"Whenever someone asks me if I want water with my scotch, I say, 'I'm thirsty, not dirty.'" ~ Joe E. Lewis
Wine Pong and Barrel Putt-Putt
Move over grape stompers, the Crusher Games are back. This Saturday in south Napa's Crusher Wine District, seven urban wineries will each host a whimsical, wine-themed game, such as wine pong, barrel Putt-Putt and Bung Bung barrel toss, between 11am and 4pm. Guests can taste wine, play games, win prizes, get down to DJ-generated tunes, and enjoy a globally inspired lunch courtesy of Heritage Eats. Proceeds benefit Napa Humane, a non-profit that promotes the welfare of companion animals. Tickets are available online for $15 to $35 per person. // 25 Enterprise Court (Napa), crusherwinedistrict.com
Bloody Mary Festival
A dozen of the the Bay Area's best Bloody Marys will be under one roof this Sunday, from 1pm to 4pm at The Midway. The Bloody Mary Festival offers three hours of unlimited Bloody Mary tastes, music, local food and drink samples, and a vote for The Best Bloody Mary. Tickets are $45and guests can expect Bloody Marys from Finnegans Wake, Give, The Front Porch, The Rock Bar, Kitchen Story, Penrose, St. Mary's Pub, Nido and more. VIP tickets ($80) include early entry, lunch, and a Bloody Mary Fest tote bag. Purchase tickets online. // 900 Marin St. (Dogpatch), thebloodymaryfest.com
Party for the Parks with Anchor Steam
Anchor Beer Garden at The Yard is hosting a Party for the Parks this Thursday from 5pm to 7pm. Pop in to the pop-up shipping container village for pint and growler deals on Anchor California Lager, with $1 of each pint sold going to the California State Parks Foundation. Join the Foundation on site and receive a free Hiker's Guide, plus $5 off membership. // 100 Terry A Francois Blvd. (SoMa), theyardsf.com
Allagash Beer Dinner at Homestead
Oakland's Homestead Restaurant is hosting a beer-paired dinner with Allagash Brewing Company this Sunday, with seatings at 5pm and 8pm. Given Allagash's Maine roots, the menu will be a New England-inspired shellfish boil prepared in the fireplace and served family style. The four-course meal includes pork belly with johnnycakes, oyster quiche, apple salad, corn on the cob, roasted potatoes and Parker House rolls, paired with Allagash's critically acclaimed, Belgian-inspired beers such as Fluxus, Sixteen Counties, and Interlude. Brewery representatives will be on hand to discuss each pairing. Tickets are available online for $120 each, plus taxes. // 4042 Piedmont Ave. (Oakland), homesteadoakland.com
Brews on the Bay Beer Festival
Believe it or not, tickets are still available for the Bay Area's most intimate and scenic beer festival. The 13th Annual Brews on the Bay festival returns this Sunday to the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, permanently docked at Fisherman's Wharf. The WWII-era merchant marine ship will play host to 28 San Francisco breweries pouring more than 70 craft beers. General admission tickets ($55) include event access with unlimited tastes from 1pm to 5pm, while VIP tickets ($95) include early entry at noon and a limited edition T-shirt. Purchase tickets online before they sell out, and bring cash for the dockside food vendors. Though the boat won't actually leave the pier, you'll want to bring your sea legs. // Pier 49 (Fisherman's Wharf), sfbrewersguild.org
