A Comprehensive Guide For Celebrating SF Beer Week — In Oakland

A Comprehensive Guide For Celebrating SF Beer Week — In OaklandPhoto: Novel Brewing Co./SF Beer Week
Susan Xu
Published on February 09, 2017

The celebration's official title is SF Beer Week, but with so many Oakland breweries and taprooms taking part, organizers may want to consider a new name next year.

The nine-day beerathon kicks off tomorrow — tipplers seeking tastings, educational events and special meals in the 510 will find a comprehensive guide below. 

Taps at The Half Orange. | Photo: Walter Thompson/Hoodline

Saturday, February 11

On Saturday, February 11, The Half Orange (3340 E. 12th St.) will stage A Parade of Park and Lagers with Ol’ Republic Brewery. Admission is free, each course will be about $6.

“We’ll have a lineup of lagers and a bunch of pork dishes to pair with them, some fried, some smoked, some barbecue,” said owner Jay Porter. “A lot of people just assume lagers are light beers, but this will showcase a wide variety of lagers — dark, strong, light.”

Pacific Coast Brewing Co. (906 Washington St.) is hosting Cooking With Beer ($50 per person), from 11–3. Join Chef Alan for a class about the benefits and difficulties of cooking with beer. Participants will prepare five courses ranging from salads to desserts.

Mikkeller Oakland (6309 College Ave.) presents Toolbox Brewing Takeover from 4–10. Attendees can meet the brewer at Mikkeller while downing Toolbox Beers on draft. 

Sunday, February 12

For $15, flapjack enthusiasts can join Pacific Coast Brewing Co. for Beer Pancakapocalypseits "All You Can Eat Beer Pancake Feed," from 10–2.

In Shaman Series at Woods Bar and Brewery (1701 Telegraph Ave.) from noon to 10pm, resident apothecaries will brew medicinal beers using ancient sacred recipes and locally-foraged herbs.

PHOTO: Diving Dog Brewhouse: SF Beer Week

Diving Dog Brewhouse (1802 Telegraph Ave.) is staging its Lagunitas Mini Carnival from 4–10. Festivities include live entertainment, music from the Deep Basement Shakers, and Lagunitas beers on tap.

The Hog's Apothecary (375 40th St.) will host film fans for Movie Night - Strange Brew, 6:30–9. Drop by for a viewing of 1983 classic comedy “Strange Brew" starring Rick Moranis and Max Von Sydow.

Monday, February 13:

From 5–10, Good Hop (2421 Telegraph Ave.) will invite patrons to browse Handcrafted - Portraits of Women Who Brew. Patrick Demmons of Revival Tintype Studios will create portraits of female brewers around the Bay Area using a 1800s-era vintage photo process. Images will be made on-site at their breweries and showcased in an artist reception at Good Hop.

Drake's Dealership (2325 Broadway) is staging the head-to-head competition Brewer V Brewer: Beer Dinner with Drake’s + HenHouse from 6–9. For $89, patrons can watch Drake’s John Gillooly go mano a mano with HenHouse’s Collin McDonnell to see who can best pair their beer with a 5-course prix-fixed meal.

Tuesday, February 14:

Pacific Coast Brewing Co. presents Bacon & Beer Pairing with Ninkasi from 5pm to 10:30pm. In this event, PCB is offering a "tasting flight of bacon" from around the world paired with Ninkasi beer. 

The Half Orange is hosting a V-Day Beer Dinner with Field Work that will feature food prepared by visiting San Diego chefs, MIHO Catering Co., $45 prix fixe.

Novel Brewing Company (6510 San Pablo Ave.) invites local know-it-alls to its Novel Brewing Company Beer Trivia Night, 7:30pm to 10pm. The top two teams will go home with appropriate prizes.

Wednesday, February 15:

In Diving Dog Brewhouse's 3rd Annual Battle of the Bay, 17 breweries will duke it out for one trophy (4–10).

Drake's Dealership becomes a hall of learning for a Beer Off-Flavor Course by Cicerone Certification Program ($49). From 6–7:30, students will learn about six different off-flavors of beer in this seminar. Pre-registration with a Cicerone account is required.

Novel Brewing Company's Novel Book Swap is an open-mic for those who want to explain why their books are must-reads. All leftover books will be donated to the local library, 7–9.

Thursday, February 16:

Pacific Coast Brewing Co. is hosting PCB & Sierra Nevada's Beer & Boardgames Night,  a beer-week edition of its game night with flight deals, food specials, and Sierra Nevada beers.

The Trappist (460 8th St.) team will showcase two beers from its favorite Bay Area breweries in Nor-Cal vs So-Cal Battle of the Breweries, pitting them against other contenders, 6pm to midnight.

Telegraph Beer Garden bar. | Photo: Ann S./Yelp

Friday, February 17:

For Ale Industries Presents Circus Oakland, the brewery (3096 E 10th St.) will transform from a 6,000-square foot industrial space into a nightlife "circle," complete with aerialists. Kids are welcome and a special version of Beast Oakland beer will be served, 5–10.

Telegraph Beer Garden (2318 Telegraph Ave.) has only 32 openings for the Coronado Brewing 2nd Annual Skee-ball Tournament, so it should be even more cutthroat competition than last year.  Prizes include gift certificates, Coronado swag and "beer stuff," 7–10.

Saturday, February 18:

For Drake's Dealership's East Bay Brewer’s Festival, a variety of craft breweries will showcase special SF Beer Week creations from noon to 4pm. The event includes live music, delicious food, beer ice cream and samples of 50+ brews, $30.

Woods Bar and Brewery throws its doors open for the Woods Beer Talent Show8–11:30. Exchange your jokes for a pint!

Sunday, February 19:

Close out SF Beer Week at The Good Hop's Beer Bingo & Keg Kicking Party, back by popular demand, 4–8.

What are your plans for Beer Week? Let us know in the comments below. For the full line up of events in Oakland, visit SFbeerweek.org.