2013 San Francisco Beer Week is almost here and to celebrate, eight breweries collaborated on a special “gypsy” brew. This term refers to brewers who rely on contracting space and labor in order to make their brews.

The breweries known as  “the band of gypsies” consisted of Bison Beer, Lucky Hand Beer, High Water Brewing, Pacific Brewing Laboratories, Calicraft Brewing, Oakland Brewing, Triple Voodoo Brewing and Uncommon Brewers. Uncommon Brewers of Santa Cruz, CA was the host of this event and their brewmaster Alec Stefansky overlooked the brewing of this double-batch brew dubbed “The Belgian Tramp”, a big 23-Plato dark Belgian ale made with candy sugar, dates, raisins, and figs. The beer will be available throughout SF Beer Week 2013 beginning next month.

Posted under beer news, Beer personalities, beers on film, California Beer

The North American Organic Brewers Festival (NAOBF) returns to Overlook Park in Portland, Oregon to continue celebrating the contributions of organic brewers and a commitment to more sustainable living. This year’s fest marks the 8th annual NAOBF and will once again feature craft beer and artisan ciders from around the world. “This should be a great fest this year – we’ve increased to three trailers, so lines won’t be a problem” says event coordinator Chris Crabb, adding: “Styles run the gamut from Belgian Whites to Cascadian Darks.”

NAOBF will feature a full lineup of  live local music, organic food (including ice cream and coffee!), sustainability-oriented vendors and non-profits, a soda garden with complimentary Crater Lake Root Beer for minors and designated drivers, and a children’s area with face painting and activities. The NAOBF is a family friendly event, and minors are welcome with parents.

More details:

Event hours are Noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission into the event is free. The purchase of a $6 reusable, compostable cornstarch glass is required for tasting beer, as are tokens, which sell for $1 apiece. A full glass of beer or cider costs four tokens and a four-ounce taste costs one token; select beers cost double tokens. Patrons receive a $1 discount toward the tasting glass with a validated MAX ticket, a ticket from the onsite Hopworks bike corral – last year, nearly 2,000 attendees parked their bikes at the festival – or three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank (limit one discount per person). The NAOBF benefits the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and the Oregon Food Bank.

Lineup of Beers and Ciders To Pour at 2012 NAOBF: Read More…

Posted under Beer & Music, beer and food, beer events, beer news, California Beer, craft cider, Oregon beer, Washington Beer

On April 21, 2012, the Bay Area’s finest craft beer bar and bottleshop, Beer Revolution of Oakland, CA, is throwing an party for Earth Month featuring a great lineup of organic beer. from across the West Coast. Some of these beers will include specialties from Oregon never before featured in the region, including Astoria’s Fort George Brewery and Portland’s The Commons. Oregon’s only 100% certified organic brewery, Hopworks will also have beer showcased on this occasion. Here’s the complete details from an email just sent out. Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, beer events, places to drink beer