SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE 2021 SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.
SF International Beer Festival: Enjoy Tasty Craft Beers from Around the World
Head over to the Fort Mason Center on April 18 for the 2020 SF International Beer Festival. This event features beers from more than 100 breweries around the world.
Enjoy amazing selections from San Francisco, Northern California, the US, and beyond. Participants range from well known breweries such as Sam Adams to local favorites such as 21st Amendment.
I enjoy this event every year. It's a fun way to mingle with other beer lovers and make some new friends.
The last time I attended, I decided to volunteer. This allowed me to sample some of these amazing beers from around the world for free as we poured for the other attendees.
Another thing I like about this festival is that it raises money for a local cause, the Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School. The caring parents of this school dedicate their time to making this event possible, and it's their only fundraiser every year, so buy a ticket and help support this great cause!
More Festival Details
This event is once again at the Festival Pavilion within the Fort Mason Center. Tasting begins at 7pm and last pour is at 9:45pm on Saturday, April 18.
Breweries
This is just a sample of the breweries that plan to be on hand during this year's SF International Beer Festival. This list can change at anytime.
- 2 Towns Cider House
- 21st Amendment
- Abita
- Ace Ciders
- Alpine Beer
- Black Diamond
- Alpenglow Beer Co.
- Buffalo Bill's Brewery
- Butte Creek Brewing
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- Baja Brewing
- Blue Moon Brewing Company
- BridgePort Brewing
- Calicraft Brewing Company
- Carneros Brewing Company
- Clown Shoes
- Das Brewing
- Deschutes Brewery
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales
- Drake's Brewing Company
- E.J. Phair Brewing Company
- El Toro Brewing Co.
- Epidemic Ales
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company
- Fort Point Beer Company
- Full Sail Brewing Company
- Ghost Town Brewing
- Green Flash
- Gulden Draak
- Hangar 24
- Heretic Brewing Company
- Highwater Brewing
- Highway 1 Brewing Company
- Hoppy Brewing Co. (Sacramento)
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer
- Lagunitas Brewing Company
- Laughing Monk Brewing
- Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
- Lost Coast Brewer
- Magnolia Brewing
- Mendocino Brewing Company
- North Coast Brewing Company
- Petrus
- Pilsner Urquell
- Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Co.
- Rogue
- Saint Archer Brewing Company
- San Francisco Brewing Company
- Sonoma Springs
- Spoetzl Brewery
- Speakeasy Ales and Lagers
- Sprecher Brewing Company
- Stone Brewing
- Strike Brewing
- Trumer Pils
- Tsingtao Beer
- T.W. Pitchers' Brewing
- Uinta Brewing
Food
In addition to ales, you can also sample amazing gourmet treats during the SF International Beer Festival. Try the delicious complimentary food from some of these local restaurants (actual food selection may change at anytime):
- Belcampo Meat Company
- Capay Organic
- Farm Fresh to You
- GigaBites
- The Green Grocer
- Hint
- Jasper's Corner Tap and Kitchen
- Kettle Brand
- Kind Healthy Snacks
- Krave Jerky
- Leopold's Gasthaus
- The Pub BBQ at Ghirardelli Square
- Old Ship Saloon
- Pizza Orgasmica
- Rosamunde Sausage Grill
- Z. Cioccolato Fudge
Tickets
General Admission
The General Admission ticket gets you unlimited samples of beer from 7pm to 10pm, as well as samples of food from the restaurants listed above.
General Admission tickets are $75 per person.
VIP Brewmaster Tickets
The Brewmaster Tickets offer additional benefits. Everyone holding one of these tickets gains entry into the event starting 90 minutes earlier. During this time, you will receive special tastings of craft beers and get the chance to mingle with industry insiders in a more intimate setting. You will also receive a schwag bag, a special edition laminate badge, and access to the VIP areas (including VIP bathrooms) all night long.
VIP Brewmaster Tickets are $150 per person.
This event often sells out early, and tickets will go on sale soon. Buy your tickets online on the official beer festival site.
Places to Stay Nearby
If you decide to spend the night nearby, I recommend looking at options in either Fisherman's Wharf or the Marina District.
The options in Fisherman's Wharf range from higher-end hotels, such as the Fairmont Hotel in Ghirardelli Square, to the less expensive Travelodge. Click here for some of my top recommendations.
Another great option is to stay in the Marina. The great thing about this district is that you can find a number of inexpensive motels that offer free parking. This will allow you to leave the car at the hotel and use public transit for the night.
Apart from motels, lodging in the Marina tends to be small, boutique hotels. Click here for more on the Marina, including some of the top places to stay.
Book Today: Discover great deals and discounts on hotel rooms all around San Francisco on TripAdvisor.com. They offer discounts on your room rate, special offers for free breakfast, and more. Click here to visit TripAdvisor to compare prices and find the best deals today!
Tour, Event, & Theater Tickets at Up to 50% Off
One of the best places to look for tickets around San Francisco is on Goldstar. They offer tickets at up to 50% off. You can save on your SF Bay Cruise, entrance to several of SF's top festivals, and tickets to the theater.
Click here to check out the selection of tickets on Goldstar this April in San Francisco.
Transit Options to Get to the Festival
You have several options to get to the Fort Mason Center. Here are some of the best:
Buses:
- 28 Fort Mason: This bus drops you off right in front of the entrance gate to the Fort Mason Center. After you enter, continue to walk toward the water to find the Festival Pavilion.
- 22 Fillmore: Take the 22 Fillmore to the corner of Fillmore and Beach Streets. Walk eastward down Beach Street to the Fort Mason Center.
- 30 Stockton: Another option is to take the #30 to Laguna and Chestnut. From here, walk toward the water on Laguna Street. You will walk right into the Fort Mason Center.
Other Fort Mason Activities
In addition to festivals and events, you will find other fun activities at the Fort Mason Center. There are also two free museums, art galleries, and a few other fun shops to explore. Click here for more activities at the Fort Mason Center and for their full schedule of upcoming events.
Other Top Events this Weekend
SF Theater: If you love the theater, then check out my calendar to find the best performances scheduled for this weekend. SF attracts large Broadway plays such as The Book of Mormon, Wicked, and The Lion King. You will also find dozens of small, independent performances throughout the city. Click here for details.
Free Walking Tours: One of the best ways to learn more about San Francisco is on a free walking tour given by the SF Public Library. These two-hour tours cover everything from the most important events in SF's history to hidden gems in some of the top districts around the city. Click here for a list of tours scheduled this weekend.
Concerts: If you love live music, then attend a concert this weekend in San Francisco. You will find several performances at famous venues such as the Fillmore, the Warfield, and the Independent. Click here for this month's full schedule.
SF Giants: This April, the SF Giants have more than a dozen home games. They play several teams such as the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, LA Dodgers, and San Diego Padres. Click here for the full April Giants schedule.
BACK TO TOP