Dive into local brews during SF Beer Week (Feb. 5-14)

Posted by Molly on Jan 25, 2010

San Francisco has a long history of craft beer brewing, and the Bay Area remains one of the epicenters of the modern resurgence of American artisan breweries. In other words, SF Beer Week (February 5-14) is an excellent excuse to don your best beer goggles and dive into some local brews.

For 10 days, dozens of breweries, bars, gastropubs, and restaurants throughout the Bay Area celebrate our local craft beers with more than 100 events, including new releases of rare microbrews, beer tastings, happy hour food pairings (from cheese and chocolate to oysters and sausage), meet-the-brewmaster nights, and special events featuring multiple-course meals.

In fact, the huge array of events on offer can be dizzying. Here are a few affordable picks for San Francisco visitors:

• Humphry Slocombe, the Mission district’s hot new boutique ice creamery, serves up beer ice creams made with local brews, every day during SF Beer Week.

• Anchor & Hope in SOMA hosts Kegs for a Cause, February 5-7. Choose from over 60 brews, and for every beer purchased $1 goes to Haiti earthquake relief. On Friday, slurp down Happy Hour Oysters for $1 each.

• On February 6, Chuey Brand hosts Beer 2 Brakers, a bicycle pub crawl featuring food and beer pairings. The ride starts at 933 Treat in the Mission district, with "brakes" at Thirsty Bear Brewing Company and Gordan Biersch Brewery & Restaurant in SOMA. (Cost: $15; proceeds benefit the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation.)

• Think craft beer has to come in a bottle? Free your mind at Can-A-Palooza, on February 8 at 21st Amendment Brewery in SOMA, with $2 canned craft beers from 21st Amendment, Oskar Blues, Anderson Valley, Buckbean, and Big Sky.

• On February 12, hop on Caltrain and ride down the peninsula for a Caltrain Pub Crawl with WetYourWhistles, visiting four bars near Caltrain stops in Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Redwood City. (Cost for Caltrain day pass to/from San Francisco: $8.50)

• On February 13-14, the Toronado pub on lower Haight hosts the 17th annual Toronado Barleywine Festival, pouring a wide variety of strong ales.

February is also Strong Beer Month, when 21st Amendment Brewery in SOMA and Magnolia Pub & Brewery in Haight-Ashbury release special kegs and casks of vintage and barrel-aged beers. In addition to bringing back some old favorites, both breweries will debut at least two new beers.