I'm thinking about taking a trip to Northern California (likely San Francisco and the surrounding area) sometime in late spring/summer. I would like to visit some breweries while I'm there, and if possible I'd like to time it for a release at one of them. Does anyone know any releases that are normally timed for around then at any of the San Francisco breweries? Thanks for your help!
I'm actually flexible as to the date, but none of the breweries say this far out what their releases will be. Ideally, it'll be between May and July.
It's too early to know right now. Rare Barrel has been cranking out a lot of bottles lately, so you may have some luck there. Really, though, within the city limits, you'd be doing yourself a big disservice by only going to breweries. Cellarmaker and Anchor (book soon if you want to go there) are really the only places worth hitting if your time is limited where as there are some great beer bars/stores like Toronado, Mikkeller Bar, City Beer that are better than the non-Cellarmaker-in-city breweries. ALSO BE SURE TO ASK WHERE YOU CAN GET PLINY BOTTLES THAT NEVER GETS OLD
Sante Adarius, Cellarmaker, Faction, Anchor, 21st Amendment, Drakes, Rare Barrel, Lagunitas, Russian River, Bear Republic... The list is long, the beer is good. You're really not going to know the release schedule of any of their rare beers much ahead of time. Sante Adarius is the day of, Rare Barrel is the week of. RR might tell you about Beatification a couple weeks ahead of release... Tough to plan around any thing
Thanks for all the advice! I'm looking forward to checking out the beer scene out there, and putting the money I'll save on the ticket toward more bottles lol.
Summer is beerfest season, there is a great one every weekend around here. Check the schedules, as it is far easier to visit 50 breweries when they are all in one place. Be sure to check Sacramento, as well, we have some great ones and our hotels are way cheaper.
