Beerfest goes San Diego style

Go beer tasting this Friday and support a good cause (Picture via www.sdbeerfest.org)

No, there are no lederhosen required and you don’t have to overload on sausage. Well, you can if you want to. The 15th annual San Diego Festival of Beer will take place Friday September 18 from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. in downtown San Diego at Columbia and B Street. The goal is to round up 6,000 beer lovers to enjoy the sounds of live music while sampling from 75 different breweries.

The 21- and- over event is hosted by the San Diego Professionals Against Cancer (SDPAC), a group of dedicated professionals who created an non-profit organization and developed the festival in order to raise money and donate funds to local San Diego cancer related charities, patient treatment, and research organizations. Recent donations have been to Rady Children’s Hospital and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Over 75 breweries to choose from. (Photo via www.sdbeerfest.org)

With the price of admission, beer-loving participants can enjoy ten (4oz.) beer tastings. The festival not only offers a variety of beer, but also has an array of food choices and snacks for sale in addition to a selection of fine wines for purchase by the glass. The first 6,000 people into the event will receive a free souvenir event logo tasting mug that is theirs to use throughout the evening and to keep when they go home.

Advance tickets are on sale on for $25, but tickets can also be purchased at the gate for $30. Tickets ordered online can be mailed or picked up at will call the day of the festivities.  They also offer designated driver tickets for $20. The sampling isn’t available with these tickets, but these team players still get to go home with a souvenir mug and can still enjoy all the delicious treats to be offered.

If ten tastings isn’t enough, additional tastings can be purchased at the rate of $5 for five or $10 for ten.  For wine lovers, discounted tickets of $20 can be purchased, but wine purchases are still separate.

Discounted parking is also available at a rate of $5 one block away at Columbia and C Street, in the Columbia Garage, an enclosed, well-lit garage with a maximum height of 7′.

4 oz. beerfest mugs given to the first 6,000 guests ( Photo via www.sdbeerfest.org)

In order to keep the peace on the streets, for the first time this year the festival is partnering with the W Hotel downtown and offering one night room stays and discounted ticket packages. If a DD isn’t available and driving won’t be option, enjoy the evening and rest that beer satisfied smile at the W Hotel.  A one night’s stay at W plus one ticket to the Festival of Beer is just $229 or $269 for a double room rate and two Beer Fest tickets.  The price of the package for a room and ticket beats the price of a DUI or jail anytime.

Enjoy the San Diego style beerfest and help to raise money for cancer research and awareness. All proceeds go to a good cause, and a possible hangover the next day will be worth it.