San Francisco Beer Week, presented by the SF Brewers Guild, kicks off tomorrow, February 10th. Don’t let the word week fool you, SF Beer Week is a 10-day long extravaganza. Stamina is definitely the key to surviving any beer week, especially one as crazy and event-filled as SF Beer Week.

East Bay, South Bay, North Bay — San Francisco isn’t the only one getting the action during beer week. So how does one go about choosing which events to go to and which events to pass on?

Being an employee of a Bay Area brewery and a resident with quite the party-girl reputation, many people have been approaching me for advice. What are the hottest, can’t-miss events? And where will The Wench be? (Duh., I’ll be at the hottest, can’t-miss events!)

There are so many great events this year and, whereas I would love to attend every single event on the list, it is physically impossible for me to do so. Here is, however, the list of places that you can most definitely find me during SF Beer Week.

Friday, February 10th

Opening Celebration
Where: Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
Time: 6-10pm
Admission: $55

Sunday, February 12th

The Unbirthday Beer Cocktail Party
Where: Revival Bar & Kitchen, downtown Berkeley
Time: 2-4pm
Admission: $30 for 3 beer cocktails & light tea party fare
Eventbrite: http://beermixology.com/eventbrite
Summary: This is your chance to experience beer mixology in a most unique setting. The Unbirthday Beer Cocktail Party will feature three unique concoctions crafted using St. George Spirits and Bison Organic Beers. Don’t be late for this very important date!

Monday, February 13th

Brews & Booze Threesome
Where: Thirsty Bear Brewery, San Francisco
Time: 6-8pm
Admission: $25 for 4 beer cocktails & light snacks
Eventbrite: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2843959359
Summary: A sexy cocktail event for consenting adults. Taste a menage-e-tois of local artisanal companies: Bison Brewing, ThirstyBear, & St. George Spirits. Straight spirits and beer tasting also included in price of admission. Additional cocktails available for purchase a la carte.

Wednesday, February 15th

The Three Ring Circus
Where: Elks Lodge No. 3, San Francisco
Time: 6-10pm
Cost: $120
Tickets: threeringcircus.eventbrite.com
Summary: A Brewer’s Dinner and Sideshow Presented by Sean Z. Paxton featuring Speakeasy, Ninkasi, and Shmaltz

Thursday, February 16th

East Bay Brew Fest
Where: Pyramid Ale House, Berkeley
Time: 5-9pm
Admission: $20
Eventbrite: http://www.eastbaybrewfest.eventbrite.com
Summary: Celebrate San Francisco Beer Week East Bay-style by sipping unlimited samples from the best breweries on the east side of the bridge.

Friday, February 17th

Meet the Brewer with Tyler King of The Bruery
Where: Beer Revolution, Oakland
Time: 5-10pm

An Evening with Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Where: The Trappist, Oakland
Time: 6-10pm

(I will be running up and down the street, back and forth between these two events!!)

Saturday, February 18th

Organic Orgy
Where: Thirsty Bear, San Francisco
Time: 4-7pm
Admission: $35
Eventbrite: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2762311147
Summary: An orgy of California organic beers from all of CA’s certified organic breweries with Bison, Butte Creek, Eel River, MataVeza, Napa Smith, Santa Cruz Mountain, Sierra Nevada (Estate Ale), ThirstyBear, Ukiah, Uncommon Brewers. Tray passed appetizers from local organic farms.

Sunday, February 19th

Celebrator 24th Anniversary Bash
Where: Trumer Brewery, Berkeley
Time: 4-8pm
Admission: $50 in advance, $70 at the door
Tickets: http://celebrator.com/anniversary/2012/

Naturally, this list is not the end all be all, and I will most likely make random appearances at several other events during the week. If you are in town and want to join me in my adventures, do not hesitate to shoot me an email: routson@gmail.com or a tweet at me: @thebeerwench! Cheers!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @21stAmendment

Shaun O’Sullivan

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery
Location: San Francisco, California USA

What is your “official” position with 21st Amendment?

Co-Founder/Brewmaster

What is your favorite beer from 21st Amendment?

Usually the one in front of me, but as most West coast brewers and brewers in general I opt for IPAs, such as our Brew Free! or Die IPA or Back in Black Black IPA. Brewers are like heroin addicts when it comes to hops, the stronger the better. I’ve been known to drink a couple of cans of Hop Crisis, our imperial IPA in one sitting, but never shot gunned..never.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I have a soft spot in my heart and stomach for chicken wings with Jamaican jerk sauce, especially from Fire on the Mountain in Portland, Oregon. That and an IPA…hellooooo heaven!!!

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?

Saison, the BJCP describes the Saison style as: ” A refreshing, medium to strong fruity/spicy ale with a distinctive yellow-orange color, highly carbonated, well hopped, and dry with a quenching acidity..” That pretty much sums me up, strong/fruity/yellow/full of gas at times/sightly bitter, but only slightly/dry sense of humor/and quenching in the right places/

What does craft beer mean to you?

It saved me from a mediocre life in a soulless career and possibly asking the question we all hate to ask later in life, “what if?” It has enabled me to enjoy life’s rich pageantry. Becoming a brewer – A Must! Pursue your dreams folks!

Shaun, your beer has definitely saved me from a mediocre drinking life. Super honored to not just follow you on Twitter, but be a friend in person. Speaking of… you owe me a beer!

It doesn’t take much to convince me to attend a beer festival — or any beer event in general. BUT, when a portion of the proceeds from a beer event or beer festival are donated to support a cause or organization — it makes that event that much more worth attending. (And it helps to justify the drinking …)

BevMo is hosting a Holiday Beer Fest at Fort Mason in San Francisco on Sunday, November 15th from 1pm to 4pm. The event costs $35 and tickets are ONLY available online. (If tickets are still available the day of the event, they can be purchased at the Herbst Pavilion Door for $45-cash). A portion of the proceeds is being donated to the Monterey Culinary Arts Foundation — which I totally dig.

Another awesome perk of attending the event is being able to taste “soon-to-be-released” holiday beers before they are actually released. Unfortunately, I do not have a list of these beers — only a list of styles that will be poured. Pretty much every style under the sun is being represented, so there should be beers to appease every palate.

For further information on the Holiday Beer Fest, I’ve included a copy of the original press release below. If you are in the Bay Area on November 15th, I encourage you to come out and Drink With The Wench. After all, it is for a good cause. Cheers!

BevMo! Holiday Beer Fest to be held at

Fort Mason, Herbst Pavilion in downtown San Francisco on

Sunday November 15^th, 2009 – from 1pm to 4pm.

http://www.nightthatneverends.com/bevmo_holiday.html

California novelist, John Steinbeck, may have had a “Winter of…Discontent“ back in 1961, but today’s Beer Drinkers certainly won’t. With the BevMo! upcoming release of their Holiday, Seasonal & Special Beers from American and around the World, this winter will be anything but “discontent” for California Beer Drinkers.

With that in mind, we invite Beer Connoisseurs everywhere to come and taste 50+ Holiday, Seasonal & Special, “soon-to-be-released”, Beers for the 2009 “California-style” winter season.

Make this Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years extra special with an incredible selection of Holiday, Seasonal & Special Beers available at your local BevMo! stores.

———————————–

Holiday, Seasonal & Special Beers, (some are called Winter Warmers), date back thousands of years.  These big, bold, intoxicating brews were originally produced to celebrate winter’s Saturnalia– a Roman Feast.  The first professional brewers, Medieval Monks, used their finest ingredients to produce special warming beers for the occasion.

Brewers today have continued the ritual with either very old recipes or new fangled ideas using spices, fruits, herbs, coffee & chocolate.

Rich seasonal brews with big, bold flavors evoke memories of frosty nights in front of a roaring fire. These special beers will bring a smile to your lips and a glow to your spirit.

PURCHASE  TICKETS

Tickets are available on-line for only $35 dollars – advance purchase.

Ticket includes all of your beer tasting for the day.

*A limited number of tickets are available for this event, so get your tickets early*

http://www.nightthatneverends.com/bevmo_holiday.html

Food and other merchandise will be available for purchase. There’s ample parking at Fort Mason. If tickets are still available the day of the event, they can be purchased at the Herbst Pavilion Door $45 – cash only.

Only people certifiably over the age of 21 will be admitted to the event. However, if you have a small child you’d like to bring along, feel free – there’s no charge.

*No animals or pets allowed*

EVENT  LOCATION

Fort Mason – Herbst Pavilion

San Francisco, California

http://www.fortmason.org/venuerental/herbst-pavilion?id=1

_____________________

*This is a 501C Event. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Culinary Arts Foundation*

http://www.culinaryfoundation.org/