November 2, 2009
Reminds me of Europe in the best way. Very unsuspecting location in northern Oakland around Koreatown. A nearly perfect interior -- wood paneled and very sophisticated. Not the most ambitious tap list, but everything was quality and their bottle list makes up for it. So glad I don’t live near this place because it would absolutely wreck me. The only downside is the snooty staff (2 gentlemen who could have cared less) and some of the obnoxious clientele.

October 22, 2009
Knowledgeable bartenders, great options, and a nice atmosphere. Now that they’ve opened the back room every day, the overcrowding is not an issue. The crowd is a pleasure, especially compared to the folks at a couple of the other premiere beer bars in the Bay Area. Not a lot of Frat types or stumbling drunks.

September 28, 2009
Wow, wow. Beautiful, stately decor here, an incredibly impressive bottle and tap lineup, very friendly bartenders, and just a great experience stepping into a place like this, even on a quiet Sunday evening. Draft list included: Allagash Confluence, Bockor Rouge, RR Damnation, Drakes Bass Ackwards, Nogne Tiger Triple, Saison Dupont, etc. Countless things to session. Ridiculous bottle selection: huge array of Belgians, Mikkeller, Struise (Pannepot Gran Reserva, $100 a pop!), Lost Abbey, Russian River, etc. Damn impressive place. Look forward to checking it out on a busier night, hopefully soon.

September 17, 2009
In all my wildest dreams would I ever think of finding an exquisite Belgian beer bar in Oakland ... but here it is. A small, dark and wonderfully inviting place with a book for a beer menu (or is it a beer menu in a book) with a wide variety of styles. And it’s a short walk to the BART Station as well. A must for any Bay Area pub crawl.

July 16, 2009
The day I went was just after it appeared on the RBSG itinerary. This may be the reason why the taps were uninspired, or it may just be the season (summer). Either way, I was only able to admire the bottle list - not even partake, though, since I didn’t feel like dropping $20+ and finishing a 750 myself. Only gets a selection 13 because of bottles - which are carefully selected indeed. Ambiance is like that little New York bar where detectives meet and only about 16 people have access to the ’back room’.

July 7, 2009 [ Updated July 8, 2009 ]
The great news about the Trappist is that as of earlier this year they remodeled and opened another room, to be made available during the previously too-crowded times. The earliest reviews reflect a much smaller area. They take beer seriously, have a charming but un-stuffy ambiance, and the great Belgian and American beers that rotate through the taps here are often stunning. (To say nothing of the library of bottle-conditioned Belgian treasures.) Disclosure: I know and like the staff and owners, and jI ust finished a Cicerone certification prep class taught by one of their bartenders (she’s also a BJCP judge) and attended by two others. That’s a lot of hardcore beer knowledge, in a group of hardworking and friendly people. No meals served here but the cheese plate is a nice taste treat.

March 11, 2009
Another one of my favorite places. Excellent selection of Belgian ales, all served in proper glassware. Walking (staggering) distance to BART. The only downside is that the place is kind of small. It’s worth it, though. Definitely a must for anyone living in or visiting the Bay Area.

March 4, 2009
Convenient location in downtown Oakland with usually ok parking. Nice interior, but very narrow and small, can get crowded very quickly. Specialized in Belgian beers, however they typically have a couple American craft brews on tap. They serve each beer in the proper glassware, very classy. They have limited food options, mainly cheese plates but these are very good. I enjoy going here even though it is out of my way a bit.

February 13, 2009
Nice place, nice location close to BART. Great staff, proper glasware, nice tap list and very extended belgium bottle list.

September 22, 2008
I really love this place. The beer is fantastic!