There’s a lot going on this weekend in San Diego beer. Not only do we brew the best beer in the world, we attract the best as well. Is your event not listed? Submit it to our calendar.
Thursday 8/16
Cask Nights @ Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurants
Each of the seven Karl Strauss spots taps a cask on Thursday evenings at 5 p.m. Today’s selection: Centennial dry-hopped Pintail Pale Ale, a tasty 5.3% ABV beer with 47 IBU (International Bitterness Units). O’Brien’s Pub is also having a mini-Karl weekend, kicking off with a cask of Big Barrel IIPA tonight at 5 p.m. More beers that’ll be on include Whistler Imperial Pilsner, Blackball Belgian IPA, Boardwalk Black Rye IPA and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout.
Maui Brewing Night @ Sublime Ale House
Maui Brewing was founded by SD native Garrett Morrero. Beers on tap starting at 4:30 p.m.: Maka Koa Pale Ale, Freight Trains IPA, Sobrehumano Palena’ole and more. Hawaiian-inspired food: Hawaiian BBQ chicken, Kahlua pork with cabbage, macaroni salad, two scoops of rice and gravy drizzle.
Monkey Paw Beer Dinner @ Sea Rocket Bistro
A la carte pairings ($10-$15) presided over by Monkey Paw owner Scot Blair and brewer Derek Freese from 5 – 10 p.m. Raw oysters with lime cilantro ice, duck cracklin and chile; paired with Monkey Gose Bananas (KnB 4th Anniversary beer). Albacore Sashimi with pickled avocado, watermelon radish, mango vinaigrette and pineapple; paired with Pineapple X-Press XPA. Sous vide smoked corned beef with Kansas City-style BBQ sauce, baked beans and duck confit; paired with Sweet Georgia Brown. Butterscotch cheesecake with orange marmalade; paired with Rich Man’s IIPA.
The Bruery Night @ URGE American Gastropub
One of CA’s most coveted breweries will put on a good showing at URGE. Beers to expect: Mischief, Hottenroth, Nottenroth, Humulus XPA, Loakal Red, Oude Tart, A Stein’s Throw (collaboration with TAPS), Brown Creeper. Bottles of Fruet, Tart of Darkness, Trade Winds, Sans Pagaie, Otiose, and Mother Funker. 150 signature Bruery tulip glasses available starting at 5 p.m.
Le Trappe Keep the Glass Night @ Bottlecraft
This monastic brewery was founded in 1884 and tradition has bred excellence. Enjoy a bottle of La Trappe in the Little Italy tasting room from 6 – 10 p.m. and keep one of their beautiful goblets to add to your collection.
Friday 8/17
Krisp Grand Opening Day 1/2
Super Jr. Market, which housed both Best Damn Beer Shop and Best Damn Home Brew Shop, has undergone an extreme facelift and is now known as Krisp Beverages + Natural Foods. Both Friday and Saturday from 6 – 10 p.m. Sid and co are hosting a Grand Opening party with a complimentary tasting of beer and wine plus food from local markets and companies. Stay past 10 p.m. and get a wristband for 10% off all your purchases at Krisp, now open seven days/week from 7 a.m. – midnight.
Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival (Brewers Reception)
Festivals for charity rule. Stone Brewing Co.’s annual anniversary fest has raised more than $1,000,000 over the years. This year, Surfrider Foundation, The Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, The Palomar Family YMCA and Fight ALD benefit. The $75 Brewers Reception includes a commemorative glass, access to the brewers, many beers that won’t be at the festival on Saturday, complimentary gourmet fare from local restaurants and caterers, plus live music and a relaxed atmosphere. $25 designated driver tix available at the door.
Firestone Walker DBA Three Ways @ Hamilton’s Tavern
Firestone Walker makes some of the best beer around. Their Double Barrel Ale is a classic, and a cask of the unfiltered version is sure to please discerning drinkers. The cask gets tapped at 5 p.m. in South Park. On tap from FW: Double Barrel Ale and Double Double Barrel Ale.
Great Divide Tap Takeover @ Sublime Ale House
Two takeovers in two nights for San Marcos’ Sublime. 10 taps of Great Divide beers go on at 4:30 p.m.: Schwartz Beer, Clayton Bigsby Spiced Tripel, Altbier, Session Yeti, Chocolate Yeti, Wolfgang Doppelbock, Claymore Scotch Ale, Rumble IPA, Hercules Double IPA and Hoss Rye Lager.
She Likes Beer Meetup @ Societe Brewing
It’s ladies night at one of San Diego’s newest tasting rooms. Presented by “She Likes Beer,” the party starts at 6 p.m. before a tour of the facility at 6:30 p.m. Cost of the event is what you decide to spend on beer and food from the InSlider truck.
Best of San Diego Party (presented by San Diego Magazine)
This event goes down in Liberty Station from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Some of the local beer-y participants: Hamilton’s Tavern, Karl Strauss, Monkey Paw, Pizza Port, Slater’s 50/50, Stone Brewing Co., The Beer Company and White Labs. Tickets are $55 or $35/each for groups of 6+.
Saturday 8/18
Knee Deep Simtra Cask & Tap Takeover @ Main Tap Tavern
El Cajon’s Main Tap will show off the first production cask ever from Knee Deep Brewing Co. The beer? Simtra Triple IPA. On tap: Imperial Tanilla Porter, Citra Extra Pale, Hoptologist, McCarthy’s Bane Imperial Red Ale and Simtra. The Knee Deep crew will be on hand to answer your questions.
Krisp Grand Opening Day 2/2
Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival
Tickets to two sessions are available for this charitable fest: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Each includes a commemorative glass, ten 4 oz samples from 40+ breweries (100+ beers, Stone beer on cask), free home-brewed soda, plus samples of Mike’s Beer Cheese and Arrogant Bastard Ale onion rings. $10 designated driver tickets are available at the door.
Sunday 8/19
Ballast Point Beer & Food Fest @ O’Brien’s Pub
This event is limited to 80 tickets at $50 a pop. Lots of great beers: Jalapeño Smoke Screen, Fathom India Pale Lager, Barrel-aged (in BP rum barrels) Victory at Sea, Barrel-aged (in BP rum barrels) Three Sheets Barleywine, Barmy Ale, Thai Chile Wahoo Wheat, Brother Levonian Saison, Winter San Salvador, Guajillo Calico Amber Ale, Barrel-aged Navigator, Habanero Sculpin, Dorado Double IPA, Victory at Sea, Sour Wench, Calico, Indra Kunindra (Batch 1). Food to accompany: Seared scallops with a chipotle burr blanc, Indra Kunindra-braised short ribs, beef cheek wellington pops, hop salt cured salmon, Thai chili Wahoo ceviche and more from various stations inside and outside the pub. Sign up at O’Brien’s or call 858-715-1745.