SF Beer Week (2020)

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by thuey, Feb 5, 2020.

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  1. thuey

    thuey Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 13, 2015 California
    Pooh-Bah

    https://sfbeerweek.org/

    It's that time again, even though the Toronado Barleywine Festival is not necessarily annual anymore, and lately not in Feb. But Bay Area locals and out-of-towners flock to SF and beyond, for this crazy week of whale-seeking, beer-ticking, and liver-destroying. Every brewery and bar has some kind of event going on every day, and it's buzzing everywhere.

    Some beer friends were commenting that last year, there was a definite shift in Beer Week towards non-local breweries. Meaning, SFBW has been traditionally mostly about celebrating local craft and special / experimental / brews - like PtY. But last year, Great Notion tap takeovers and hazy with Monkish, Trillium and the like were the most sought out events.

    So what are you most looking forward to this year?

    For me personally, it'll be the first time I'm going to the Gala. Never been, and it worked for my schedule so I guess I'm drinking Friday.
     
    #1 thuey, Feb 5, 2020
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  2. Rocket80

    Rocket80 Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2011 California

    My wife and I are flying up to Oakland from Burbank for a quick overnight visit this weekend. Back in 2013 and 2014 I did my own one-night visit and had a great time doing the DIPA Fest and then Sour Sunday w/ my cousins/family who live up there - so that's the plan again this year. Not sure about Saturday afternoon but leaning towards going to Oakland and checking out the SARA event at Good Hop and maybe the new Modern Times location and/or Drakes Dealership. We're staying in Berkeley so maybe some spots up there to end the night, depending how it goes. My sole focus will be to try to wake up Sunday morning ready and excited for Sour Sunday - as opposed to the previous two times when I felt like shit and it was basically ruined for me. We'll see!
     
    #2 Rocket80, Feb 5, 2020
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  3. ToasterKlay

    ToasterKlay Initiate (152) May 15, 2017 California

    I got a couple 4 packs of Heady and Focal yesterday, so I'm enjoying the start of SFBW so far! Going to try and hit up a few of the events in the South Bay. Maybe head up to the city for an event or two. I saw a Bob Ross painting and beer night that looked like fun. There was also a blind beer tasting class that piqued my interest. We shall see. Cheers everyone!
     
    #3 ToasterKlay, Feb 5, 2020
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  4. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Enjoy the event. I made it once with the wife about 4-5 years ago and had a good time.

    I usually make it to about one event and usually in the South Bay. Nothing on the radar at the moment.
     
    #4 QuakeAttack, Feb 5, 2020
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  5. ewwiccc

    ewwiccc Pundit (858) Jan 12, 2016 California
    Trader

    I'm going wherever those damn SARA BA stouts are being tapped :grinning:
     
    #5 ewwiccc, Feb 5, 2020
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  6. mikehblack

    mikehblack Zealot (602) Feb 10, 2010 California
    Trader

    Have fun at the gala! I went last year for the first time and enjoyed it. I'd go again this year but plans don't allow for it. Planning on checking out some nearby "tap takeover" events but that's about it.
     
    #6 mikehblack, Feb 5, 2020
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  7. ksheabutter

    ksheabutter Aspirant (222) Aug 15, 2019 California
    Trader

    Never gone to any SFBeer Week events, thinking of going to the DIPA festival in Hayward.

    Lots of other neat looking events but not sure if it would be good for my liver to go to all of them.
     
    #7 ksheabutter, Feb 5, 2020
  8. _pat_

    _pat_ Crusader (410) Apr 26, 2016 Washington

    Holy Water next Thursday :wink:
     
    #8 _pat_, Feb 6, 2020
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  9. Rustytacos

    Rustytacos Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2018 California
    Trader

    Is that the only place?
     
    #9 Rustytacos, Feb 6, 2020
  10. ewwiccc

    ewwiccc Pundit (858) Jan 12, 2016 California
    Trader

    They have a few more kegs of both the HW stout and her SP stout. I’m sure it’ll go on at SARA eventually
     
    #10 ewwiccc, Feb 6, 2020
  11. KevSal

    KevSal Pooh-Bah (2,940) Oct 17, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    they claim it’s the only place getting one outside of sara, they sent a barrel to sara that they used for the beer (atleast 1/3 of its aging) so that’s why they are getting one. they do the same with moksa as well
    edit: beer is called Yours, aged in maple barrels, than buffalo trace barrels, than in holy waters elijah 12 barrel. sounds amazing

    also to answer OP, since we have a 1 month year old my plan is to check out any special bottle releases and drink at home lol. toronados, holy water and city beer look like they have some great events tho!
     
    #11 KevSal, Feb 6, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2020
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  12. vinylfiend1

    vinylfiend1 Devotee (389) Jun 8, 2013 California
    Trader

    Ever since my baby arrived 2 years ago I pick up
    Cans and drink at home 98% of the time. I miss the festivals but no biggie.
     
    #12 vinylfiend1, Feb 6, 2020
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  13. KevSal

    KevSal Pooh-Bah (2,940) Oct 17, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    congrats! it gets easier, i have 3 year old twin boys too. we just hit the reset button lol
     
    #13 KevSal, Feb 6, 2020
  14. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Heady to go? Mind sharing where?
     
    #14 elNopalero, Feb 6, 2020
  15. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Edit: should have read the supermarkets and bottle shop thread first...
     
    #15 elNopalero, Feb 6, 2020
  16. thuey

    thuey Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 13, 2015 California
    Pooh-Bah

    In case anyone's curious...

    Went to the Opening Gala last night for the first time. Bumped into some peeps I expected (the whole Cellarmaker crew), and some I didn't (Wynn Whisenhunt).

    If you want beer, I actually think the $80 is worth it. There's so many participating breweries (100?) that 95 of them have zero line, and each have 3 - 5 different taps flowing of various styles. Breweries did not limit it to low ABV beers like Pilsners and Pale Ales, as there's TIPAs, 10+% stouts, and barrel aged stuff. Cellarmaker had about 10 taps + bottle pours of their sours + BA Pastry Stout. I mention that because that's the largest selection out there. Some booths did timed releases where they'd tap something new every hour, to keep excitement high.

    Russian River's booth (poured by Toronado staff) had the largest line for PtY. But had a separate table & non-existent line for Happy Hops & Temptation, which I thought was cool. Alvarado Street and Humble Sea (and Henhouse when Big Chicken was tapped @ 7) were the only other booths with long lines. Even though Cellarmaker, Temescal and The Rare Barrel had lines, wait was < 5 minutes.

    So really, there was so much beer there and you didn't have to wait for it unless you really had to have Pliny, ASB and Humble Sea. Even so, I managed to catch the PtY line at about 8pm when I saw there weren't many people, so I got a pour in about 5 minutes.

    Food-wise, they brought in some well known food trucks and local pop-ups:

    Chairman Bao
    Señor Sisig
    Del Popolo
    The GrilledCheezGuy
    Alicia's Tamales Los Mayas

    Finally - and very significant - I never had to wait longer than 30 seconds for a Porta Potty.

    I totally expected a s-show, but it was really well organized and it had tons to offer.
     
    #16 thuey, Feb 8, 2020
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  17. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    So 3 of my favorite breweries brought home some medals today at the 2020 Bistro DIPA/TIPA. Hops Of Fury is a damn good triple.
     
    #17 dcgunman, Feb 8, 2020
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  18. Ma9573

    Ma9573 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2017 California
    Trader

    I was supposed to go to the Liquid Gold event tonight with a couple buddies, but got pulled into a dinner party in Sausalito with my wife's friends. :angry:
     
    #18 Ma9573, Feb 9, 2020
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  19. KevSal

    KevSal Pooh-Bah (2,940) Oct 17, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Man i really wanted to go to city beer today, apperently they had bottles of fundenental forces to go, but i couldn’t get out of the house :/ owell it alludes me yet again
     
    #19 KevSal, Feb 9, 2020
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  20. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What happened? You lock yourself in?
     
    #20 dcgunman, Feb 9, 2020
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