While diversity, equity and inclusion have become dirty words in Washington, D.C, that’s not true among local beer professionals.
This year, the San Diego Brewers Guild started a Community Engagement Committee, led by Neva Parker, White Labs’ director of operations.
“This committee will work with organizations like the Autism Society of San Diego, Pink Boots Society, Black Brewers Association, local municipalities and chambers of commerce, and other groups that under-represented beer professionals and fans,” said Erik Fowler, the guild’s executive director.
To be clear: this was prompted by business, not ideological, considerations.
“Our mission isn’t politically driven,” Fowler said. “We’re here to celebrate and the people behind San Diego craft beer.”
Fowler checks all the stereotypical craft beer boxes, being White, male, bearded and tattooed. Yet he notes that San Diego’s beer community is — dare I use the word? — diverse. The area is home to Mexican-influenced breweries (Mujeres Brew House, among others); at least one with a South American tilt (Novo Brazil); and the self-proclaimed “first gay brewery in the world,” Hillcrest Brewing.
Women also play an important and growing role in the industry, from Pizza Port co-founder Gina Marsaglia to the current Guild president, Esthela Davila.
“Expanding craft beer’s reach is about bringing more people into the fold,” Fowler said, “and making the industry more welcoming to everyone who wants to enjoy or be a part of it. That’s something the entire industry benefits from.”
Let’s try this again
Correction: Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest will be held May 31, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — not 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. as reported here two weeks ago.
The annual event at the Paso Robles County Fairgrounds is one of the biggest and best beer festivals in the United States — but it’s not quite that big.
And while setting the record straight, I must note that my list of local breweries at this year’s fest missed Oceanside’s Horus Aged Ales. My apologies!
Beer Democracy
Your votes are need for two important “elections” now under way:
Before midnight tonight, help select the winners of the 2025 San Diego Beer News Awards. The ballot is online at sandiegobeer.news. Winners will be honored March 25 at Societe Brewing, 8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego.
San Diego is a finalist in USA Today’s “10 Best Readers’ Choice” poll. You can vote once a day at 10best.usatoday.com. Results will posted on March 5.
The Next Round
Now through Sunday: Cookies on Tap, the annual adults-only pairing of Girl Scout cookies and beers, wraps up this weekend. Check out the offerings at Mike Hess Brewing, Stone Brewing or Plant Power, a vegan fast food chain. For participating locations and pairings, visit sdgirlscourts/cookies ontap.
Saturday: AleSmith’s second annual Coffee & Beer highlights the world’s favorite alcoholic beverage, beer, brewed with the world’s top caffeinated drink, coffee. ission is free, but guests are urged to online. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. AleSmith: 9990 AleSmith Court, San Diego. alesmith.com
March 8: Stone’s Liberty Station outpost will host an International Women’s Day beer dinner featuring four courses of food paired with four beers. 6:30 to 10 p.m. March 8. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station: 2816 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego. $90.68. stonebrewing.com/events
Quick Sips, Dark and Stormy Edition
Beer: Feathers, Bone Chimes and Eternal Rest
From: There Does Not Exist, San Luis Obispo, and Horus Aged Ales, Oceanside
ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 12.1 percent
Style: Aged Strong Dark Ale
Drink or Dump: Drink. Take your time with this bruiser, the better to savor the dark chocolate and molasses notes up front, followed by layers of vanilla and pound cake.
Bigfoot 2025
From: Sierra Nevada, Chico
ABV: 9.6 percent
Style: Barleywine
Drink or Dump: Drink. A time-tested winter offering – Sierra Nevada debuted Bigfoot in the 1980s – this barleywine is renowned for its powerful malt base and equally impressive hop bitterness. Nutty, with hints of caramel, it is lifted by a trio of old-school hops – Cascade, Centennial and Chinook.
Herd of Turtles
From: Bagby Beer, Oceanside
ABV: 9.6 percent
Style: Baltic Porter
Drink or Dump: Drink – if you can find it. On a rainy evening, I plucked from my cellar this can, a gift from Jeff Bagby when he shuttered his eponymous brewery in January 2024. Thirteen months later, this Herd thundered into my pint glass, its inky body capped by a massive khaki-colored head. This two-time silver medalist at the Great American Beer Festival (2017 and 2023) smacks of cocoa, dark plums and pumpernickel.
