Bay Area Classics in April

This month our search for outstanding beer festivals takes us to the San Francisco Bay area, which is home to two of our favorites: the San Francisco International Beer Festival, and the Seventh Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Fest. 

San Francisco International Beer Festival

There's never a bad time of the year to go beer hunting in San Francisco. But if you're going to be in town the second weekend of April, you're in luck! More than 2,000 beer lovers are going to gather at the San Francisco International Beer Festival, Saturday evening, April 12, at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion.

The festival, Northern California’s largest beer tasting event, will be celebrating its 20th year. Some 40 breweries and distributors will be on hand to pour more than 200 beers from California and around the world. The $50 price of admission ($40 in advance) is good for unlimited beer sampling, along with food from some of San Francisco’s favorite restaurants.

Music will be provided by Big Lou's Polka Casserole. "Big Lou" and her band will be playing jazz, blues, country, and rock renditions of your polka favorites. And if the beer and music have you feeling lucky, prizes ranging from a day at the spa to a pair of airline tickets are going to be raffled off.

It's all for a good cause: proceeds go to the non-profit Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School in North Beach, which has provided a healthy and happy learning environment for nearly 50 years. The festival is the school’s only fund-raiser.

Festival tickets are available in advance through Ticketmaster and at select San Francisco restaurants, and will also be available at the door. Festival organizers pass along a bit of friendly advice: parking at Fort Mason is limited, so it's best to take public transportation. And, as always, don't drink and drive.

For more information, visit the festival website.

Seventh Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Fest

Can you speak Boontling? It's a strain of English invented 100 years ago by residents of California's Anderson Valley in an effort to flummox visitors. The language lives on at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, which has given Boontling names to some of its award-winning ales.

But fear not, modern-day visitors: you can expect a warm welcome from Anderson Valley's locals. Especially on Saturday afternoon, April 19, when the Seventh Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Fest will be held at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in downtown Boonville. The first keg will be tapped at 1 pm, with last call at 5 pm.

At last count, more than 60 breweries have responded; they'll be pouring more than 150 different beers in a relaxed outdoor setting. Northern California will be well represented; the region's many invitees include Bear Republic Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Lost Coast Brewery, and Third Street Ale House.

There will be plenty of food, as well as soft drinks for designated drivers (who will be admitted to the grounds for only $5). In addition, there will be musical entertainment, featuring Anchor Brewing Company's "The Hysters." And if you're thinking of camping, space will be available.

Festival tickets are $30 at the gate, $20 in advance (available until April 6 by calling 707.895.2769 or visiting the festival website. Proceeds will benefit the Mendocino County Fairgrounds Education Foundation, Anderson Valley Animal Rescue, and other worthy cases.

Organizers promise this year's festival will be "The bahlest steinber hornin', chiggrul gormin', frattey seepin' tidrick in the heelch of the Boont Region." If you need help translating that, just go to Brightlighter's Jonnem.