Celebrate SF Beer Week close to home - Marin Independent Journal

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Celebrate SF Beer Week close to home

San Rafael’s Pond Farm Brewing Co. will participate in this year’s SF Beer Week. COURTESY OF JAY R. BROOKS

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Monk’s Kettle in Terra Linda hosts various events for SF Beer Week. PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN ALBERSTON

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By Leanne Battelle

IJ correspondent

Since 2009, SF Beer Week has been raising pints and spirits and celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship and passion of the Bay Area’s independent brewers. This year’s 10-day, two-weekend festival runs from Feb. 21 through March 2 and is packed with rare tastings, bold pairings, live music and plenty of reasons to raise a glass. Marin’s beer enthusiasts can choose from a lineup of events close to home or easily venture north on SMART trains and shuttles for SMART’s Tracks to Taps.

This year’s SF Beer Week begins with two kickoff parties hosted by the Bay Area Brewers Guild. The smaller of the two is Brews & Bites @ Nite Fest from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at 21st Amendment Brewery at 2010 Williams St. in San Leandro. It includes unlimited tastings from more than 15 Bay Area breweries, beer pairings, food vendors and live music ($85 through Saturday, $95 after).

The second is the inaugural SF Beer Week Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 22 at Salesforce Park in San Francisco. It highlights collaborations and exclusive releases from more than 40 breweries and live music from Audiodub ($75).

Pond Farm Brewing Co. will participate in both kickoff events as well as host several events at its indoor-outdoor brewery and taproom at 1848 Fourth St. in San Rafael. Pair your brews with Girl Scout cookies on Feb. 22 or compare 15-plus California guest beers from the Bay Area, Los Angeles County, Orange County and San Diego brewers guilds at noon Feb. 23 during the taste-and-pay-as-you-go Battle of the Guilds competition. Find more about Pond Farm at pondfarmbrewing.com.

Fairfax Brewing Co. makes its SF Beer Week debut with a Chef & Brewers Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at 75 Central Blvd. in Fairfax ($60). The four-course meal is paired with beer, including a first taste of Session India Pale Lager and East Peak Pale Ale. Call 415-859-9551 to reserve a table.

The Monk’s Kettle at 655 Del Ganado Road in Terra Linda hosts a series of events, starting with the annual United Sours of America at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22 featuring dozens of rare and vintage sour beers on tap and in bottles. Female brewers take center stage on Galentine’s Day (11:30 a.m. Feb. 23), while Marin-based brewers are the focus of Marin County Monday (11:30 a.m. Feb. 24). Trappist Thursday (11:30 a.m. Feb. 27) pays tribute to monastery beers, a nod to the restaurant’s name, and Feb. 28 brings beer and cookie pairings at 11:30 a.m. The annual Triple IPA Fest returns at 11 a.m. March 1 with bold, hop-forward brews, and SF Beer Week wraps up at 10 a.m. March 2 with hard fermented beverages at Cider Sunday.

Find details at linda.monkskettle.com.

Trivia Night is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at Ounces Outdoors at 5800 Northgate Drive in San Rafael. From 1 to 7 p.m. March 1, Original Pattern Brewing Co. takes over the taps with special beer releases, beer bingo, all-day raffle prizes and live music by Mill Valley’s SourFlower. Find details at ouncesoutdoors.com.

HopMonk Novato cranks up the country music, provides dance lessons and keeps the brews flowing at Beer, Boots ‘n’ Boogie at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at 224 Vintage Way in Novato ($10). Find more information at hopmonk.com.

SF Beer Week is produced by the Bay Area Brewers Guild, a nonprofit trade association representing independent craft breweries across the greater Bay Area. All proceeds support the guild. Find the list of participants and full event schedule at sfbeerweek.org.

Tracks to Taps

Hop on the SMART train and make the most of “FeBREWary” with brewery tours, tap takeovers, beer tastings and limited-edition releases at dozens of Sonoma County breweries just a short walk or shuttle ride from a SMART station.

This month’s brewery events near the San Rafael end of the line can be found at downtownsanrafael.org/fe-brew-ary. Plan your trip north at sonomamarintrain.org/TracksToTaps for SMART schedules, fare details and directions to nearly 40 wineries and breweries between Larkspur and Windsor.

Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer and restaurant columnist. Email her at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with comments and find more local food news at therealdealmarin.com.