SF Beer Week kicks off with This Beer Creates Opportunity fundraiser to launch diversity endowment

A limited-edition collaboration beer put out by the Bay Area Brewers Guild will be this year’s official SF Beer Week collaboration release, kick-starting fundraising to help improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Proceeds from the beer’s release, along with other contributions, will be used to establish a dedicated Guild Scholarship Endowment to be facilitated by University of California, Davis Continuing and Professional Education for the purpose of providing access to brewing education courses and brewing certificate programs. 

Created by brewers from six local craft breweries, the hazy Double IPA dubbed This Beer Creates Opportunity will be poured at all five SF Beer Week Kick Off events. The hoppy, juicy beer will also be a highlight of celebrations from February 10 to 19 at dozens of the craft beer bars, retail outlets and restaurants hosting their own SF Beer Week festivities around the region.

DeVonne Buckingham, director of brewing operations at Drake’s Brewing in San Leandro, hosted the brew day, welcoming fellow collaborators from Hella Coastal Brewing Co. of Oakland, Humble Sea Brewing Co. of Santa Cruz, Dokkaebier of Oakland, S27 Alehouse & Brewery out of San Jose and HenHouse Brewing Co. of Santa Rosa & Petaluma, all members of the Guild’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

“The brewing program at UC Davis offers one of the most respected academic approaches to brewing science in the world,” said Buckingham. “We are proud and pleased that this big, juicy collaboration brew will be an important step toward establishing this endowment. The Bay Area craft brewing scene is eager to welcome new faces and palates and historically marginalized communities.” 

The recipe for this “future focused” Hazy Double IPA was designed to express notes of passion fruit, guava, mango, lychee, citrus and fresh cut pineapple, all without the presence of actual fruits. On brew day, the team deftly employed locally developed London Tropics designer yeast strain; Bru-1, Simcoe and HBC 586 hops; and select grains, including oat, wheat and a back-to-the-future dose of California-grown heirloom malt. Among the components contributed to support the cause were ingredients and services from Berkeley Yeast, Admiral Maltings, BSG CraftBrewing, Custom Label, Barretto-Co and label designer Blanca of @blanca.creative. 

The beer’s name, This Beer Creates Opportunity, is a nod to American composer and activist Woody Guthrie, who famously played an acoustic guitar inscribed, “This Machine Kills Fascists.” 

This Beer debuts at SF Beer Week opening events

As this year’s Official SF Beer Week Collab, This Beer Creates Opportunity is the sole beer to be tapped at all five regional SF Beer Week Kick Off celebrations on February 10 and 11, in San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, San Leandro and Seaside as the long week gets underway. Beyond these marquee opening events, the beer will be available both on draft and in 16-ounce cans at multiple locations during beer week, including Drake’s Barrel House and Drake’s Dealership. Watch for retail locations and an opportunity to donate directly at SFBeerWeek.org/Collabs.

Here comes the rest of SF Beer Week

Hundreds of activities in dozens of towns and cities across the region are already online, with more pouring into the listings at SFBeerweek.org, where craft beer fans go to select from all the tastings, gatherings, pairings, fun activities and rare tappings to come.