When it comes to good beer, there are a few excellent choices.  The old Butterfields Brewery is now known as Sequoia Brewing Company.  Same building on the corner of Olive Avenue and Linden in the Tower District.  Most importantly, the same brewer.  Kevin Cox rocks, and has been the only head brewer since Butterfields opened nearly 20 years ago. The IPA is very hoppy and extremely potent. The rotating special beers are usually interesting - currently a pilsner and a Belgique. Live music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Another excellent spot is Full Circle Brewery, located on "F" Street just north of Ventura Blvd. Easy access from Freeway 99, just take the Ventura exit and it is two blocks away. The beer isn't as good as Sequoia, but the venue is lovely. It used to be an old post office warehouse as has live music on Thursday through Saturday nights. There are also poetry readings, belly dancing troupes, and a variety of performances one normally doesn't associate with conservative Fresno.

Club Fred in the Tower District is a fine example of a neighborhood pub. If you want to get a feel for local "Tower Rats," they congregate as this cozy pub, which transforms into a full-fledged club at night, featuring blues, rock, punk, and a variety of other genres of music. There are a decent selection of beers on tap.  Friday Happy Hour (5:30-7:30), it's a fun time when local blues musician Glen Delpit performs acoustic blues. Cheap beer and no cover.

A personal favorite is the Red Wave Inn, located across the street from CSU Fresno on Shaw Avenue at Maple Street. It is the legendary hangout for Fresno State students for at least two decades. The size of the original hole-in-the-wall has tripled, yet it hasn't lost its down home feel. It draws an interesting mix of college students and construction workers, that all get along well. There are about 30 tap handles, with a few really excellent choices. The medium sized beer is 25 ounces. It is family run, all the employees are related and very friendly. The food is simply off the hook, the massive chicken burrito, the tasty torta, as well as burgers and chicken strips, all going for a college student-friendly $5. Thusday night features 50 cent tacos. Maria, who has run the place for 20 years, keeps the price low because she knows how students live on a budget.