We’ve seen weeks dedicated exclusively to the patronage of local restaurants, but this time it’s all about the beer. The third annual San Diego Beer Week (SDBW) kicks off Nov. 4 in Liberty Station, packing more than 300 related events into 10 days of rich, hoppy bliss. Sanctioned by the San Diego Brewers Guild (SDBG), SDBW celebrates local craft beer from about 40 breweries in the county. Featuring events like brew master dinners, cheese and chocolate pairings, brewery tours, home-brewing classes and special beer releases, SDBW is positioned to showcase San Diego’s prominence in the craft beer scene with many events taking place in various local restaurants. “Some of the breweries don’t have restaurants or brew pubs attached to them,” said Marty Mendiola, SDBG president and senior brewer at Rock Bottom in La Jolla, “so Beer Week provides an opportunity for them to get involved, too.” Beginning as an annual beer festival at the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park, SDBW’s incorporation came after the SDBG observed other craft beer Meccas including San Francisco and Philadelphia achieve success with their respective beer weeks. Outgrowing its original venue, SDBW festivities will begin with the SDBG Festival in Ingram Park at Liberty Station. Festival highlights include live bands on two stages, grub from local food trucks and beer tastings from about 30 breweries. “Beer Week incorporates businesses outside of just the breweries,” said Mendiola. “It’s about getting the chefs and brewers together.” Also sponsored by the SDBG, the SDBW Beer Garden and Chef Celebration at The Lodge at Torrey Pines will serve as the closing event for SDBW from noon to 3 p.m. on Nov. 13. Doubling the number of participating breweries from last year, the beer garden will feature 20 craft breweries paired with 10 local chefs who will create adventurous samplings in an upscale venue overlooking the ocean. “Having so many local breweries creates a competitive community and an opportunity for brewers to talk amongst each other and tweak their recipes,” Mendiola said. “I hate mediocre beer,” he added. “I want it to be remarkable.” The SDBG, Mendiola reminded, encourages responsible tasting. The event, after all, is about exploring flavors, and moderation should be kept in mind. “It’s not about getting drunk,” said Mendiola. “You should be able to taste the intended flavors and be eating food with the tastings. It should be a pleasant experience.” For more information and to search SDBW events, visit www.sandiegobrewersguild.org or www.sdbw.org.
