Mark your calendars for a grand celebration of craft beer, as the 15th-annual San Diego Beer Week, brought to you by the San Diego Brewers Guild, is set to delight your taste buds from Nov. 3 to Nov. 12. Breweries, bars and restaurants throughout San Diego County will be transformed into havens of hoppy joy during this 10-day extravaganza.
San Diego Beer Week has returned for its 15th year celebrating the local craft beer industry. This 10-day celebration, taking place from Nov. 3 to Nov. 12, will kick off with a virtual toast at all Brewers Guild member locations on Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Unlike previous years, this season’s event bids farewell to Guild Fest, the traditional opening weekend extravaganza. Fear not, for Guild Fest is simply taking a brief hiatus, rescheduled to shine on Sunday, Feb. 4. The event, to be held at Crafted Culture in Sabre Springs, promises an incredible lineup of more than 30 breweries and meticulously curated food pairings. Tickets are already up for grabs, so make sure to secure your spot for this memorable gathering.
“To be transparent, this has been a transition year for the San Diego Brewers Guild and the planning of Beer Week,” says Erik Fowler, executive director San Diego Brewers Guild, in a press release. “With Paige McWey Acers’s departure in April after five-plus years as executive director and my arrival in the role in August, our resources were spread thin and we just couldn’t put together our beloved principal events in time. But make no mistake, Beer Week will still be great and Guild Fest in February will be a party for the ages.”
Though the traditional favorite will not be a part of this year’s roster, new events will take place, including The Guild on the Street, from Nov. 3 to Nov. 11. This adventure takes guests on a tour of local breweries, where board members will be mingling with patrons and sharing insights into the beer industry. Here are the dates and locations:
Friday, Nov. 3: Eppig Brewing (Vista) from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4: Pure Project (North Park) from noon to 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 6: AleTales Taproom (East Village) from 5 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 7: 3 Punk Ales (Chula Vista) from 6 to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 8: Deft Brewing (Bay Park) from 5 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 9: O’Brien’s Pub (Kearny Mesa) from 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 11: Embolden Beer Co. (Miramar) from 1 to 4 p.m.
Individual breweries will host events and have beer specials throughout San Diego Beer Week, including a new Capital of Craft IPA collaboration beer. This year’s edition brings together an illustrious group of breweries, with Modern Times Beer as the host. Joining the party are 3 Punk Ales Brewing Co., Dog Leg Brewing Co., GOAL. Brewing, Kilowatt Brewing, Northern Pine Brewing and Seek Beer Co. The West Coast Capital of Craft IPA, boasting a 6.5 percent ABV and brewed with HS Grove, Nelson and Centennial hops, will be available on draft and in cans at all Guild member breweries throughout Beer Week.
“Beer Week at its core is about quality craft beer and the great community of brewers and beer geeks in San Diego. That will never change,” says Fowler, in a press release. “We hope San Diegans and visitors alike will still go out and support their favorite breweries and beer bars, as well as ones they haven’t yet visited. That said, we look forward to returning to a more grandiose Beer Week in the fall of 2024.”
For more information, visit sdbeer.com.