21 Reasons Why SF Beer Week Should Be Called East Bay Beer Week
21 Reasons Why SF Beer Week Should Be Called East Bay Beer Week
They call it SF Beer Week, but we know better. It’s the crafty East Bay breweries and taprooms that help make this 10-day festival a hoppy success!
SF Beer Week runs from Feb. 7-16, with more than 120 indie breweries tapping 300 California beers at events being held all over the Bay Area. East Bay ales, lagers, IPAs, stouts, sours, and other innovative suds play starring roles throughout the festival.
So, are you ready for release parties, food pairings, taproom takeovers, and talks? There are way too many East Bay events to list, so we’re pouring out 21 highlights instead: (See the full schedule here.)
Valentine's: All you need is love and beer. Scroll down for our bonus list of SFBW Feb. 14 events
#1 Beer & Brunch with Original Pattern Brewing
This guided pairing includes a six-course brunch with special off-menu eats from Good to Eat Dumplings and SF Beer Festival exclusive beers.
- When: Feb. 8, 9, 15, 16. Starting at 11 a.m. each day.
- Where: Original Pattern Brewing, 292 4th St., Oakland
- Tickets: $35. Buy tickets here.
#2 NorCal vs SoCal
Be a judge in this friendly competition between 15 NorCal breweries matched up against 15 SoCal breweries.
- When: Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Where: The Rare Barrel, 940 Parker St., Berkeley
- Cost: Pay as you go
#3 Triple Rock’s “Mister Stout” flight release
- When: Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m.- close
- Where: Triple Rock Brewing, 1920 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
- Cost: Pay as you go
Need proof that the East Bay beer scene is booming? Get our (long) list of local breweries and taprooms
#4 Drake’s “There Can Be Only Hops” release
Drake's and Beachwood Brewing teamed up to release a collaboration IPA called There Can Be Only Hops.
- When: Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m.- until supply runs out
- Where: Drake's Brewing, 1933 Davis St., #177, San Leandro
- Cost: Pay as you go
#5 Epidemic’s Hazy IPA & TIPA releases
Epidemic Ale is letting loose its Unsteady Teddy, Juicy Hazy IPA collab beer brewed with Sudwerk Brewing Co., and Cataclysm Triple IPA. Stick around for a free comedy night starting at 8 p.m.
- When: Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m.- until close
- Where: Epidemic Ales, 150 Mason Circle, Suite J, Concord
- Cost: Pay as you go
#6 Double IPA Festival
The 20th annual Double IPA Festival and competition claims to be the original kickoff to SF Beer Week. Go for tastings (100 IPAs on tap), live music, food trucks, and the awards ceremony. Located two blocks from Hayward BART.
- When: Feb. 8, 12-3:30 p.m.
- Where: 1001 B St., Hayward
- Cost: $70-$90. Get tickets here.
#7 Almanac’s triple beer release party
Almanac is dropping Hypernova Volume II (a barrel-aged sour), Bourbon Barrel Pêche (sour), and Time Bender Double IPA (a collab with Moonraker Brewing Company). Be the first to try these brews and enjoy wood-fired pizza from Copper Top Ovens.
- When: Feb. 8, 12 p.m. - until close
- Where: Almanac Beer, 651B W Tower Ave., Alameda
- Cost: Pay as you go
#8 Ocean View Brew Works barrel-aged bottle release
The pint-sized Ocean View Brew Works in Albany is releasing its first ever barrel-aged Buffalo Dreams Imperial Stout. Limited release.
- When: Feb. 8, 12 p.m.- until supply runs out
- Where: Ocean View Brew Works, 625 San Pablo Ave., Albany
- Cost: $28
#9 Beer Judging 101 Class
What separates a truly world class brew from a run of the mill beer? Learn from two esteemed experts: David Teckam, a BJCP Grand Master VI ranked beer judge and Grand Master level BCJP judge, and Brian Cooper, a home-brew competition organizer.
- When: Feb. 8, 1-3 p.m.
- Where: BottleTaps, 3020 Bernal Ave., Suite 160, Pleasanton
- Cost: $40. Buy tickets here.
#10 Grain to Glass: A Farmer, Maltster, and Brewer
Head to Admiral Maltings – California's first barley malting facility and only floor maltings of the modern era – for a tour, tastings, and talk with the masters.
- When: Feb. 8, 2-5 p.m.
- Where: The Rake at Admiral Maltings, 651A W Tower Ave., Alameda
- Cost: $20. Buy tickets here.
#11 6-Minute Abs: A Quick Brewed Kveik
Sign up to help brewer Kim Sturdavant (formerly of Social Kitchen) make a raw Kveik beer (a “Viking quickie”). You’ll tap it six days later on Feb. 15. Also enjoy tastings and empanadas.
- When: Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Where: Woods Bar & Brewery, 1701 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
- Cost: $40. Get tickets here.
#12 Cinnamon Rolls & Stout Sunday
Start your Sunday fun-day with house-made cinnamon rolls paired with the award-winning Calf-eine Coffee Milk Stout by Half Moon Bay Brewing.
- When: Feb. 9, 12 p.m. – until supply runs out
- Where: Pacific Standard Taproom (Half Moon Bay Brewing's outpost in Berkeley), 2055 Center St.
- Cost: Pay as you go
#13 Sour Sunday Festival
Taste more than 60 of the rarest, wildest, and sourest beers at this festival hosted by Jupiter, Triple Rock, and Drake's.
- When: Feb. 9, 12-5 p.m.
- Where: Two Berkeley locations: Jupiter at 2181 Shattuck Ave. + Triple Rock Brewery at 1920 Shattuck Ave.
- Cost: $35-$100. Tickets at SourSunday.com
#14 Battle of The Guilds
Check out this friendly competition between L.A., San Diego, and Bay Area brewers guilds representing 45 breweries.
- When: Feb. 9, 1-6 p.m.
- Where: Mad Oak, 135 12th St., Oakland
- Cost: $50. Get tickets here.
#15 Almanac Beer & Drag
Almanac Beer Co. is teaming up with the outrageous Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for an afternoon of beers and attitude.
- When: Feb. 9, 2-4 p.m.
- Where: Almanac Beer, 651B W Tower Ave., Alameda
- Cost: $5
#16 Grazing board & beer pairing class with Shadow Puppet Brewing
Shadow Puppet Brewing Company is partnering with Charming Fig Catering to host this class, which includes a 4-taster flight and a personal grazing board to take home.
- When: Feb. 10, 6-8 p.m.
- Where: Shadow Puppet Brewing, 4771 Arroyo Vista, Suite B, Livermore
- Cost: $75. Get tickets here.
#17 Elevation 66 pairing dinner & meet the brewers
Treat your special someone to an early Valentine’s Day treat with a four-course meal paired with four house-made beers.
- When: Feb. 10, 6-10 p.m.
- Where: Elevation 66 Brewing, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito
- Cost: $75. Get tickets info here.
#18 Pastry pairings with Cleophus Quealy Beer
Yep, even baked treats go with brews. CQ teams up with Baked East Bay for this tasting adventure.
- When: Feb. 11, 5-8 p.m.
- Where: Cleophus Quealy Beer Company, 448 Hester St., San Leandro
- Cost: Pay as you go
#19 Live brewing demo with Sierra Nevada
To celebrate Sierra Nevada’s 40th anniversary, founder Ken Grossman will fire up his very first brewhouse, hand-built in 1980 from recycled dairy equipment.
- When: Feb. 13, 1-7 p.m.
- Where: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Room, 2031 Fourth St., Berkeley
- Cost: Pay as you go
#20 Epidemic serves pink beer and trivia for Galentine’s Day
When else can you taste a Pineapple Upside Down Cake Hazy PINK IPA? Also being served: Pia’s Wood Fired Pizza and Guilty Pleasures baked goods.
- When: Feb. 13, trivia starts at 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Epidemic Ales, 150 Mason Circle, Suite J, Concord
- Cost: Pay as you go
And coming in at No. 21 (the legal drinking age, see what we did there?) ...
#21 Livermore Downtown Brew Crawl & Food Drive
Downtown Livermore, will be buzzing with local brews. Look for the release of a special Double IPA from a new all-Livermore brewery collaboration. Featured: Altamont Beer Works, Eight Bridges Brewing, Shadow Puppet Brewing Company, Pennyweight Craft Brewing, Homegrown Hops Brewing, and Rivers End Brewing Company.
- When: Feb. 13, 5-10 p.m.
- Where: Downtown Livermore, First St. @ S. Livermore Ave.
- Cost: Pay as you go. Bring a donation for the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
Valentine's Day: All you need is love and beer. Romantic Feb. 14 SFBW events include...
- Valentine's Day Barrel Aged Festival with desserts at the Albany Taproom
- Date Night at Shadow Puppet Brewing is offering 2 for 1 beers in Livermore
- Sweet & Sour Valentines at ØL Beer Cafe with chocolates in Walnut Creek
- Valentines Day Pig Roast with Ambitious Ales at Tiger's Taproom in Oakland
- Valentine's Jazz Night at Original Pattern Brewing in Oakland
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Happy tastings! If you want to mix in some tours of open houses in the East Bay, contact us at 888-400-ABIO (2246) or hello@abioproperties.com to request a list.