16 Best San Francisco Beer Week Events

There is really no better way to experience an abundance of the world’s best beer than to congregate at San Francisco Beer Week.  I have compiled a list of the Best San Francisco Beer Week Events to maximize your opportunity to enjoy some mind blowing suds.  This is a premier week in beer and is not to be missed.   

Best Places for Beer in San Francisco

If you can’t make it to beer week, don’t fret, the tap rooms listed are great sources of brew year round and the venues to sample the best beer in San Francisco.  While the Gala and beer pairing events are specialty events that only happen once a year, the other venues such as Toronado, Triple Rock, Admiral Maltings, The Rare Barrel and Trumer Brewery are great places to try the many, many varieties of what the Bay Area has to offer.  This is a premier city in the country for great Independent Craft Beer. Check out our “Host Notes” for more details.

Opening Gala – 2/7/2020

Details – Pier 35 (1454 The Embracadero San Francisco, CA 94133); 6pm-10pm . Tickets

This is the kickoff party to SF Beer Week and ground zero for the area’s beer scene featuring independent breweries across the Bay Area. 

Double IPA Festival – 2/8/2020

Hayward’s The Bistro: (1001 B St. Hayward, CA 94514) – Tickets

Over 60 Double and 30 Triple IPA’s on tap on Main Street.  A professional competition with awards ceremony at 2pm.  Tasting glass with unlimited pours. 

Host Notes: Hayward’s has been a home for great craft beer since 1994.  They love beer and share that passion with everyone who enters the door. 

SFBW Collaboration Beer Showcase — 2/8/20 – 2/16/20

Admiral Malting’s: (651 Tower Ave. Alameda, CA 94501) – Pay as you go.

This event connects the dots between farmer, maltster and brewer.  Brewers are on hand to discuss the process from farm to glass. 

Host Notes: The Rake is the pub situated on the premises of Admiral Malting’s and a place to savor and enjoy the stories being told. 

The Sour Sunday – 2/9/20, 12-5

Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse: (1920 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704) Tickets

This is the Bay Area’s premier exhibition of sour and barrel aged beers from more than 60 of the world’s finest sour beer. 

Host Notes: Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse is an OG having opened its doors in 1986.  For 30 years John and Reid Martin have served the freshest brew available.  Triple Rock is the oldest micro-pub in the Bay Area.

The Alumni Party – 2/9; 11am

The Rare Barrel (940 Parker St. Berkeley, CA 94710) – Pay as you go.

A reunion of past TRB beer-persons.  Beers on tap will include alumni who work at Armistice, Black Sands, Great Notion, Hapa’s Brewing, Jackie O’s, Kane Brewing and Temescal.

Host Notes: – The Rare Barrel is an all-sour beer company and their brewery is dedicated to the conditioning of barrel-aged sour beers. 

Knights of the Dank – 2/10/20

Toronado Pub: (547 Haight St. San Francisco, CA 94117) – Pay as you go.

There are also additional pours from Sante Adairius, Rare Barrel, Alvarodo St. and Cellarmaker.

Host Notes: Toronado has been voted the best craft beer bar in the country.  Beer Menu. It’s a must attend venue if you happen to ever find yourself in San Francisco. 

Brewer’s Lunch with Drake’s, Faction and Triple Rock – 2/10; 11:30am-3:30pm

Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse: (1920 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704) – Pay as you go.

The annual release of Hop Soup – Faction, Hop Sandwich – Drake’s and Hop Salad – Triple Rock.  These beers are served with half sandwich, cup of soup and small salad. 

Faction Pint Night – 2/11; 5pm-8pm

Hops & Scotch: (7001 Sunne Lane Suite 100, Walnut Creek, CA 94597) – Pay as you go.

Host Notes – Hops & Scotch – If you’re not able to attend beer week, stop by Hops & Scotch when you do happen to make it to the area.  Hops & Scotch has over 40 taps and over 80 varietals of beer along with 100 scotch, whiskeys and bourbons on hand. 

German Beer: The “Bock” Party – 2/12/20

Rosamunde Sausage Grill: (2832 Mission St. San Francisco, CA, 94110) Pay as you go.

For beer and brat inspiration, make your way down to Rosamund Sausage Grill for the “Bock” Party featuring Black Hammer Brewing’s specialty bock lager and sausage from Meat by Pete made with the beer for the ultimate pairing. 

Host Notes: –  RosaMunde: Located at 911 Washington, St.Swans Marketplace in Jack London Square, the restaurant and beer bar, offers some of Oakland’s best beers paired with the best hot dogs.

Female Focus — 2/13; 4pm-9pm

Harmonic Brewing: (1050 26^th St. San Francisco, CA, 94107) – Pay as you go.

A day dedicated to the hard working women of the bay area and their contributions to the Bay Area’s businesses and culture. 

Host Notes – Harmonic is a fun venue offering 12 beers on tap of old school beer drinker’s beers.  You can hang and watch the big game on one of their tv’s.  Its family and dog friendly. 

6^th Annual Sweet and Sour Valentines – 2/14

Ol Beer Café & Bottle Shop (1541 Giammona Dr. West Creek, CA 94596) – Pay as you go.

Featuring one sweet beer and one sour beer from 7 different breweries; each paired with a complimentary chocolate from Walnut Creek’s premier Belgian chocolate shop, Leonida’s Love + Chocolate. 

Host Notes: – Ol beer cafe and bottle shop carries hundreds of meticulously chosen and well-cared-for bottles in their bottle shop for you to enjoy on-site or to go.

Celebration of Craft – Feb 15

Berkley Trumer Brewery:  (1404 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710) – Tickets

An annual invitational beer festival celebrating the finale of San Francisco Beer Week. 

Host Notes: – Berkley Trumer Brewery – Trumer was established in 2004 as a sister brewery to the centuries-old Truer Brauerei in Salzburg, Austria.  Fusing the heritage of European brewing with American craft brewing, Trumer gives Americans the chance to enjoy a classic German-Style Pilsner every day.

Russian River ‘Tion Day – 2/15/20

Toronado Pub at 11:30 – Pay as you go.

Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo from Russian River Brewing annually make an appearance celebrating all of Russian River’s rarest sours and barrel ages.

Queer Night – 2/15/20

Toronado Pub at 6:00 – Pay as you go.

Celebrating diversity in the craft community hosted by Temescal with Pure Project and Humble Sea

3^rd Annual Locals Only Tap Takeover – 2/15/20

Taplands – 11:00 on – Pay as you go.

Bringing the area’s finest beers into one taproom to celebrate the Bay Area’s culture of brew.

Host Notes: – Taplands offers 25 rotating craft beers on tap as well as producing their own in-house brews.  They also offer an on-site bottle shop making possible to bring home suds that you have enjoyed. 

Sante Adairius Takeover – 2/15

Old Devil Moon – 3:00pm – Pay as you go.

Loads of special goodies from one of the best breweries in the world.  4oz, 10oz and pint pours.

Host Notes: – ODM offers a large selection of craft beer, cocktails and po’ boys.  Check out the comfortable atmosphere that his funky and esoteric. 

Curry Night with Ft. Point and Sequoia Sake – 2/16

Fort Point Ferry Taproom – 5:00pm – Register

A lantern lit meal prepared by chef Michael Black.  Special limited beers from Sequoia and Fort Point. 

Host Notes: Fort Point is a Brewery shaped by San Franciscan values: craftsmanship and innovation.  There is a balance of thoughtful beers that reference tradition.  The beers at Fort Point tell a story, inspire an idea and satisfy.

While these are must attend events during San Francisco Beer Week, I highly encourage you to visit the hosts whenever you find yourself in the bay area.