Move over, wine and cheese, because Bay Area breweries and bars are championing a new sure-to-be-classic combo: beer and Girl Scout cookies.
Head to one of these events—also a perfect way to entice even the most hop-averse into participating in San Francisco Beer Week, running February 9th through 18th—to figure out which pint pairs best with your Tagalongs and Do-See-Dos.
Saturday, February 10
This Saturday, Strike Brewing Co.celebrates the release of two Imperial Stouts and a New England–style IPA in the best way possible: by pairing them with Girl Scout cookies. Swing by the South Bay brewery to try Thin Mints with a Big Wall peppermint stout, Samoas with the Big Wall vanilla stout, Trefoils with El Diamante, and Savannah Smiles with the Willie Haze NE Style IPA. // Saturday, February 10, 2-6pm, $15, 2099 S. 10th St. (San Jose), facebook.com/events.
Sunday, February 11
SoMa's Wine Downknows how to have a good time (case in point: The Bachelor viewing events on Monday night), so it's no surprise the wine and beer bar is capitalizing on cookie season for the second year in a row. This Sunday, sip a flight that pairs beer from four Bay Area breweries—think Fieldwork, SoMa neighbor Black Hammer, and Laughing Monk—with four of the troops' core cookies, with the pairings getting progressively more exciting. And you can indulge without guilt: $4 from every flight goes directly to the Girl Scouts of Northern California. // February 11, 3-8pm, $26.04 in advance, $30 plus tax at the door, 685 Folsom St. (SoMa), winedownsf.com.
Wednesday, February 14
Plan a very special Valentine's Day next Wednesday, even if you're flying solo, by boarding the San Francisco Brewers Guild's monthly Drink SF Beer Shuttle. This month, the free hop-on hop-off shuttle ferries you to four local Dogpatch breweries—including Triple Voodoo for a meet-the-brewer event—but cookie monsters will want to post up at the newly reopened Speakeasy Ale & Lagers, where you'll find special pairings of beer with your favorite Girl Scout cookies. // February 14, 6:30–10pm, 1195 Evans Ave. (Dogpatch), goodbeer.com.
(Woods Beer Co.)
BONUS: Drink a Girl Scout Cookie–Inspired Beer
While it's not technically a pairing in the traditional sense, Woods Beer Co. has been known to celebrate Girl Scouts' sweets season with its own line of cookie beers, typically released in early March. Keep an eye out for growlers of the unique flavors—often available at one of the brewery's five locations—that have ranged from a coconut caramel dubbel to a peanut butter cream ale in past years.
