Cellarmaker Brewing Company (San Francisco) Complete Guide | Untappd 4.06 & BeerAdvocate 95-Point SF Brewery Arrives in Japan

Cellarmaker Brewing Company サンフランシスコ クラフトビール ブルワリー イラスト Beer
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This article is based on information as of March 2026, fact-checked using real data from Untappd, BeerAdvocate, the official website, and Antenna America.

Riho-kun
Riho-kun
From San Francisco’s fiercely competitive craft beer scene, an innovative brewery that releases new flavors every week has finally landed in Japan! Cellarmaker Brewing Company’s beers are now available through Nagano Trading!

San Francisco is home to world-renowned craft beer breweries like Almanac Beer Co. Since its founding in 2013, Cellarmaker Brewing Company has stood out with its philosophy of “never brewing the same beer twice,” releasing new flavors on a near-weekly basis.

On Untappd, they’ve earned a 4.06/5 rating (619,439 check-ins), while on BeerAdvocate they hold a 4.17/5 (4,803 ratings). Their barleywine offerings Works & Days and Hard Cuts have achieved an astounding Untappd 4.5.

In 2024, Nagano Trading began importing their beers, making them available in Japan through Antenna America. This article compiles real reviews from American beer geeks to thoroughly explore Cellarmaker’s appeal.

*This article covers a brewery the author has not yet visited. It is written based on real data from Untappd, BeerAdvocate, official websites, and other verified sources.

What is Cellarmaker Brewing Company? — An Innovative Brewery from SF

Item Details
Official Name Cellarmaker Brewing Company
Founded 2013
Headquarters San Francisco, California, USA
Locations 3 locations (San Francisco / Oakland / Berkeley)
Address 3193 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Untappd Rating 4.06 / 5 (619,439 check-ins)
BeerAdvocate Rating 4.17 / 5 (4,803 ratings)
Registered Beers 739 varieties (Untappd)
Official Website cellarmakerbrewing.com
Instagram @cellarmakerbrewing (56K followers)
Japan Distributor Nagano Trading / Antenna America
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Hop-kun
Cellarmaker officially states “It has always been our goal to keep your taste buds intrigued by constantly producing different flavors.” Having created over 739 varieties of beer is truly impressive!

Cellarmaker’s greatest distinction is their free-spirited brewing style unbound by fixed lineups. While most breweries rely on flagship beers, Cellarmaker constantly experiments with new hop combinations, different barrel aging techniques, and new yeast strains every week.

They also consistently use West Coast fermentation yeast rather than English yeast. This produces a clean, dry finish that maximizes hop character. They excel at DDH (dry hopping techniques) and dank flavor expression, making them irresistible for hop lovers.

What American Beer Geeks Are Saying — Review Roundup

Untappd Ratings

Metric Value
Brewery Average Score 4.06 / 5
Total Check-ins 619,439
Unique Users 86,041
Registered Beers 739 varieties
Monthly Check-ins Approx. 3,491 (last 4 weeks)
Community Awards 🥇 13 / 🥈 15 / 🥉 15

Untappd Top Beers

Beer Name Style Untappd Rating Check-ins
Works & Days American Barleywine 4.50 / 5 1,080
Hard Cuts Barleywine 4.50 / 5 833
Black Meridian Imperial Stout 4.50 / 5
Steal Your Dreams English Barleywine 4.40 / 5 140
DDH: Daily Dank Hops New England / Hazy IPA 4.30 / 5 182
Shifted Universe New England / Hazy IPA 4.20 / 5 154
Coffee and Cigarettes Smoked Coffee Porter 4.00 / 5 5,305+
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Riho-kun
A 4.5 for barleywines is truly incredible! Works & Days and Hard Cuts are rare finds even locally. Coffee and Cigarettes has over 5,000 check-ins as a beloved classic — a must-try for fans of smoky coffee porters!

BeerAdvocate Ratings

Metric Value
Brewery Average Score 4.17 / 5
Registered Beers 346 varieties
Total Reviews 4,803

BeerAdvocate Individual Beer Scores

Beer Name BA Score Reviews
Coffee and Cigarettes 95 / 100 (Outstanding) 279
The Glow 92 / 100 67
Smell The Colors 90 / 100 35
Hard Cuts 90 / 100 14
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The 95-point “Coffee and Cigarettes” on BeerAdvocate uses British malt as a base, German smoked malt, and large quantities of South American coffee beans from Sightglass Coffee. Cellarmaker receives top ratings not just for IPAs but also for dark beers — that shows their true brewing prowess!

TripAdvisor & Local Reviews

On TripAdvisor, glowing reviews such as “My Favorite Brewery in SF” and “Amazing Beer!!!” abound. The most common comments include:

  • The hoppy beers are always fresh, and the tap list changes every week”
  • “It’s a small taproom, but the beer quality is undoubtedly top-tier in SF
  • “The IPAs and pale ales are consistently excellent, and Coffee & Cigarettes is a must-drink
  • “They recently started serving Detroit-style pizza, and the beer pairing is amazing

On Yelp (Berkeley location), 656 photos and 486 reviews have been posted, demonstrating strong support from Bay Area craft beer fans.

Cellarmaker Beers Available in Japan — Top 5 Recommendations

In 2024, Nagano Trading began importing Cellarmaker beers, making them available through Antenna America‘s online shop. While the lineup constantly rotates, as of March 2026, over 20 varieties are available.

1. Coffee and Cigarettes — Flagship Smoked Coffee Porter

Item Details
Style Smoked Coffee Porter
ABV 7.7%
Price (Japan) ¥1,980 (473ml can)
Untappd 4.0 / 5 (5,305+ check-ins)
BeerAdvocate 95 / 100 (Outstanding)

Cellarmaker’s signature beer. Built on a British malt base with a touch of German smoked malt, it uses generous amounts of South American coffee beans from San Francisco’s popular roaster Sightglass Coffee. The smoky and bitter coffee aromas harmonize beautifully in this complex brew. A BeerAdvocate score of 95 places it among the top-rated porters anywhere.

2. Mo’ Simcoe WCIPA — Classic West Coast IPA

Item Details
Style West Coast IPA
ABV 6.9%
Price (Japan) ¥1,895 (473ml can)

A dank West Coast IPA loaded with Simcoe hops. This is Cellarmaker’s West Coast fermentation yeast at its finest — a clean, dry body that lets Simcoe’s pine resin and citrus notes shine. Also recommended for fans of West Coast Brewing.

3. Alien Lifeform Hazy IPA — Tropical Hazy

Item Details
Style Hazy IPA
ABV 6.8%
Price (Japan) ¥1,928 (473ml can)

A DDH-style Hazy IPA created by combining experimental new hops with classic varieties. Features juicy tropical fruit aromas. A must-try for fans of Other Half Brewing and Trillium Brewing Hazy IPAs.

4. Nelson Galaxy Hazy WCIPA — NZ Hop Magic

Item Details
Style Hazy West Coast IPA
ABV 6.8%
Price (Japan) ¥1,928 (473ml can)

A Hazy × West Coast hybrid using New Zealand-grown Nelson Sauvin and Galaxy hops. White wine-like floral aromas coexist with the crisp, dry finish characteristic of West Coast styles. Cellarmaker’s NZ hop series (Mt. Nelson, Mt. Cook, Abel Tasman) have all earned high ratings.

5. Abel Tasman NZ Pils — Hop-Forward NZ Pilsner

Item Details
Style NZ Pilsner
ABV 5.2%
Price (Japan) ¥1,827 (473ml can)

A beer that showcases Cellarmaker’s skill beyond IPAs. This NZ Pilsner, also reviewed by Craft Beer & Brewing magazine, features refreshing aromas of white grape and gooseberry from Nelson Sauvin hops. At ABV 5.2%, it’s easy-drinking and perfect for a refreshing break from IPA fatigue.

Riho-kun
Riho-kun
My recommendation: start with Coffee and Cigarettes to experience that Cellarmaker excels beyond IPAs, then explore Mo’ Simcoe and Alien Lifeform to discover the breadth of their hop expertise. Check Antenna America while they’re in stock!

Where to Buy & Authorized Retailers

Cellarmaker Brewing Company’s beers are imported to Japan by Nagano Trading, which began distribution in 2024. Individual consumers can purchase through the following channels.

Antenna America (Official EC Site)

An American craft beer specialty online store operated by Nagano Trading. As of March 2026, over 20 Cellarmaker beers are available. Prices range from ¥1,570 to ¥2,120 for 473ml cans.

👉 Antenna America — Cellarmaker Brewing Products

Rakuten & Amazon

Searching for “Cellarmaker” on Rakuten or Amazon may yield some retailers. However, stock is limited and availability varies. We recommend checking early if you’re interested.

Limited quantities available — don’t miss out!

Cellarmaker Brewing Company’s 3 Locations Guide

Cellarmaker operates 3 locations across the San Francisco Bay Area. Each offers a taproom and Detroit-style pizza, serving freshly brewed beer alongside food.

San Francisco — Mission St (Flagship)

The flagship location in the Mission District. Features Detroit-style pizza and a full food menu for beer pairing.

📍 3193 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Oakland / Berkeley

The East Bay locations. The Oakland store in the Jack London district has earned 192 photos and 90 reviews on Yelp. It offers Detroit-style pizza and bar pies with 13 taps in an open, inviting space.

📍 300 Webster St, Oakland, CA (Berkeley: 940 Parker St)

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Each of Cellarmaker’s 3 locations has its own character! The Mission St flagship is perfect for Detroit-style pizza and beer pairing. Oakland/Berkeley offers a relaxed atmosphere in the Jack London district. Be sure to visit if you’re traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area!

Cellarmaker’s Brewing Philosophy — “Never Brew the Same Beer Twice”

Cellarmaker Brewing Company’s defining feature is that they have no fixed production schedule. Their official website states: “It has always been our goal to keep your taste buds intrigued by constantly producing different flavors.”

This philosophy manifests in the following approaches:

  • Weekly new flavor releases: Rather than depending on fixed lineups, they constantly explore new combinations
  • Experimental hop usage: Skillfully combining newly developed hop varieties with classics to create unprecedented flavors
  • Barrel aging diversity: Long-term maturation programs using bourbon and wine barrels
  • Consistent use of West Coast yeast: Maintaining a clean base while maximizing hop character

This approach is reflected in their staggering 739 varieties registered on Untappd. Alongside innovative California breweries like Green Cheek Beer Co., their relentless pursuit of new flavors has earned high praise from American beer geeks.

Follow on Instagram for Latest Updates

Stay up to date with Cellarmaker Brewing Company’s latest releases on their official Instagram, which has over 56,000 followers.

Google Maps — Location

You can find Cellarmaker Brewing Company’s flagship location (Mission St, San Francisco) on the Google Maps below.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Where is Cellarmaker Brewing Company located?

Cellarmaker Brewing Company is a craft beer brewery founded in 2013 in San Francisco, California, USA. They currently operate taprooms at 3 locations: San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley.

Q2. Can I buy Cellarmaker beers in Japan?

Yes, Nagano Trading has been the official Japanese importer since 2024. Over 20 varieties are available on Antenna America (antenna-america.com). Prices range from ¥1,570 to ¥2,120 for 473ml cans.

Q3. What is Cellarmaker’s most popular beer?

“Coffee and Cigarettes” (Smoked Coffee Porter, ABV 7.7%), which earned 95 points on BeerAdvocate, is their flagship beer. It has over 5,305 check-ins on Untappd and features a distinctive smoky coffee flavor. For barleywines, “Works & Days” and “Hard Cuts” hold an extraordinary Untappd rating of 4.5/5.

Q4. What is Cellarmaker’s Untappd rating?

Their brewery average on Untappd is 4.06/5, with 619,439 total check-ins and 86,041 unique users. 739 beer varieties are registered, and they’ve won 13 gold, 15 silver, and 15 bronze community awards.

Q5. What is the difference between West Coast IPA and Hazy IPA?

West Coast IPA is clear with prominent bitterness and a dry finish, featuring pine resin and citrus hop flavors. Hazy IPA has a cloudy appearance with juicy tropical fruit flavors and subdued bitterness. Cellarmaker excels at both styles and even produces a hybrid “Hazy West Coast IPA.” For more details, see our DDH Complete Guide.

Q6. What beer styles does Cellarmaker specialize in?

West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA, Barleywine, and Smoked Coffee Porter receive particularly high ratings. They consistently use West Coast yeast to maximize hop character, with a track record of brewing over 739 varieties spanning from NZ Pilsners to Barleywines.

Q7. What is the shelf life and storage method for Cellarmaker beers?

IPA and pale ale styles are best consumed fresh, so drink them as soon as possible after purchase. Refrigerated storage (around 4°C) is recommended. Barleywine styles (such as Works & Days and Hard Cuts) are barrel-aged and can be cellared for aging under proper conditions. Check each product’s official description for specific guidance.

Summary

Riho-kun
Riho-kun
Cellarmaker Brewing Company is an innovative brewery in the San Francisco craft beer scene that “always pursues new flavors.” Their Untappd 4.06, BeerAdvocate 4.17, and an astounding 4.5 for barleywines speak to their prowess. Now available in Japan through Nagano Trading — start with Coffee and Cigarettes!

Cellarmaker Brewing Company is an innovative San Francisco microbrewery that has created over 739 varieties of beer. Under their philosophy of “never brewing the same beer twice,” they continue to release new flavors weekly, maintaining a standout presence in the American craft beer scene.

Since 2024, Nagano Trading has been importing their beers to Japan, making them easily accessible through Antenna America. Experience world-class flavors like the BeerAdvocate 95-point “Coffee and Cigarettes” and the Untappd 4.5-rated “Works & Days” right here in Japan.

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