Bottoms Up

Having lost my mother to breast cancer, this weekend’s 9th annual Fermenting Change: Microbreweries Battling Breast Cancer at Marin Brewing is very near and dear to my heart. See you there.

THIS WEEKEND

Saturday, July 18

In mid-July it will be time once more for the 9th annual Fermenting Change: Microbreweries Battling Breast Cancer at Marin Brewing in Larkspur, a great opportunity to take the ferry over from San Francisco. 25 breweries will be pouring their beer from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.

IN THE COMING WEEKS

Monday, July 20

The Beer Chef, Bruce Paton, will host a beer dinner featuring the beers of Lagunitas Brewing and The Chefs Association of the Pacific Coast at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco. The price of the beer dinner is $75. Reservations can be made online.

Wednesday, July 22

Sacramento Brewing in … well, Sacramento is hosting their own IPA Festival — IPApalooza — with 23 different IPAs on tap (so far) plus two more on cask. The free fest (just buy tastings of the ones you want to sample) begins when they open at 11:30 a.m. The restaurant will “have plenty of great Mexican specials.”

Saturday, July 25

The Sierra Brewfest, a.k.a. Music in the Mountains will be held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Featuring unlimited tastings of beer from 25 breweries, music by Bob Mora & the Third Degrees Blues Band, and food like sausages, BBQ, roasted corn, Mexican food, and ice cream. Tickets are $25.

Friday, July 31

The Bistro at the Park, part of the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa, in Lafayette is hosting a beer dinner featuring the beers of Russian River Brewing on Friday, July 31 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The five-course dinner (including appetizers) costs $75 (exclusive of tax & gratuity) and reservations can be made by calling the hotel & spa at 925.283.7108. Thanks to Rod Santos at Wine Thieves for passing this one along.

ON THE HORIZON

July 31-August 2: The 14th annual Mammoth Festival of Beers & Beerapalooza. It’s a bit of a trek to Mammoth Lakes, but worth it.

August 8: The 12th annual Bistro IPA Festival at The Bistro in Hayward.

August 15: The 7th annual Russian River Beer Revival & BBQ Cook-Off at Stumptown Brewery in Guernville.

August 28: Brewfest at the California State Fair in Sacramento.

If you know of an upcoming beer event, please let me know about it so I can share it here. Let me know at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.