How Sonoma County Became a Craft Beer Mecca | FeBREWary & SF Beer Week

The Ultimate Sonoma County Craft Beer Guide With Sayre Piotrkowski | Bay Area Brewers Guild + SF Beer Week PreviewSearching for the best breweries in Santa Rosa? Planning a Sonoma County beer trip during SF Beer Week? Curious why FeBREWary has become one of Northern California’s biggest craft beer traditions?This episode is your inside guide.FeBREWary started as a winter collaboration with Visit Santa Rosa to boost local business — and has evolved into a month-long craft beer celebration that now anchors Sonoma County’s beer tourism season. From limited IPA releases to guild collaboration brews, February has become a defining moment for Bay Area beer culture.Advanced Cicerone and Bay Area Brewers Guild Executive Director Sayre Piotrkowski joins us to break down:• The origin and growth of FeBREWary in Santa Rosa• How Sonoma County became a world-class craft beer destination• The history behind Pliny the Younger and IPA culture• The connection between SF Beer Week and the North Bay• The identity of Sonoma County beer vs. wine country• Beer tourism in Northern California• How breweries are adapting to changing consumer trends• Why collaboration is the secret ingredient in craft beerIf you love IPAs, West Coast beer, brewery travel, Santa Rosa events, or Sonoma County food and drink culture — this episode belongs in your queue.🍺 Crack One Open: “Bright Future” IPA (SF Beer Week Collab)Instead of reviewing something already in the glass, we preview a beer you’ll want to hunt down during SF Beer Week 2026.Each Bay Area Brewers Guild chapter brewed a collaboration IPA for SF Beer Week — and the North Bay team (Old Caz, HenHouse, Parliament Brewing, Cuver, and more) created a modern West Coast IPA called:Bright Future✔ Clear & bright✔ Crisp finish✔ Low bitterness✔ Big tropical hop aromaAvailable at Old Caz in Rohnert Park during SF Beer Week (launching February 20) and pouring at the SF Beer Week Kickoff Festival in San Francisco.If you’re building a Santa Rosa brewery itinerary, add this to the list.🍻 3 Beers That Define Sonoma County Craft BeerIf you only drink three during FeBREWary:• Death & Taxes — Moonlight Brewing Company• Pliny the Younger — Russian River Brewing Company• Chismosa — Old Caz BeerFrom dark lagers to iconic double IPAs to modern local expressions — this trio captures Sonoma County’s range.🔎 Topics CoveredSonoma County breweriesSanta Rosa craft beerFeBREWary eventsSF Beer Week 2026Russian River Brewing CompanyPliny the Younger releaseWest Coast IPA historyNorth Bay breweriesBeer tourism CaliforniaBest breweries in Sonoma CountyCraft beer culture Northern California 🔗 Resources & MentionsSF Beer WeekBay Area Brewers GuildVisit Santa RosaBreweries:Russian River Brewing CompanyMoonlight Brewing CompanyOld Caz BeerHenHouse Brewing CompanyParliament Brewing CompanyCuver BrewingParliament BrewingInfluential Figures:Vinnie CilurzoBrian HuntWhether you're a local craft beer fan, a Cicerone student, planning a Sonoma County weekend getaway, or just chasing the best IPAs in California and beyond — this episode gives you the roadmap.Drink local. Explore Santa Rosa. And cheers to FeBREWary. 🍻