Thirsty Bear Brewing Company, San Francisco

Ron Silberstein shed his legal skin to turn his home-brewing passion into a successful business. The ThirstyBear is the only brewery of its kind in the city and prides itself on an array of organic ales, artisan beers, creative cocktails and the Spanish classic, sangria. Silberstein's Spanish influence extends onto the evolving menu of traditional paella and contemporary tapas renditions like grilled house-made butifarra sausage, oven-roasted stuffed peppers, gambas al ajillo, and herb-lamb skewers, made from ingredients sourced from local Californian producers. From the outside, this brew-pub has the look and size of a warehouse. The interior, replicates that vibe with exposed beams and tasteful art that form a intriguing backdrop to lively conversation.