The 8th Annual SF Beer Week presented by the San Francisco Brewers Guild begins today, January 22nd and concludes on Sunday, January 31st. The nine day celebration of craft beer in the bay area kicks off with a bang at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala from 6pm to 10pm this evening. Over 100 breweries from Northern California will serve their beer at this sold out event. Beer Country will be in attendance to cover the event and will do a follow up, complete with pictures capturing the spirit of the event.

There will be over 700 events happening during SF Beer Week. BeerCraft in Rohnert Park, Taps in Petaluma, The Whole Foods Taproom at Coddingtown in Santa Rosa and a number of other local taprooms and breweries will be hosting events. Click here for a schedule of events to keep up with all the options.

Those of you looking to travel into San Francisco for events may want to consider the following:
Thirsty Bear Organic Brewery at 661 Howard St. will host ‘Cask & Queso, Triple Fermented’ on Friday, January 29th between 6pm and 9pm.The $50 price of admission includes unlimited beer, cheese and bread tastings plus you get to take home a Thirsty Bear glass. Cowgirl creamery, Thirsty Bear and the SF Baking Institute team up to provide the cask conditioned ales, bread and artisan cheese. Attendees will have the option to taste from 17 special release ales brewed by 16 Bay Area brewers. To purchase tickets for this event click here.

Almanac & Friends Sourfest will take place at MaSo at the Park Central Hotel on Thursday, January 28th between 7pm and 11pm. Over 3o American wild ales from Almanac, The Rare Barrel, Sante Adairius, Jester King, Shady Oak Barrelhouse and Cascade, amongst others will be on tap. Shmaltz Brewing Company’s Funky Jewbelation will debut at the Opening Gala and will be poured at this event as well. Tickets will be available at the door, while supplies last, for $30 and include a tasting glass and 6 drink tickets. Additional drink tickets will be available for purchase.

The RateBeer Best Awards & Beer Festival will take place on the last two days of SF Beer Week in Santa Rosa. The awards banquet will be on Saturday, January 30th and will take place at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel and Spa in downtown Santa Rosa. Over forty of the most prestigious breweries in the world will make their way to Santa Rosa to find out if they are winners of the RateBeer Best awards. The following day the beer festival will take place at a private hangar at the Sonoma County Airport. For more details or to purchase tickets click here.

It’s going to be a busy nine days. Make sure to designate a driver or use public transportation.

-Peter Lopez Jr.