Discover San Francisco Breweries with SF on Tap

Frequently Asked Questions

Voted Best Beer Experience in America on TripAdvisor Tripadvisor

General FAQs

What is the difference between the tours?
  • All tours adhere to our Learn. Drink. Celebrate. slogan. They all offer about the same amount of beer at 3 different locations in four hours
  • All tours offer a lot of stories and information about beer styles, ingredients, etc., as well as commentary about the neighborhoods we walk through

BIG SIPPIN’ IN SOMA

  • Usually visits 3 breweries (sometimes 2 breweries and 1 bar)
  • Features the best tour of a brewing facility (ThirstyBear Organic Brewery)
  • Conveniently located not too far from Union Square, which is SF’s main hotel district and close to lots of public transportation including BART (the subway)
  • Has the least neighborhood commentary

FISHERMAN’S WHARF AND NORTH BEACH

  • Visits 3 bars and thus does not have a brewery tour
  • Includes the most commentary about the neighborhoods and SF history, essentially making it half Beer Tour and half Neighborhood Walking Tour
  • By taking you through 2 of SF’s most beautiful and visited neighborhoods, it serves as an excellent orientation to the city and is highly recommended early in your stay

ALCATRAZ COMBO TOUR

  • Features one of the tours above preceded by the official Alcatraz tour sponsored by the National Parks System and run by Alcatraz Cruises
  • Clients pick up their tickets and tour Alcatraz on their own, but the ticket includes a self-guided audio tour of the jailhouse
  • Clients eat lunch on their own after Alcatraz and before meeting the group for the beer tour
Do I have to be 21 years old?

Yes. This is a drinking tour and almost everywhere we go only admits people of legal drinking age, which is 21 years old in the USA.

What is your cancellation policy?

PUBLIC TOURS

Cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance are 100% refundable. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refundable.
Changes made more than 24 hours in advance are permitted. Changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not permitted, and no refund will be issued.

ALCATRAZ COMBO TOURS

Cancellations made more than 11 days in advance are 100% refundable. Cancellations made less than 11 days in advance are not refundable. You may also change the date of your tour up to 11 days before your tour starts, but not after that.

PRIVATE TOURS

A non-refundable deposit of 50% of quoted price will be collected at the time of booking. The remainder, due at 5pm the day before the tour, is refundable.

What are the terms and conditions of your liability waiver?
Why book directly on sfontaptours.com?

When you book directly through our website it allows us to provide the best possible customer service, including:

  • Direct communication: Emailing or calling you directly to communicate our meeting location, last-minute details and tips about your tour. If you book with a 3rd party, we don’t receive your contact information and may not be able to get in contact with you.
  • Easy cancellations: When you book anywhere aside from our website it takes several days to get your money back to you should you need to cancel. Changing the date of your tour and other things are also more difficult.
  • Helpful employees: Our employees are here to help! When you book with us on the web or over the phone our team can offer brewery, restaurant, and hotel recommendations, suggest the best way to get to San Francisco from the airport, and answer any questions you have about the tour.
  • Fair Pricing: The ability to keep our prices fair; when you book outside of our website we pay a 20% commission and therefore have to increase the cost of our tours.
Can you pick me up at my hotel?

For our public tours, we do not offer hotel pick-ups. On our private tours, we can collect you from almost any hotel or residence in San Francisco. Contact us at info@dylanstours.com or (415) 932-6993

 if you have any questions.

How many people will be on my tour?

Public tours have a maximum of 12 guests per group. Private tours do not have a group limit.

What should I bring?
  • Your ID: Many places in the USA are very strict about not serving beer to people under 21 years old, including most places we visit. Please be able to prove you are 21 or over.
  • Shoes or sandals: Make sure they’re comfortable enough for you to walk at least 1.5 mi (2.5 km) in.
  • Jacket: San Francisco is famous for its cold foggy summers. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt.
  • Water and snacks: You can get both of these at some of our stops, but you can bring them too.
  • Extra cash: If you want to buy a snack or stay around after the tour for some beer or food with the group, some of the places we visit accept cash only.
  • Great attitude: Come willing to learn and ready to make fast friends. This is as much a celebration as it is a tour and our goal is for this to be your favorite memory of San Francisco.
What type of vehicle is used for the tour?

All our vehicles are modern, comfortable, and safe. We have several different vehicles we use depending on the size of the group and what is reserved on that date. We cannot guarantee which vehicle you will be in, but you are welcome to put in a request if you have a preference. The craft beer tour is a walking tour, with us covering about 1.5 miles between breweries.

Is lunch included?

We do not include lunch on our tours, though light snacks are provided throughout the tour. We can recommend some of our favorite lunch spots in the San Francisco area after the tour — just ask your guide!

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. We recommend booking in advance as our tours are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Is the tour handicap accessible?

Yes, please inform us ahead of time so we can best accommodate you.  There may be certain inaccessible areas, such as back in the brewery.  All public areas are accessible without stairs and there are no major hills on our routes.  Please  be comfortable walking/wheeling 1.5 miles (2.5 km) if you book this tour.

I am traveling with a child. Can they come, too?

Unfortunately, we cannot allow children on these tours. We will be entering facilities where each individual must be 21 years of age or older.

What if it rains?

Our tours happen rain or shine! You won’t be out in the elements too long and cannabis and beer are great no matter the weather. Our tours are a fantastic way to spend a rainy day!

Can I bring my pet?

No. We love all kinds of pets, but this is a people tour, so people only please.  Service dogs are allowed, but please do not abuse this.

Can I book this as a private tour?

Yes!  It is possible to book any of our public tours for yourself or your private group.  We can also create a tour specially designed for your needs. Please contact us for more information. Parties larger than 12 may not be able to fit at certain locations.

Should I tip my guide?

Yes. While the final decision is still yours, tips are a very important gesture of your appreciation in American culture. Your guide depends on tips for a very significant part of his/her wages. We train our guides to go above and beyond the call of duty and hope you feel they did, in which case they have earned your generous tip. If this is not the case, please contact us directly with your feedback and we will do everything we can to provide better service on future tours.

As pulled from Trip Advisor’s US Tipping and Etiquette page:

“Tour Guides: 15% – 20% + depending on quality (knowledge, friendliness, etc)”

Can I work for you?

If this sounds like the company for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please visit our employment page and use the form there to get in touch with us.

Beer FAQs

Which breweries/bars do we visit?

Our destinations are always subject to change; the goal is to expose you to the best set of beer drinking experiences available.  Sometimes private events, busy times, and other unforeseen circumstances cause us to alter our original plan, in which case we may also visit tap rooms, gastropubs, and dive bars that have excellent beer selections.  Our possible destinations on each tour are listed below.

BIG SIPPIN’ IN SOMA / BEER & CANNABIS COMBO TOUR – 3 of the following:

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery
Bartlett Hall Brewery/Restaurant
Local Brewing Co.
Black Hammer Brewing Co.
21st Amendment Brewing Co.
Hopwater Distribution (a bar with 30 CA-only taps)

FISHERMAN’S WHARF AND NORTH BEACH- 3 of the following:

Beer 39 Bar
Kennedy’s Irish Pub
Barbary Coast Taproom, AKA Noc Noc on Broadway
Jack’s Cannery Bar

PRIVATE TOURS / CORPORATE

It’s your choice!  Help us plan the perfect tour for you.  Consult with our professional staff and we will set you up with the perfect combination of breweries, gastropubs, scenery, education, etc. for your group.  Call us now at (415) 932-6993

to learn more!

What if I don’t want to drink?

We aren’t going to force you to!  You still have to be 21 years old, however, due to the rules of many bars we visit. When purchasing the tour you can choose the “non-drinker” price.

Where does the tour start?

BIG SIPPIN’ IN SOMA

21st Amendment Brewery, 563 2nd St, San Francisco, CA*

FISHERMAN’S WHARF & NORTH BEACH

Beer 39 Bar, Pier 39, San Francisco, CA 94133*

ALCATRAZ & CRAFT BEER WALKING TOUR COMBO

Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133

BEER & CANNABIS COMBO TOUR

CANNABIS: Barbary Coast Dispensary (near Union Square), 952 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
CRAFT BEER: 21st Amendment Brewery, 563 2nd St, San Francisco, CA*

*This is subject to change due to special events

Where does the tour end?

BIG SIPPIN’ IN SOMA

There are a number of places the tour can end, see the list of breweries above.  Contact us if you want to know about your specific tour.

FISHERMAN’S WHARF & NORTH BEACH

Barbary Coast Taproom, AKA Noc Noc on Broadway

ALCATRAZ & WALKING CRAFT BEER TOUR COMBO

It depends which tour Alcatraz is being combined with.

Cannabis FAQs

Are your tours legal?

Absolutely! Every place that we visit on our tours operates legally in the state of California.

Can I do tastings on the tour?

Yes. We will be stopping at consumption lounges where you can purchase and consume marijuana products. These purchases are not included in the tour price.

Will I expected to smoke weed?

We have a policy of no peer pressure! Consumption is optional on our tours since we know that some guests may be interested in the backstory but not the “participation” aspect of it. If you want to consume but smoking isn’t up your alley, not to worry — there are plenty of other ways that you can consume marijuana, and we’ll teach you all about them on the tour!

Is there anything a “newbie” should know before taking a cannabis tour?

If you do decide to consume marijuana products, we recommend moderation! Take it slow if you’re not a seasoned weed consumer, as some strains can be quite strong (this goes for all methods of consumption). Our tour guides can give you some guidance if you are unsure. This is a time to learn about marijuana and enjoy your day!

Can I bring my own weed?

You’re free to carry up to the personal legal limit of pot on you at any time. (California limits possession to 1 ounce.) Keep in mind that you will have the chance to purchase marijuana products on the tour, so if you plan to do so, stay safe and avoid carrying more than the legal limit by leaving your own at home.

Do I need to be a California resident to purchase cannabis products?

Nope. You just need a valid government-issued ID (a driver’s license or a passport will do just fine).

Where does the tour start?

BEER & CANNABIS COMBO TOUR

The meeting point for the cannabis tour is:
Barbary Coast Dispensary (near Union Square), 952 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

The meeting point for the craft beer tour is:
21st Amendment Brewery, 563 2nd St, San Francisco, CA*

*This is subject to change due to special events

How fit do I need to be?

There are no fitness requirements for the cannabis portion of the tour. For the cannabis tour, we’ll mostly be in the vehicle or inside a facility walking around a little bit.

The craft beer tour includes 1.5 miles of walking. It’s flat and leisurely and is handicap accessible.

On Your Craft Beer Tour

Learn with SF on Tap

Learn

Your knowledgeable SF on Tap guide will explain the history of brewing in San Francisco, give you a mini-tour of a craft brewing facility, and bring to life the neighborhood you walk through.

Drink with SF on Tap

Drink

Enjoy numerous sizable samples of stellar craft beer from local microbreweries and tap rooms. Industry insiders will give you the story behind the places and the brews.

Celebrate with SF on Tap

Celebrate

It’s as much a celebration as it is a tour! Your fun-loving leader will make sure the group bonds early. The information sessions will shorten as glasses empty, laughter increases and friendships form.

Book A Tour Now