Bring on the Brews: San Diego Beer Week 2018 Begins Today!
Bring on the Brews: San Diego Beer Week 2018 Begins Today!
San Diego Beer Week is about to once again turn America’s Finest City and its surrounds into one world-class celebration of independent brewing and exceptional craft beer. San Diego is a global leader in that regard and Beer Week—presented by the San Diego Brewers Guild—is an unparalleled opportunity to take in our exceptional brewery scene, plus explore the creations of some of the finest beermakers beyond our sunny shores.
The Sofia Hotel makes a top-grade base camp for the 10th annual San Diego Beer Week: Book your guest room with us today so you’re all set for the superlative suds!
Guild Fest
Though today sees some preliminary events—we’ll call out some highlights shortly—San Diego Beer Week’s official kick-off is Guild Fest, going down Saturday, November 3rd at Embarcadero Marina Park South (within toasting distance of the Sofia Hotel).
Running from 11:30 AM to 5 PM, Guild Fest sees 60-plus craft breweries from San Diego and farther afield—Alta Brewing Co., Green Flash, Stone Brewing, Thunderhawk Alements, Burning Beard Brewing Co., Green Cheek Beer Co., and more—serving up more than 100 beers for your sampling pleasure, alongside suds-worthy grub from local eateries and food trucks.
A General Admission ticket gets you into Guild Fest at 2 PM, but VIP pass holders enjoy early entry and the option of an hourlong Harbor Cruise featuring its own onboard beer sampling.
The Brew-tiful Highlights of San Diego Beer Week 2018
There’s way, way too much stuff going down across Greater San Diego during this year’s better-than-ever edition of Beer Week, so all we can do is convey something of the festival’s variety pack by spotlighting a few representative happenings. (But definitely eyeball the full itinerary here.)
On Friday, Nov. 2nd, for instance, Kilowatt Brewing (1875 Cable St.) is hosting its Flower Sour Beer Release (complete with Summer of Love-style ambience and soundtrack), while the taproom at 32 North Brewing Co. (8655 Production Ave, Suite A) marks Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) with Micheladas (Mexican beer cocktails), several versions of its Death of a Brewer bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, and tacos.
Creative beer/food pairings are a fixture of San Diego Beer Week. On Sunday, Nov. 4th, for instance, you’ll have to choose between the San Diego Beer Week Coffee & Cannolis Beer Brunch at Pizza Port Brewing Co. (1956 Bacon St.) and the Beer Breakfast & Donut Pairing at Northern Pine Brewing (326 N Horne St., Oceanside). (There are worse choices to be faced with, right?) Celebrate the midterms on Tuesday, Nov. 6th with the Jerky & Beer Election Pairing over at Pariah Brewing (3052 El Cajon Blvd., Suite B). The truly magical combination of beer and ice cream, meanwhile, takes center stage on Thursday, Nov. 8th at Circle 9 Brewing (7292 Opportunity Rd, Suite C) and Longship Brewery (10320 Camino Santa Fe, Suite C).
As Kilowatt’s Flower Sour night suggests, a host of participating breweries are releasing special brews to mark San Diego Beer Week: Deft Brewing’s (5238 Banks St.) Bay Park Sunset Red on Saturday, Nov. 3rd, Rip Current Brewing Co.’s (1325 Grand Ave #100, San Marcos) Murpy Malarkey Hazy IPA on Wednesday, Nov. 7th, Eppig Brewing’s (3052 El Cajon Blvd.) Lime IPA collaboration with Modern Times on Friday, Nov. 9th, and more. Tap takeovers and celebrations of one beer style or another help round out the brew safari.
Throw in beer-pong and disc-golf tournaments, a closing beer garden up at Torrey Pines, the festival’s Customer Appreciation Party at Council Brewing (7705 Convoy Court) on Saturday, Nov. 10th, and sundry other delights, and you’ll see the hardest thing about San Diego Beer Week is sorting out your schedule.
The Sofia Hotel & San Diego Beer Week: A Hoppy Marriage
We’re going to ease off the beer puns and simply encourage you to choose the Sofia Hotel for your San Diego Beer Week home base this year. And don’t forget you can always enjoy a friendly pint at our very own on-site restaurant, Currant American Brasserie!