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Lori and I went to SF today. She was getting her hair done, and I had some time to kill in the lower Haight, so I went to the Toronado. A stunning variety of microbrews and Belgian ales, served up by The Meanest Bartender in San Francisco. She was quite nice to the regulars, and pleasant and chatty with the three local women that came in after me, but I got no respect.

“You live in Mountain View? It’s safe to say that I’d rather die than live there.”

(After I mentioned my wife) “You’re married!? I’d like to see what she looks like.”

But that’s ok, because the beer was fan-tastic. I had Maredsous 10, a blonde Belgian beer with 10% alcohol, and a North Coast Old Stock Ale, a darker ale with a whopping 11.4% abv. Oh, and two pints of water, which was grossly insufficient to dilute all that alkyhol.

This was something of a joyful homecoming for me. I gave up beer last year, because I’m gluten intolerant, and beer has a small, but measurable, amount of gluten. After six months, I decided that it’s not worth it; I’m going to have a beer or two every month. And lemme tell you, I’m going to make those beers count…

So, if you like beer, and you’re ever in SF, you need to visit the Toronado. Just don’t antagonize the nice lady behind the bar.