It’s a simple idea, really: get good local rock bands together with great local beer and make a festival out of it. Oddly enough, it hasn’t been done yet. But come December 3^rd, all that will change with The Bay Brewed: A Rock and Roll Beer Festival, taking place at the Verdi Club.

The idea for a rock and roll beer festival came to The Bay Bridged co-founders Christian Cunningham and Ben Van Houten came naturally: music festivals tend to have bad beer, and beer festivals tend to have bad music, but how about good music and craft beers together? The Bay Bridged is no stranger to festival events, having hosted Phono Del Sol, the Rock Make Street Festival, and Regional Bias earlier this year.

For December’s event, they are partnering with City Beer Store and SF Brewers Guild to bring nine local breweries together under one roof for unlimited tastings:

• 21^st Amendment
• Anchor Brewing
• The Beach Chalet
• Drake’s Brewing
• Lagunitas Brewing Company
• Magnolia
• Speakeasy
• Social

The concept is simple: buy a ticket to the five-hour festival, get a commemorative mug for unlimited tastings, and listen to quality rock music. “The bands are real rock bands,” says Christian. “Ones you can hear regardless of inebriation.” The four bands are: Weekend, Sleepy Sun, Extra Classic and Terry Malts.

True beer aficionados will be happy to know that brewers or representatives from each brewery will be at the event as well to answer questions and share stories. It’ll be a great way to find out what’s coming next from Bay Area favorites. Each brewery will also have at least two beers on tap, so at least eighteen beers will be available. And Rosamunde Sausage Grill will be selling food to off-set the copious amounts of hops and barley.

The Bay Brewed will be taking over the Verdi Club on Mariposa Street. The Verdi Club opened in 1916 and is one of the last true ballrooms in San Francisco. While the venue is pretty huge, Christian says the event can and will sell out, so don’t dilly-dally on the ticket-buying. Tickets are $45 pre-sale and $55 at the door and are for the twenty-one and over crowd.

For more information, and to hear songs from the festival bands, visit http://www.thebaybridged.com/the-bay-brewed/.

The Bay Brewed: A Rock and Roll Beer Festival

Saturday, December 3, 2-7pm

The Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, 94110; Tel. 415.861.9199

Tickets: $45 pre-sale, $55 door

Image from The Bay Bridged

• Tag: 21st amendment, anchor brewing, ben van houten, christian cunningham, city beer store, Drake's Brewing, lagunitas brewing company, magnolia, SF Brewers Guild, Social, speakeasy, the bay brewed, The Bay Bridged, the beach chalet, Verdi Club