Beer drinkers from every corner of the Bay will be stroking their beards and sipping the finest ales, sours, stouts, porters, pilsners, and pub ales the world has ever seen…why?  Because it’s SF Beer Week, and there will be hundreds of new beers to try and all sorts of fun events filled with drinking, eating, game playing, tasting, and shmoozing.   This year there are 5 new beers made by Bay Area Brewers Guild members from 5 different regions: San Francisco proper, the East Bay, the South Bay, the North Bay and the Coast (Santa Cruz and Monterey).  The beers are collaborations, which is at heart what Bay Area brewing is at its core.

The SF beer collaboration “Common Dreams” is designed by Laughing Monk and Bartlett Hall, and brewed at Speakeasy.   It’s brewed in the California Common style of brewing, the very same way that Anchor Steam has been doing it since 1896.  Or so, tells me Brenden Dobel, the Brewmaster of Thirsty Bear, between sips of a double IPA, “So it’s as San Franciscan as it gets.”  Dobel knows a bit about beer history, Thirsty Bear still pours some its beers out of the cask, (C02 free) like they’ve been serving beer for thousands of years.  “Or at least since before the 1930s and mass refrigeration,” says Dobel, “it changes the notes of the beer completely!”

North Bay Nexus, Silicon Valley’s ‘Cloud Based Compression IPA’, ‘Rice Stratasphere’ from the East Bay, & “Surf ‘n Burps” from the Santa Craz.  All the collabs used Admiral Hops

I asked several SF Brewmasters what beers and events they were looking forward to at this year’s SF Beer Week, and I listed them below, I also added parties that look good to me, and of course our awesome collaborative party with Laughing Monk Brewery and Play in the Bay games on Feb 15th, that’s going to be super fun.

See you out there San Francisco!

SF Beer Week Opening Gala

Beer expert and Pubcast podcaster Chris Luecke’s favorite beer week event is, “The Beer Week gala, 130 brewers from the greater Bay Area, on San Francisco piers, you can’t beat that.”

The SF Beer Week Opening Gala is the kick off party for SF Beer Week, and ground zero for the region’s craft beer scene. Breweries from throughout the Greater Bay Area will be congregating to serve you the most creative and compelling beers the region has to offer.

Expect tart, salty or sultry sours alongside subtle funk, hop bombs cloudy and clear, brawny barrel-aged brews, and a wide range of beer styles traditional and experimental — all the creativity and innovation that has made Northern California one of the best beer-producing regions in the world. Plus, participating in this event helps support small local independent breweries as part of the Bay Area Brewers Guild, a nonprofit trade association.

FRIDAY
February 7, 2020
6:00 PM – 4 Hours
Pier 35
1454 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tickets – $80-125

LAUGHING MONK & BROKE ASS STUART’S BEER WEEK CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Laughing Monk Brewmaster Jeff Moakler recommends you try the “Strata Breach- SMASH West Coast IPA with Admiral Maltings and Strata Hops, & Razzle Reserve- A Blend of Raspberry Oatmeal Stout in Whiskey BBLS and Imperial Stout in WHiskey BBLS.”

This is going to be a super fun day…again! The gaming experts at Play in the Bay Sport & Social Club are holding three tournaments throughout the day at Laughing Monk with us! There are going to be sweet prizes of $100, $50, $25 gift certificates for the winning teams, (you could win beer and money by beating Stuart at cornhole…which is…pretty fucking easy). And don’t forget about all the delicious beers on hand!  Plus Meat By Pete the Bay Area specialist in gourmet sausages, smoked meats and traditional French charcuterie will be there serving up delicious grub.

The first tournament will start at 1pm with additional tournaments starting at 3pm & 5PM.
The tournament is free to enter and there are some sweet prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.  Must be 21+ to compete in the tournament

Lot’s of awesome Laughing Monk beers to try while supplies last!:
Brother Murray: Hazy IPA with Vermont yeast and 3 different hops; 6.7% ABV
#For The Graham: Nitro Ale brewed with graham crackers and chocolate; 5.8% ABV
Meet You in Helles: Helles lager collab with Corralitos Brewing, SMaSH beer; 5% ABV
Mussels from Brussels: Mussel stout brewed with mussels and oysters; 6.8% ABV
Tiki Tiki: kettle sour with lactose, coconut, orange, mango, pineapple, and guava; 5% ABV
$4 Holy Ghost Pilsner: German style pilsner; 5.2% ABV

Alex Mak, local beer drinker and part-time dog enthusiast recommends:

Slice Beer Co. Dog Day Afternoon @ Lucky 13

For the 8th consecutive year, First Saturday goes to the dogs.  Lucky 13 and Slice Beer Company are partnering up to benefit Rocket Dog Rescue. Slice is a new up-and-coming brewery out of Lincoln, CA brought to you by former Moonraker head brewer, Zack Frasher and Old Town Pizza’s Russ Yeager. Outside of visiting them in Lincoln, this will be a rare chance to try their beer in the Bay area.

Kegs are limited, so if you want a chance to try a few, arrive early! Bring your pooch for a pint, or come to meet your future best friend at the on-side-adoption fair. Commemorative bandanas for all four-legged attendants while supplies last.

Stuart Schuffman commonly known as ‘Broke-Ass Stuart’ recommends:

The Roost 2020: The Imaginary Restaurant From HenHouse & The Pleasure Principle Returns!

The Roost will be open from Saturday February 8th – Friday February 14th. Each night will feature the same slate of beers paired with an entirely new menu, created by a different chef. Each dinner will be limited to 30 seats and actively hosted by that night’s chef and the HenHouse Brewing Company squad.  open each night at 5:30 for a happy hour selection of beer and snacks, followed by a ticketed dinner service to begin at 7pm

Best Life – Extraordinary Everyday Beer
HenHouse Saison – Farmhouse Style Ale with Spices
Oyster Stout – Dry Stout with Hog Island Oysters and Sea Salt
An Honest Day’s Work – Red Rye Saison
Mandela Effect – IPA

Tickets and food schedule here

Island Vibes Food Fest @ Harmonic Brewery

Zack, a brewer at Speakeasy, recommended I try Harmonic’s, ‘Team Meeting’ lager, because “it’s a collaborative beer, and it’s really good.”  I asked Harmonic Brewer Jon Verna why it’s called ‘a team meeting’, and he explained that when the bartenders get together to do a shot/drink during their shifts, they call it a ‘team meeting’.  So I had my own ‘team meeting’ to find out for myself, and yeah, it’s a good SF style lager, there are mosaic and Rakau hops in there.

A food festival dedicated to the unique eats from the islands and lands in Southeast Asia and beyond. Capturing the island vibes the best way they know how, through food and beer!

Food Vendors:
Chef Chris Yang (@El_Chino_Grande) – Taiwanese & Hawaiian inspired grinds
Tum.Lum.Tum.La (@Tum.Lum.Tum.La) – Vietnamese style grilled skewers
Prubechu (@RestaurantPrubechu) – Chamorro food, Island of Guam!
Ox + Tiger (@Oxandtiger) – Filipino x Japanese inspired cuisine
Not Too Sweet by Penelope Lao (@Pennymint) – island inspired desserts by former Liho Liho Pastry chef

-Beer Release: Collab Double IPA with Barebottle Brewing, Invisible Haze! Incredibly drinkable IPA that is soft on the pallet, and absolutely clear. Compare and contrast with their Visible Haze, and you will see that clear beer is just as juicy and drinkable as the hazies!

SATURDAY
February 8, 2020
2:00 PM – Until Supply Runs Out
Harmonic Brewing
1050 26th St
San Francisco, CA 94107

Free – Info Here

SFBW: Sheltering Tree Day!

Bartlett Head Brewer Nick Mamere recommends you try his Powell Street porter and Laughing Monk’s Imperial Coffee N’ Cream.  You should also checkout this fundi for Aus fire victims.

Come celebrate the release of Sheltering Dingoes, a limited Australian Galaxy and Enigma hopped variant of our house favorite Sheltering Tree IPA!

Taste it next to the American hopped original for a heightened appreciation of what these highly regarded Aussie hops can do!

One dollar of every pint of the entire batch of  Sheltering Dingoes sold at the brewery will go to WIRES Native Animal Rescue to provide aid to Australian wildlife impacted by the fires.

Blind Tiger Release Party @ Speakeasy

It’s a double release party. Your favorite San Francisco Triple IPA is back! Also featuring our San Francisco Collaboration. We will have food, live music, and of course beer! Live music from Exit52 2-5pm. Fire2Smoke BBQ food truck.

Russian River Brewing Company Tap Takeover @ Richmond Republic

Kicking off SFBW 2020 with a Russian River 12 tap takeover. Flights available. Brunch served til 3pm, dinner til 11pm. Not as cool as their new Windsor brewery, but a hellava lot closer!

Damn this VD with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence @ Laughing Monk Brewing

A Benefit Evening Featuring Games and other frivolity Nun-Style w/ Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. & Prizes!

Fire2Smoke will be serving up some AMAZING BBQ from 5-9PM.  The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns. We believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty.

“Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment.  We use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.”

Anchor & Hope Annual Shrimp Boil

Anchor & Hope’s annual Shrimp Boil! All-you-can-eat shrimp and all-you-can-drink draft beer for $50. This year, we are partnering with three local breweries including San Francisco Brewing Company and ThirstyBear Organic Brewery. The event will be offered in two seatings: the first from 5:00-7:00 and the second from 7:30-9:30. Make your reservations over the phone 415.501.9100. It’s a party that can’t be missed!

Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin @ Sycamore

Sycamore

Velvet Merkin is the beer that almost wasn’t…Indeed, this vintage oatmeal stout’s comical (or is it scandalous?) name went off the grid for several years, but now it’s back due to popular demand. Velvet Merkin is aged for a full year in retired spirits barrels from Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve and others, yet manages to offer mind-­boggling balance and restraint. You will wig out when you taste Velvet Merkin’s rich milk chocolate, bourbon and espresso flavors, preceded by aromas of vanilla, coconut, toasted oak and mocha.

For your enjoyment we’ve got a 5-year vertical of this bad-boy!
2014 – 2018 Velvet Merkin
Champs de Fraises Wild Ale
2020 Luponic IPA

Check out ALL the SF Beer Week events at sfbeerweek.com, the website (designed by Tom Roli) is super user friendly.