It’s that glorious time of year again when breweries, bars, and restaurants come together (in mutual love, respect, and adoration) to create a weeklong celebration all in the name of BEER. Beer enthusiasts can bask in the fermented malted grain love through festicals, tastings, pairings, and parties. Sponsored by the SF Brewers Guild, the week boasts hundreds of events in and around our fair city. In addition to one-off events (which can be viewed on the Drink Me calendar or at SFBeerWeek.org), some venues offer weeklong specials that can be enjoyed when your schedule allows. Here’s a breakdown of our favorites.

SWEET
Combine your fondness of a childhood staple, root beer floats, with your love of adult beverages and you get “beer floats,” made with Bison Organic Beer and organic ice cream at Chile Pies. Or you can experience a similar combination with Humphrey Slocombe beer ice cream, featuring flavors from all your favorite local breweries.

Beer and Ice Cream Floats
Chile Pies & Ice Cream, 601 Baker St., San Francisco

Humphry Slocombe Beer Ice Cream
Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream, 2790 Harrison St., San Francisco

SAVORY
We have some hardcore problems here. With so many amazing restaurants teaming up with breweries to create beer pairing menus, it’s a daunting task to choose which one. Solutions may include having a beer dinner every day of beer week, or perhaps one day going from beer brunch to beer lunch to beer dinner, or just show up at your favorite restaurant and assume they are one of the many creating harmony with beer. Of the bountiful choices, you might want to enjoy the elegant under-the-sea atmosphere of Farallon with Shipyard Brewery, try the unconventional strong beer and strong salads at Social Kitchen, get to know beers from COEDO (a craft brewer from Japan) at Nombe Izakaya, or go for traditional pub grub at Beach and Park Chalet.

Chalet Beer Week Pairing Menu
Beach Chalet & Park Chalet, 1000 Great Hwy., San Francisco

COEDO Japanese Premium Beer & Food Pairing
Nombe Izakaya, 2491 Mission St. San Francisco

Shipyard Beer Pairings
Farallon Restaurant, 450 Post St., San Francisco

Strong Beers and Strong Salads
Social Kitchen & Brewery, 1326 9th Ave. San Francisco

LIQUOR-Y
Beer and spirits have traditionally duked it out for your attention at the bar. Luckily, some establishments are squashing the feud by combing the two into one delicious drink. Alembic is infusing beer into their well-made cocktails, while Elixer keeps it classic with 15 different beer and shot pairings (aka a “happy meal”). Combine ingredients from Firestone Walker Brewery and St. George Spirits, add in a splash of good-natured competition, and you’ve got the Booze and Brew Brawl at 15 Romolo. During the week, stop by and taste the different beer cocktails created by some of the best bartenders in the city and help crown the champ of the contest.

Beer Cocktails at Alembic
The Alembic Bar,1725 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA

Booze and Brew Cocktails
15 Romolo, 15 Romolo Pl., San Francisco

Shot and Beer Pairings
Elixer, 3200 16th St., San Francisco