Toronado, a cherished San Francisco beer bar, faces uncertainty following its owner's retirement and potential sale. Longtime patrons worry about the future, particularly with a high-bidding cryptocurrency investor's plans that threaten the establishment's legacy. Well-known in the craft beer world, Toronado has been essential for craft brewers, providing a platform to showcase their beers, especially the esteemed 'Pliny the Elder.' Community members and brewers alike hope for new owners who will respect its historical significance and traditions, fearing changes that could alter its identity.
"I feel like it's a culturally historic site and it's important to keep it that way," said Beth O'Rourke, a filmmaker and cyclist whose relationship with the bar goes back nearly 30 years. "We'd do these gnarly rides and then come here for a Pliny. Back then, this was the main place to rage."
Natalie Cilurzo, the co-owner and president of Russian River Brewing, called Toronado one of the most iconic and legendary beer bars not just in America, but in the world. It remains one of the brewery's top accounts."
"Getting your beer on tap at the Toronado was, and still is, a huge badge of honor for any brewer," Cilurzo told SFGATE. "It has such a following. It attracts beer tourists from all over the world. It's almost one of the last of its kind. People are just concerned that it will change."
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