Otherwise Brewing
Brewery · North Beach ·

Otherwise Brewing

Brewery · North Beach ·

100% gluten-free brewery with sours, stouts, lagers, and hot dogs

gluten-free beer
friendly staff
good beer
hot dogs
relaxed vibe
outdoor seating
guava fresca
great service
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by Otherwise
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null
Otherwise Brewing by null

Information

1402 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 Get directions

See Menu
Credit card accepted
Debit card accepted
Contactless accepted
Gender neutral restroom
Bar

Information

Static Map

1402 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 Get directions

+1 415 300 3474
otherwisebrewing.com
@otherwisebrewing

Menu

Features

•Credit card accepted
•Debit card accepted
•Contactless accepted
•Gender neutral restroom
•Bar
•LGBTQ friendly
•Trans safe
•Alcohol

Last updated

Dec 16, 2025

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 © 2026 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater
391,575 Postcards · 10,993 Cities

The Best Breweries in San Francisco | Eater SF

"Otherwise Brewing specializes in gluten-free beer, and as of January 2024, now has a taproom to showcase its offerings. The owners took over the Church Key space on Grant Avenue and along with gluten-free beers, Otherwise offers gluten-free food. Try a rice lager, the style that Otherwise first launched with in 2021, but the sours — such as an attention-grabbing guava fresca kettle sour — are worth a sample as well." - Dianne de Guzman

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-breweries-san-francisco
Otherwise
Otherwise Brewing
@eater
391,575 Postcards · 10,993 Cities

Otherwise Brewing: North Beach Is About to Get a Gluten-Free Taproom | Eater SF

"A San Francisco–based gluten-free brewery, Otherwise Brewing is taking over the Church Key space at 1402 Grant Avenue and plans to open a taproom by early January 2024; the founders—Stellar Cassidy (who managed Church Key for 12 years and holds a Cicerone certification) and Aaron Gervais—intend to showcase their full beer lineup, including fan favorites such as the Guava Fresca kettle sour and the Hella Nibs dessert stout. The entire space will be a dedicated gluten-free facility with a small food menu and a selection of natural wines, Wholesome Bakery will provide galettes and packaged gluten-free snacks and treats, and the owners are pursuing permanent parklet status and hope to host poetry and music shows. Otherwise, which sold its first rice lager in early 2021 and now distributes to more than 400 outlets from Santa Rosa to Santa Cruz, emphasizes innovative celiac-friendly brewing using grains like rice, millet, and oats (noting lower carbon footprints than barley) and aims to become a brand associated with high-quality gluten-free beer." - Paolo Bicchieri

https://sf.eater.com/2023/11/28/23979552/otherwise-brewing-opening-north-beach-taproom
Otherwise Brewing
@eater
391,575 Postcards · 10,993 Cities

Four Years After a Devastating Fire, Michelin Guide Dim Sum Spot Hong Kong Lounge II Is Back Open | Eater SF

"This summer, Otherwise Brewing will open a taproom on Polk Street, taking over the space previously occupied by Barley; I noted they plan to pour Otherwise's flagship beers including the Calrose Crisp rice lager and IFLS, a juicy IPA, alongside a menu of gluten-free food." - Lauren Saria

https://sf.eater.com/2023/2/13/23597813/hong-kong-lounge-bistro-open-best-dim-sum
Otherwise Brewing
@infatuation
132,814 Postcards · 3,235 Cities

Where To Hang Out Near 8 SF Restaurants With Long Waits

"Church Key is a few blocks away from Tony’s Pizza, and has one of the best beer lists in the whole neighborhood. The lounge upstairs has a long red velvet booth running the length of the room that seats a ton of people and works great if you have a large group. Listen to music while you try and fathom all the pizza options at Tony’s." - will kamensky

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/restaurants-with-long-waits-sf-nearby-bars
Otherwise Brewing

Zoe

Google
The brewery was absolutely lovely the gluten free options were top tier and so glad my gluten free bestie could enjoy herself without worry of cross contamination. The only downside was I bought 2 glasses from them and they weren’t well wrapped at all in fact one broke on the way home, the glass completely shattered, I’m so disappointed. For a 15$ glass I’d expect more than a thin box and one piece of tissue paper around it. I’ll happily go back but if I get a replacement glass I’m insuring that it’s well protected. Amazing drink options even for a usual beer hater and the food was amazing just so sad about the shattered glass

Steven S.

Google
A small establishment with limited sitting and it can be quite noisy. No flights but does the 5 ounces pours. Beers are varied but not particularly impressive. Has an upstairs that is nicely appointed with red couch.

Igor A.

Google
This fully gluten-free bar is an absolute gem. It’s not just a place with a few gluten-free options—the entire menu is 100% gluten-free, which makes it a rare find and a real haven for anyone with dietary restrictions. The atmosphere is awesome: spacious and airy, with two floors and plenty of seating inside and outside. It’s cozy without being overly styled—more of a laid-back, comfortable vibe that feels thoughtful and grounded. The kind of place where you can relax with friends or enjoy a quiet pint on your own. Speaking of pints, the beer selection is excellent—creative, varied, and of course, all gluten-free. The food menu is compact but smart, with tasty snacks and hot dogs (including vegan versions) that pair perfectly with the drinks. Even if you’re not gluten-free, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail and the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Definitely one of those spots you’ll want to come back to.

David S.

Google
Decent for gluten free beer. Most GF beer I've had in the past was not that good. This was good.

Paul L.

Google
Belgo-Irish visiting San Francisco and that was a great discovery. Lovely craft gluten-free local brewery. Tried the Cactus Kiss, Guava Fresca and Dolores Dubbel. Every single one is very good. Demarq, the bartender, was knowledgeable and happy to share knowledge. I would go again !

Adam L.

Google
Only discovered this place whilst scouring Untappd for beer spots nearby; good job I did! The guy at the bar (owner?) was friendly right from the off, happy to let us try some tasters and make recommendations. We only intended to stop for one, as we were heading for dinner, but came right back afterwards as we were eager to try more of the options. A great hidden gem of beer in North Beach!

Grace A

Google
Great place. I'm biased to breweries as I prefer them over bars. As an Angelino visiting SF, I'm glad to have come across a brewery during bar hopping. I had the Guava Fresca sour. Beer was tasty, and not too sour. I'm a sucker for guava beer. Atmosphere was chill, and the gentleman at the bar was incredibly friendly to our party of four. He offered samples, and had an overall comical vibe.

Thy F.

Google
The best gluten free beer! Had anything and everything you could hope for! Really a great spot! A must if you want to try gluten free beer! Especially if you have celiacs or gluten intolerance! You won’t be let down at this spot! Bartender was also very friendly and made the experience great! I had the Porter, juicy ipa, and the sour ale. Favorite was the Sour Ale! So yummy! The hot dogs were very good too!
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Stephanie L.

Yelp
Tried a flight of four: Calrose rice lager -- light and refreshing with distinct fermented rice aroma and flavor. Fest of us Munich lager -- both of our favorites of the four, tastes of honey and bread, nice malty flavor. Holla bay winter lager -- caramel aroma and a nice spice. Guava sour -- strong guava smell, nice lightly sour punch, would be a good first for someone new to sours. Great service. Bar seating and a table by the window. Two high tops outside -- we sat here to enjoy the great weather.
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AJ V.

Yelp
Otherwise Brewing has a lot of potential, but my experience was a bit mixed. On the positive side, the beer selection is creative and well-crafted, with a variety of styles to choose from. However, the overall experience fell short in a few areas. The atmosphere felt a bit underwhelming; the space is minimal and lacks the cozy, inviting vibe I was hoping for
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Alice H.

Yelp
We tried most of the beers on tap and found them pretty good and easy to drink! One of the reasons Otherwise Brewing caught my attention is that they offer gluten-free beer, which is really interesting.
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Alexis B.

Yelp
I love what Otherwise has done to the place! We used to come to the Church Key for the beer and we will continue to come with Otherwise taking over. My partner is gluten-free so we are huge fans of any gluten-free beer. Otherwise has a nice vibe. When you first walk in, the bar is downstairs, with additional seating upstairs and a little parklet outside. The beertender was friendly and gave us great recommendations for our flights. They even had gluten-free snacks! We had the hotdog and it was better than "traditional" bar food. Don't be afraid of gluten-free beer! If you are around a little Italy, stop by and try a few!
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Jenna S.

Yelp
My dad, being gluten-free and a big fan of Otherwise, was excited to make the trip out to the city for their grand opening. We came early, at 4 PM, and by the time we left around 530, there was a line out the door to order (the owner was taking orders and also filling, causing a bottleneck). However, there was plenty of bar, table, and outdoor seating. My parents and I were nestled away on the upstairs floor, which was pretty dimly lit compared to the main floor with tons of natural light. All three of us ordered hotdogs and my parents said the beef hotdogs from Oakland were really good! Nice to see that they have an emphasis on local food as well as local bevs. Understandable that they have a limited food menu but it's surprising that hot dogs were pretty much the only thing on the food menu besides chips. One other tip - we all tried the nonalcoholic beer. It was disgusting! If I was sober, I would've rather had water! Disappointing, since we are such fans of their other brews. Overall, I can see this being a mainstay in the gluten-free space, but the business is young and still needs to work out a few kinks. For example, a garbage can (or compost!) upstairs would help alleviate the workload on staff, and help patrons not have to go on a treasure hunt to find the trashcan (near the bathroom, btw). Better lighting upstairs, like a chandelier or just a few mirrors to reflect natural light would be nice. Two tablets to order from would help with the bottlenecking. I'm excited to come back!
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Jack L.

Yelp
Came into the city with a large group of college students and coworkers, where we all took a tour of Alcatraz. I got ron Alcatraz, walked around for 30 minutes, then took the next ferry back for some peace and quiet. I walked up the hill near Coit Tower then back down the other side to Otherwise. Small little place with limited seating. It was 4pm on a Tuesday so it wasn't very crowded. The weather was perfect so I grabbed a beer and sat outside. The two beers I had were both really good. Fresh and vibrant. The IPA was a solid 4 but the sour was a 4.75. Neat little place to rest your feet and grab a cold one.
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Good T.

Yelp
Craft beer aficionado? Bring your tastebuds to the Beer Church, sample the holy brews....Relaxed vibe with friendly staff and good energy to lift your mood - don't be shy, everyone is talking about everything- join in

Blake G.

Yelp
I have celiac, and I never get to drink beer, nor have a hotdog, but otherwise made it possible. The bartender was amazing and personable, and gave a great introduction to every beer I sampled. The space was cozy and chill and added to overall experience. I am from the east coast but had the pleasure visiting this establishment while visiting family. I will go here every time I'm in the Bay Area. If you are gluten free or appreciate good service, good beer, and good vibes, please visit otherwise brewing!
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Jessica K.

Yelp
This place is rad. So happy this is in my neighborhood. Great beer for the celiac types, and I've brought the wheat eaters here, and they enjoyed the beers and hotdogs!

James H.

Yelp
It's a YeSS!! Strong girl power here. Love it especially if you are from out of town. Welcome to San Francisco
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Lulu L.

Yelp
OtherWise is one of several new bars in North Beach. It is located advantageously in the block of Upper Grant that is quickly becoming a new fashion ghetto of superb vintages, jewelry studios, and boutiques. Stellar, the owner of OtherWise, is a model dramhouse keeper. She is solicitous, patient, wise, and protective of her lovely enterprise.Brew is produced by OtherWise and includes a fine cider. Clientele is trad Frisco: fly-by-night journos, great young film makers and admirable poetry elders. Kiss Stellar's hem and be thankful: North Beach exists!

Jack P.

Yelp
Great new addition to North Beach. Very friendly staff, amazing beer (it's gluten free) so you don't get that bloat and can sip it for hours. Nice patio and interior very well designed but not trendy. Ideal. Great locally sourced hot dogs. Most importantly UNDERBERGER! Get one with your beer. 10/10 neighborhood spot. Hope it becomes a fixture.

Latte Queen W.

Yelp
Funky little spot. Good service, good vibes, enjoyed the tunes. Exciting to have new spots like this open up in the city.