The 14 Must-Attend SF Beer Week Events

From flights to 5Ks to a Super Bowl viewing party

January 29, 2019 9:00 am

It’s the hoppiest time of the year: S.F. Beer Week kicks off on Friday.

Don’t let all that sudsy goodness go to waste: fail to plan your S.F. Beer Week calendar, and you will plan to fail. And there are a *lot* of events, from “pay as you go” (read: buy your drinks) bar takeovers to a 5K post-hangover run to Friday’s opening gala, where you can meet, greet and sample the industry’s finest.

Our highly subjective list of the choicest events whittles things down to a manageable 14, with every type of imbiber accounted for.

Bottoms up!

SF Beer Week Opening Gala
Go. Press the flesh, make some beer-brewing friends. Besides the commemorative glass, attendees have “unlimited samples of new, rare and classic beers,” along with a chance to try all five of the fest’s “collaboration” beers.
Details: $80, Pier 35, 2/1, 6 p.m.

Image from Christina Greengrass/Flickr

Seismic Fun Run, with morning beers at Wipeout Bar & Grill
Run between two and five kilometers, then convene at Wipeout for “breakfast and brews.” There are “several Seismic check points” along the route, and we can only hope they’re stocking beer instead of Gatorade.
Details: Free, Pier 35, 2/2, 9 a.m.

Humphrey Slocombe’s beer flights
So you want beer, but also want ice cream? Come to any of the chain’s four Bay Area locations, and try a flight of flavors inspired by Drake’s Brewing, Barebottle Brewing, Fort Point Brewing, Cellarmaker, Hen House Brewing, and Anchor Brewing — like rosé beer ice cream with lemon zest.
Details: Pay as you go, Humphrey Slocombe, from 2/2, 11 a.m.

Brew It Yourself: Beer Making at Home
Who needs that fancy desk job? Consider this the first step to your career in craft brewing: learn, test, and take home your first beer.
Details: $120, Mercurius Beer Lab, 2/2, 11 a.m.

Image by Barebottle

Doom Bloom Triple IPA Release Party
Even if you’re not excited about the yearly release of Barebottle’s triple IPA, which you should be, get your butt outta bed. For the first time ever, you can choose between getting a draft or buying bottles of the stuff to take home. Future Self will thank you.
Details: Pay as you go, Barebottle Brewing Company, 2/2, from 11 a.m.

A Very Murray Beer Week Celebration
If you forgot it’s Groundhog Day, the people behind this event certainly did not: Bill Murray’s classic will play throughout the day, with additional Murray-centric activities (read: costume contest) and prizes as well. Oh, and the debut of Cleophus Quealy’s new Violet Delights, a sour beer aged in gin barrels with lemons, cherries and violets.

Jack London Square Beer Walk
Taste craft beers while getting some fresh air on this tour of the newly christened Jack London Brewing District, with visits to two craft breweries. Pretzel necklaces included.
Details: $59, Visit Oakland’s Visitor’s Center, 2/2, 11:30 a.m.

California-Only Cider Tap Takeover
You know somebody’s who’s celiac (or just “off gluten”) and only wants to drink California brews — Christmas [or your primary non-denominational holiday of cheer] came early for them. Expect one selection each from the state’s 26 cideries.
Details: Pay as you go, The Cider Junction, 2/2, from noon

Image from Almanac Almeda Brewery

Farmer’s Reserve No. 5 Release Party
Farmer’s Reserve No. 5 celebrates the fifth anniversary of Farmer’s Reserve No. 1, which would seem to make sense. Expect a blonde farmhouse ale aged in oak alongside strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and nectarines.
Details: Pay as you go, Almanac Alameda Brewery & Barrel House, 2/2, from 11 a.m. but wood-fired pizza is served from 2 p.m.

Landmark Bike Tour With Fort Point
Fort Point the beer takes a tour of Fort Point the … fort, as part of this three-hour cycling tour. If this doesn’t fit but you still want to spend some time with Fort Point, consider Saturday’s beer and dim sum pairings. Includes growler and fill.
Details: $10, Dutch Windmill in Golden Gate Park, 2/3,10:30 a.m.,

Park Chalet Super Bowl Party
Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of beer-centric options for your Super Bowl viewing. One possibility: Catch it on the big screen at Park Chalet’s beer garden. Another extremely top option (especially if you’re in the East Bay): Ghost Town Brewing, which is hosting our forever-BBQ-faves 4505.
Details: Pay as you go, Park Chalet, 2/3, from noon (game starts at 3:30 p.m.)

Image from Pi Bar

Russian River’tion Night
Come for Russian River’s ’tion series of sour and aged beers — plus “New York-style” pizza.
Details: Pay as you go, Pi Bar, from 3 p.m.

Mexican Craft Beer Fest
Come taste what’s going on south of the border, with samples from 15 beers from Agua Mala, Wendlandt, Border Psycho, Colima, and Loba.
Details: Pay as you go, The Trappist, 2/6, from 6 p.m.

Main image from SF Beer Week

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