SF Beer Week Rolls Out the Barrels

Freshness is important. So why is there a whole festival devoted to beers that, even if they were stamped with a born-on date, would proudly show that they were six, nine, or sometimes more than 12 months old? Barrel-aged beers are increasingly popular among the craft beer set (there's even a panel discussion on the subject tonight at the S.F. Courtyard Marriott, 299 Second St. at Folsom).

Jeff M./Yelp

​Brewers are experimenting with maturing strong beers inside wood vessels and discovering aging embellishes the contents in unique ways. Tomorrow night's event at Berkeley brewpubs Triple Rock and Jupiter will feature several dozen beers of all styles aged in a variety of spent spirit barrels. You'll definitely find an imperial stout aged in used bourbon barrels (contributing vanilla, toffee, and oak flavors) and might see anything from a double IPA aged in tequila barrels to a chocolate porter aged in Zinfandel casks. More info on Tuesday's events after the jump.

Events for Tuesday, Feb. 9:

Barrel Aged Tuesday
Time: 3-9:30 p.m.
Location: Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, 1920 Shattuck (at Hearst), Berkeley, (510) 843-4677; and Jupiter Brewery, 2181 Shattuck (at Allston), Berkeley, (510) 843-8277
Cost: $20 for a commemorative glass and four tastes (additional tastes extra)

Also in the East Bay:
Eat and drink organic at the four-course Organic Farm-to-Table Beer Dinner with Bison Brewery at Café Bière.
Time: 5-10 p.m.
Location: Café Bière, 3986 Adeline (at 40th St.), Emeryville, (510) 601-1882
Cost: $50

East of the Caldecott Tunnel, there's a remarkable opportunity to drink Schooner's fantastic Oatmeal Stout and Valley Brewing's decadent Pomegranate Saison beers side-by-side-by-side ― the third being artisan cheeses from points around the globe.
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Location: Schooner's Grille & Brewery, 4250 Lone Tree Way (at Dallas Ranch), Antioch, (925) 776-1800
Cost: TBD