San Francisco Beer Week: Tips For Drinking It All In (PHOTOS)

Friday marks the beginning of San Francisco Beer Week--the annual tradition where the city briefly shakes off its wine quaffing image and revels in the craft brewing revolution that's been fermenting in the Bay Area's sudsy underbelly for decades.

Also, it gives thousands of people the opportunity to get real drunk off delicious beers they've never heard of before.

This year's festival, presented by the San Francisco Brewers Guild, features over 400 events all across the Bay Area featuring hundreds of breweries, micro-breweries and nano-breweries.

No matter what your beer drinking itch, there's sure to be something at SF Beer Week guaranteed to scratch it.

Check out some of the Beer Week events we're most looking forward to:

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Comments

[mediamarv]

02:43 PM on 02/13/2012

Uh, Carly, there is no Brown Shugga this year.... they made Lagunitas Sucks as an alternative (also known initially as Holiday Ale then Leftovers Ale). Did you forget to update last year's post?
Would have liked to see the address for Noc Noc (I'll find it myself) posted... with a link to speed things up.
Just sayin.

[mamacat]

06:19 PM on 02/09/2012

I am a big fan of Anchor Steam.

Neither here nor there, but I have tried a whole lot of "micro-brews", and my observation is that most of them are not great beers. However, once in a great while, I find the exception that makes it worth slogging through so many so-sos. There is a big difference in individual taste, though. I have tasted some brews that I thought were atrocious that were highly regarded by people whose brew tasting experience I hold in very high regard.

As far as cheeses go, I enjoy most of them, but my all time hands down favorite is genuine roquefort. Blessings upon whomever invented that glorious tribute to the gods.

[luvbrothel]

02:09 PM on 02/09/2012

Anchor Steam always finds its way back into my fridge. I've given so many others to opportunity to satisfy my thirst, but Anchor always wins... and you can get a 24 pack for $22 at the Colma Costco :)

[Vintage59]

12:57 PM on 02/09/2012

I wish HuffPo had enough reporters in the Bay Area to have actually compiled a list of activities that are planned for the upcoming week. I guess I will have to get out and start dong it for them. That is after all, the essence of Arianna's experiment.

The other part of the essence is that the comments always have more information than the initial article that kicks off the discussion. Only nine posts so far and that is already coming true.

[Kyle OConnor]

12:44 PM on 02/09/2012

The Bay Area, hands down, is the center of the craft brewing revolution in the USA. Every Tuesday is "brewday" among my friends and I. We brew and encourage anyone who does not know how to brew to learn from someone who does. Share the wealth because when all your friends brew there is always beer around. It's great to be from Sonoma County, the center of the center of craft brewing. In fact, to honor Russian River Pub in Santa Rosa, my city of birth, my friends and I made an Elder clone and a Lil' Sumpin Sumpin clone last week. Here's to beer.

[richdibo]

10:05 AM on 02/19/2012

Have you been to Portland?

[Kyle OConnor]

02:40 PM on 02/19/2012

OK, OK, the seed started here in my native Sonoma County but you have to give Portland some major respect. And I did graduate from University of Portland and my daughter was born at Good Samaritan Hospital. So let's call it the Northwest which many argue begins in San Francisco and goes to Vancouver, BC...even Alaska has to get some respect. LOOK BROTHER...THE WEST COAST IS IT. This is why it is hard to stop because beer has become so exciting in the USA.

I want to give special respect to Widmer for helping Americans understand wheat beer and I want to give props to Bridgeport for having one of the best IPA's in the world. Let's not forget Deschutes Black Butte Porter (Bend of course) which I really love and is my go to Porter when I don't have my own on tap.

Just because you said this I am going to do some Portland based clones on Tuesday Brewday and I am going to make a beer called Richdibo ?. So what do you think it should be? Richdibo Porter, Richdibo Stout, Richdibo IPA, Richdibo ?????

[davearnold007]

11:13 AM on 02/09/2012

Laganitas. The brewery is about three miles from my house. They have a small restaraunt and open outdoor grilling days during the good weather (nine months a year) and, of course, BEER.

They make some great beer. Also, Brew Free or Die and Racer 5. Other local breweries.

NorCal has amazing beer, cheese and wine.

I am on a diet, so none for me right now. I am wearing them all at the moment. The downside to living in good weather and great food. Dang!

[sensativereceptor]

11:08 AM on 02/09/2012

Lucky 13 on Alameda and Beer Revolution in Oakland both have Younger on Tap NOW.

[Kyle OConnor]

12:46 PM on 02/09/2012

Yeah, there was a huge line in from of Russian River earlier in the week for the debut. People really love RR's beer and they have a real following. Support your local brewer and for brewers...support your local suppliers.

[thestargazer]

02:01 AM on 02/09/2012

And here I thought that Bobby G's was a little secret???

[NoWayMan]

11:29 PM on 02/08/2012

monk's kettle on 16th in the mission should be on this list.

sure its small and near impossible to get a table on a saturday night, but they have really good food (great mac and cheese, really good burgers) and a huge selection of beers.

but the best part is that your waiter will pair a beer with whatever you're ordering if you ask. every time we've done this the pairing has been perfecto. highly recommended if you're ever in SF.

[Roy l Payne]

10:48 PM on 02/08/2012

A couple of delights we have here in the bay area is Anchor Steam beer, It's-It ice cream sandwiches and Ghiradelli chocolate. Not forgetting to mention all the local foods and delectables.

I'm sure we could get a great list started. Life is good in the bay area.

[charon]

11:32 PM on 02/08/2012

The unique climate of San Francisco makes it a special place to cultivate sour dough for bread and to cure sausage as well, and the city has some great bakeries and sausage. And San Francisco is the home of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat.

If one looks at the larger area of Northern California, there is no comparably rich and diverse an agricultural area in world. It is a veritable Garden of Eden, and San Francisco is its true capital.

[xevioso]

05:16 PM on 02/09/2012

Um...no one here in San Francisco eats Rice-a-Roni. Where are you from?

[FogBelter]

09:21 PM on 02/08/2012

Oh, yum. Anchor Porter. my favorite.

[traceymarie]

05:55 PM on 02/08/2012

damn, I am not going till the 18th.