More than 10 years after a handful of us beer aficionados launched the first SF Beer Week, the SF Brewers Guild-run festival has become an integral part of the Bay Area beer scene, attracting visitors from all over the world. Last year’s festival squeaked in just before the pandemic shuttered bars, restaurants and breweries. Now the 2021 beer celebration is pivoting — and not just going online.
The SF Brewers Guild is being joined by six other brewers guilds throughout the state and turning what once was a regional beer event into California Craft Beer Week — and like its 10-day predecessor, this “week” runs Feb. 12-21.
Among the highlights are “tasting tours,” curated eight or 12-packs of different beers curated by each of the seven California guilds. Many breweries are also offering special beer packages that can be ordered for delivery. Russian River, for example, began selling its Pliny the Younger as part of a mixed 12-pack on Jan. 28.
Other offerings will include tasting packages, gift boxes, take-home pairings, food components and merchandise bundles from California breweries, restaurants and bars, all centered around five beer week themes, which include a salute to Black History Month and our diverse communities, Valentine’s Day gifts and ideas for a romantic evening at home, culinary beer and food pairings, and a “Creativity” theme that brings in music, art and fashion. There should be a little something for everyone.
There won’t be an in-person gala, of course, but there will be a virtual kick-off event on Feb. 12 featuring California craft beer luminaries — I’ll be there for it as well — and produced by Concord’s The Brewing Network, with discussion panels, history and other elements so you can crack open a beer at home and join in the fun.
Hayward’s Bistro Double IPA Festival, traditionally one of the marquee events of opening weekend, will hold its annual judging, and then create and sell a Double IPA Finals Pack.
There will be an unusual competitive fundraiser, too, to help California’s craft beer industry and community charities. With a dozen-plus social media influencers representing regional teams, the Zen and the Art of Beer challenge will encourage craft beer fans to de-stress and find their (beer) zen in categories that include pet zen, yoga zen and outdoor zen.
Most California craft breweries are small and integral parts of their local communities. “It’s vital our industry, community leaders, and those who don’t want their communities to become ghost towns do all they can to save neighborhood businesses,” says Joanne Marino, executive director of the Bay Area Brewers Guild. “Studies have proven that local breweries play vital roles in reviving neighborhoods and local economies. But as manufacturers running a brewhouse (and all that entails), breweries incur higher costs to stay open. Most cannot afford to hang on much longer. And once a local brewery closes, that business won’t be coming back.”
This is an opportunity for beer lovers to step up and support their favorite breweries. You can join the fun and help raise funds at cacraftbeerweek.com/beerzen.
Hopefully by summer, we’ll all be safely clinking our beer glasses together in our favorite watering holes. Until then, let’s enjoy CA Craft Beer Week. Find the full schedule at https://cacraftbeerweek.com.
Contact Jay R. Brooks at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.
January 30, 2021 at 04:30AM
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California launches a statewide Craft Beer Week - The Mercury News
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