3) At the risk of turning this into a beer newsletter, I should probably fill you in about a local initiative called “FeBREWary” that a few different public agencies have been trying to make into a big annual thing in Sonoma and Marin counties. It’s being pitched as our own drawn-out, north-country version of SF Beer Week down in the city. (Which starts this Friday, BTW.) Basically, the tourism departments in Santa Rosa and San Rafael are working with a long list of local breweries to host a series of “beer tastings, tours, tap takeovers, and special limited-edition releases of craft beers” in and around both cities this month. In Santa Rosa, brewery hoppers are encouraged to download a “beer passport” and try to visit as many of the 16 breweries on the list as they can. “Check-in at all participating locations during FeBREWary to earn a commemorative Santa Rosa Beer Passport 2024 medal!” the flier says — “while supplies last.” Organizers have even arranged for designated drivers to take you between stops on the SMART train for a discounted price all weekend, and there’s also an official “Santa Rosa Craft Beer Shuttle” running on Saturdays. “Dozens of craft breweries are within walking distance of a SMART station,” the train agency says, “and others can be reached with the SMART CONNECT shuttle, the free Craft Beer Shuttle, or with a short Uber or Lyft ride.” So get on it, people — you only have a few weeks left to drain the beer kegs of the wine country and get your special medal. And yes, Russian River Brewing is on the list. (Source: Pacific Sun & SMART & Visit Santa Rosa & Marin Independent Journal)
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