Moylan’s Brewery and Restaurant is in Novato, just off the freeway less than an hour north pf San Francisco. My excuse for not having stopped there before is that it blends into the confusion of a large shopping center. We happened upon it around Christmastime. Who could resist bangers and mash with a tasty pomegranate wheat ale? No one I know.

The dark-wood interior invokes an Irish pub atmosphere, and the on-site brewery and menu items like bangers and mash encourage that thinking. There are nonetheless a few subtle clues that one is still in California. Chicken quesadillas and teriyaki stir fry share the menu along with eight permutations of hamburgers, including a vegetarian pseudo-burger.

Moylan’s Pomegranate Wheat Ale is “Tasty Unfiltered Wheat Blended with Pomegranate Juice that makes For a perfect Summer afternoon treat.” Would the Irish really put pomegranate juice in their beer? Perhaps they would, the modern world being what it is. I don’t like to think about it.

No matter, the atmosphere cheerful and food are very good. There is nothing too elaborate, but it is made with choice ingredients and prepared with expertise. Bangers and mash is the British traditional specialty of sausages served with mashed potatoes and onion gravy. The whole thing depends upon the quality of the bangers, a sausage made with finely ground pork or beef, and spiced with herbs and pepper. I have always claimed there is nothing worse than a cheap banger. Moylan’s are juicy and delicious.

I couldn’t resist the novelty of pomegranate ale, and the red color is Christmasy, but it is a bit more of a summer drink as they suggest. They have a sixteen other choices, from Tipperary Pale Ale through inky Ryan Sullivans Imperial Stout. The latter is described as bringing “chocolate truffles, espresso coffee, burnt currants and the sweetness of sherry to mind.” I see sixteen more visits to Moylan’s in my future.

I wonder what goes best with chicken quesadillas?