing.  Anyway, the distillery is great looking, full of towering gleaming copper and steel stills, and the tour walks you through the process of creating their spirits, from fruit or grain to bottle. The tasting is in the bar area, and includes whatever five spirits they have on the menu, plus one "wild card" choice of your own from several options. Their spirits range from the aforementioned gins to eau de vies and liqueurs, so there should be at least some things to your taste if you like spirits at all. One of my companions, who normally hates liqueurs, actually liked their new NOLA coffee liqueur so much she bought a bottle; unlike many liqueurs, it isn't overly sweet.

The tour is fun and informative. The tastings afterwards are even better. You get to sample multiple spirits at the end of the tour. It really makes for a complete tour. The great views of San Francisco and the Bay are an added bonus.

After driving through an old military base neighborhood, you find yourself on a wide open stretch of land. Look down, you'll see tie downs for the planes that once resided there. Look around, there is cargo being hauled by cranes onto freighters, and the city of San Francisco peaking out from the fog. Then, there's the distillery. An old warehouse where you can watch the workers process tons and tons of sugarcane. The inside the lobby you'll find your flight instructor ready to take you for flight training. She leads you to the bar, around you the lobby is a chic industrial loft. It is BEAUTIFUL. There, she guides you through 5 select spirits, telling the history of the liquor itself and their personal spin on it. She'll also show you ways to sip and taste to enhance the experience. If you appreciate the good things in life, you shouldn't pass this place up. The Terroir Gin and Spiced Pear Liquor were the best!Go here, spend some time, and don't buy everything in sight (Because you just might want to ;) )

We went just because they make absynthe but left impressed by what they are doing with all kinds of spirits. The location is the old Alameda navy base where Ghost Busters films many of their stupid boy stunts. When you walk through the doors of Hanger #1 you are HIT with the very special smell of ALCOHOL. Then you see the absolutely beautiful copper stills that make the magic happen. We really enjoyed the tour which was lead by a truly entertaining guide. Then there was the well led, well paced, and surprisingly enlightening tasting. Worth the drive.

I've known about this place since they started in a small place next door to Rosenblums Cellars. Boy have they grown! Wonderful space, full of light and gleeming equipment. The real outstanding part is the variety of tasting options. I learned so much and tasted spirits unique to the area. It was very hard not to buy at least one bottle of everything and I'm not a serious drinker. Not a lot of signs to this kinda hidden area of Alameda but lots of see and do once you're in the area- the old Navy base. Lunch and tasting at Rock Wall Winery would be good before or after St.George- they're kinda next door.

It was a girl's out day. We had a great time tasting products at St George Spirits. We tasted the flight offered that day. Yum! We were served by a helpful and informed and funny. It was a great. I would recommend this to anyone who likes trying new things.

Sometimes life takes you to a fork in the road...do you go Left, or Right? You must think wisely...LEFT: $15 for the guided tour of the facilities, and then tastings afterwards..RIGHT: No tour...just tastings...for FREE!So, my friends and I chose the RIGHT decision and enjoyed the tastings...for FREE! Staff is super friendly!Bourbon is fantastic, so I bought a bottle. $34. We finished the bottle before I could fly it back to San Diego...

I've never been on a distillery tour but can't wait to go back to St. George Spirits AKA Hangar 1. This craft distillery is located in an old hangar which just adds to the adventure. Cost is $15 per person and we certainly got that back in entertainment from our tour leader Andi...she was great! And from the tastings of the craft liquors, such as the Mt. Tam gin, flavored with balsam. We even got to taste some of the "forbidden" absinthe, tho not my favorite, it was truly interesting. Went home with a bottle of Hand of Buddha vodka...delish. Others in our group also purchased vodka, gins and the blended bourbon. Smooth but I will stick to my single barrel Jack Daniels. All in all, this is a great time and would highly recommend it for spirits lovers. Tours are Weds. Thru Sun.

I live in Alameda and go to St. George at least once a year to stock up. Perhaps their flagship liquor is their great boutique vodkas with many different flavors (citrus, peach, etc). At least that is what we usually buy. But they are also one of the only distilleries in the United States licensed to sell Absinthe. And theirs is outstanding with a very high alcohol content. They have a very nice tasting room as well. This is a great place to go with friends in the afternoon on a weekend.