(Press Release)

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.-The Northern California craft beer scene has never been more vibrant, and the San Francisco Brewers Guild is thrilled to announce today the return of the region’s flagship annual beer extravaganza, SF Beer Week 2016, from January 22-31, 2016. Always upping the ante in curating upwards of 700 specialty events throughout the multi-day celebration, the Brewers Guild continues to set the national standard as the foremost Beer Week in the country. SF Beer Week 2016 features 22 premier Guild breweries as well as dozens of celebrated Northern California-based breweries all working together to make the Bay Area an internationally renowned craft beer destination. SF Beer Week’s Opening Gala featuring 100 Bay Area breweries will take place on Friday, January 22, 2016 with subsequent Beer Week events spanning from Santa Cruz to Santa Rosa.

For the first time, SF Beer Week will be setting the table for the Super Bowl (Feb. 7, 2016), which takes place in San Francisco just one week after the craft beer festivities conclude. The San Francisco Brewers Guild shares the excitement of such a spectacular moment in San Francisco history by putting our nation’s love of football at the heart of this year’s SF Beer Week theme.

But before we get too jazzed about SF Beer Week returning in 2016, there’s still much in store for 2015! Today, the San Francisco Brewers Guild is pleased to announce that the 12th Annual Brews on the Bay will once again be on board the historic S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien on Saturday, October 24, 2015 (12pm – 5pm). Over 20 San Francisco breweries will join forces for a day filled with unlimited eight-ounce pours, local food trucks, and local bands bringing much good cheer to Pier 45. In honor of the 50th Anniversary of hometown heroes the Grateful Dead and the spooky spirit of Halloween, this year’s Brews on the Bay takes on a “Ship of Fools” theme (a song from the Dead’s album, From the Mars Hotel).

“The Grateful Dead left their mark on San Francisco culture like few others, embarking on a long, strange trip through the heart and soul of American music half a century ago this year,” Dave McLean said, proprietor of Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery and Smokestack and founding member of the SF Brewers Guild. “As we once again raise our flag atop our Ship of Fools for Brews on the Bay, we can’t help but pay tribute to this legendary band that calls San Francisco home.”

Tickets for Brews on the Bay go on sale this Friday, July 17 at 10:30 am PST.

This summer also brings a new executive director to the San Francisco Brewers Guild. Joanne Marino comes to the Guild by way of Austin, Texas, where she was co-founder and co-producer of Austin Beer Week since 2010, and co-producer of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival since 2012.

“I’m honored to be part of the San Francisco craft beer community,” Joanne Marino said. “But even more so to be working on behalf of the San Francisco brewers themselves. In so many ways, the San Francisco Brewers Guild has supported an unprecedented level of community engagement and advocacy. Events like SF Beer Week and Brews on the Bay are craft beer crown jewels. I greatly look forward to continuing the success and goodwill so well cultivated by the Guild since its founding in 2004.”

Each month, members of San Francisco Brewers Guild come together for a brewer meet-and-greet that’s open to the public. This Wednesday, July 15, please join the Guild at Triple Voodoo Brewery & Taproom for “Meet the Brewers” night. Especially for this month’s event, Triple Voodoo will feature a cask of their Wise Fool IPA. A dank and sticky IPA with Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy and Falconer’s Flight hops, Triple Voodoo has infused the cask with additional Galaxy hops to make this an even more vexing brew.

As if all this news weren’t enough, the Guild welcomes two new breweries to the fold, Local Brewing and Sunset Reservoir Brewing. Come raise a pint and celebrate the openings of these fine new establishments in Mission Bay and the Outer Sunset.

About San Francisco Brewers Guild

The San Francisco Brewers Guild formed in 2004 as a non-profit 501 (c)(6) during a renaissance in American craft brewing. Our mission is to restore and preserve San Francisco’s brewing heritage and unite those who make local beer with those who love it. The Guild achieves this by educating the public about craft beer, organizing and hosting events such as SF Beer Week, Brews on the Bay and Meet the Brewers, advocating for the craft beer industry in city government, donating services and product to local charities, and partnering with artisan producers in the food, beverage, hospitality and agricultural industries.