San Francisco’s Beer Week (which geographically  includes pretty much everyone from San Jose to the North Bay) is set for Feb. 7-16 and events are starting to go up on the official website.

The opening Gala will be Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Concourse Exhibition Center downtown (Tickets go on sale Friday are $65 through Jan. 7), with about 80 regional breweries pouring. Festivities will then spread out to individual bars, restaurants, and breweries around the area. I’m not seeing anything on the schedule at locations in the North Bay yet, but that could change as events are scheduled and posted (it is, for example, probably not a pure coincidence that Russian River is releasing Pliny the Younger on Day 1 of the Beer Week. It is, at least, a happy coincidence that seems likely to spawn some associated events).

There are about 90 events on the books so far and organizers, the SF Brewers Guild, expect up to 500 events all over the area. Some events will require reservations or tickets, others are wide open (with cash bar, of course), so be sure to check the schedule to see what arrangements you need to make for any particular event.

There are a number of local brewers doing events in the city, including an “Evening with Sonoma County Breweries” on Feb. 9 starting at 3 p.m. at Pi Bar, 1432 Valencia downtown. That will include 101 North, Third Street Ale Works, Bear Republic, and Moonlight. There is no reservation or cover charge necessary to come hoist a Sonoma County pint. Also on Feb. 9, Iron Springs brewer Christian Kazakoff will be taking questions and pouring beer from 3-5 p.m. at ØL Beercafe & Bottle Shop, 1541 Giammona Drive downtown, also a free event. On Feb. 11, the brewhouse gang from Lagunitas will be pouring at Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia, starting at 8 p.m. No cover charge for that event. The Russian River crew will be at Pi Bar on Feb. 12 from 3 p.m. through the restof the afternoon, pouring some rarities and limited releases. Free as well. The next day, Marin Brewing will be at Pi Bar doing the same thing from 3 p.m. on.

And of course, there will be loads of great events featuring local, regional, and national breweries of all shapes and sizes – too many to describe, in fact, so just hit the website and check it out.

This is the sixth annual Beer Week in San Francisco. Details of hosting a Beer Week-related event of your very own are on the website.

– Sean Scully