December is a time for jovial gatherings fortified by warming wassail…or craft beer if you prefer. Since you’re a West Coaster reader, we’re going to go ahead that is your preference. In the spirit of giving, we’re providing a quick rundown of sudsy celebrations to help you close out the year in style. Check out some of these recommended events, then find even more at our events page.
December 4 & 5 | Strong Ale Festival: Get the crew together and head behind Pizza Port’s bottle shop to test your liver’s mettle while selecting from a beer list more than 75 strong consisting exclusively of beers coming in above eight percent alcohol-by-volume (and, in many cases, way higher) plucked from the chain’s brewpubs and premier breweries nationwide. Pizza Port, 571 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, Times Vary
December 5 | Anniversary Party: La Mesa’s eldest brewing company, Bolt Brewery, is turning one. Like most first birthdays, its will be a biggie, including the release of multiple new beers (including Donator Doppelbock brewed for the Beer to the Rescue campaign), multiple bands, raffles and potential prizes for those who adhere to the ugly Christmas sweater theme. Bolt Brewery, 8179 Center Street, La Mesa, 2 p.m.
December 11 | Beer to the Rescue Finale: 2015 saw nearly 40 breweries craft special beers to support lupus awareness, research and patient resources. AleSmith Noël, a traditional Belgian-style Christmas ale, will close out a successful year for this charity campaign benefiting the Lupus Foundation of Southern California from San Diego’s largest brewery tasting room. AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Court, Miramar, 11 a.m.
December 12 | Anniversary Party: It’s been a big three years for Rip Current Brewing Company. They’ve explored nearly every style of beer under the sun (and done it well), opened a hip satellite tasting room in North Park and won “Very Small Brewery of the Year” at the Great American Beer Festival. To celebrate all that, they’ll tap 12 vintage and specialty beers over the course of one very special day. (TIP: Discounts if you wear an ugly Christmas sweater!) Rip Current Brewing Company, 1325 Grand Avenue, Suite 100, San Marcos, 11 a.m.
December 31 | New Year’s Eve Celebration: For one enchanted evening, Stone Brewing Co. will convert its classy, historically preservative Liberty Station restaurant into a jumping party complete with live music and, dancing. But worry not, there’ll still be plenty of fine craft beer (including a rare variety for the midnight toast) and enough Stone attitude to put a nail in 2015’s coffin. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station, 2816 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma, 8 p.m.
Disclosure: The author is the Marketing Manager for AleSmith Brewing Co.