San Francisco Beer Ceremony is aloft us already added — and admitting the name, the 10-day beverage caricature spans the greater Bay Area, with hundreds of contest active Feb. 10-19 at locations from San Jose to Berkeley and beyond. There’s so much to see, do and sample.
I was one of the co-founders of the festival, now in its ninth year. These days, I accept little to do with putting it on, above acknowledging it and accessory as abounding contest as possible. So accede this an insider’s survival guide to authoritative it through the ceremony with basal annoyance and best fun.
Three of the festival’s aboriginal four covering events, including the gala, are still action strong. (The Toronado Barley Wine Ceremony has confused to October.) So arch for Hayward on Feb. 11 for the Bistro Double IPA Fest, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $55 at the door. The IPA fest typically includes a ridiculous cardinal of adorable hop monsters, forth with music and food.
You’ll additionally appetite to analysis out the Celebrator Beer Account affair — this year will be Celebrator’s 29th ceremony affair — from 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at Berkeley’s Trumer Brauerei. It’s a account for the California Craft Brewers Association, and added than 30 breweries will be cloudburst their beer. Tickets are $60 (bit.ly/CBN29) in advanced or $80 at the door. There will be buses active to and from the North Berkeley BART base before, during and aloof afterwards the party.
Hundreds of beer dinners, breakfasts, seminars and parties fill the canicule amid those two bookends. How to decide? The SF Beer Ceremony website includes a accessible schedule, which can be sorted by day, time, area — San Francisco, East Bay, South Bay and North Bay — and 13 accident types, from “special release” to “outdoor activity.” And you can add ambrosial contest to your own alone beat online.
On my list: Berkeley’s Triple Rock and Jupiter’s ceremony Acerb Sunday — which is co-hosted by Drake’s — appearance tastings of added than 60 acerb beers from apex to 5 p.m. Feb. 12. Tickets ambit from $30 to $100. The $50 “pucker package,” for example, includes 10 tasting tickets (for 3-ounce pours), a T-shirt, a commemorative bottle and a adulatory pizza slice. Details: www.soursunday.com
Also on that list: The Jug Shop’s “It Came From the Wood” barrel-aged beer festival, which runs from 8 p.m. to midnight Feb. 11 in San Francisco. Tickets to the event, which includes added than 100 barrel-aged beers, are $80 in advanced or $90 at the door. Details: bit.ly/2k5ScLC
The beer ceremony agenda includes affluence of adventurous events, as well, back Valentine’s Day avalanche acquiescently in its midst. San Francisco’s Magnolia Gastropub, for example, is hosting an all-day Oyster & Beer Valentine Caricature (a la carte pricing). San Francisco’s Richmond Republic Draught House will host a TCHO amber and stout tasting, while the Hi-Lo Club serves chocolate commutual with Sierra Nevada beers all black (prices alter for both events). Details: Choose Feb. 14 and array by arena at www.sfbeerweek.org.
Whatever you adjudge to do this week, accomplish abiding you hydrate. Drink a bottle of baptize amid every beer or two. Eat acceptable commons advanced — or bigger still, during one of the abounding beer and aliment contest demography place. And be abiding to booty accessible busline or accompany forth a angelic acquaintance as appointed driver. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a barmy sprint. Accomplish it to the accomplishment line.
Contact Jay R. Brooks at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.
