Annual Brews on the Bay

This was my first time attending Brews on the Bay and I had a wonderful time. The food trucks were awesome — shout out to the kimchi fries from Bobcha! Anyways — the beer was amazing as well. Our group got there right at noon, and got to sample the majority of the breweries. My favorite was the raspberry beer from Triple Voodoo — delicious!
The event did sell out so it was to be expected that they would run out of beer at some point in time, however wish the breweries could’ve planned accordingly. Overall, it was a perfect day for some sunshine, good beer, good food, and good company.

First time attending this event. The major problem was that many of the breweries ran out of beer… with some of the bigger ones running out and closing-​up as early as 2pm (just 2 hours into the 5 hour event). By the end of the event, it appeared that about half of the breweries had ran out of beers and had closed shop early. This was extremely disappointing as there were several beers that I really wanted to try, but couldn’t. Somewhat annoying was the large crowd and the difficulty of maneuvering thru the hordes of people on the ship while trying not to spill your beer. All that being said, the event did have a nice vibe to it… overall, it made for a fun day. The brewery reps were all nice and the food trucks had a good selection. Not sure yet if I’d consider going next year.

What a joke. Paid $ 59 for this event. Supposed to go from 12 –5pm. Vendors were running out of beer before 2pm. By 3pm over half of the vendors were out of beer. So unless you get there right at noon and pound through beers as fast as you can you will be lucky to sample even half of the breweries there.

The annual Brews on the Bay celebration of local beer, held by the San Francisco Brewers Guild, has in 10 years risen to the short list of the most enjoyable only-​in-​San Francisco parties.
Held this year on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, Brews on the Bay combines some of the best aspects of San Francisco: the most pleasant mid-​October weather; postcard-​worthy vistas of the bay, the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, Alcatraz and downtown; some of the tastiest beer San Francisco breweries have to offer; and a large and mostly well-​behaved throng happily rubbing elbows with the volunteers who keep the WWII Liberty Ship, the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, in tip-​top seaworthy shape.
Music from the city’s own bluegrass band, the rollicking Brothers Comatose, further elevated the event. Good beer, good people, great weather, an outstanding venue, and good-​time music again proved an unbeatable combination.
A total of 16 breweries poured scores of beers for some 1,500 partiers and volunteers on the ship. Onboard for the first time were Cellarmaker, which opened its doors a couple of weeks ago on Folsom Street, and newcomers Pine Street and Headlands Brewing. Cellarmaker made a puckerish splash with its Petit Sour with Peach and a very respectable porter.
The Brothers Comatose were also making their maiden «voyage» on the historic vessel docked at Pier 45. «It’s the first time we’ve ever played on a ship,» observed guitarist and vocalist Ben Morrison, just as the ship rocked a bit from the wake of a departing ferry boat. Morrison previously worked at Thirsty Bear Brewing.
Many beers stood out, but Almanac’s new seasonal, Golden Gate Gose, was in a class by itself. Keep an eye out for that one. Also outstanding was Social Kitchen’s New World Lager, made with New Zealand hops.
Special congratulations go out to the San Francisco Brewers Guild and Executive Director Brian Stechschulte and the volunteers, who seem to top themselves every year; the security personnel that maintained order under sometimes trying circumstances; and the volunteers from the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, who didn’t seem in the least put out sharing their amazing ship with all of us beer lovers.

Best time on a boat… Ever!
My friend and I bought tickets months ago and were stocked to get our drink on. For $ 50 we had access to almost 21 breweries, an amazing view of the bay, an awesome big ass boat, live music and rare bunch of characters.
We drank, we ate, we chatted, drank more and more and more and then danced on the bay. Great event and I will def make this an annual event.
Highlight beers: 21^st watermelon and black, pizza orgasmicas peach, speakeasys prohibition are a few stands out that I can actually remember.

Awesome setting to see any show whether it is a art show or a live performance… It really is a must if you are ever lucky to be visiting during a time that coincides with a show.

I have to second my buddy Jenn H.‘s review. This event rocks… literally. Awesome music, awesome atmosphere, and of course awesome beer. Also my second time going and it seemed more organized this year. Not too much crowding or waiting in line. My only pet peeve was not having more port-​a-​potties, but I’m guessing with an old navy ship you really can’t be that picky. Definitely some good people watching as well. U2’s Bono gets a high five just because he’s cool like that.
Get there early though or else you’ll be waiting in the über-​long line to sign the waiver to get on the boat. Any way to expedite this process next year? Thanks for another wonderful run SF Brewer’s Guild!

How could I not give this event anything but FIVE stars???
For $ 45 bucks; all you can drink beer from SF breweries, classic rock cover bands, hords of people and all day spent on a old navy battle ship!
This is the second year Ive participated in this event, and I may say that it has only gotten better one year later.
This year, the weather was a ton better (actual sunshine and 70degree weather in SF), and the beers flowed like cold streams. The U2 band was rockin and played two sets. Tons of people walking around, all real friendly and noone pushing anyone over to get refills of beer.
Not only will I go again the following year, but next time I will be sure to take more pics sitting in the captains quarters and on battle-​gun!

Good times, indeed!
We were lucky to be blessed with AMAZING weather at yesterday’s Brews on the Bay. Sun shining and beer flowing = an afternoon of awesomeness!
Couple of tips:
–bring your own cup/​mug/​stein
–get there 30 min early to avoid the hour wait to get on the boat…
I think I might try to be a volunteer next year – seems like Wilhelm Y. had a great time and it’d be great to use that $ 50 towards much needed food on or off the boat.
The only downside was the line to get onto the boat. After that, it was super easy to get beer at all of the booths and getting around wasn’t hard either. If you are thinking about going… go! It was sooooo much fun!

I had such a great time in 2009 that I went back in 2010. I didn’t pay the $ 45 advance ticket price or the $ 55 event day price though because I volunteered through One Brick. The event filled up very quickly on the volunteer calendar this year, but if registration is open volunteering is definitely the best way to enjoy this event and save a few dollars at the same time.
The annual Brews on the Bay takes place on board and benefits the historic World War II Liberty ship S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien at Pier 45. Seven local breweries have stations set up throughout the length of the ship offering five or more varieties of their beers to guzzle or sample. The event runs from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM with a live band on board to provide some quality drinking music. Admission into the event gets you an 8 ounce plastic cup to drink out of, but I noticed many people brought their own beer glasses or beer steins to enjoy the free-​flowing beer. Some of the breweries and the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien had bigger glassware for sale.
Most of our volunteers helped out along the pier working the massive will-​call registration tables, helping distribute event waivers to event attendees, selling beer-​related merchandise or just keeping the crowds in order. A handful of volunteers got to go on board early to help dispense beer at the brewery stations, but eventually everybody got on board whether to help pour into other people’s glasses or into their own mouths. After helping out with merchandising for about an hour I became part of the latter this time as the volunteer coordinator walked me up to help pour at the Magnolia Brewery station only to find that the station was already overstaffed with volunteers. Good for me!
I wanted to try at least one product from each of the seven breweries on hand, and I decided to take the ale route in doing so. Eventually I stopped counting how many times I had my little plastic cup refilled. I just know that if I had paid I would have gotten my money’s worth. For the record the seven breweries taking part this year were:
21^st Amendment
Beach Chalet
Gordon Biersch
Magnolia
Social Kitchen
Speakeasy
ThirstyBear
For those who can’t drink on an empty stomach food is also available for purchase on the ship. A different restaurant is featured each year and in 2010 that restaurant was Chef Elizabeth Faulkner’s Orson offering delicious choices such as Andouille and Corn Hushpuppies, Duck Fat Fries, Pork Belly Sloppy Joes and Bacon Caprese Sandwiches. I had a bacon sandwich shortly after I boarded the ship and it was greasy good!
They brought back the band Zoo Station also. The U2 cover band was a huge hit last year and they returned to play two awesome sets on Saturday. For anyone attending on Sunday I believe the band scheduled to appear is the Van Halen cover band Hot For Teacher.
Anyway, it was a great way to spend a Saturday meeting and partying with fellow volunteers sharing some love made possible thanks to free-​flowing beer. Because beer was involved it seemed like everybody on board was super friendly and in a great mood. Who knows? Beer just may be the answer to world peace! Good times it was!

Really? A brewfest on an old WWII ship that you can walk around and explore while listening to a funky cover band? We went the last two years and had a blast both years! After the drinking ends, we walk around SF and find more fun to get into. If you only go to one brewfest, this would be the one to go to.
Note to the ladies — where comfy shoes. There is spillage all over the boat, your feet will get wet n dirty and there’s the possibility of slipping. Plus if you want to explore the city afterwards, you will be good to go.

This is a pretty awesome event. I went there with cece and volunteered. I never knew that a huge ship like that could be filled with tons of drunk people. The event was awesome. and there was tons of people and lines. They give you pretty small cups, so you should either bring your own (I think you can) or purchase a bigger one. The lines are long, so once you get a glass of beer, go and wait in line for another.

Brews on the Bay was super fun this year! Great weather, great beer, great company!
There are a few things to keep in mind for next year if you plan on attending…
1. Limited bathrooms (hold it as best you can, come on, you’re on a boat!)
2. Limited food– only one stand. After drinking all day you’ll need more than a «bucket of fries»…
3. Its dirty, by dirty I mean wet and rockin’… don’t wear white
4. They ran out of beer about an hour before it was over– drink up!

Probably the worst beer festival that I have ever been too, there were like 5 breweries and each had about 4 – 6 beers each. Some of them ran out of beer halfway through it. Thats a pretty weak beerfest in my opinion. Not worth the 45 dollars i spent on the ticket.

I’m lying on my couch. It’s pretty uncertain as to whether i am going to be able to make it off of it today. I went down to Brews on the Bay yesterday and partook in more beer than I could sustainably hold. I think the second beer alone took me down — a combination of Thirsty Bears Golden Vanilla and Coffee Porter — it had me on the floor.
This is a seriously fun event. Running around a WW2 naval ship? Watching a regatta with multiple boats near-​crashing into you? Pelicans and seagulls flying around you with the occasional sea lion popping up? Drinking local beers all afternoon in a good crowd? It was insanely packed — which I am not so much a fan of — but there were plenty of spaces where you could flee to and watch the seething people below you — and send your minions off to fetch further beverages. I definitely recommend going — find yourself a little spot and chat to the people as they pass you by. A nice mix of people — from the all-over-tattoo’d man, to the preppy Marina kids — everyone was simply out to have a nice time. And play with some big guns.

We were rockin’ the boat!
I volunteered today with OneBrick (11am-​2pm)!!! I was pouring beer at Magnolia! woot woot! I was the little asian girl in my North Face jacket recommending High Time Harvest and filling up cups for those thirsty beer enthusiasts! :D ahahaha I was addicted to my beer pouring job, I didn’t want to leave so soon! :P
The event was sold out today! :D With around 1000 people on a ship, it was quite packed and difficult to get around after my shift. We were seriously rocking the boat! People were already drunk and a lot of the popular beers were out! :(Sad, I couldn’t even get my watermelon wheat beer from 21^st Amendment after my shift.
I’d recommend…
+ Buying your tickets way in advance!
+ Getting there early (before it’s super crowded)
+ Sampling all the beers before they’re gone
+ Magnolia: High Time Harvest (wet hop), Kalifornia Klosch (light)
+ Touring around the ship before you get drunk
+ Bring a bigger cup/​pint glass. The plastic ones are too inky-​dink!
+ Bring your own munchies, unless you are fine with $ 10 ribs and fries
The crowd: mainly males (30s-​40s) in North Face jackets, the critics who brew their own beers, and then there are the ones that just like to drink lots of beer!
I ran into quite a few people I knew within my few hours there! Hellos to Marc A. and Robert S. (my B2B buddies), a Cal Poly dude, and my old next door neighbor when I was at Cal Poly, and I think I saw Ruggy J. Hi all!!!
Good local beer + lots of people + on a naval ship = FUN!!! :D
Go green take: F line towards Jefferson & Taylor (Pier 45)

I HIGHLY recommend this event.
I found out about Brewers on the bay through an awesome organization that helps you volunteer for events around the bay area, called
, It may sound like I’m a philanthropic, good hearted person, but honestly the reason that I volunteered was for the free beer.
I checked tickets for about 45 minutes and was shortly released because they had so many volunteers. I tried every single beer on that boat multiple times.
There’s nothing like drinking beer on an old Navy ship docked in the bay.
There was also this awesome U2 cover band but I can’t remember their name. If anyone know who they are please send me a quick note.

It’s really the most fantastic thing ever. I mean, WWII ship, cool. Microbrew beer, cool. Together, with music, snacks and strangers? Even better. I love this event SO much. I’ve only gone once in 2006 but I will be there this year, with bells on. They give you these little tasting cups but trust me, everyone gets mandingo. It was a little cold and windy, but when isn’t it? Sriously, this event is bad ass.

I almost gave it only 4 stars, because of the lack of adequate bathrooms, but I believe it may be a paradox to have adequate numbers of bathrooms at a beer festival…
But it’s a beer festival, and yummy. And fun. And I wish I had gone last year. Year before was very good.

This fantastic celebration of beer is held on the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a historic World War II Liberty Ship. Walking through Fisherman’s Wharf to get to the ship, I noticed that not one sign was up advertising the event. For a minute I thought I was in the wrong place until I saw a beer flag flying on top of the Jeremiah O’Brien– classic!
Confused tourists were wondering what the line was for and since the event was sold out, none of them could get in.
After climbing up a rickety bridge to get on the boat, we were surrounded by amazing breweries and all the beer we could drink (which is heaven in my opinion). The weather wasn’t fantastic, but cleared up towards the end. We had so much fun talking to the brewers, trying out local beer and bonding over random drunken stories. It reminded me of a smaller version of the SF International Beer Festival that I attended in March at Fort Mason.
You have to sign a waiver before you get on the ship since there’s a lot of random places you could climb up /​fall off /​get stuck in and they don’t want liability. Believe me, we all did our fair share of scaling random ladders, playing with the huge guns and exploring out-​of-​the way decks. I am surprised none of us got hurt.
If you like local beer, make a point to attend this event. I can’t wait to go back next year.