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San Francisco Beer Festivals
By: Jill Loeffler • Published: November 2, 2015 • Updated: February 18, 2025
Sample local and international brews at one of these top San Francisco beer festivals.
My favorite events offer a few hours of tasting some of the best drafts around and mingling with the artisan brewers.
SF beer festivals also have some of the most popular local food trucks at the ready, so you can savor tasty eats while you enjoy your beer.
If you're up for a short day trip, I've also listed some Bay Area beer festivals that are just an hour or so north, east, or south of the city.
This is a great way to explore the towns just outside of San Francisco and the region's thriving craft beer scene.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Bay Area Brew Fest
One of the biggest annual San Francisco beer festivals is the Bay Area Brew Fest in April. It features more than 70 breweries and is usually held at the Presidio Main Parade Lawn overlooking the bay.
This SF beer festival attracts brewers from all over California and the nation. Local San Francisco brewers include Speakeasy Ales & Lagers and Fort Point Beer Co., among others.
Whether it's a crisp lager, a hoppy IPA, a creamy stout, or a sour, you'll be sure to find it at this beer festival in San Francisco.
In addition to tasty brews, you'll find delicious bites from the Bay Area's best food trucks, as well as live music and lawn games for entertainment.
Location: Presidio
Date: April
Learn More: Visit the April SF events calendar for more details
2. SF Beer Week
One of the most extensive beer events in the Bay Area is SF Beer Week, a 10-day celebration of everything hops.
You'll have the opportunity to talk to brewmasters and participate in dozens of other fun beer-related events at local SF breweries like Barebottle, Enterprise, and Holy Water.
In addition to the San Francisco beer events all around town, you will also find SF Beer Week festivities all around the Bay Area.
Location: Various locations
Date: Mid-February
Learn More: Visit the February calendar for more details
Best SF Breweries: Want to check out some of our top breweries during your stay? Check out my list of the 10+ best, including Magnolia, 21st Amendment, and San Francisco Brewing Company.
3. Brews on the Bay
Brews on the Bay is an event held on board the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien in Fisherman's Wharf. This WWII Liberty Ship is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon of craft beers.
This beer fest in San Francisco is five hours long and includes an unlimited number of 8-ounce pours.
There are usually more than 60 brews on tap from a variety of local brewers including 21st Amendment, Magnolia Brewing Company, and Fort Point Beer Company.
The S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien stays docked during the event, so they can offer you gourmet goodies from some of the top food trucks in the area (not included in the price).
Location: S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien
Date: September or October
4. Oktoberfest
You can't talk about San Francisco beer festivals without mentioning one of the BEST Oktoberfest events in the country!
At this SF beer festival, you get the chance to enjoy German beer, food, and entertainment for three days.
Every year, they feature a headliner band that comes all the way from Germany and plays traditional Oktoberfest music.
Each ticket is for a specific session on a certain day of this beer fest in San Francisco. They offer both afternoon and evening sessions. The event is held at Pier 48, which is south of Oracle Park.
Location: Pier 48
Date: Late September
Booze and Boos: If you love beer and good storytelling, then check out this fun after-dark twist. Get to know San Francisco's most haunted bars, including a saloon that was built into a shipwrecked Gold Rush vessel, on this two-in-one ghost tour/pub crawl.
Bay Area Beer Festivals
The following beer festivals are held at locations all around the San Francisco Bay Area, including the North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, Peninsula, and Monterey Bay Area.
5. Bay Area Craft Beer Festival
Head over to Martinez for the annual Craft Beer Festival, one of my favorite beer festivals in the Bay Area.
During this one-day event, you can sample beers from more than 75 breweries. If you really want to taste everything, and impress your friends, you can actually select from over 150 different beers.
Your admission ticket includes unlimited samples (2 oz. each), a tasting glass, and access to many informative seminars.
Location: Waterfront Park, Martinez
Date: April
6. Bonny Doon Art, Wine & Brew Festival
This Bay Area beer festival in the Santa Cruz mountains has a truly local vibe.
Enjoy tastings from local breweries and wineries while you support a good cause, the Bonny Doon Elementary Art and Science Programs!
In addition, the area's most coveted food trucks will be offering some delicious bites to go with your drinks. It's an afternoon full of outdoor fun, including live music, cornhole, wine pull, and more.
Location: Crest Ranch, Santa Cruz
Date: September
7. Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival
Scotts Valley is another quaint town heading south from SF over the mountains toward Santa Cruz. While this weekend-long Bay Area beer festival promises a great selection of local brews and wines, it is not just for 21+.
This is a great opportunity for the whole family to have fun with the food trucks, arts and crafts booths, entertainment, and fun events like the "Dog Day Sunday" dog contest and the "Cops and Rodders" car show.
Location: Skypark in Scotts Valley
Date: August
8. Monterey Beer Festival
If you love discovering new brews, this may be the event for you, as the Monterey Beer Festival really focuses on bringing a great selection of well-known and little-known breweries to their tasting experience.
You'll find more than 80 different beers on tap, plus local food vendors and live music.
Location: Monterey County Fairgrounds
Date: October
9. Blues, Brews and BBQ
This Bay Area beer festival takes place in wine country, about two hours north of San Francisco.
Come out and enjoy a day of live blues music, a specialty microbrew beer garden, and delicious barbecue—a winning combination.
General admission is free; just purchase a beer garden bracelet for your suds. In addition, they host a classic car show, arts and crafts, and more.
Location: Napa Valley Expo
Date: October
10. Oktoberfest San Ramon
San Ramon is a city in the valley on the other side of the East Bay Hills, about 45 minutes from San Francisco.
Each year, the Historic Foundation hosts Oktoberfest in a down-home style that fits their mission of preserving the town's early farms and homesteads.
This beer festival in the Bay Area comes as a ranch gathering, you'll not only find great local beer, but Bavarian dancers, a brass band, and yummy treats like apple strudel.
Location: Forest Home Farms in San Ramon
Date: October
11. Oktoberfest Redwood City
To continue celebrating Oktoberfest, there's another beer festival near San Francisco just down the Peninsula.
Come September, a chunk of Redwood City's downtown plaza transforms for a week into a German party complete with cold beer, pretzels and brats, yodeling, and variations of the chicken dance.
Entrance includes a commemorative stein and a drink ticket, plus plenty of live entertainment. There is a separate ticket for non-drinkers of all ages.
To reach this Bay Area beer festival, just drive or take the Caltrain about half an hour south of San Francisco.
Location: Courthouse Square in downtown Redwood City
Date: September
12. Oktoberfest Campbell
For one full weekend each October, the historic streets of downtown Campbell host a family-friendly Oktoberfest extravaganza that is free and open to the public.
Stroll through more than 100 artisan booths and enjoy the live music from five different stages. The beer garden is central to the action, of course, featuring Gordon Biersch beers and ales.
There will also be German (and other) food stands, as well as wine tasting by local wineries. Don't miss the costume and stein-holding contests.
Location: Downtown Campbell
Date: October
Events for Wine Lovers in San Francisco: In addition to these great Bay Area beer festivals, I love attending wine events and hitting the town for wine tasting.
SF wine bars are known for their incredible variety and quality of local and international wines.
Other Large Events You Might Enjoy
Hi, I'm Jill!
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