Pick Your Poison is a new column that guides you through the nooks and crannies of San Francisco’s bar scene, much like the white rabbit led Alice down a dark and mysterious hole. Whether you’re a lost wanderer searching for comfort, a wild hare looking for a party, a caterpillar hanging out where the poets and artists sling, or a queen looking for a king, each month contributor Sheridan Costa will point you in the right direction. In her first column, Sheridan exposes the best places to down a fine whiskey. Enjoy!

It’s that glorious time of year again when breweries, bars, and restaurants come together (in mutual love, respect, and adoration) to create a weeklong celebration all in the name of BEER. Beer enthusiasts can bask in the fermented malted grain love through festicals, tastings, pairings, and parties. Sponsored by the SF Brewers Guild, the week boasts hundreds of events in and around our fair city. In addition to one-off events (which can be viewed on the Drink Me calendar or at SFBeerWeek.org), some venues offer weeklong specials that can be enjoyed when your schedule allows. Here’s a breakdown of our favorites.

Earlier this week I awoke to my first stormy day in Yerevan. Lying in bed, I wondered what I could make of a day like this. Fortunately I did not have to think about it: my friend Sveta planned to visit the Ararat Cognac factory. This was a decision of pure genius. Read on to find out why…

It’s early morning in a village in Ghana, and a small group has gathered, some kneeling in the red dirt, others seated atop the plastic buckets that are the unofficial trademark of the continent. The topic of the day is water. You probably don’t worry much about water, unless you’re in the last mile of a marathon and you don’t have any. In Africa, the story is different. In this part of the world, two out of five people lack access to hygienic water. In this part of the world, there is an emergency. But this particular morning, there is hope. A man and a woman stand in the center of the group and offer a solution: water filtration equipment, technical assistance and even instruction in sustainable agricultural techniques. Across the continent, this scene is replayed: in Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and more — a wide-reaching plan to drastically improve access to clean water. The ambitious goal is to provide safe drinking water to one million more people each year. It’s called Water of Life.

“Stay busy, get plenty of exercise, and don’t drink too much. Then again, don’t drink too little.” — Herman “Jackrabbit” Smith-Johannsen (born June 15, 1875 – died January 5, 1987) We’ve all heard the dangers of drinking too much. And even though cultures around the world tout a nightly glass of vino, or a daily dose of vodka, Americans don’t talk enough about the benefits of alcohol. Beyond the obvious anecdotal advantages – from establishing camaraderie with coworkers at happy hour to taking the edge off of stage fright – there is actual scientific evidence that alcohol is beneficial to the human animal.

Year-end holiday libations are as American as Eggnog. If, like most, you thought that it came from the jolly ol’ world, you’d only be partially right. Eggnog as we know and love it today is an American invention (just like chop suey, pizza and over half the menu at Taco Bell).

Magazines have been dolling out gift-giving advice since the beginning of the printing press. But are they ever that useful? This year we’ve decided to offer up what everyone on your list is really wishing for: booze. Child’s Teacher: Laird’s Bonded Straight Apple Brandy With budget cuts and a classroom stocked to the brim with disaffected youth, perhaps no one needs a stiff drink more than your child’s teacher. Instead of the age-old fruit gift, opt for this spicy apple brandy that’ll take the chill out of even the most menacing student. New Relationship: Death’s Door Unaged White Whiskey Aww, the joys of a budding romance: longing glances, elated moods and an abounding optimism untarnished by the realities of a relationship. Sounds like our love affair with white dog whiskey, a yet-to-age spirit that’s transparent and unaffected. Toast to years of good, um, health.

It’s good to be the king. But would you rather be the king of pop or the king of beer? Not just in Bud’s marketing sense of being the “king of beers,” but the earned and undisputed sense of being the monarch of all beer scribes. That man was also named Michael Jackson.