It may be the shortest month of the year, but February is stocked with beer and brewery events. The anniversaries alone could keep an ale enthusiast busier than a one-armed hop-bine tender (trust me on that one). Peruse this short-list of quality events, then go a step further and take in the full list of goings-on at our constantly updating events page.
February 4 | Super Sunday Cellar-bration: It takes a lot for a non-sporting event to compete with the almighty Super Bowl. Realizing this, Stone Brewing is pulling out all the stops—and some of its rarest kegs—putting on a beer festival at its Escondido eatery featuring vintage beers going back as far as 2005, plus plenty of one-offs and a special food menu. Game on! | Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, 1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido, 10 a.m.
February 10 | Brewbies: Supporting a worthy charity is both easy and rewarding at this annual fest put on by the Keep A Breast Foundation, where scads of SoCal breweries bring out their best, including one-offs, many of which are pink-hued in honor of the fight against breast cancer. | Bagby Beer Company, 601 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, 1 p.m.
February 10 | Second Saturday: Hamilton’s Tavern’s monthly tap-takeover extravaganza will feature the varied liquid wares of Karl Strauss Brewing, including Onyx Ledbetter, a black IPA brewed collaboratively with South Park Brewing as the first beer of the 2018 Beer to the Rescue fundraising campaign benefiting the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. | Hamilton’s Tavern, 1521 30th Street, South Park, 5 p.m.
February 14 | Truffles, Truffles Everywhere: Few things scream Valentine’s Day like chocolate confections, and some of the best in San Diego are produced by Andrea’s Truffles. So sweet are her sweets that a whopping three beery venues will feature them during the day of amore. Eppig Brewing is doing a beer-and-truffle pairing, while just down 30th Street, Andrea will collaborate with Mastiff Sausage Company at North Park Beer Co. And over in Beeramar, White Labs will temper its beer pairing with a side of education. Ooh la la! | Various Locations, Times Vary
February 24 | Carnival of Caffeination: In 2017, West Coaster readers voted “Modern Times Beer festivals” as the best beer events in San Diego, and the beer-and-coffee biz is teaming with guest roasters and brewers to put on the second edition of its fete celebrating all things caffeinated, including barrel-aged beers and exotic java, plus live music and food trucks. | Broadway Pier, Downtown, 12 p.m.
Anniversaries Galore: There are so many, I felt inclined to list them. Cheers and happy birthday to the whole lot of them!
- Feb. 3: 5th Anniversary & Sour Saturday; Fathom Bistro, Bait & Tackle; Shelter Island
- Feb. 3: 3rd Anniversary, Machete Beer House, National City
- Feb. 24: 5th Anniversary Party, Culture Brewing, Solana Beach
- Feb. 24: 2nd Anniversary, Resident Brewing (at The Local Eatery & Watering Hole), Downtown
- Feb. 24 & 25: XI Anniversary Beer Fest & Beer Garden, SD TapRoom, Pacific Beach