Annual Beer Events
One of the best things about Santa Rosa and Sonoma County is the rich calendar of craft beer festivals and events.
In fact, the climate is so good that the lineup of "summer" beer festivals starts in late spring and continues into early fall, and even the entire month of FeBREWary.
So raise a mug, gather a growler, and get your suds on at these favorite local gatherings.
Due to the ever-changing nature of travel and events, we recommend visiting each event’s website for info about the latest updates, postponements, or cancellations.
Santa Rosa Beer Passport - Santa Rosa breweries and Visit Santa Rosa collaborate to create the Santa Rosa Beer Passport, a guide to explore the world-class craft beer scene in Santa Rosa. The entire month of FeBREWary is a ground-breaking celebration of craft beer and community from Santa Rosa breweries. In 2023, we went digital with the Beer Passport and expanded it to be available year round!
Pliny The Younger Release - Pliny the Younger is a triple IPA brewed by the Russian River Brewing Company. It is released annually in a two-week event that draws international attendees. For those of us not trekking to Sonoma County, the draft distribution of Pliny the Younger is still on target to begin reaching the brewery’s wholesalers in February. So, there is still a chance to drink Pliny the Younger at many of the brewery’s draft accounts in California, Oregon, Colorado, and Philadelphia. 2023 Pliny the Younger Release - March 24th-April 6th!
Beerfest: The Good One - transforms the Luther Burbank Center for the Performing Arts into a lavish beer garden, populated by more than 60 of NorCal's best microbreweries. Ready your palate to savor unlimited sips from your souvenir Beerfest glass of new, rare, and classic beers as well as delicious ciders. Gourmet food bites are available for purchase from some of Sonoma County's favorite food trucks. You can feel good having this much fun because the event is a fundraiser for Face to Face, which is dedicated to ending HIV. Save the date - June 2023.
NorCal Brew Fest - Held in conjunction with the annual Sonoma County Fair, this one-day event features unlimited tastes of more than 50 award-winning beers and ciders. Play cornhole and Giant Jenga, listen to free live music, and feel the trackside thrill of Wine Country horse racing.
Battle of the Brews - Celebrate all things craft beer at this annual event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. The VIP Craft Cup Competition is one of Sonoma County's largest craft brew competitions, with industry-leading judges naming the Craft Cup Best in Show as well as category favorites and winners. Entries in the Commercial Beer Competition are available for tasting by event attendees. That's followed by the People's Choice Main Event, with dozens of craft brews from Sonoma County and nationwide, free food tastings from local chefs and restaurants, and live music. Hosted by the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50, the Battle of the Brews raises money for local underserved youth.
Stumptown Beer Revival - Showcasing 30 breweries and unlimited beer tasting, moderation is key at this event, but fun is a must. And with 30 barbecue teams working their magic with meats, there's plenty of food to balance the beer. Located right on the Russian River in Guerneville, the party rocks out with live music and some 3,000 craft brew-loving guests.
IPA 10k + Brew Fest + Beer Mile - This one-of-a-kind event celebrates the North Bay beer scene with a festive and scenic 10K race that starts with a beer or cider toast. The race is followed by the Brewfest, which brings together breweries and cider makers from throughout the region for a tasting extravaganza with live music, exhibitors, food trucks, and an awards ceremony. There's also the Beer mile Invitational with the world's top male and female beer milers, plus the raucously entertaining Beer Mile Relay Challenge, where brewers compete for the coveted Growler Trophy. This event is hosted by The Barlow a 12.5-acre outdoor market in Sebastopol that features local food, wine, beer, spirits, and crafts.
Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival - The Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Petaluma Valley bring to you the Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival on Water Street by the River in historic downtown Petaluma. Sip local beers, taste local food creations and listen to live music. Information and tickets click here.
Freshtival - Present by HenHouse Brewing Company. The The Freshtival is a celebration of the art freshness! All of the beer poured at this event will be less than 7 days old!! More than 150 beers, presented in perfect, brewery-fresh condition! Enjoy live music, delicious food, an art gallery, a community market, and of course, a bunch of delicious, brewery-fresh beer!
Beer City Festival - The Beer City Festival allow you to taste the best craft beer from Northern California and beyond. You’ll find great beer, munch on tasty food, and hear great music. Many Beer City events start with a half marathon/10k/5k. This isn’t always the case, but who doesn’t want to work up a thirst while taking in the sights on a local running trail.
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) - Hands-down one of the biggest and best beer festivals in the nation. It is held in downtown Denver, Colorado annually just after the summer season ends. This year it will be held on October 6th - 8th. Click here for more details.
Breweries compete head-to-head for awards and are judged by the festival’s Professional Judge Panel. The Convention Center hosts this remarkable event for three sud-soaked days, with an attendance of around 50,000. Visit Santa Rosa attends to proudly represent our destination as the epicenter of the craft beer movement in the U.S.
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