​SAN DIEGO, CA (September 10, 2021) - The San Diego Brewers Guild (SDBG), a nonprofit organization supporting craft beer manufacturers in San Diego County, is pleased to announce its brewery members had another impressive year at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Award Ceremony. In total, San Diego independent brewers received 19 medals this year - earning a grand total of nearly 300 medals for the ‘Capital of Craft’ since 1993. 
​
The 2021 GABF Award Ceremony took place on Friday, September 10, 2021 in Denver, CO beginning at 4 p.m. PT. The event made an in-person comeback with limited representatives from each brewery in attendance to receive medals. This year, the Brewers Association, a national organization that hosts GABF, coupled the award ceremony with its noteworthy trade show - the Craft Brewers Conference - which unites craft beer manufacturers with goods and services suppliers for educational seminars and networking events.  

A total of 2,192 breweries entered 9,680 beers into the world’s largest professional beer competition. The participants competed for a chance to have their creative brews earn recognition from the 170 judges analyzing 98 categories.

​Highway 78 is affectionately called Hops Highway, stretching from Oceanside to Julian. Many of North County’s breweries can be found along the Hops Highway and is one of the most concentrated areas for craft breweries in San Diego. Within a short stretch, you can visit several high-quality breweries and experience the unique tastes that San Diego has to offer. 

With so many local craft breweries peppering San Diego city and its surrounding county, it’s obvious why “beercations” (vacations centered around beer tasting and craft breweries) are becoming insanely popular. People are traveling across the country and world to try new beers, meet new people, and find a sense of adventure in their lives. 

San Diego's South Bay beer scene has seen a lot of growth in recent years, thanks to its vibrant and diverse community. With its proximity to the Southern Border and the influence of local residents with Latin American heritage, South Bay breweries offer an eclectic mix of craft beer you won't find anywhere else. 

​ The San Diego Brewers Guild has been a driving force for the craft beer industry since it was first established on June 10th, 1997. After 24 years in operation, the San Diego Brewers Guild serves as an invaluable source for brewers and the community. With over 150 breweries and brewpubs in SD County, this is one of America's largest brewing regions - lovingly known as the "Capital of Craft."

The summertime in San Diego is full of sun-filled beach days and evenings spent sipping on craft beer. You know what that calls for? A road trip! For locals or visitors looking to explore the breweries, especially this Memorial Day Weekend, we have just the perfect list for your next San Diego adventure along the coast.

The San Diego Brewers Guild leadership team, including myself and the 10 board of directors, would like to respond to the recent news of sexual harassment, racism and toxic work cultures within San Diego craft beer and the industry at large.

As mentioned in the SDBG initial response, we stand with victims of harassment, particularly in the craft brewing community. Our industry is overdue for change, and as a key organization in San Diego craft beer, the SDBG can do better to be that change. 

To help the San Diego craft beer community advance from the very saddening series of events that have prominently come to light, SDBG will be in communications with all members to provide additional resources as well as trainings for building safer, more inclusive workplaces. 

The SDBG Board of Directors are in the process of forming a specialized task force to create a formal Code of Conduct for our association and all its members. 

SDBG is hosting sexual harassment training for our members on June 11th which includes information on reporting incidents, enabling viewers to recognize bad behavior and report it without fear of retaliation. SDBG members will receive a separate email with details and how to register. 

SDBG is exploring opportunities with community leaders, specializing in Labor and Employment Law, to create annual training programs for members that comply with mandates as well as develop new tools, guides and resources. If you are interested in hosting a future workshop on one of these important topics, please contact [email protected]. 

The SDBG leadership team recognizes this is a lot of necessary work, in order to make our local brewing community a better place to work, do business and promote beyond San Diego. We will share updates on these initiatives.

If anyone is the victim of sexual assault, please reach out:

• Center for Community Solutions San Diego: CCS operates the only rape crisis center in the city of San Diego along with a countywide 24-hour bilingual crisis helpline. The nonprofit agency also provides emergency domestic violence shelters, hospital and court accompaniment, as well as legal and counseling services for those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center: NSVRC provides research & tools to advocates working on the frontlines to end sexual harassment, assault, and abuse with the understanding that ending sexual violence also means ending racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1.800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Update on the SDBG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
​Championed by current SDBG President and Co-Founder, CEO of Second Chance Beer Co. Virginia Morrison, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee was formed in January 2020, consisting of 15 members - brewery employees and community members. Chaired by Notable Industry Journalist Beth Demmon and Carmen Favela of Border X Brewing & Mujeres Brew House, the mission of the DEI Committee is to:

• Be a resource for SDBG members looking to implement diverse, inclusive, and equitable practices into their businesses
• ​Spearhead outreach in communities currently underrepresented in craft beer
• Educate craft beer consumers on how to be agents of change in the community

​
​Here is a look at the recent Hiring and Rehiring Onboarding Guide released to SDBG members on April 8, 2021. 

The San Diego Brewers Guild believes that craft beer - when enjoyed responsibility - brings people together from different races, ethnicities, orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds to positively impact communities. On behalf of the SDBG and its board of directors, we’d like to thank everyone in the San Diego craft beer community for their engagement, feedback, and future participation in these programs. 

Sincerely, 
Paige McWey Acers
Executive Director, San Diego Brewers Guild

CDPH issued an updated blueprint and new guidance documents for private events and indoor live seated events/performances.

• Updated Blueprint: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Dimmer-Framework-September_2020.pdf
• Private Events (receptions, conferences, meetings): https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-private-events–en.pdf – Distinguished from Gatherings with defined guest lists and assigned seating, capacity limitations include provisions for being able to verify testing or vaccination status.
• Indoor Live Seated Events or Performances: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-live-performances-indoor–en.pdf – Outlines conditions for indoor seated live events and entertainment with audiences.

In addition to the above event guidance, CDPH shared guidance documents focusing on gatherings based on an individual’s vaccination status, social situation, and county tier.

• Guidance for Gatherings – Applies to private gatherings – social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in a single space. Notably, attendance for gatherings is based on county tier status for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, unless local health departments have more restrictive measures.
• Guidance for the Fully Vaccinated – Provides guidelines for people two weeks after full vaccination. This includes:
  • Spending time with other fully vaccinated people, including indoors, without wearing masks or physical distancing.
  • Spending time with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
  • Refraining from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic (outside the workplace setting).