San Francisco's Beer Week returns for ten days in February 2012 and thanks to the overwhelming, sloshy success of last year's festivities at YBCA, this year's opening day event will be making a change of venue to the larger, more accommodating Concourse Pavilion at 8th and Brannan in SoMa. Since the first day of festivities tends to be the most popular and brings with it some exclusive tasting opportunities, in-the-know beer nerds, hop fiends and malt mavens are lining already lining up for early bird tickets to the marquee event which promises "newly minted nanobrewers* pouring alongside legendary craft brewing pioneers."

Aforementioned early bird tickets are selling for $55 bucks a pop — a steal for unlimited tastings and a priceless hangover come February 11th. After January 15th, ticket prices go up by about the same cost as a couple of pints at Toronado ($10).

[GrubSF]
[SFBeerWeek]

*Yes, "nanobreweries" are a thing now, just go with it.