San Diego Brewers Guild

San Diego Brewers Guild is ready to celebrate.

“Since its inception in 1997, I, and/or someone else at Coronado Brewing Company, have been involved with the SDBG. I’ve always felt that it’s incumbent for all in our brewing community to be engaged and involved in our ever-evolving industry,” says Rick Chapman, the owner and co-founder of Coronado Brewing, who recently took the reins as President of the San Diego Brewer’s Guild as it celebrates its 25th year.

Chapman acknowledges the onus of his new role, “When approached by the SDBG Board and Executive Director Paige McWey Acers to see if I would be willing to serve as President this year, I knew it would take a lot of time, and a great deal of responsibility. It’s a three-year commitment to be Vice President, President, and then President Emeritus.” But as a long-standing member of the San Diego brewing community, Chapman has first-hand knowledge of the importance of SDBG to local brewers and the attention it brings to up-and-coming local brewers through marketing initiatives and educational opportunities. “Brewery members have opportunities to participate in various workshops throughout the year as part of the Tap into Knowledge Series, featuring a range of beneficial topics for brewery employees. As a collective leadership group, the board of directors and myself are focused on creating more resources to help brewery members operate their businesses.”

SDBG is well-known for its popular annual events such as San Diego Craft Beer Con in August and San Diego Beer Week in November, but Chapman and his colleagues on the SDBG Board of Directors are looking to do something special to celebrate a quarter century. Chapman hints, “Twenty-five years is a great milestone for any organization. Of course, this is deserving of a big celebration, about which we’ll provide more details at a later date. For now, save the date for June 10, 2022.”

One thing SD beer lovers can expect at the celebration is a special beer on tap at the festival. “Brewery members are currently in the process of voting on a specialty ‘SD Beer Hop Blend’ offered by BSG CraftBrewing. We would love to see brewery members use this blend to create a true San Diego-style beer commemorating the San Diego Brewers Guild and its accomplishments.”

A guild whose board of directors includes people from many of the county’s best breweries, including Coronado, Belching Beaver, Second Chance, Rouleur, White Labs, Burgeon, Chula Vista Brewery, and Thorn has plenty of brewing talent to tap when choosing the hop blend and recipe for a celebratory beer. If the beer lives up to the standards of SDBG’s annual Capital of Craft IPA, a collaboration among guild members which is released every year during Beer Week, those attending SDBG’s anniversary event will really have something to celebrate.

Chapman sees the 25th anniversary as more than just a celebration of the SDBG’s accomplishments; he also sees it as a way of giving thanks, “We are tremendously grateful for all the support we’ve received from the local community. Thanks to everyone who has purchased independently-owned beer and/or attended an event in the past 25 years. Because of this, San Diego County has rightfully earned its reputation as the Capital of Craft.”