Pyramid Brewery

One of the best places in downtown Sacramento to people watch is Cathedral Square. And what could be better than hanging out with friends and having a beer or three while enjoying the scene?

It happens that Pyramid Brewery's Sacramento brew house sits right across from the cathedral and very near several of Sacramento's newest, hottest night spots, right in the heart of all the action. Gated outdoor seating invites, and when the weather isn't pleasant, large picture windows keep the brew house from seeming like a bar.

Pyramid does have the regular gastropub fare, but nobody goes there to eat. The brew house has the regular, year round brews on tap, but you can get those at Savemart. People go to Pyramid for the hand-crafted, small batch beers.

Walking in, one is greeted by a usually friendly and smiling hostess. In addition to the outdoor seating, the brewery has a full length wooden bar counter and numerous diner-style tables for larger groups or those who want a pizza with their beer.

The bar has a dazzling array of colorful tap-handles displaying names like Hum'buger and Red Rye Ale. Brews can be ordered in sampler flights of five tasters, by the pint, or by the pitcher. They also sell six-packs to go, t-shirts, and they offer tours of the brewery for those who want to see how beer goes from grain and water to good stuff.

The first beer that caught my eye was called Outburst Imperial IPA. IPA stands for India Pale Ale, and it refers to a style of beer that uses lots and lots of hops, little cone-like flowers that give beer its bitterness and foaming properties. IPA's developed in the 19^th century as a way for British merchants to transport beer long distances without the beer spoiling. Hops are the key. Once the water had gone rancid, and the rum had all been drunk, there was still the IPA.

Pyramids Imperial IPA pours a rich, warm reddish color with a thin touch chalky-colored head. The hops are very forward, greeting the nose like a rose bush on a warm summer evening. The first sip reveals a surprisingly approachable beer, smooth and almost sweet, with a grapefruity bitter finish that leaves your lips curled in a smile. The brew is not overly carbonated, and one glass really isn't enough. This is the kind of IPA that could be ordered by the pitcher.

Next, I had a glass of Goose Bump Stout, a seasonal dark brew that is scary good and brewed with real coffee. Stouts are dark beers created by using dark roasted barley. Stouts and Porters are closely related, and the names are often interchangeable. The style originated in England in the 18^th century, but lost popularity in the late 19^th century. In England, stouts and porters are often drunk at room temperature.

The Goose Bump is smooth and rich, with smoky notes and a soft, tan head. Pyramid serves this brew in a fancy tulip-shaped glass that enhances the aroma of the hop character. In the glass, this beer seems to draw the light out of the room it is so dark. From the first sip the alcohol is very present, and a glass or two of this brew might be a bit much for the person not looking to get loaded. The finish is smooth and dark, like the night sky in October. This is a beer that, like the IPA, goes down all too fast.

A new style I was hoping to try is a dark IPA. This is a style that is currently becoming popular. It originated in Northern California and the north-east because of specialty hops grown nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, Pyramid did not have this brew on tap yet, so I will have to go back again.

A pint at Pyramid is about $5, depending on what style you try. Taster flights range from $10-15, and a pitcher can be had for $10.50 during the weekday happy hour.

Pyramid Brewery, Sacramento

1029 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 498-9800

pyramidbrew.com