A tradition a half-decade in the making, few happenings pack as much inventive beer, education and sheer enjoyment as the ten-day journey to the center of the country’s craft beer epicenter, San Diego Beer Week. All of the nearly eighty breweries in our extensive home county push the envelope to provide the most incredible events they can, and we are no different. Each year is an opportunity to cull through our cellars for rare and just plain phenomenal beer, collaborate with our brewing friends, invite in our beer-loving fans and put on a show in support of our industry, region and craft beer in general. If you’re planning to take in this year’s festivities, read on for a complete schedule of what we’ll be doing to celebrate, then make time in your beery, breakneck itinerary to spend some time sipping in San Diego Beer Week with us.
STONE BREWING WORLD BISTRO & GARDENS - ESCONDIDO
Rare Beer Breakfast Friday, Nov. 1 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. We love the smell of beer in the morning—enough to get San Diego Beer Week started in the A.M. with a full-on breakfast buffet featuring Stone takes on the most important meal of the day, both traditional (omelets, crepes, fried chicken and waffles) and exotic (like the sound of beer-battered Monte Cristo sandwiches and Bastardized donuts?), as well as draft and bottled beers the likes of which you won’t see anywhere the rest of the year. Kick off your ten-day affair in high style! Sampler Flight: 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze, Almanac Flowering Gose, Avery Rumpkin, The Bruery Bois, Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, Drew Curtis/Wil Wheaton/Greg Koch Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout, FiftyFifty Imperial Eclipse Stout 2012 Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, Mikkeller/Cigar City Swinging Harry Tropical Quad, Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale
Redoubled Double Bastard Ale Saturday, Nov. 2 | 11 a.m. – close Each November, we hold our annual release of Double Bastard Ale. It’s a much anticipated time in every extreme beer fan’s life. This year, we’re holding a pre-release. Be the first to taste this year’s vintage, then explore twelve cellared iterations from the past eight years and see how this monster of a beer mellows over time. Sampler Flight: 2005 Double Bastard Ale, 2010 Double Bastard Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels, 2010 Double Bastard Ale w/Chipotle Peppers, 2012 Double Bastard Ale aged in Red Wine Barrels
Ultimate Beer & Chocolate Sunday, Nov. 3 | 12 – 2 p.m. More fine chocolate truffles than you can shake a killer array of craft beers at, this is about as decadent as it gets. Our certified Cicerone and Craft Beer Ambassador, “Dr.” Bill Sysak, is pairing up ten fine beers from around the world with fifteen…count ‘em…fifteen truffles brought in from artisanal producers Eclipse Chocolate and So Rich!!! Chocolates. Sweet! Sampler Flight: Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis, Hair of the Dog Adam, Hitachino Nest XH, Engelszell Gregorious Trappistenbier
Firestone Walker 17th Anniversary Release Party Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 5 – 8 p.m. Jeffers Richardson, the director of Firestone Walker Brewing Company's Barrelworks operation, will join us as we debut his Central California operation’s annual offering to craft beer enthusiasts—Firestone Walker XVII. Share a beer and some conversation with him while tasting other fine beers from the Firestone Walker portfolio. Sampler Flight: XVI Anniversary Ale, Double Jack IPA, Parabola, Stickee Monkee
12 Brewers, 12 Casks, 12 Mallets Wednesday, Nov. 6 | 5 – 7 p.m. We launched this mass bung assault last San Diego Beer Week and it’s become one of our most beloved traditions. Join twelve members of Stone’s brew crew as they simultaneously tap a dozen casks of Stone beers we’ve all come to know and love, which have been altered via the addition of special, flavorful ingredients, taking these familiar beers to uncharted and extremely tasty territory. Sampler Flight: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station Scarlet Madigan w/Heather & Elderflowers; Stone Ruination IPA w/Watermelon & Lemon Peel; Stone Smoked Porter w/Coconut, Thai Chilies, Ginger Root, Lime Zest, Lemongrass & Thai Basil; Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale w/Black Mission Figs & Seville Orange Peel
Master Pairings Beer Dinner with The Lost Abbey Thursday, Nov. 7 | 6:30 – 9 p.m. Renowned for their barrel-aging prowess, The Lost Abbey is a must-stop tasting room for San Diego beer tourists. They’ve made tremendous use of Stone’s old brewing facility in San Marcos and, in celebration of San Diego Beer Week, we’re bringing in some of their finest wares to pair with six courses of enlightened cuisine—olive oil-poached quail with pickled cranberries, pork belly and pear ravioli, bison Wellington. The beers will range the brewery’s robust family of beers including offerings from the acclaimed Ultimate Box Set series. Sampler Flight: The Angel’s Share Barley Wine 2008, Track #4 (Sympathy for the Devil), Track #6 (Highway to Hell), Track #9 (Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door), Track #11 (Devil Went Down to Georgia)
Meet the Brewers with Crooked Stave Friday, Nov. 8 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Colorado-based Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project has set the world on fire in its first three years of producing some of the most intriguing sour ales in the country. Meet Chad Yakobson, one of the brewing masterminds from this exciting company, while sampling their beers, including a rare brew that hasn’t ever been—and will never be—sold to the public outside of this event! Sampler Flight: Hop Savant, Nightmare on Bregg Grand Cru (one night only!), St. Bretta, Surette, Vieille Artisanal Saison
Decadent Decade of Stone Imperial Russian Stouts Saturday, Nov. 9 | 11 a.m. – close One of our best beers for laying down is Stone Imperial Russian Stout. Each year, we’re careful to save a good amount of this beer for aging under optimal conditions. San Diego Beer Week provides the perfect opportunity to break them out and enjoy them one at a time and against each other. Try different vintages including some barrel-aged versions and this year’s fantastic 2013 Stone ESPRESSO Imperial Russian Stout. Sampler Flight: 2003 Stone Imperial Russian Stout, 2008 Stone Imperial Russian Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels, 2011 Stone Imperial Russian Stout aged in Red Wine Barrels, 2013 Stone Imperial Russian Stout aged in Templeton Rye Whiskey Barrels
STONE BREWING WORLD BISTRO & GARDENS - LIBERTY STATION
Meet the Brewer with Ladyface Ale Companie Friday, Nov. 1 | 5 p.m. We’re big fans of the artisanal French- and Belgian-style beers of Conejo Valley’s Ladyface Ale Companie—but we’re not such big fans of the multi-hour northbound drive to get a taste. If you share our mixture of love and geographic frustration, stop by for myriad beautiful beers and a chat with Ladyface Brewmaster David Griffiths and Proprietor Cyrena Nouzille. Sampler Flight: Blind Ambition, Dark Horse, Hutash, La Grisette, Reyes Adobe Red
Redoubled Double Bastard Ale Saturday, Nov. 2 | 11 a.m. – close What? You didn’t read the description provided for the identical event being held at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido? OK, we will reiterate. Come on over for twelve different versions of Double Bastard Ale, including this year’s bottling…two days before it hits shelves across the country! Sampler Flight: 2005 Double Bastard Ale, 2010 Double Bastard Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels, 2010 Double Bastard Ale w/Chipotle Peppers, 2012 Double Bastard Ale aged in Red Wine Barrels
Saison Sunday Sunday, Nov. 3 | 11 a.m. – close Barnyardy, pepper, twangy, fruity—perhaps no beer style offers as much range of flavor profile as saison. Get a handle on the immense taste sensations brought forth by over two dozen French- and Belgian-style ales during this farmhouse explosion! Sampler Flight: Allagash Saison Rye, Evil Twin Ryan & the Beaster Bunny, Nebraska Apricot au Poivre Saison, Pretty Things Jack D’Or, Stillwater Autumnal, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station Ryeson, Stone Spotlight Series: Team MCBB Burning Rosids Saison
BEER U: Craft Beer in San Diego Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 7 – 9 p.m. San Diego is known the world over as the epicenter for quality craft brewing in America. Crash this combination entertaining and educational class and find out why, as our Minister of Evangelism and Indoctrination, Ken Wright, schools attendees over a list of stellar beers along with special guest Brandon Hernández, author of the just-released San Diego Beer News Complete Guide to San Diego Breweries. Sampler Flight: AleSmith Speedway Stout, Green Flash Le Freak, Monkey Paw Bonobos San Diego Pale Ale, Rip Current Marine Layer San Diego Hefeweizen, Stone Enjoy By 11.12.13 IPA
Meet the Brewer with Kris Ketcham Wednesday, Nov. 6 | 5 p.m. One of the coolest things about Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station is its built-in ten-barrel brewhouse where long-time Stone Brewer Kris Ketcham crafts beers that go beyond those we’ve brewed for the past seventeen years. Pick the guy’s brain over some of his latest creations during this meet-the-brewer event. Sampler Flight: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station Cimmerian Portal, Stone Delicious IPA, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station Scarlet Madigan, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station Witty Moron
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Vertical Friday, Nov. 8 | 11 a.m. – close Another of our annual ready-to-age wonders, Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, will be spotlighted for an entire day, including two of our “Odd Beers for Odd Years” versions as well as vintages that have had wood added to them via toasted chips or barrel aging. Sampler Flight: 2007 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, 2011 Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine, 2012 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine aged in White Wine Barrels, 2013 Stone OAK-SMOKED Old Guardian Barley Wine w/American & French Oak
The San Diego Brewery Guide Book Signing Friday, Nov. 8 | 4 – 7 p.m. Author Bruce Glassman has put together a collection of notes and historical background on many of the breweries dotting San Diego County’s suds-saturated landscape. Meet this locally well-traveled writer and get his John Hancock on your very own copy of his instructional work. Sour Saturday Saturday, Nov. 9 | 11 a.m. – close Eight days in, San Diego Beer Week revelers will need a shock to the system to keep them up and running from event to event. We’ll provide that jolt via the tart and tannic flavor oomph of sour ales spanning the planet. Stop by and get your fill before heading back into the swing of things…or just camp out and spend the rest of San Diego Beer Week with us! Sampler Flight: De Proef Flemish Primitive - Surly Bird, Freitgeist/Jester King Sauer Power, Mikkeller Spontanrosehips, Struise Ypres, Trois Dames/Bad Attitude Sweet & Sour, Vicaris Tripel Gueuze
STONE BREWING CO. - SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Archived Beers Abound Friday, Nov. 1 – 10 | 5 – 7 p.m. Whether you’re flying in for San Diego Beer Week, want one last taste of the good stuff before flying back from the ten-day revelry or simply have a layover en route to someplace else (though we’d recommend you stick around for all the good times and good beer), you can get in on the spirit and flavor of San Diego’s sudsiest time of year with special bottles of Stone beer pulled from our archives. Sampler Flight: 2010 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, 2012 Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Stone 12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale
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