By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–San Diego Beer Week, organized by the San Diego Brewers Guild, returns for its 16th annual celebration from November 1 to 10.
The festivities will feature events across breweries, brewpubs, bars, and restaurants throughout the San Diego region, organizers said.
One of the event’s highlights is the The Capital of Craft Beerfest on November 9 at Kilowatt Brewing, 7576 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa. The beer fest will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Early bird tickets are available for $60 (plus fees), while VIP tickets, offering an extra hour of tastings starting at noon, are $80. Ticket prices increase to $70 and $90 on October 9. The first 100 purchasers will also receive a limited-edition Brewers Guild floppy hat. Only 400 tickets are available for ages 21 and over.
Beer Week begins with a virtual toast on November 1 at 7:30 p.m. at all Brewers Guild member locations. Beer fans are encouraged to use the hashtags #SDBeer, #SDBeerWeek, and #SDBW when sharing on social media. Each participating brewery will host individual events and beer specials throughout the week, all listed on the Brewers Guild’s event calendar.
Alongside the beer, the festival will feature food trucks, interactive games, and live music, including performances by local band Los Tortugas, whose members include Karl Strauss Brewing Company’s brewmaster Paul Segura. Karl Strauss, a pillar of the local scene, is San Diego’s longest-running brewery since Prohibition.
“Beer Week truly is the most wonderful time of the year,” said Brewers Guild Executive Director Erik Fowler. “This year, we’re especially excited about the return of Guild Fest, now rebranded as The Capital of Craft Beerfest, celebrating San Diego’s reputation as an IPA capital. We hope everyone comes out to support our craft beer community, whether at our main event or their favorite neighborhood brewery.”
Brewery DB will offer curated beer trails throughout the county. Additionally, for the eighth year, a Capital of Craft IPA collaboration will be released, with contributions from Fall Brewing Company, Black Plague Brewing, BLAH Brewing, Hodad’s Brewing, Hopnonymous Brewing, and Ketch Brewing. This West Coast IPA will be available on draft and cans at all Guild member locations during Beer Week.
The Guild on the Streets series will focus on neighborhood cleanups. On November 10, participants can join a cleanup effort in North Park, starting at Black Plague at 2899 University Avenue at noon and finishing at Seek Beer Co. at 3052 El Cajon Boulevard.
San Diego breweries continue to shine on the world stage, recently taking home 14 medals at the 2024 World Beer Cup, often called the “Olympics of Beer Competitions.” Local favorites Coronado Brewing, North Park Beer Company, and Pizza Port Brewing won Gold Medals, exceeding the region’s 2023 total of 12 medals.
San Diego, branded as The Capital of Craft in 2015, boasts the highest number of craft brewery locations of any U.S. county, with over 150 breweries. The San Diego Brewers Guild, founded in 1997, is a nonprofit organization promoting local independent brewers through education, community involvement, and events like Beer Week.
