We all like to have our own so-called “home base” for boozing. The place where we know the bartenders, they know us and you know that 4907 on the juke means Ramones, Beat on the Brat. That being said, as good drinkers we must take it upon ourselves to know our surroundings and to venture out. Here are some neat places that warrant a gander:

Chug Pub (1849 Lincoln Blvd) - On the corner of 20th and Lincoln in the Sunset, this bar’s specialty is a 3 liter “Chug Tower” of awesomeness. They have plenty of beer on tap, a pool table, enough TV’s to watch a few sports games and even one of those impossible claw-grabbing-the-toy games. They also have a nice open air smoking patio that faces onto the street so you can have your stoog and laugh at people riding by on mopeds.

Church Key (1402 Grant Ave) - This bar will make a beer lover drool. Millions of beers! Actually, more like 50 or so (only?!?). If you go in there and can identify every single beer that they have…you should probably stop drinking so much. This is a very good alternative to Toronado in the haight for those of you who are tired of being berated by beer-obsessed hippies. The perfect place to start your North Beach bar crawl. Oh wait…did you say they have Duck Meat Pie?!?!

Mission Hill Saloon (491 Potrero) - Our homies from Whiskey Thieves and Thieves Tavern have provided us with yet another nice home away from home. Happy Hours daily from 4-8pm make this a nice post-work destination. This cash only establishment has something both wonderful and scary: a jukebox that accepts credit cards. The ambiance inside is a very nice version of relaxed without going as far as the “belly hanging over the sweatpants” form of relaxed.

The Riptide (3639 Taraval St) - Now this isn’t a new bar in any sense of the word, but I am sure there are a lot of people who have never had the courage to make it all the way out to blustery Ocean Beach. To those people, I say come on the third Thursday of the month and you will not be disappointed. Big O spins the best funk, soul, and reggae classics to keep your booty boppin all night. Thursdays are also ladies night, meaning girlies get a dollar off on all drinks. But hey, the drinks are dirt cheap anyways! $2.50 for a bottle of PBR….not bad! Cash only, but there is an ATM so don’t try to bring that plastic!