San Jose Beer Events 2016

Simply visiting your local beer spot can be an event in and of itself. But sometimes there are extra special events – tapping parties, tap takeovers, beerwalks, beer fests, beer weeks, beer dinners, etc. – taking place throughout San Jose and nearby.

Many of the San Jose beer events – as well as those nearby along with local beer-related news – are listed below. Please contact me if I’m missing any.

If you’re especially excited about an upcoming event, consider checking in with the venue beforehand to confirm that the event is a go.

Keep in mind that there are other local breweries and beer-centric establishments that host and feature ongoing events and specials, as well as a number of stores that sell good beer.

December 2016

Sat., 12-31-16, 12pm-12am: New Year’s Eve Party! at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Thurs., 12-29-16, Starting at 6pm: Allagash Night! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose. “We have some new and fun beers from Allagash here! Taplist will be: NEW – One T (dry hopped brett IPA),  NEW – Hibernal Fluxus (imperial stout fermented with figs), Nancy, Tiarna, Curieux, James Bean, Maybe More!

Thurs., 12-22-16: Bullpen Series Release – “Trick Hitter Pale Ale is a single malt, single hop pale brewed with 100% malted oats and mosaic hops. Working without barley was a little tricky, but we’re really happy with how this turned out – real juicy and crushable.”

Thurs., 12-22-16, Starting at 6pm: Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Rasputin Tapping! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose. “2016 BA Old Rasputin on tap as well as a bunch of other great Northcoast beers and bottle specials like 2015 wheat rye barrels aged Old Rasputin.”

Wed., 12-21-16, 3pm-9pm: Ugly Sweater Party! at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Tues., 12-20-16, 4pm-7pm: Bourbon Barrel Aged Beers with San Jose Girls Pint Out and Beer Snobiety at Brew Hub (inside Whole Foods Market Cupertino on Stevens Creek)

Sun., 12-18-16 to Mon., 12-19-16: Victory at Sea Day! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Sat., 12-17-16, 6pm-9pm: The Beer Heads & ISO: Beers Host their 2nd Annual Toy Drive

Thurs., 12-15-16, Starting at 6pm: Rare Beers from Clown Shoes and Meet Phil! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 12-15-16, 6pm-9pm: North Coast Old Stock Ale Cellar Release and Tap Takeover at Liquid Bread Gastropub. “Besides having 3 beers on tap we are pulling bottles from our cellar to share! Old Rasputin XIX Bourbon Barrel-Aged, 2013 Old Stock Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels, 2014 Old Stock Ale aged in Rye Barrels, 2014 Old Stock Ale aged in Wheat Barrels. Flight and Draft specials all night!”

Thurs., 12-15-16: Alvarado Street Pint Night at Fibbar Magees

Sun., 12-11-16, 12pm-6pm: Codi’s Going Away Party (and Loma Prieta Release) at Santa Clara Valley Brewing Company. “The time has come to say goodbye to our friend Codi. To help make her send off more fun, we are also releasing our Loma Prieta Imperial Stout the same day! Stop by and try it 4 ways-Bourbon Barrel Aged, Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged, Nitro, and CO2.”

Sat., 12-10-16, 2pm-6pm: Japantown Beerwalk in San Jose – Christmas Edition (25th installment in the ongoing series)

Sat., 12-10-16: Rookies Sports Lodge Opens in Downtown San Jose with 42 Beer Taps

Thurs., 12-8-16, Starting at 6pm: Oskar Blues Event with BA Ten Fidy and Death By Coconut

Wed., 12-7-16, 4pm-9pm: Winter Release Party at Hermitage Brewing Company. “Join us at the Hermitage Tap Room for our Winter Release Party! El Burrito Loco will be on hand to serve up some tasty Mexican treats. We will have 3 amazing new brews on tap: Blood Orange American Sour, That 70s Beer (Hermitage Brewing and Palo Alto Brewing Collaboration Beer, brewed with Comet, Cascade & Cluster Hops) and Half Tun Milk Stout Nitro.”

Fri., 12-2-16: Bullpen Series #24 – Paint the Corner Persimmon Ale at Strike Brewing Company. Kettle Sour with Persimmons. 4.2% ABV, 0 IBU. “We’re back at it again this Friday with another delicious kettle sour. Bullpen Series #24 is a blonde that we soured with lactic acid producing probiotics before boiling and sending it through a regular fermentation. We conditioned this particular batch on a whole bunch of pureed local persimmons for a subtle, fruity complexity.”

Thurs., 12-1-16, Starting at 6pm: Rare Beers from Avery at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose. “We will have for you: Bourbon Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Stout (one of draft magazine’s top 25 beers of 2016), 2015 Samael’s (15% oak aged strong), Beast (17% Belgian dark), Raspberry Sour, Pump{KY}n (15% Bourbon barrel aged stout), Czar Imperial Stout.”

Thurs., 12-1-16, Starting at 2pm: Grand Opening of IBU Taproom & Bottle Shop in Milpitas

November 2016

Wed., 11-30-16, Starting at 4pm: Equinox IPA Single Hop Series Release at Hermitage Brewing Company. “Our initial impression is that it reminds us of some of our favorite American varieties, with a lot of citrus and tropical fruit underscored by a pleasant herbal character. Hints of lime, papaya, apple and green pepper…”

Sun., 11-27-16: Bullpen Series #23 – The Off Saison Dark Winter Saison at Strike Brewing Company. 6.8% ABV, 29 IBU. “The Off Saison is a dark Saison brewed with sweet potato, cranberries, and vanilla.”

Sat., 11-19-16, 2:30pm-6:30pm: For Pete’s Sake Brewfest! at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose

Fri., 11-18-16: Beer Snobiety Fall Launch Party at Taplands

Fri., 11-18-16: Bullpen Series #22 – Third Out Chai Imperial Stout at Strike Brewing Company. 10.0% ABV, 75 IBU. “Wonderful cinnamon and cardamom aromatics complement this sweet, boozy, beast of an imperial stout. At 10% ABV, this one is guaranteed to keep you warm as the San Jose nights get cooler.”

Thurs., 11-17-16, Starting at 6pm: Coronado Night at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 11-17-16, 5pm-11:45pm: Firestone Walker XX Anniversary Extravaganza at Original Gravity Public House

Fri., 11-11-16: Bullpen Series #21 – Lil Slugger Belgian Table Beer at Strike Brewing Company. 3.4% ABV, 27 IBU. “Lil Slugger is our take on a Belgian Table Beer. We kicked up the fermentation temperature on this one to encourage fruity ester production and to let the Belgian yeast shine. The result is crisp and flavorful, ringing in at a crushable 3.4% ABV.”

Fri., 11-11-16, Starting at 5pm: Firestone Walker Tap Takeover at Park Station Hashery

Thurs., 11-10-16, Starting at 6pm: Dust Bowl Takeover at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Mon., 11-7-16: Scott’s Seafood Beer Dinner Featuring Hermitage Brewing Company

Sat., 11-5-16, 3pm-9:30pm: Bastard Day 2016 at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ Los Altos

Sat., 11-5-16, 11am-5pm: 11th Annual West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Fest at The Bistro in Hayward

Fri., 11-4-16, 5pm-8pm: Bullpen Series Release – Caught Looking Kabocha Brown Ale at Strike Brewing. Brown ale brewed with Kabocha Squash. 6% ABV, 26 IBU. “Us beer drinkers tend to have strong opinions about “pumpkin” beers. So we did something a little different. Caught Looking Kabocha Brown Ale is brewed with, well…Kabocha. A sweet Japanese winter squash that looks and tastes kind of like a pumpkin, but isn’t. We added this deliciously sweet squash to the mash, primary fermentation, and even the conditioning in order to get the best Kabocha-y flavor possible.”

Fri., 11-4-16, 5pm-8pm: High Water Brewing Barrel-Aged Campfire Stout Tapping Party at Wicked Chicken. Plus meet the brewmaster Steve Altimari.

Tues., 11-1-16, 4pm-10pm: The Dankening with New Glory Craft Brewery at IBU Taproom & Bottle Shop. “Join us to welcome New Glory Craft Brewery to the South Bay. Julien Lux started off as a homebrewer and made delicious brews out of his garage that turned into New Glory Craft Brewery! We will be tapping 4 of his magically crafted elixirs at 4pm:

– Astro Haze (Galaxy hopped NE IPA)
– Greenergy (Citra and Galaxy hopped Double IPA)
– Extra Pale (Double dry hopped pale ale)
– Ginger Peach Saison (Farm fresh ingredients in a classic Belgian saison)
– We also have limited cans of the Astro Haze”

October 2016

Sat., 10-29-16, 2pm-6pm: The Beerwalk in Willow Glen, The Halloween Edition

Fri., 10-28-16 to Sat., 10-29-16: San Jose Broofest – A Nightmare on Alma Street at San Jose Municipal Stadium

Thurs., 10-27-16, Starting at 6pm: Introducing Half Acre from Chicago at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 10-27-16, 6pm-9pm: Oktoberfest Celebration! at Chromatic Coffee in Santa Clara. “Come out to the cafe to celebrate Oktoberfest, amazing local craft beer, the birthday of Camino Brewing Co’s Cafe con Leche Stout (Brewed with Chromatic Konga), & Chef Nas’ 1-year anniversary! Beer specials & Snacks! We will also be kicking off our new Happy Hour here at the cafe 6pm-9pm all beer and boards 20% off!!”

Wed., 10-26-16: IBU Taproom & Bottle Shop in Milpitas Officially Opens

Mon., 10-24-16, Starting at 6:30pm: Fieldwork Brewmaster Dinner at Stanley’s Sports Bar

Sat., 10-22-16 to Sun., 10-23-16, 1pm-7pm: Pink Pumpkin Beer Weekend at Jack’s Bar & Lounge

Sat., 10-22-16, 1pm-5pm: Coastside Brewfest at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. www.coastbrewfest.com

Fri., 10-21-16, 3pm-9pm: Bullpen Series #19 – Esparza Farms Wet Hop 2. “6.2% ABV, 35 IBU. Bummed that you missed out on Bullpen #16, Esparza Farms wet hop pale? Worry not! We’ve brewed it again, but instead of Columbus hops, Rick and Ryan trekked up the Santa Cruz Mountains and harvested some local Cascade! These hops were picked and brewed within the same day, so you get to experience the true taste of fresh hops. The pale base is clean and neutral, allowing the grapefruit and floral nature of Cascade to shine. Swing by the tap room this Friday, you won’t want to miss it!”

Thurs., 10-20-16, 6pm-11pm: 10 Year Celebration & “The Family You Choose” Bottle Release at Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe. “Our official 10 Year Anniversary Party is upon us!! When we embarked upon this adventure ten years ago, we had very simple goals. Putting love into all we do, and building community. We had no idea how far these would reach- the family and friendships we’ve forged have been like nothing else. There is no greater gift than to break bread with family.  Sante Adairius Rusitc Ales have been insanely kind and allowed us a beautiful blend of barrel aged beer for the occasion! ‘The Family You Choose’ bottles will be released along with a line up of other great draught offerings for the evening. This blend is a testament to the incredible relationship we’ve built with our SARA family and beyond. We hope you’ll be able to join us to celebrate this momentous oocassion. To you, and the family you choose, Sante! -Good Karma Artisan Ales and Cafe”

Thurs., 10-20-16, Starting at 6pm: Raise a Glass to Find a Cure with Green Flash at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Wed., 10-19-16, Starting at 4pm: Hermitage Brewing Latest Single Hop Series Release: Topaz. “Topaz hops were originally released by Australian growers back in 1985 as a cross between Australian and English varieties, but for decades were grown solely for their Alpha Acid content (alpha acid is the compound in hops that contributes bitterness to beer). It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that craft brewers began to notice the great aroma and flavor potential of these lovely flowers.

Like many other Southern Hemisphere varieties, Topaz is big and bold with a solid earthy spiciness. Its high-alpha origins shine through, contributing a sharp, resinous bitterness that floods the palate. As your mouth recovers from the initial wave of intensity, softer, more subtle flavors begin to make themselves known. Tropical fruits like passion fruit and lychee are often described playing along side a clove-like spiciness.

The finish lingers, as flavors of pine resin and cut grass fade gradually between sips. Topaz is another excellent, well-rounded addition to our Single-Hop series, and we look forward to drinking a glass (or three) on an autumn Nor Cal evening.”

Wed., 10-19-16, 5pm-8pm: Steins’ Pumpkin Beer Bash! at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant

Sat., 10-15 -16 to Sun., 10-16-16: Downtown Campbell Oktoberfest. http://campbellchamber.net/oktoberfest

Sat., 10-15-16, 11am-4pm: Peninsula Oktoberfest at Hiller Aviation Museum

Fri., 10-14-16, 5pm-9:30pm: An Evening with Coronado Brewing at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ Los Altos

Thurs., 10-13-16: Hops & Harvest Beer Dinner at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub Featuring Strike Brewing Company

Sat., 10-8-16, Starting at 1pm: 2-Year Anniversary Celebration at Strike Brewing Company

Thurs., 10-6-16, Starting at 6pm: Track 7 Night with New Northeast Style Pale at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Sat., 10-1-16 to Sun., 10-2-16: Mountain View’s 4th Annual Oktoberfest

September 2016

Thurs., 9-29-16, Starting at 6pm: Knee Deep Night at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 9-29-16, 5pm-9pm: Stone 20th Anniversary Celebration at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ Los Altos

Sat., 9-24-16, 2pm-10pm: Oktoberfest at Ludwig’s German Table in San Jose

Sat., 9-24-16, 10am-2pm: City Beer Run with Strike Brewing

Sat., 9-24-16, Starting at 5pm: Beers in Hell Fest at Johnny V’s Bar in downtown San Jose

Thurs., 9-22-16, Starting at 6pm: Alvarado Street New Beer Release and Meet the Brewer at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose. “… we moved the Alvarado Street event back one week to 9/22 6pm, in order to make sure we will have a very special keg of a brand new surprise beer! We will be featuring super fresh Mai Tai, Contains No Juice IPA, Super Rad, Best Part Of Waking Up Nitro Stout, Peninsula Pilsner, and a few others as well as the new beer!”

Wed., 9-21-16, Starting at 5:30pm: Taco and Beer Pairing Event at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant in downtown Mountain View

Sat., 9-17-16, 2pm-10pm: Oktoberfest at Ludwig’s German Table in San Jose

Sat., 9-17-16, 3pm-7pm: Brews & Blues in Wildwood Park, Saratoga (20764 Fourth Street)

Sat., 9-17-16, 1pm-5pm: Brew Crawl in Downtown Morgan Hill

Fri., 9-16-16, 3pm-9pm: Tapping of Bullpen Series #16 – Esparza Farms Wet Hop Pale (6.2% ABV, 35 IBU) – at Strike Brewing Company. “Esparza Farms Wet Hop Pale was brewed with Columbus hops grown locally in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Strike’s own Rick and Ryan picked a pound and a half of Columbus only 4 hours before they were steeped in the whirlpool of this brew. The result is delightfully grassy and tropical.”

Thurs., 9-15-16, Starting at 6pm: Pucker Up with Bear Republic Tartare at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 9-15-16, 6pm-11:45pm: Heretic at Original Gravity Public House

Wed., 9-14-16, Starting at 4pm: Beer Release Party – Wild Blackberry Sour and Admiral Single Hop IPA – at Hermitage Brewing Company, Plus Taproom Mural Unveiling

Sun., 9-11-16, 10am-11pm: Wicked Chicken 5-Year Celebration with BBQ and Lagunitas Tap Takeover

Fri., 9-9-16: Next Strike Brewing Company Ballpark Series Release – “The Zinger Double IPA! Our citrusy DIPA tuned up with Sichuan peppercorns for a floral, slightly stinging bite to it.”

Fri., 9-9-16, 5pm-9:30pm: 10 Barrel Brewing Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ Los Altos

Thurs., 9-8-16, Starting at 6pm: $1 Off All Draft Beers at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 9-8-16: Jeffers Drops Acid Knowledge at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant in Mountain View

Wed., 9-7-16, 6pm-10:15pm: Pints for Non Profit Night at Original Gravity Public House Featuring Fieldwork and Saint Francis Animal Protection Society (SFAPS)

Thurs., 9-1-16, Starting at 6pm: Introducing Sixpoint Brewery at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

August 2016

Wed., 8-31-16, 6pm-9pm: Ciderwalk in Santana Row

Fri., 8-26-16, 3pm-9pm: Cask Event – Santa Cruz Classic Dot Blonde Ale with Mango and Blood Orange – at Strike Brewing Company. “Ryan’s cooked up a special treat. Santa Cruz Classic Dot Blonde Ale with mango and blood orange.”

Fri., 8-26-16, 5pm-9:30pm: Uinta Brewing Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ Los Altos

Thurs., 8-25-16, Starting at 6pm: Almanac Night with Dynamo Donut Stout & More at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose. “Valley of the Hearts Delight, Dynamo Donut barrel aged stout , Farmers citrus and much more!”

Thurs., 8-25-16, Starting at 6pm: Golden State Cider Barrel Aged Release Night at Original Gravity Public House. “Pouring: Mighty Dry Cider (Dry Cider), Gingergrass Cider (Cider w/ Gingergrass), Cali-Cascade (Wet Hop Cider w/ Cascade), Farm Barrel #1 (Chardonnay BBL aged Cider w. Heirloom & Crab Apples), Farm Barrel #2 (Pinot Noir BBL aged Cider w/ Black Apples & Pinot Noir Grapes)”

Thurs., 8-25-16, Starting at 6pm: Ballast Point 20th Anniversary Tap Takeover at Fibbar MaGees in Sunnyvale

Wed., 8-24-16, 5pm-10pm: The Good Beer Co. – Explore the Funk! at Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe in Downtown San Jose. “Incredibly excited to host a gaggle of fine mixed fermentation from our friends @ The Good Beer Co. We’ll be pouring Blackberry Oro, Horse Blend 6, Ana, Noche, Perfect Flower or new brand with hibiscus and citrus, TBD (hopefully a fruit beer), TBD (maybe Wild IPA will be done)

Fri., 8-19-16: Bullpen Series Release: Cool as a Cucumber Kolsch at Strike Brewing Company. 4.7% ABV, 23 IBU. “We brewed this traditional German style ale with pilsner and munich malt, fermenting cold and then lagering for nearly a month. We then conditioned it on local, organic cucumber, and a small amount of lime zest. The result is light, crisp, and incredibly refreshing.”

Fri., 8-19-16, 5pm-10pm: New World Ales Release Party – Wet Hop IPA at DC Tap House in Cupertino. $10

Fri., 8-19-16, Starting at 6pm: Hops & Harvest Beer Dinner at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub Featuring Golden State Brewery. $65

Thurs., 8-18-16, Starting at 6pm: Uinta Night – Barrel-Aged Beers & More! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 8-18-16, Starting at 5pm: Drink Steam 3 Ways at Fibbar MaGees in Sunnyvale. Drink 3 versions of the classic Anchor Steam.

Thurs., 8-18-16, Starting at 5pm: Grand Opening of Loma Brewing Company in Los Gatos

Tues., 8-16-16, Starting at 6:30pm: Allagash Flight Night at The Farmers Union. “We’ll be offering some of their most unique brews like the James Bean (Curieux with coffee), Victor, Victoria and Odyssey. These delicious beers ranging from thick and smoky to light and fruity, will be available as a flight of four 5-oz pours for $18. Alternatively, enjoy James Bean for $12 and Victor and Victoria for $9 by the glass.”

Sun., 8-13-16, 10:30am-11:30am: Pints & Poses at Santa Clara Valley Brewing. $20

Sun., 8-14-16, 11am-4pm: San Diego to San Jose 20th Anniversary Celebration at San Pedro Square Market Honoring Ballast Point, Coronado and Stone

Sat., 8-13-16, 12pm: National Beer Mile Bay Area at San Jose Municipal Stadium. www.nationalbeermile.com

Fri., 8-12-16: First day of brewing for Bellpenny Brewing Company

Fri.-Sun., 8-12-16 to 8-14-16: California Beer Festival at Aptos Village Park. www.californiabeerfestival.com

Thurs., 8-11-16, Starting at 5pm: Firestone Walker Tap Takeover at Market Beer Company

Thurs., 8-11-16, Starting at 6pm: Born Again’s Last Stand – Lagunitas Night at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 8-11-16: First brew day at Golden State Brewery

Fri., 8-5-16, 3pm-9pm: Bullpen Series Release: Cherry Bonds at Strike Brewing Company. “Kettle Soured Blonde Ale with Tart Cherries. 4.8% ABV, 1 IBU. Next up in Strike’s increasingly popular Bullpen Series is Cherry Bonds, a kettle soured blonde ale conditioned on tart cherries. The addition of lactobacillus bacteria before primary fermentation sours the wort much more quickly than traditional, barrel-aged sours. The result is tart and dry with a hint of cherry. Swing by the tap room this friday and grab a glass!”

July 2016

Fri., 7-29-16, Starting at 6pm: Lost Abbey and Port Tap Takeover at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 7-28-16, Starting at 6pm: Stone Takeover and Meet the Small Batch Brewer Steve Gonzalez at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Wed., 7-27-16, 6pm-9pm: The Beerwalk in Santana Row

Tues., 7-26-16: Grand Opening of Whole Foods Santa Clara, including their Tap Room

Sat., 7-23-16, 1pm-6pm: San Mateo County Brewery Festival in Redwood City

Fri.-Sun., 7-22-16 to 7-30-16: 4th Annual Silicon Valley Beer Week Begins with Kick Off Party

Fri., 7-22-16: SVBW Event – Fieldwork Beer Dinner with Head Brewer Alex Tweet at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 7-21-16, Starting at 6pm: Barrel Aged Deliciousness from Allagash at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 7-21-16: Hermitage Brewing Company Head Brewer Greg Filippi brews his 2000th batch. He posted on FB: “Today marks the 2000th batch since I took over at Hermitage Brewing 5+ years ago, and we are brewing the inaugural batch of what will eventually become our California Bruin, aged in local wine barrels. It’s been quite a ride…”

Sun., 7-17-16, 12pm-4pm: New Belgium Tap Takeover at San Pedro Square Market

Sat., 7-16-16, Starting at 12pm: 4-Year Anniversary at Original Gravity Public House

Fri., 7-15-16, 3pm-9pm: Strike Brewing Company Bullpen Series Release (#13): Bad News Berries. Berliner Weisse with Blueberries and Pomegranate, 4% ABV, 1 IBU. “… it’s tart, fruity, and darn tasty. We used a blend of wheat, barley, and acidulated malt to create the base for this Berlin-style wheat beer. WIth just a little conditioning on blueberry and pomegranate puree, we were able to produce a beer with a fruity nose, a cloudy-pink color, and refreshing finish.”

Thurs., 7-14-16, Starting at 6pm: Kern River Takeover! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 7-14-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Freigeist and Co-Owner and Head Brewer Sebastian Sauer

Wed., 7-13-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Freigeist

Mon., 7-11-16: “The Hermitage Brewing Company Tap Room turns 3 years old today… We’ll have our 3 hop Hoptopia (Cascade, Centennial & Columbus hops) on special all week!” Tap Room Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-9PM & 1-7PM Saturday & Sunday

Mon., 7-11-16: Strike Brewing Company Screaming Hand Imperial Amber Ale Wins Silver Medal at the 2016 U.S. Open Beer Championship in the Imperial Red Ale category

Sat., 7-9-16, 5:30pm-8pm: 7-Course Beer Dinner Featuring Santa Clara Valley Brewing at Cocina Central in Mountain View (2590 West El Camino Real, #13). “Join Cocina Central and Santa Clara Valley Brewing as we put together seven unique courses pairing regional mexican dishes by Executive Chef Elias Cisneros and seven local brews by SCV Brewing. There are only 60 spots available for the event so make your reservations ASAP. ” Tix are $45.

Fri., 7-8-16, 3pm-9pm: Strike Brewing Company Bullpen Series Release – Rained Out Pale Ale. 5.9% ABV, 26 IBU. “It’s a Piña Colada inspired Pale Ale. The addition of pineapple, toasted coconut, and lactose to this tasty pale ale base created a sweet, fruity summer sipper…”

Thurs., 7-7-16, 4pm-6pm: July Beer Tasting at The Wine Club (1200 Coleman Ave., Santa Clara). $5

Thurs., 7-7-16, Starting at 6pm: Firestone 20th Anniversary Party at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 7-7-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Boulevard Brewing

Fri., 7-1-16, 3pm-9pm: Bullpen Series Release: Bergamot Breakfast Pale Ale at Strike Brewing Company. “Bergamot Breakfast Pale Ale, 4.6% ABV, 36 IBU. Next up in the Bullpen Series lineup is our Bergamot Breakfast Pale Ale. We brewed a simple Pale Ale base composed of mostly English Maris Otter barley and hopped it generously with Palisade to create a subtle floral and apricot aroma. We then added the zest of Los Gatos grown lemons, and blended the result with a small amount of Earl Grey tea. The result is light and drinkable, yet complex with a big citrus aroma.”

June 2016

Thurs., 6-30-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Ninkasi

Thurs., 6-30-16, Starting at 6pm: Meet the Brewer and Takeover with Belching Beaver at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Wed., 6-29-16, 5pm-6pm: Barrel Aged Beers VI (Belgian Tripel Aged 6 Months in Oak Barrels) at Gordon Biersch Restaurant & Brewery

Sat., 6-25-16: Tapped Brew Fest in Santa Clara at the County Fairgrounds. www.tappedbrewfest.com/santa-clara/

Fri., 6-24-16, Starting at 5pm: Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 6-23-16, 3pm-9pm: New Beer Release at Santa Clara Valley Brewing Tap Room – Alviso Mills Hefeweizen

Thurs., 6-23-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Altamont Beer Works

Thurs., 6-23-16, Starting at 6pm: Wild Beers from Libertine at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 6-23-16, Starting at 6pm: New Belgium 25th Anniversary: Fat Tire & Friends at Original Gravity Public House

Thurs., 6-23-16, Starting at 6:30pm: “Hops & Harvest Beer Dinner” at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub in Levi’s Stadium Featuring Coronado Brewing Co.

Wed., 6-22-16, 5:30pm-7:30pm: Session IPA Tapping Party at Gordon Biersch Restaurant & Brewery in Downtown San Jose

Sat., 6-18-16, 1pm-5pm: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Beer Camp Across America Festival in SF

Thurs., 6-16-16, Starting at 6pm: Rare Beers from Hangar 24 at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 6-16-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Working Man Brewing

Thurs., 6-16-16, 5pm-9pm: Tap Takeover with Steve Sartori of Altamont Beer Works at Relish Gastro Lounge in Saratoga

Wed., 6-15-16, 6pm-9pm: $2 Brews & Blues with The Legendary Ron Thompson & Sid Morris Featuring Anderson Valley Brewing at Poor House Bistro

Wed., 6-15-16: Fort Point Tap Takeover at Khartoum in Campbell

Sun., 6-12-16, 11am-12pm: Pints & Poses at Santa Clara Valley Brewing. $20 per person.

Fri., 6-10-16, Starting at 5pm: Firestone Walker Friday at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 6-9-16, Starting at 6pm: New Beers from Mother Earth at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 6-9-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Hangar 24

Sat., 6-4-16, Starting at 12pm: Pints for Non-Profits at Original Gravity Public House – “Featuring 3 Local Non Profit organizations with a variety of causes paired with 3 California Breweries with proceeds going to their respective cause. Non Profit and Brewery reps will be in house to talk with you about their programs and beers.”

Sat.-Sun., 6-4 to 6-5, 11am-10pm: Grand Opening Weekend of Ludwig’s GermanTable in Downtown San Jose (261 North Second St.)

Fri., 6-3-16: New Beer Release at Santa Clara Valley Brewing – “Dairy Hill Milk Stout. Hints of chocolate and a slight roastiness gives way to a somewhat sweet finish from the addition of lactose. 5.7% alcohol by volume. Served on nitro only.”

Fri., 6-3-16, Starting at 5pm: Green Flash West Coast IPA Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 6-2-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Evil Twin

Wed., 6-1-16, 4:30pm-6:30pm: Brewery Tours at Gordon Biersch Restaurant & Brewery in Downtown San Jose

May 2016

Sat., 5-28-16: Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest (FWIBF) in Paso Robles, CA

Fri., 5-27-16, Starting at 5pm: Anderson Valley Brewing Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 5-26-16, Starting at 6pm: Cellar Clearing! Everything Must Go! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 5-26-16, Starting at 6pm: The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing/OG Cellar Extravaganza at Original Gravity Public House

Thurs., 5-26-16, Starting at 5:30pm: “Summer Night on the Patio” at Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant Featuring Almanac

Sat., 5-21-16, 1pm-5pm: 4th Annual NorCal Session Fest Presented by Drake’s Brewing and Bike East Bay at Jack London Square, Oakland

Sat., 5-21-16, 7pm-10pm, 33rd Annual SF International Beer Festival at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, SF. www.sfbeerfest.com

Fri., 5-20-16, Starting at 5pm: Karl Strauss Brewing Company Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 5-19-16, Starting at 6pm: Bomb 3 Ways and Other Prairie Beers at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Tues., 5-17-16, Starting at 6pm: Temescal Brewing South Bay First Taste at Original Gravity Public House

Sat., 5-14-16: Tapping of Hermitage Brewing Company “The Joose” (Hoptopia blended with grapefruit), 8% ABV

Sat., 5-14-16, 1-5pm: Livermore Craft Beer Festival at Shrine Event Center

Fri., 5-13-16, Starting at 5pm: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America Night at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Fri., 5-13-16: In honor of Mt. Umunhum Radar Tower’s newly protected historical status, Umunhum Pale Ale returns to the beer lineup at Santa Clara Valley Brewing. A portion of sales from every pint is donated to the Umunhum Conservancy.

Thurs., 5-12-16, Starting at 6pm: Altamont Night at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 5-12-16, Starting at 6pm: Elkhorn Slough Brewing Co. Night at Original Gravity Public House

Thurs., 5-12-16: Special cask tapping at Strike Brewing Company – “Ryan and Matt teamed up on this one and took our Lucky Bullet Belgian Wheat and conditioned it on a whole bunch of blueberries and raspberries. The result is deliciously berry-forward and aromatic, yet still finishes dry. Swing by the tap room today! You don’t want to miss out on this one. ABV 4.5%. 16 IBU.”

Tues., 5-10-16: Hermitage Brewing Company new Single Hop IPA release – Exp 6277 (soon to be known as Denali). Brewer Greg Filippi’s Brew Notes: “This month we are playing around with another experimental hop variety from the Hopsteiner breeding program, #6277 (soon to be known as Denali). This hop has been getting rave reviews from brewers in the last year for its amazingly juicy, tropical fruit characteristics.”The hops themselves have a very bright, almost lemon-citrus quality to them with just a touch of resinous sharpness, like having a lemon candy in a pine forest. The aroma of the finished beer is very sweet and tropical, almost like taking a whiff from a can of pineapple juice.

“The bitterness is smooth and a little subdued for such a high-alpha variety, creating balance but staying out of the way of the juicy fruit. Pineapple dominates again across the palate, with hints of grass or pine making brief appearances and then darting away again to make room for the tropical onslaught. The finish is fairly clean and dry, but sweet citrus lingers between sips. We are huge fans.”

Fri., 5-6-16: Hermitage Brewing Company Maltopia Wins Bronze Medal for Scottish-Style Ale Category at 2016 World Beer Cup

Thurs., 5-5-16, Starting at 6pm: Cinco de Mayo with Clown Shoes at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Wed., 5-4-16, 6-9pm: 5th Annual Campbell Beerwalk

April 2016

Sat., 4-30-16: El Toro Brewing Company XXII Anniversary Ale Release at El Toro Brewpub

Fri., 4-29-16, Starting at 4pm: Bullpen Series: Milk Stout at Strike Brewing Company. “Milk Stout, 6% ABV, 32 IBUs. We’ll be tapping the next beer in our Bullpen Series lineup: a dark and delicious Milk Stout. The addition of lactose (milk sugar) creates a big, chewy body and adds lots of residual sweetness. Chocolate malts and roasted barley balance out the sweetness, lending flavors reminiscent of sweetened espresso.”

Fri., 4-29-16, Starting at 5pm: Fieldwork Friday at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Mon., 4-25-16: Eureka! Grand Opening in Mountain View

Sat., 4-23-16: Cider Summit SF

Sat., 4-23-16: Today marks the 500th anniversary of Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law of 1516.

Thurs., 4-21-16, Starting at 4:20pm: It’s Waldo Time! with Lagunitas at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 4-21-16, Starting at 6pm: Mother Earth Brewing Company Event at Original Gravity Public House

Thurs., 4-21-16, Starting at 6pm: Pint Night with Six Rivers Brewery at 20twenty cheese bar in Willow Glen

Thurs., 4-21-16, Starting at 5pm: Strike Brewing Screaming Hand Release at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Wed., 4-20-16, Starting at 4:20pm: Lagunitas Waldos’ Special Ale Event at Good Karma

Wed., 4-20-16, Lagunitas Waldos’ Special Ale Tapping Events at a number of local spots

Tues., 4-19-16, Starting at 5pm: Drake’s Tap Takeover at Whole Foods Market Cupertino

Sun., 4-17-16: First Batch of Beer Brewed One Year Ago at Santa Clara Valley Brewing (“It’s hard to believe, but it was one year ago today that we brewed our first batch of beer in our own brewery. We’ve brewed more than 1000 barrels with many more to come. Thank you all for your continued support.”)

Sat., 4-16-16: Pints for Pup at Strike Brewing Company

Wed., 4-13-16: Debut of Pilsner at Hermitage Brewing Company (“This Pilsner was meticulously created by our head brewer Greg Filippi who picked out only the finest German ingredients. This beer is extremely drinkable at just over 5% ABV. To top it all off it was dry hopped with a “Noble” variety of hops called Saaz.”)

Wed., 4-13-16, Starting at 6pm: An Evening with The Bruery at Original Gravity Public House

Sat.-Sun., 4-9 to 4-10, 2016: Jake McCluskey 100 Miles and Runnin’ from Lagunitas to Original Gravity Public House

Sat., 4-9-16, 11am-6pm: 19th Annual IPA Festival at The Bistro in Hayward

Fri., 4-8-16, Starting at 5pm: An Evening with Drake’s Brewing at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 4-7-16: National Beer Day

Thurs., 4-7-16, 4pm-8pm: Cask Tapping Event at Strike Brewing – Screaming Hand Imperial Amber Ale. “We’ve taken Screaming Hand, our Imperial Amber Ale dry hopped with Amarillo and Centennial hops, and conditioned it on bourbon barrel oak chips and Madagascar vanilla beans for nearly a month. The result is one of the most complex and flavorful brews we’ve come out with yet.”

Thurs., 4-7-16, Starting at 6pm: Modern Times Draft and Can Release of New Lineup! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 4-7-16, Starting at 6pm: Hop Dogma Meet the Brewers Event at Original Gravity Public House

Thurs., 4-7-16, Starting at 6pm: Brewery of the Month: Six Rivers Brewery at 20twenty cheese bar in Willow Glen

Wed., 4-6-16: New Beer Release at Santa Clara Valley Brewing – Reed Rye IPA (“New Zealand Green Bullet, Rakau and Columbus hops were used in the kettle and we dry hopped it with Citra and El Dorado.”)

Tues., 4-5-16: Debut of Eureka Single Hop Series IPA at Hermitage Brewing Company (“This extremely aromatic hop is full of grapefruit and pine notes. We will also be tapping a special cask of Eureka which will be dry hopped with even more Eureka hops.”)

Mon., 4-4-16: Maibock on Tap at Tied House (“Maibock is a subtly sweet lager, traditionally made to celebrate the coming of spring.”)

Mon., 4-4-16: Eureka! Grand Opening in Cupertino

Sat., 4-2-06: St. Isidore Belgian-Style Dark Strong Release Event at Santa Clara Valley Brewing (“Only 35 cases of this exquisite ale were produced, each one hand bottled, labeled, and bottle conditioned.”)

Fri., 4-1-06, Starting at 6pm: 2016 KBS Draft and Bottle Release! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

March 2016

Thurs., 3-31-16, Starting at 6pm: Alesmith Takeover with Speedway Stout 3 Ways! at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Fri., 3-25-16, 5pm-8pm: Screaming Hand Imperial Amber Launch Day! at Strike Brewing (“Screaming Hand [our second collaboration with the awesome folks at Santa Cruz Skateboards] combines tropical and resinous west-coast IPA hops with a balanced, medium-bodied caramel malt base. Generous dry hopping with Amarillo and Centennial hops boosts the floral and citrus aroma, creating a balanced and drinkable beer.”)

Thurs., 3-24-16: 3pm-9pm: Pints for Jake at Santa Clara Valley Brewing ()To help raise funds for the Silicon Valley Children’s fund, SCVB will be donating the proceeds from the night’s taproom sales to Jake’s historic 100 mile run on April 9th. Come grab a beer or two and show your support!”)

Thurs., 3-24-16: Stone IPA Madness at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 3-24-16: Starting at 6pm: Meet Sage Smith of Bike Dog Brewing at Original Gravity Public House

Tues., 3-22-16: Free Spin Triple IPA Release Party at Hermitage Brewing Company (collaboration beer with Palo Alto Brewing Company)

Tues., 3-22-16, 6pm-10pm: Momma Gonna Hop It To Ya! at Good Karma (“Come enjoy 4 wonderfully hopped beers from our friends at Mother Earth Brewing Co. to help ring in Spring!”)

Sat., 3-19-16: Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant 3-Year Anniversary Celebration

Sat., 3-19-16: Flight Night at The Farmers Union Featuring Lagunitas

Sat., 3-19-16, Starting at 4pm: Umunhum Brewing Hismen Sii Pale Ale Keg Tapping at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 3-17-16: Cask of Black IPA dry hopped with Galaxy at Hermitage Brewing Company

Thurs., 3-17-16: Firkin of Peralta Porter with Vanilla Beans at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Thurs., 3-17-16, Starting at 11am: Stone Brewing St. Patrick’s Day IPA Madness at Armadillo Willy’s BBQ in Los Altos

Thurs., 3-17-16, 2pm-9pm: St. Patrick’s Day at Rabbit’s Foot Meadery

Wed., 3-16-16, 2pm-8pm: War Hammer 3-L Hard Apple Cyser Release Party at Rabbit’s Foot Meadery

Tues., 3-15-16: Rakau IPA (Single Hop Series) Tapping at Hermitage Brewing Company (“… New Zealand hop with huge flavor notes of stone fruits, especially peach. It also boast hints of grapefruit and pine…”)

Sat., 3-12-16, 2-6pm: 3rd Annual Beerwalk in Downtown Mountain View

Sat., 3-12-16, 12pm-8pm: Golden Gate Red Release Party at Golden State Brewery

Fri., 3-11-16: Dry Creek Blonde Back on Tap at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Fri., 3-11-16, Starting at 6pm: Meet J.C. Hill of Alvarado Street Brewery at Original Gravity Public House

Thurs., 3-10-16: Introducing Dust Bowl Brewing (Therapist Triple IPA and more) at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 3-10-16, 6pm-9pm: One Year Anniversary Party at 20twenty cheese bar

Thurs., 3-10-16, Starting at 5pm: Ballast Point Tap Takeover at Campbell Brewing Company

Thurs., 3-10-16, Starting at 6pm: Pint Night at Fibbar MaGees Featuring Strike Brewing

Wed., 3-9-16, Starting at 7pm: Tap Takeover at Khartoum in Campbell Featuring Hermitage Brewing

Tues., 3-8-16: Sour Pumpernickel Rye on Tap for a Limited Time at Hermitage Brewing Company

Tues., 3-8-16: Heretic Brewing Event at Wine Affairs

Tues., 3-8-16: Bee Squared Double IBA at Rabbit’s Foot Meadery (“… a tweak of the [‘Bad Bee IBA’] grain bill, double the orange blossom honey and a 90 minute boil with Northern Brewer and Cascade hops, and if that wasn’t enough we double dry hopped this ‘DIBA’ with Simcoe and Citra hops for several days back to back.)

Sat., 3-5-16: Taplands Taproom Grand Opening

Sat., 3-5-16: Starting at 6pm: River Port DIPA Tapping (only keg in San Jose – collaboration beer between Pizza Port and Revision Brewing) at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 3-3-16: Cask of Peralta Porter with Cocoa Nibs and Coconut

Thurs., 3-3-16: Heretic Evil3 Triple IPA and more at Harry’s Hofbrau San Jose

Thurs., 3-3-16: Brewery of the Month – FireHouse Grill & Brewery – at 20twenty cheese bar in Willow Glen

Thurs., 3-3-16, 4pm-6pm: March Beer Tasting at The Wine Club in Santa Clara

Thurs., 3-3-16: Pint Night at Fibbar MaGees Featuring Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Thurs., 3-3-16: Tap Takeover at Rootstock Wine Bar Featuring Ballast Point

Wed., 3-2-16: Brews & Blues at Poor House Bistro Featuring Lost Coast Brewery

Wed., 3-2-16: “Dr. in the House” IPA (original recipe from head brewer Larry Hoang) at FireHouse Grill & Brewery

Tues., 3-1-16: Pelican Brewing Event at Wine Affairs

February 2016

Mon., 2-29-16: Starting at 6pm, Brewmaster Dinner at Stanley’s Sports Bar Featuring Discretion Brewing

Sun., 2-28-16: Peach Sour Back on Tap for a Limited Time at Hermitage Brewing Company

Sat., 2-27-16: Santa Clara Bacon and Beer Classic at Levi’s Stadium

Thurs., 2-25-16: Lagunitas Couch Trippin’ Pub Crawl at Market Beer Company, O’Flaherty’s, Good Karma & ISO: Beers

Thurs., 2-25-16: Milk & Cookies with Firestone Walker at 20twenty cheese bar in Willow Glen

Thurs., 2-18-16: Cask of Electric Tower IPA with Passion Fruit and Dry Hopped with Rakau Hops from New Zealand at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Sat., 2-13-16: Golden State Brewery Grand Opening

Thurs., 2-4-16: Beer Blitz at Santana Row

Thurs., 2-4-16, Starting at 6pm: Brewery of the Month: Strike at 20twenty cheese bar in Willow Glen

Wed., 2-3-16: Cask of Peralta Porter with Kickback Coffee La Gloria blend added at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Tues., 2-2-16 to Sun., 2-14-16: San Jose Small Brewers Association Brewery Crawl at Hermitage, SCV Brewing and Strike

January 2016

Sun., 1-31-16, Starting at 1pm: Bullpen Series: Big Wall Imperial Stout with Madagascar Vanilla Beans at Strike Warehouse Taproom. “Here’s another one straight from the Strike Bullpen. Brewer Ryan Bridge has crafted a new, micro-batch of Big Wall Imperial Stout with Vanilla. Our Big Wall Imperial Stout is a rich, dark, and creamy full-bodied ale that is slightly hopped with notes of coffee and chocolate. Our Brewer Ryan has taken all that goodness and added Madagascar Vanilla Beans to make a more vanillaier Stout (sometimes made up words need to be used). American Imperial Stout, ABV 9%, 47 IBU.”

Sat., 1-30-16, 1pm-5pm: Meet the Brewers Beerfest at Hermitage Brewing Company

Thurs., 1-28-16, 11:30am-10:30pm: Sour Cherry Sour Pairing Menu at Tied House

Wed., 1-27-16, Starting at 6:30pm: Dinner at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Wed., 1-27-16, Cask of Electric Tower IPA with Blood Orange and Dry Hopped with Simcoe at Santa Clara Valley Brewing

Sat., 1-23-16, 2pm-6pm: Japantown Beerwalk

Fri., 1-22-16: Shoeless Joe Imperial Brown Brewed with Coffee from Barefoot Roasters at Strike Warehouse Taproom

Fri., 1-22-16, 5pm-10pm: SF Beer Week Opening Gala, (5pm-6pm: VIP/Media Hour) at Pier 35, SF

Fri.-Sun., 1-22 to 1-31, 2016: SF Beer Week

Fri., 1-8-16: Double IPA with Lemon Meyer Zest at Strike Warehouse Taproom

Fri., 1-8-16: Big Moody Barleywine Release at Santa Clara Valley Brewing (“A British style Barleywine, it has aromas of earthy hops and flavors of brown sugar, toffee and a nice alcohol warmth. 11.2% alcohol by volume.”)