Craft Beer and History Tour in Sanford

The tour begins by stopping at that most immutable of turntables, the Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, California. It's worth noting that Stone is not just a brewery but also one of America's best and oldest craft beer destinations. This tour gets into the good stuff with an introduction to early German brewing practices and their influence on American beer culture. It also touches on the role of beer in the local history of San Francisco and it's role as the catalyst for the US brewing industry.

The tour continues on to Charthouse, a rock 'n roll theme bar with a long and winding history. Here again there are many tales to tell about what makes San Francisco such a special city. A tour of this venue would be out of its depth in this context, but it is an important place in San Francisco's history.

Next is the historic and well known tourist attraction, Ghirardelli Square. It also has an interesting history that is well worth learning about. Perhaps most interesting was the role it played in reconnecting the rest of the country to California after California had become (unjustly) separated from other states following the Gold Rush.

Food and drinks such as Ghirardelli sundaes and chocolates are also discussed as are their importance in connecting the rest of the United States to San Francisco.

The tour continues through San Francisco's cultural history with visits to Fleur de Lys and Vesuvio. In both of these establishments, references are made to the history of San Francisco and its importance to the American Civil War, specifically California's strategic positioning during this conflict (as well as the role George Bridgetower played).

In conclusion, the tour hits Biergarten, a real building that is situated in the oldest part of San Francisco, the sixth oldest city in the United States. While not as famous as some of its contemporaries, it has played a critical role in San Francisco's history and continues to do so today.