Today kicks off the 2016 edition of SF Beer Week, a nine-day assortment of brew-related tastings, dinners and festivities. The week is going to be jam-packed all around the bay, but of course, some of the action will take place at the Upper Haight's only brewery: Magnolia.
Quinn, a manager at Magnolia (a Hoodline advertiser), told us yesterday that the restaurant was gearing up for a big lineup of festivities, including an English roast supper, an oyster and beer extravaganza (featuring a stout made with oysters), a Devil's Gulch Ranch pork dinner, and a beery brunch.
But as for which beers will be featured on tap, expect surprises. Quinn told us that most of the brews would be chosen day-of, based on taste and whim. They'll include both Magnolia beers and "guest taps" from other breweries.
"We typically have between forty and fifty beers" in rotation each Beer Week, he said. "What you see [on the menu] probably isn't going to be there tomorrow. That's one of the things that makes us special."
Photo: Jennifer Yin/Flickr
The most popular of the week's events is the Festival of Firkins, a celebration of traditional, English-style cask beers. (A firkin is a cask used to condition beer.) This year, it'll be held on Thursday, January 28th. According to Quinn, the festival is so busy that casks get stacked up on the bar, to supplement the piped-in selections from downstairs in the brewery room.
Beer Week isn't the end of the party for Magnolia. February will mark the 14th annual edition of its Strong Beer Month, a partnership with 21st Amendment. During the month of February, each of the two breweries creates six beers that are 8.5 percent ABV or more, and drinkers who work their way through all 12 receive a commemorative glass. Details on this year's Strong Beer Month brews are still to come, but to whet your palate, here's last year's lineup.
Below are all of Magnolia's Beer Week events, for your perusal. And if that's not enough beer for you, Alembic is also hosting a few events, including a weeklong celebration of beer cocktails, a kölsch party, and a night featuring breweries from Oregon.
