San Francisco Beer Week has finally arrived and hop-heads from Santa Cruz to Mendocino are converging to taste and celebrate local brewmeisters' best work. There are a number of cheap tasting opportunities on docket, as well as a bunch of beer-pairing dinners at local restaurants that shouldn't be missed. Below, a few selected highlights:
(See the full schedule here, and to have it at your fingertips, download the Beer Week iPhone app.
Tonight, Monday, February 8th
Can-a-Palooza
21st Amendment
563 2nd Street (mezzanine level)
5 to 10 p.m. Admission: free,
Come down to SOMA to taste $2 canned craft beers from 21st Amendment, Oskar Blues, Anderson Valley, Buckbean and Big Sky.
Sierra Nevada Brewery Night
Pi Bar
1432 Valencia Street
3 to 11 p.m. Admission: free
Enjoy some small plates of house-made sausage along with limited release beers from the popular brewery.
Lost Abbey and Port Brewing
City Beer Store
1168 Folsom Street
6 to 9 p.m. Admission: free
Chat up head brewer Tomme Arthur and taste some special stuff.
ALSO: Beer pairing dinners at Beretta ($58), Ramblas ($80), and Bar Tartine ($100).
Tuesday, February 9th
A Night Without Hops
Monk's Kettle
3141 16th Street
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission: free
Brian Hunt of Moonlight Brewing Company features a selection of hopless beers.
Brewery Ommegang Cheese and Chocolate pairing
Bloodhound
1145 Folsom Street
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission: free
Bloodhound will be serving Chocolate Indulgence and Three Philosophers on draft to be paired with great cheese and chocolate from Madagascar.
ALSO: Beer pairing dinners at The Republic ($55), Suppenkuche ($60), and Soluna ($55).
Wednesday, February 10th
Charcuterie and Beer Tasting
Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery
1398 Haight Street
11 a.m. on. Admission: Free, price TBD.
A 6-course flight of meats and Magnolia beers, including house-made pate, terrine, mousse, a potted meat, and a couple of air-cured salumis.
Happy Hour in Coney Island
Bender's
806 S. Van Ness
Enjoy Coney Island hot dogs, $3 pints of Coney Island Lager, and your first opportunity to try this year's batch of Coney Island Human Blockhead (Tough-as-Nails-Lager).
ALSO: Beer pairing dinners at Wexler's, Monk's Kettle, with the Bewers' Guild ($80), and Scala's, with Beer & Nosh ($100).
Thursday, February 11th
Beerlesque
Paradise Lounge
1501 Folsom
8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission: $8, $10 after 10 p.m.
Join the Hubba Hubba Revue (SF's biggest, wildest, and most elaborate burlesque & variety show), Vagabondage, and Shmaltz Brewing Company, ringleaders of the line of sideshow-inspired Coney Island Craft Lagers for a night of beer and burlesque.
ALSO: Beer pairing dinners at Nombe ($20-$45) and a Mardi Gras Beer Dinner at The Moss Room.
Friday, February 12th
Firkin Friday and Meet the Brewers: SF Brewers Guild
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
1195 Evans Ave
4 to 9 p.m. Admission: free.
Meet the brewers of the San Francisco Brewers Guild during the event from 4-7PM, and enjoy special Guild beers on draft.
ALSO: A big dinner with the Beer Chef on Treasure Island, and a beer pairing dinner at Paragaon ($48).
Saturday, February 13th
The San Francisco Beer Run
Around the Haight and GG Park
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sort of a pre-Bay-to-Breakers event of running while drinking, and vice versa.
Sunday, February 14th
The 17th Annual Barleywine Festival
Toronado
547 Haight Street
11 a.m. on Admission: free
