(San Francisco, CA) – The San Francisco Brewers Guild is happy to announce that Almanac Beer CompanyPacific Brewing LaboratoryPizza Orgasmica & Brewing CompanyShmaltz Brewing Company, and Triple Voodoo Brewing have become new members. The guild’s bylaws were recently modified so membership invitations could be extended to craft brewers who are based in the city of San Francisco via business, wholesale, or brewing license, even if they don’t make craft beer within city limits.

The San Francisco Brewers Guild was founded in 2004 with a mission to unite those who make local beer with those who love it, and revive the vibrant heritage of beer brewing in the city. As a result, the original bylaws required that all members produce beer in San Francisco. While this has fostered a vibrant and growing beer community, the requirement didn’t acknowledge the important contributions being made by breweries that operate a business in the city, but make beer in other Bay Area cities.

“We feel a special kinship with those working around us in San Francisco, and we want the guild to reflect the totality of the city’s craft brewing experience,” according to Dave McLean, a member of the guild’s executive committee and owner of Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery. He went on to explain: “These are exciting times in the industry, which has exploded into a powerful movement that has inspired more homebrewers than ever before, to follow their dreams and make beer for a living. Passionate brewers all over the country are finding ways to partner with existing breweries to get their beers to market. It’s happening here in San Francisco, and the guild couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the vitality and excitement these newcomers add to our local beer community.”

Almanac Beer Company is one of these newcomers. Co-owners Jesse Friedman and Damian Fagan having been making beer since 2010 in partnership with several breweries outside the city, but are rooted in San Francisco. It’s where their office is located, it’s where they launched their beer, and it’s where they hope to brew someday. “San Francisco has a long and proud brewing tradition, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it,” said Friedman.

The new members will be pouring their beer at Brews on the Bay September 15th, an annual guild event, which takes place aboard the historic S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco. For tickets visit http://brewsonthebay2012.eventbrite.com/

About the San Francisco Brewers Guild

The San Francisco Brewers Guild is a non-profit 501(c)(6) founded in 2004, whose mission is to unite those who make local beer with those who love it, and revive the vibrant heritage of beer brewing in the city. Together they organize and sponsor two annual events, SF Beer Week and Brews on the Bay. The fourteen member breweries include: 21st Amendment Brewery, Almanac Beer Company, Anchor Brewing, the Beach Chalet Restaurant & Brewery, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery, Pacific Brewing Laboratory, Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Company, Shmaltz Brewing Company, Social Kitchen & Brewery, Southern Pacific Brewing, Southpaw BBQ, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, ThirstyBear Brewing Company and Triple Voodoo Brewing.

About Almanac Beer Company

Founded in 2010 in San Francisco by Jesse Friedman and Damian Fagan, Almanac Beer Company is an SF-based microbrewery dedicated to producing “farm to bottle” artisan ales, brewed specifically to complement locally-sourced cuisine prepared with the same care and craft. Pioneering the concept of “farm-to-bottle” craft brewing, Almanac leverages its close relationships with regional farmers to capture the essence of California’s diverse agricultural bounty. Each beer is rooted in historical brewing traditions and made uniquely Californian by integrating locally sourced ingredients. Every release is ultimately collaboration between Almanac and the local terroir of California.

About Pacific Brewing Laboratory

Pacific Brewing Laboratory started in a garage as a place for Patrick Horn and Bryan Hermannsson to experiment with new beer flavors, styles, and brewing techniques. What started out as a place to share new creations with friends grew into a bi-monthly, totally free event with hundreds of our “new” friends and great local street food vendors. Patrick and Bryan brew small batches, which allows for constant beer experimentation. They have been known to create exotic beer styles such as their Hibiscus Saison, Squid Ink Black IPA, Chamomile Ale, Lemongrass IPA, and Szechwan Peppercorn Red ale, wine soaked oak aged Brown Ale. Pacific Brewing Laboratory is always on the lookout for new ingredients and inspirations that will help them create new and tantalizing yet pleasing and palatable beers for the public.

About Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Company

Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Co. has been supplying the San Francisco Bay Area with quality pizzas since 1996 and fine craft beers since 2004.  Owners Taylor Maia and Gina Gochez are committed to using only the finest, freshest ingredients and recipes at all five of their restaurants, and brewmaster Rev Jackson is equally dedicated to creating a wide range of beer styles to go with them.  On tap since 2004, Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Co. has been producing all of their unique beers at their brewery in San Rafael since January 2011, supplying the Marin county pizzeria and Brazilian restaurant as well as the four San Francisco locations with the entire lineup of Orgasmica brews.

About Shmaltz Brewing Company

Established in San Francisco in 1996 with the first batch of 100 cases of HE’BREW Beer® bottled, labeled, and delivered by hand, Shmaltz has sold more than ten million bottles of beer to date. Along with their acclaimed line of HE’BREW Beers®, Shmaltz introduced its new line of sideshow-inspired Coney Island Craft Lagers®. Shmaltz offerings are available in more than 30 states through 35 wholesalers at more than 3,500 retail specialty shops across the U.S., including Beverages & More, Whole Foods, Total Wine, select Krogers and Cost Plus. Shmaltz was recently ranked in 2012 as one of the “Top 50 Brewers in the World” by RateBeer.com, and was also included in the “Top 50 Fastest Growing Bay Area Companies” by San Francisco Business Times, and is a recipient of the “Distinguished Business Award” by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

About Triple Voodoo Brewing

Triple Voodoo Brewing was founded in 2010 by three guys with a passion for craft beer.  Our mission is to make unique and interesting craft beer styles and bring these to the local, national, and international craft beer community.  Triple Voodoo Brewing specializes in brewing Belgian beers with a distinct California twist.