A botanical garden might seem like an unlikely location for a beer bash, but the SF Botanical Garden is taking the plunge tomorrow for SF Beer Week, hosting Presidio-based Fort Point Beer Co. for a special plant-themed happy hour.
The event's featured beer has a unique connection to one of the plants in the garden. Fort Point's Manzanita Ale is "a deep ruby-colored ale that uses charred manzanita branches to add hints of perfume and a slightly tannic woody finish."
The beer came about because "Fort Point was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Sebastian Freigeist, a German brewer who came to San Francisco seeking to collaborate with a local brewery," Fort Point's Colleen Fredericks told us in an email. "Knowing Freigeist's expertise in smoked beers, Fort Point's head brewer Mike Schnebeck sought to create a smoked style incorporating one of his favorite local plants, manzanita."
Manzanita has a special history in the Botanical Garden, said Nina Sazevich, the garden's spokesperson. San Francisco's own native species of wild manzanita, which had been thought to be extinct, was rediscovered during the Doyle Drive construction project. Here's a KQED video about the discovery, featuring the garden's curator, Don Mahoney:
Sazevich said the garden now has hundreds of thriving manzanita plants, and the discovery is now considered one of its biggest successes.
Schnebeck will discuss the process of making the beer at the event, followed by a happy hour. After that, tasters will go for a tour of the California native plants garden. Admission is $25 for the public and $15 for members.
This isn't the first boozy event at the garden, according to director of learning and engagement Jessica Barzelay. They've previously experimented with small concerts, a Magnolia mixology class, and coffee/chocolate/cocktail events. "We want to do more fun activities like this, connecting plants that can be found in the garden to food and drink," she said.
