Thirsty Bear Brewing Company (Out of Business)

If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair or head over to ThirstyBear Organic Brewery for a snifter of their 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love celebration IPA commemorating one of the city’s most iconic historical events.

Two standout Bay Area stewards of sustainability, ThirstyBear Organic Brewery and Equator Coffees & Teas, team up for the debut release of YEBUNA BIRA (6.8% ABV, 51 IBU). Spawned from a spontaneous craving by ThirstyBear’s Brewmaster Brenden Dobel and his brewing assistant Michael Hoops — both of whom are self-proclaimed coffee enthusiasts — YEBUNA BIRA is the pick-me-up that both craft beer and coffee lovers can revel in.

A nationwide celebration hosted by the independent craft brewers shaping America’s exceptional beer scene into what it is today, American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) takes place for the 12th year in a row from May 15 – 21, 2017. Brewers across all 50 states host exclusive events spotlighting the incredible ingenuity happening within America’s rich beer culture. At ThirstyBear Organic Brewery in San Francisco, Founding Brewmaster Ron Silberstein and Brewmaster Brenden Dobel pay tribute to the golden era of mid-19th Century California with an innovative 2017 twist with the release of three new draught beers brewed with the San Francisco indigenous yeast strain “California Common.”

Sourdough bread is about as San Francisco is it gets and ThirstyBear Organic Brewery pays tribute to the originator of this delectable fermented bread Isidore Boudin with the release of their latest limited-edition STAVE SERIES NO. 18: ISADORE’S TRANSFIGURATION.

It might not be a white Christmas in San Francisco this year, but there’s still plenty to celebrate with the holidays right around the corner. ThirstyBear Organic Brewery is 20 years deep into the annual tradition of brewing festive spiced ales to lift the winter spirits. Throughout the holiday season and well into January 2017, ThirstyBear releases two specialty Christmas casks of their TOLSTOY’S INKWELL (Russian Imperial Stout, 9.3% ABV) and GRIZZLY BEAR (Red Ale, 6.3% ABV).

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery is thrilled to team up with Beers Made By Walking for a limited-edition release of COASTAL IPA, one of 14 local beers inspired by the trails of Mount Sutro. Local brewers, Beers Made By Walking, and Sutro Stewards collaborated to create these hike-inspired beers. Sutro Stewards led the public and 18 brewers including ThirstyBear’s brewmaster Brenden Dobel on hikes throughout Mount Sutro in the geographic center of San Francisco in search of specialty ingredients.

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery puts a uniquely American spin on the ancient Belgian brewing practice of wild fermentation with the much-anticipated release of Stave Series No. 16: The Wild American. For its annual limited-edition Stave Series, ThirstyBear barrel aged The Wild American in American oak, inoculated the brew with Brettanomyces and dry-hopped it with the American hop varietal Mosaic. ThirstyBear’s Stave Series releases are a highly coveted annual favorite for Bay Area craft beer fans.

Following its latest release of four small batch beers, ThirstyBear Organic Brewery adds to its rotating craft beer lineup a brand new farmhouse ale SAISON DE HOUBLON and BALTIC PORTER.

For the final week of September and full month of October 2016, ThirstyBear introduces four new beers, including their 20TH ANNIVERSARY WET HOP HARVEST ALE, THE DECEIVER (American Tripel Double IPA), OATGRIST (English Brown Ale), and BLACK BEAR LAGER (German-style Schwarzbier).

2016 marks the 20-year anniversary of San Francisco’s oldest brewery-restaurant ThirstyBear Organic Brewery. In 1996, when ThirstyBear was established, the craft beer landscape was quite the contrast to the booming beer scene that’s now taking shape in San Francisco with nearly 30 breweries currently in business. Craft beer sales were barely approaching 1% of the overall beer market. Today, craft beer is over 11% of total beer sales with projected sales for 2020 pushing 20%. ThirstyBear proudly enters its third decade of brewing alongside its many Bay Area contemporaries, who collectively have established Northern California as one of the top beer destinations in the world.

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery joins the ranks of other acclaimed West Coast breweries such as Sierra Nevada, Rogue and Speakeasy by mastering the art of aging barley wines. Since opening in 1996, founding brewmaster Ron Silberstein has diligently dedicated a portion of his year-round craft beer program to the production of singular barley wine. ThirstyBear’s cellar includes barley wines dating back to the year 1999. Annually released on the day following Thanksgiving, ThirstyBear proudly launches its latest seasonal, CELLAR SERIES: BARLEY WINE 2012 (9.4% ABV, 65 IBU), this Friday, November 27, 2015.

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery is thrilled to team up with Beers Made By Walking for a limited-edition release of YERBA BUENA PALE GRUIT, one of six local beers inspired by the trails of Mount Sutro. On July 9, 2015, ThirstyBear’s brewmaster Brenden Dobel joined a cast of celebrated San Francisco brewers to identify native plants and subsequently brew hike-inspired beers. Beers Made By Walking hosts a special tasting event at Sports Basement (Grotto Room, 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA) on Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 4:30 pm – 7 pm; tickets are $15.

Downtown San Francisco craft beer haven ThirstyBear Organic Brewery releases its special limited-edition WET HOP HARVEST ALE to benefit Lake and Napa County fire victims with $0.50 from each pint sold to be directly donated to Lake County LAC.

Downtown San Francisco craft beer haven ThirstyBear Organic Brewery joins beer enthusiasts, breweries and bars across the globe last Thursday in a collective toast to one of craft beer’s most iconic styles: India Pale Ale. To celebrate “IPA Day” (Aug. 6, 2015), ThirstyBear releases a special limited-edition summer seasonal Citra Double Down, which is generously hopped at 75 IBUs and 8.9% ABV.