Last night the Naked City Brewery and Taphouse dedicated all 24 taps to the west side of Puget Sound as 12 breweries participated in the first-ever West Sound Brewers Night. Naked City deserves the lion’s share of credit for organizing and hosting the event, but we understand that the Silver City boys (Don Spencer and Kurt Larson) had a lot to do with it as well.

To ensure that we experienced as much of the west side as possible, the Washington Beer Posse (Myself, Kim and North Seattle Sarah) tag-teamed this event, ordering schooners instead of pints and sharing sips freely. Brewdad, one of our fellow bloggers, also helped us cover as much territory as possible.

We liked some beers more than others, but overall we felt that the breweries did a fantastic job of representing the west side. Below, I have listed a few of our favorites. I have also included a list of all of the breweries that participated.

A few things we learned about the west sound brewing scene:

• Since we first visited the Grove Street Brewhouse shortly after it opened in October of 2009 (read that post), Shelton’s only brewery has come a long way. Adam Orrick, the brewer at Grove Street, is making some damn fine beers. His Kolsch and his IPA were dazzling. Everyone should be excited to see Grove Street at the upcoming Washington Brewers Festival; the brewery’s first trip to the festival.

• Poulsbo, WA is suddenly Brew Town USA. It must be something in the water. All four of Poulsbo’s breweries were at Naked City last night. Yep, four breweries in Poulsbo. You have to see them in one place to believe it.

• Sound Brewery is still young. Although they opened just a few months ago, the beer tastes like they’ve been brewing it for years. Brewers Mark Hood and Brad Ginn hit the ground running and show no signs of slowing down. Excellent beer!

Breweries Representing the West Side:

7 Seas Brewing (Gig Harbor)
Battenkill Brewing (Poulsbo)
Der Blokken Brewing (Bremerton)
Fathom and League Brewing (Calrsborg/Sequim)
Grove Street Brewhouse (Shelton)
Hood Canal Brewing (Kingston)
Port Townsend Brewing (Port Townsend)
Silver City Brewing (Bremerton/Silverdale)
Slip Point Brewing (Clallam Bay)
Slippery Pig Brewery (Poulsbo)
Sound Brewery (Poulsbo)
Valholl Brewing (Poulsbo)

A Few Favorites:

Fathom and League – Raingold Pilsner
Grove Street – IPApocalypse
Grove Street – Kolsch
Silver City – Prima Donna Blonde
Slippery Pig – Dandelion Bitter
Sound Brewery – Tripel Entendre
Sound Brewery – Dubbel Entendre
Sound Brewery – Poundage Porter
Valholl – ESB

Representatives of the west sound breweries (and Dick Cantwell, too).

Lately I’ve had a crush on a brewery—a beer crush. Like an adolescent schoolgirl, I seem to have one hardcore crush at any given moment in time. It is not always entirely about the product. Sometimes the brewery’s personality and attitude captures my fancy as much as the beer (Lagunitas, for example). But most often it is the quality of the beer that has me staring out the window daydreaming, composing silly love songs in my head, and passing notes in class.

A Startling Confession – My Current Beer Crush

Regular readers of this blog know that I focus on Washington beer and might be surprised to learn that I have a crush on an out-of-state brewery. I do not inherently dislike anything brewed outside of the evergreen state; Washington beer is simply the focus of this blog. I am not stupid and many out-of-state breweries impress the bejeezus out of me. Lately, one non-Washington brewery tickling my fancy is Portland’s Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB). There, I said it: I have a beer crush on HUB.

Beer+Food

On Friday, May 27th, Hopworks Urban Brewery and Trellis Restaurant in Kirkland team up to present a very special dinner pairing organic beers with delicious, locally sourced foods. While the Washington Beer Blog is spending most of Seattle Beer Week attending Washington-focused beer events, we are definitely doing this one. We know the beer will be magnificent and we have heard very good things about the restaurant.

Responsibility, not just Sustainability

A few months ago I met Ben and Jamie of Hopworks Urban Brewery. I immediately liked both of them and thought they possessed a very sensible and realistic understanding of two words so often prostituted in the beer industry these days. Buzz words like organic and sustainable mean nothing on their own. It is action and commitment that give those words power and meaning. I know it is a tricky subject that lends itself to much debate, but when it comes to running an eco-responsible business, HUB seems to walk the walk.

And I love their beer, too. Not only is the Ace of Spades an amazing Imperial IPA, it is named after a song and album by Motorhead. Are you kidding? HUB is just so, I don’t know… dreamy.

From Field to Feast

Located in downtown Kirkland’s Heathman Hotel, Trellis Restaurant focuses on using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local growers and artisans. In fact, Brian Scheehser, the chef at Trellis, grows many of the ingredients himself on his 10 acre farm in the Sammamish Valley. Fresh and local ingredients are worthless if the food isn’t good. By all accounts, the food is very good. The Trellis “field to feast” mentality should pair deliciously with HUB’s beers.

Here are the event details in case you’d like to join us for what promises to be an amazing beer+food experience.

Friday, May 27, 2011
6:30 p.m. – Beer reception and passed hors d’oeuvres
7:00 p.m. – Dinner served
$65 for five-course meal and beer pairings. Tax and gratuity not included.
Call Liz Shriner at (425) 284-5914 for reservations.
Diners are eligible for a discounted rate at the Heathman Hotel.

Everyone has an opinion about which Seattle Beer Week events are most worthy. Most people focus on the events and not the places. I suppose that makes sense. After all, the places will still be there when Seattle Beer Week 2011 concludes. Still, it’s nice to look at things from a different angle. Doesn’t make it any easier to decide which event to attend, but it lends perspective.

Since I am pretty much obligated to go out to beer events for the next 10 days straight, there are certain places I am especially looking forward to visiting. That said, I present a different kind of list: a list featuring the places I am most looking forward to visiting in the coming days, including the Seattle Beer Week events taking place at each.

My list is purely subjective. I am not suggesting that these are the best places. Just the places I like. You’re list would probably be different. I am not suggesting that this list is comprehensive. I like a lot of places. These are just my top picks as of this moment.

Last time Epic Ales did a beer+cheese event at The Beer Junction, the place got mobbed.

If nothing else, this list serves one purpose: it gives us some insight into what it must be like to be a pub or bottleshop owner faced with Seattle Beer Week. It’s a fun time for us, but a busy time for them. I have also included the itinerary for one of our local breweries so you can get a glimpse into their world as they brace themselves for Seattle Beer Week.

Naked City

The Beer Junction

Beveridge Place Pub

Brave Horse Tavern

Fremont Brewing Company

Naked City Brewery and Taphouse
Duh. Because Naked City is awesome.

Thursday, May 19th: There are 24 taps in the Naked City. 12 taps will be dedicated to Naked City beers and the remaining taps dedicated to beers from Washington breweries. The kitchen will be rolling out a special menu for this one night only! This is Stop #4 on the SBW Kick-off tour and look forward to a crowd of happy beer-drinkers to roll in around 9:00p.m.!

Friday, May 20th 4:00 p.m.: A charity event they’re calling “Canned Heat!”  celebrating Canned Beer & Local Businesses. One dollar off any featured canned beer for every non-perishable food item donated – up to $10. All food donations will go to the Greenwood Branch Volunteers of America Food Bank.

Tuesday, May 24th 6:00p.m.: Discover what’s brewing on the other side of the Puget Pond. Naked City is hosting the West Sound Brewers Night. Silver City, Port Townsend, Hood Canal, and some newcomers DerBlokken, Sound, Slippery Pig, Valholl, Slip Point & more! Try some new beer and get some cool schwag!

Wednesday, May 25th 6:00 p.m.: “Across the Gorge!” There’s nothing like a friendly little rivalry with our neighbors to the south, so it’s Washington vs. Oregon! Everybody’s Brewing and Walking Man vs. Double Mountain and Full Sail comes out. The remaining taps will feature Oregon breweries the likes of Lompoc, Hopworks and Laurelwood, just to name a few.

Friday, May 27th: It’s time to Drink Naked! All of your favorite Naked City staff members broke out into teams of two and tried their hands at brewing with Don. Six different styles; you choose the best.

The Beer Junction (blog sponsor)
My local bottleshop

Thursday, May 19th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.: Tasting with Schooner Exact Brewing. Mike and Bobby will be there with 3 Grid IPA, King Street Brown, Gateway Golden Ale, and as a special treat, their bourbon aged Hoppy The Woodsman! There’s also a rumor that you might get to try one of their other rare releases! Pint Glass Promo: Purchase two Schooner Exact mini-growlers for a free pint glass. $4 tasting fee..

Friday May 20th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.: Irish Death Trick or Treat with “Cowboy” Ross Chalstrom. Sample Iron Horse’s High Five Hefe (brewed with ginger and honey), Black IPA, Malt Bomb, and Irish Death! As an added bonus Ross is cooking up a tasty dessert made with Irish Death to….yes…pair WITH the very same Irish Death. Pint Glass Promo: Purchase three bombers of Iron Horse for a free pint glass! $4 tasting fee.

Sunday May 22nd from 1:00-3:00 p.m.: “Cider Afternoon” with Burc McFarlane. Spire Cider fans rejoice! It’s not just about beer this week! Burc “Life of The Party” McFarlane will be here as we sample 3 great ciders from Spire Cider from Olympia! We’ll be trying their Apple, Pear, and Dark & Dry. Might there be some other surprise ciders? Come and find out! $3 Tasting Fee.

Monday May 23rd from 6:00-8:00 p.m.: “Palate Rehab Clinic” with Merchant Du Vin. The Beer Junction is usually closed on Mondays, but they want to keep the Seattle Beer Week momentum rolling, so they will be open this monday from 4-8p.m. Jhon Gilroy of Merchant Du Vin brings your taste buds back to earth. Sample a hand-chosen selection of beers from the five classic brewing nations of England, Belgium, Germany, Scotland and the Czech Republic with the aim of recalibrating your palate with benchmark beers from multi-generational family and monastery-owned craft breweries. Learn the history and provenance of these world class styles and breweries while you ease your taste buds back to the places where this all began. $4 Tasting Fee.

Tuesday May 24th from 3-5 p.m.: “Exploration of Hops” with Sierra Nevada. Learn all about hops, in this afternoon event! Terrence Sullivan, brewer for Sierra Nevada, and Sara Williamson will be here as we explore three hoppy beers (Sierra Nevada’s Southern Hemisphere IPA, Torpedo IPA, and Pale Ale). We’ll go through the hops used in each as well as how different hops affect taste and aroma. We’ll also have several varieties of hops here for you to touch and smell. Rumor has it they may also break into some of Sierra Nevada’s other recent limited releases (perhaps something they did with some monk’s?) Pint Glass Promo: Purchase 66 ounces or greater of Sierra Nevada beers for a free pint glass! $4 tasting fee.

Wednesday May 25th from 6-8 p.m.: “Beer & Cheese” with Epic Ales. Owner and brewer Cody Morris from Seattle’s own Epic Ales returns! We’ll be sampling 4 different beers each paired with a different cheese! If this sounds delicious it’s because IT IS! This event will also be benefiting the West Seattle Veterans in honor of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. Half of all the $4 tasting fees will be donated to the West Seattle Veterans.

Thursday May 26th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.: “Fish, Reel Ales, and Leavenworth Biers.” Sample beers from Fish Tale, Leavenworth, and Reel Ales. Returning to the Beer Junction for a 2nd time this week will be Burc “Life of the Party” McFarlane (they decided just one event with Burc wouldn’t be enough!) Included in the tasting lineup will be Reel Ales new Swordfish Cascadian Dark Ale. Pint Glass Promo: Purchase 66 ounces or greater of Fish, Leavenworth,  or Reel Ales for a free pint glass! $4 tasting fee.

Friday May 27th from 5:00-7:00 p.m.: “Pike Brewing with owner Charles Finkel.” Pike Brewery’s owner, Charles Finkel,returns to help you sample four beers from Pike including their new seasonal Dry Wit White Ale! If you haven’t heard Charles speak about beer, it’s a real treat- and if you have you know you’ll want to come hear more of his stories! $4 tasting fee.

Beveridge Place Pub (blog sponsor)
My local “local.” The place I’m talking about when I say, “the pub.”

Thursday, May 19, 6:00 p.m.: Seattle Cask-O-Rama. All Seattle breweries, all casks, all on the bartop!

Sunday, May 22, 5:00-8:00 p.m.: Iron Brewers Triple Header. “WE pick the ingredients, THEY brew the beer, YOU decide the winner!” This year’s match-ups: Elliott Bay vs Georgetown (Wasabi & Sutsuma), Fremont vs Two Beers (Cedar & Cucumber), and the cha.m.pionship bout Big Al vs Black Raven (Sesa.m.e & Plum). Will Big Al be able to unseat Black Raven?

Monday, May 23, all day: This is Washington, Damn it! Twenty-four Washington Beers from twenty-four different breweries! And the nice price of $3 per pint.

Wednesday, May 25, 8:00 p.m.: All Beer Quiz Night. All of the questions for this quiz night will be related to beer!

Thursday, May 26, 7:00 p.m.: Full Sail Bourbon Barrel Night. Meet master brewer John Harris and sample five of his rare creations, all aged in bourbon barrels.

Friday, May 27, all day: Bodacious Beverages. Lots of unusual beers from around the world!

Brave Horse Tavern
For no reason except that it is new, it is cool, and I really, really like the Brave Horse.

Friday, May 20th, 6:00 p.m.: Silver City Brewers night. Great beer, swag giveaways and more.

Saturday, May 21st, 11:00 a.m. (brunch): Kegs and Eggs with American Brewing. Buttermilk Biscuits n’ Gravy with a House made Oatmeal and Stout Sausage, paired with their Oatmeal Stout.

Sunday, May 22nd, 11:00 a.m. (brunch): Kegs and Eggs with Diamond Knot Brewing. Carmel Apple Knodel with House Cured Ham, Gruyere and Maple Apple Butter, paired with their Apple Cinnamon ESB.

Monday, May 23rd, 6:00 p.m.: Lagunitas Crock Pot Buffet Bonanza. Great beers from Petaluma, CA paired with crop pot delights. Available from crock pots for your dining pleasure: Molasses Pork n’ Beans, Brats and Chou Croute, Green Chili Chicken with Tortilla Chips, Beer Cheese Sauce, Pretzel Nibblers, Meatballs with Tomato Sauce, Jonah’s Catfish Gumbo, Dirty Rice.

Tuesday, May 24th, 6:00 p.m.: Schooner Exact Cask Night.

Wednesday, May 25th, 6:00 p.m.: Meet the Von Boorians – Elliot Bay Brewing present 5 Belgians and a special IPA.

Thursday, May 26th, 8:00 p.m.: HUB Pint Night.

Saturday, May 28th, 11:00 a.m. (brunch): Keggs and Eggs with Ninkasi Brewing. The menu is still coming together for this one.

Fremont Brewing Company
Here’s what Fremont Brewing’s SBW itinerary looks like.

Thursday, May 19: Spring Extravaganza Ray’s Boathouse
Thursday, May 19: Cask-O-Rama Beveridge Place
Saturday, May 21: Back In Black Brouwer’s
Saturday, May 21: Falconer Event Jolly Roger
Saturday, May 21: Left Hand/Fremont Brunch King’s Hardware
Sunday, May 22: 9-Ball Tournament Tap House
Sunday, May 22: Iron Brewer Beveridge Place
Monday, May 23: WA Dammit Beveridge Place
Tuesday, May 24: 5 Guys Burger Brouwer’s
Tuesday, May 24: WA Brewer’s Night Celtic Bayou
Wednesday, May 25: Firkin Firkin Elysian Cap Hill
Thursday, May 26: Bodacious Beverage Beveridge Place
Thursday, May 26: Cellar Night Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden
Friday, May 27: Beers N Brats Safeco Field
Sunday, May 29: BBQ Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden

Mercy

Below I list Seattle Beer Week events devoted to Washington beer.

Seattle Beer Week is a celebration of our local beer culture. It is not, as I have heard some embattled individuals in the local beer industry assert, an excuse for out-of-state breweries and their distributors to get a toehold in, or further assert their dominance over, the Seattle beer market. Sure, Seattle Beer Week provides an excellent opportunity for out-of-state breweries to make advances in America’s second largest craft beer market*, but that is not why Seattle Beer Week exists.

Seattle’s magnificent beer culture is the reason that Seattle Beer Week exists. It just so happens that breweries in faraway places like California and Colorado want to send their rockstar brewers up here to help us celebrate. Somewhere between the much-ballyhooed Stone, New Belgium, and Firestone Walker events, Seattle Beer Week offers beer-lovers some great opportunities to show their appreciation for Washington-brewed beers and the other things that make Seattle’s beer scene the envy of the nation.

Compared to most cities in America, the Seattle metroplex is replete with amazing pubs devoted to craft beer, whether it be local or imported beer. What’s more, we enjoy a wide variety of craft beer choices because our politicos have not built a fence around the state to keep out-of-state competition at bay. And while those things help to create and maintain our vibrant craft beer culture, it is the breweries of Washington, funneling great beer into Seattle, that truly make this such a great beer town. At least that’s my opinion. We started the American craft beer revolution back in the 1980s and our brewers and pub owners have never slowed down and never looked back.

The following events provide a chance for us homers to show a little love to our local breweries. These are just some of the Washington-focused beer events happen during Seattle Beer Week—the Washington beer events about which I am most excited. What Washington beer events have piqued your interest? Leave a comment.

Note that I did not include individual brewers night events or individual beer dinners: there are just too many of those. Check with the official Seattle Beer Week calendar of events for the complete skinny.

Speaking of the great Seattle-area pubs that helped get this whole craft beer thing started, and that keep it thriving today, Cooper’s Alehouse will feature all local Seattle beers all week. What an appropriate thing for one of Seattle’s original great alehouses to do for SBW. Along the way, they are hosting a couple of brewers nights featuring Georgetown Brewing (Monday, May 23) and Hale’s Ales (Wednesday, May 25).

THURSDAY, MAY 19

Seattle is the Naked City
3:00 – Close
Naked City Brewery and Taphouse

There are 24 taps at Naked City. On this night, 12 taps will be dedicated to Naked City beers. The remaining 12 taps will be dedicated to beers from Seattle breweries. The official SBW Kick-Off Party stops by Naked City at 9:00.

Seattle Cask-O-Rama
6:00 – Close
Beveridge Place Pub

A night featuring all Seattle-brewed cask beer. This self-explanatory event will see Firkins lined up on the bar for your enjoyment. If you like cask beer, and you appreciate Seattle breweries, this is the event for you.

SATURDAY, MAY 21

World Class Brewers Reunion
2:00 – 5:00
Pike Pub and Brewery

You could argue that Washington has exported more great brewers than it has great beer. That said, Pike Brewery has pumped out a lot of great beer and a lot of great brewers over the years. Many of those brewers are still here brewing locally; others have moved out of state. This event is a reunion of the many great brewers to come through the Pike pipeline. People like Skip Madsen, Bill Jenkins, Fal Allen, Dick Cantwell, Kevin Forhan, Janelle Pritchard, Shawn Loring and many, many others. It’s quite amazing. This is your chance to mingle with greatness.

SUNDAY, MAY 22

Iron Brewers Triple Header
5:00 – 8:00
Beveridge Place Pub

Have you been to a Beveridge Place Pub Iron Brewers event yet? They are awesome. Similar to the television show, Iron Chef, two breweries are given two secret ingredients (not so secret, in this case) that they must use when brewing a beer. Imagine two different beers incorporating wasabi and satsuma, for instance. The beers face off in a head to head battle. The people choose the winner. On this day, six Washington breweries will compete in three different Iron Brewer competitions. This year’s theme includes Japanese-influenced ingredients, with a portion of proceeds going to earthquake relief organizations.

MONDAY, MAY 23

This is Washington, Damn it!
All Day
Beveridge Place Pub

All 24 taps at the Beveridge Place will be dedicated to Washington beer. As if that isn’t awesome enough, the beer will only cost $3.00 per pint. The Bev is an ardent supporter of Washington beer. On this day, they really prove it.

TUESDAY, MAY 24

West Sound Brewers Night
6:00 – 10:00
Naked City Brewery and Taphouse

See what’s brewing on the other side of Puget Sound. Enjoy beers from favorite westsiders like Silver City, Port Townsend, and Hood Canal. Also, some newcomers: Der Blokken, Sound, Slippery Pig, Valholl, Slip Point and more. Try some new beer and get some cool schwag!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

Firkin-Firkin Throwdown
3:00 – 8:00
Elysian Capitol Hill

Washington brewers battle against Colorado brewers in a cask throw down. Sixteen breweries will compete in eight different styles. The public will vote for the winners. BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON!

THURSDAY, MAY 26

New Brewers Night at the Park
6:00 – 10:00
The Park Pub

A celebration of Washington’s best and brightest new brewers. The brewmasters from Emerald City Beer, North Sound Brewing and American Brewing Company will be pouring three of their finest craft brews and supplying plenty of schwag.

FRIDAY, MAY 27

Night of the Living Nanos
7:00 – 11:00
Fiddler’s Inn

Three of Washington’s nano-breweries get together at Fiddler’s Inn. It’s a big celebration of the state’s most diminutive breweries.

+++++

*Seattle is the second largest craft beer market per capita in the USA. According to the Brewers Association, 24 percent of the beer consumed in Seattle is craft beer. Portland consumes 29.9 percent and San Francisco consumes 20.3 percent.  Those are the only three American cities over 20 percent.  In fact, Denver is the only other city in double digits (14 percent).

Seattle Beer Week (May 19th – 29th) offers no shortage of impressive beer events, some more exclusive than others. You might be inclined to play it day by day, from event to event, but there are some activities requiring a bit more forethought. We recommend that you decide which of these events you want to attend and make reservations or buy tickets now. If you snooze, you will lose.

This is not a comprehensive list. It is based solely on our opinion of which events will attract the most attention–the events for which you will need to plan ahead. This list includes an event not yet on the official Seattle Beer Week calendar: the Ol’ Mallwalker vertical tasting at Ram Northgate. Although Seattle Beer Week is only a few days away, keep an eye on the official website as more events are still being added. The events calendar is a bit of a moving target.

Which events do you think will sell out? Did we miss something? Leave comments and share your thoughts.

THURSDAY, MAY 19th

Hale’s Brewer’s Dinner at Deluxe
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
DeLuxe Bar and Grill

The DeLuxe Bar & Grill hosts a Hale’s Ales Brewery Dinner to launch Seattle Beer Week 2011. The DeLuxe was an early supporter of the craft beer scene and has been serving beer and grub to the Capitol Hill neighborhood for almost 50 years. Representatives from Hale’s will be there to talk about the beers that chef Beth Fuller selected for each course. For reservation, call the DeLuxe (206) 324-9697. Cost is $35 per person for beer and food, tax and gratuity not included.

SATURDAY, MAY 21st

Pyramid Beer Bus Pub Crawl
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pyramid’s Seattle Alehouse and beyond

Hop on the beer bus and go for a pub crawl around Seattle. The tour starts with appetizers and beers at the Pyramid Alehouse. From there, 30 passengers will venture out to the LTD, The Village Pub, and then the Maritime’s Falconer’s Flight Fest. The tour, led by Pyramid’s head brewer, Vasilios Gletsos, eventually returns to the Pyramid Alehouse. You’ll receive beers at all locations and you can expect surprises along the way. Tickets are $30 per person and you must book in advance. Grown ups only (21+). Parking is free at the Alehouse. Click here to purchase tickets.

Stone Brewers Dinner at Elemental
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Elemental at Gasworks

This is likely to be a very popular event. No doubt, the food will be amazing. Word on the street is that dinner includes a spectacular vertical tasting of Arrogant Bastard, featuring rare and ancient versions of the beer. Jeff Porter from Stone Brewing will be there to talk about the beer. Call for reservations and more information. 206 547 2317

SUNDAY, MAY 22nd

Anderson Valley Brewers Dinner at Leary Traveler
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Leary Traveler

Anderson Valley Brewing’s Head Brewer Fal Allen (Formerly of Pike Brewery, among others) will be at the Leary Traveler to talk about his beers, which will be paired with a special dinner menu. Fal Allen is a legend around here. That fact, paired with the Leary Traveler’s food means this event is likely to attract a lot of attention. Call for reservations. (206) 783-4805

MONDAY, MAY 23rd

Ol’ Mallwalker Vertical Vintages
5:00 pm. – 7:00 p.m.
RAM Northgate

Join brewers Kevin Forhan and Dave Leonard for a private vertical tasting of Ol’ Mallwalker (strong ale) with vintages from 2006 – 2010, including a wild barrel-aged version. There will be a total of six vintages to sample, some of which are the last kegs. The beers will be paired with various artisan cheeses. The tasting will be in the brewery and is limited to 25 lucky people. Click here to get your tickets.

Firestone Walker vs. the Homebrew Chef
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Brouwer’s Cafe

A beer dinner with the beers of Firestone Walker. An eight-course dinner featuring 12 beers from Firestone Walker. Cuisine and beer pairings conceived by renowned chef Sean Paxton (the Homebrew Chef). $100 per Ticket via Brown Paper Tickets.

Pike Brewers Dinner at Crow
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Crow Restaurant and Bar

Chef Craig Serbousek and Pike Brewery legend Charles Finkel, along with his wife Rose Ann, host an intimate beer dinner. Enjoy a local, sustainable menu paired with the award winning beers of Pike brewery. Call Crow for more information and reservations. (206) 283-8800

Cider Fest at Quinn’s Pub
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Quinn’s Pub

This is the ONLY cider festival of this year’s Seattle Beer Week. As most know, handcrafted ciders are on the up and up- but as some may NOT know, hard cider and cheese is one of the best food pairings on the planet. This event features five different cider houses (Aspall, JK Scrumpys, Tieton, Wandering Aengus, Westcott Bay) representing ten different styles of handcrafted ciders with artisanal cheeses on hand with which to pair. Meet some of these brilliant new cider masters and allow experienced cheese mongers to guide you on an exploration of some of the best cheeses available in the city. $20 (plus tax) presale or $25 at the door. Limited space. Contact Quinn’s for reservations. 206.325.7711.

Epic Beer Dinner at Tilikum
6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tilikum Place Cafe

Join Epic Ales at Tilikum Place Café for a five course dinner paired with five innovative and interesting beers. Many of the dishes incorporate the beer as well. $70 per person. For reservations call 206.282.4830.

TUESDAY, MAY 24th

Monks and Abbeys at Art of the Table
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Art of the Table

Charles Finkel of Pike Brewery and Tomme Arthur of Port/Lost Abbey Brewing pair up with Chef Dustin Ronspires for an evening of craft beer and local, sustainable dishes. Stump the Brewer, random beer-related questions asked between courses: a beer Jeopardy, of sorts. Call (206) 282-0942 for reservations.

Trappist Beer Dinner at Quinn’s Pub
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Quinn’s Pub

A beer dinner to end all beer dinners featuring brews from six different Trappist houses paired with sfine food from Quinn’s kitchen. The Odom Corporation, Merchant Du Vin, Trappist Brewery Chimay and Quinn’s are teaming up to present this exclusive event. Highlights from the dinner menu include Sturgeon with Bacon Foam, Local Squab stuffed with Foie Gras Royale, and Beer Washed Artisanal Cheeses.  $100 per person (plus tax & tip) includes all food and beverage as well as some great history and special take-home gifts. Very limited availability. Contact the restaurant for reservations. 206.325.7711.

THURSDAY, MAY 26th

Chuckanut Brewers Dinner at Palace Kitchen
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Palace Kitchen

Mari and Will Kemper will be at the Palace Kitchen to talk about the beers in the Palace Kitchen’s three-course SBW beer dinner. While the dinner and Chuckanut Beers will be served throughout Seattle Beer Week, this is the only night Will and Mari will be there to talk about it. For details and reservations call (206) 448-2001.

Stone Dinner at Volunteer Park Cafe
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Volunteer Park Cafe

Stone Brewing beer dinner at Volunteer Park Cafe with Mitch Steele, Stone’s Production Manager/Head Brewer. Volunteer Park Cafe chef Ericka Burke has prepared an amazing five course meal for the evening. Details available at the Cafe’s website. $85 per person. Space is very limited. For reservations, call 206.328.3155

FRIDAY, MAY 27th

Beers and Brats in the Outfield
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Safeco Field

The 2nd annual celebration of great baseball and great craft beer. The Mariners take on the New York Yankees in their first home matchup of 2011. Only 200 seats are available to this private function in the Safeco Field Beergarden. Your ticket includes a reserved seat to the game, a Bratwurst buffet, and six great craft beers on tap, in a East Coast vs. West Coast throwdown! From the West Coast: Laurelwood Brewing Co.(OR), Fremont Brewing (WA) , and 21st Amendment Brewery (CA). From the East Coast: Southern Tier Brewing (NY), Flying Dog Brewing (MD) and Victory Brewing Co. (PA). Tickets will sell out fast. Click here to get your tickets.

Hopworks Brewers Dinner at Trellis
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Trellis Restaurant

Join Ben Love and Jamie Rodriguez of Hopworks Urban Brewery for a five course beer-food pairing experience at Trellis Restaurant in Kirkland’s Heathman Hotel. Executive chef Brian Scheehse specializes in using the best of the current harvest as a foundation for a farm-to-table philosophy that should pair perfectly with Hopworks’ organic beers. For reservations and information call (425) 284-5914.

SATURDAY, MAY 28th

Sound Brewery Coursed Dinner at Collins Pub
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Collins Pub

Join Collins Pub as they welcome one of Washington’s newer breweries for a brewers dinner. While many Seattle-area restaurants are new at this “beer dinner” thing, Collins is not. This is sure to be an impressive feast paired with beers that many people have yet to sample. Call Collins Pub for reservations (206) 623-1016.

Here are today’s highlights. For details about any of these events go to the Seattle Beer Week website.

– All Day Big Time IPA-fest – All IPA, All Day! Hop lovers dream! Can you name all the IPA’s Big time has brewed?
– 11:30 a.m. Pig Out at The Palace – In celebration of Beer Week we are offering a special lunch experience at the Palace Kitchen. Pig Out at the Palace will feature whole roast p…
– 12:00 p.m. Red Beer Party – Pillagers will be adding Red Beers to our weekly build your own Bloody Mary bar. Make those Red Beers the way you like them!
– 12:00 p.m. Locks of Love Party @ Boundry Bay – Join us in the Boundary Bay Brewery beer garden for a Locks of Love party! Two of our brewers are getting sheared and donating their hair to …
– 01:00 p.m. 14th Annual Olympic Club Brewfest – McMenamin’s Olympic Club will host their 14th annual “Olympic Club Brewfest” – which will include Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock and Limdemans …
– 03:00 p.m. Eve of the Apple – After a long week of pounding beers, maybe you need a break from the hop. Join the crew at The Duck Island for a tour of the best ciders in th…
– 03:00 p.m. Oskar Blues Brewery @ Pete’s – In honor of Seattle Beer Week, Pete’s is proud to welcome Burke McFarlen of Oskar Blues Brewing. Come sample some of the greatest beers to eve…
– 05:00 p.m. Iron Horse Nite at Bottleworks – Come drink beer with Cowboy Ross. He will be pouring the great Iron Horse beers from over the mountains. Yee Haw!
– 05:30 p.m. The World According to Ninkasi – Owner Jamie Floyd takes you on a trip through some of the most popular beers brewed in Oregon
– 06:00 p.m. Chuckanut Brewer’s Night @ Naked City – Great beers by an amazing, gold winning, brewery.
– 06:00 p.m. Circa and the Arrogant Bastard – Join the Stone Brewing guys as they unveil some jewels for Seattle Beer Week.

Here are today’s highlights. For details about any of these events go to the Seattle Beer Week website.

– All Day Bodacious Beverages – As many unusual beers as we can come up with. Odd ones, rare ones, new ones, etc. Taster trays encouraged!
– 10:00 a.m. Brewers Brunch a la Porterhouse – Come join some of the best brewers in the world for breakfast and beers. Great way to start the day. Scheduled brewers from Stone, Full Sail, …
– 03:00 p.m. Blues and Brews w/ Lagunitas – Tony Magee, Presifukindent, CEO, et al, of Lagunitas Brewing will be playing some Delta Blues style music as well as waxing poetic about Lagun…
– 05:00 p.m. BBQ & Beer Pairing @ Pillager’s – Come by Pillagers for a BBQ and Beer dinner. We will be preparing 5 different BBQ dishes with special beer selections.
– 05:00 p.m. Harmon Brewing @ Bottleworks – Jeff Carlson will be on hand to discuss the beers of Harmon Brewing.
– 05:00 p.m. Dirty Beer Night – What goes on in the minds of brewers? With a rash of morally questionable labels in the market today we’re putting together the best (worst?)…
– 05:30 p.m. Stone Brewing Co. Night – Come taste the beers of one of the jewels of Calfornia, Stone Brewing Company. Sample some of your old favorites and a few special releases. Featuring C…
– 06:00 p.m. Corson Building New Belgium Dinner – Join us for an exceptional night of food and beer, as renowned chef Matt Dillon, and sommelier Marc Papineau, work their magic with a special …
– 06:00 p.m. Brewers 9 Ball Tournament – Tap House Grill Seattle – 9 Ball Pool Tournament. Free entry. May 21st 6-10p.m.. Call 206-816-3314 to make reservations. 32 person cap, 4 prize’…

Here are today’s highlights. For details about any of these events go to the Seattle Beer Week website.

– 11:00 a.m. Brouwer’s Sour Beer Fest – The name says it all. Over 40 Sour Beers all on tap from you favorite brewers from near and far. Allagash Confluence Allagash Confluence …
– 11:00 a.m. Sierra Nevada Brewer’s Lunch – Join Sierra Nevada for the first ever Brewer’s Lunch at Safeco Field on Thursday, May 20 with Head Brewer Steve Dresler! Your ticket includes…
– 11:00 a.m. Elliot Bay Strong Ale Fest – Elliott Bay Brewing will be having a Strong Ales Event all day and night here on May 20th at the West Seattle Pub. We will be featuring the fo…
– 03:00 p.m. Margarita Thursday @ Elysian – With all the beer sometimes you need a little Tequila. –Join Dave, Corinne, Laura and Jeremy for one of our favorite Thursday traditions. Ma…
– 04:00 p.m. Boundary Bay Highland Scotch Release – Join us in the Boundary Bay Brewery Beer Garden for a special cask pre-release of our Highland Scotch Ale. Our Highland Scotch Ale is rich an…
– 05:00 p.m. Forever Young – A trip through the many styles of the Dick’s Brewery portfolio.
– 05:00 p.m. 7 Seas Can Release @ Bottleworks – Join Bryan Lee from 7 Seas Brewing as he unleashes ‘Balls Deep Double IPA’ and ’7 Seas Pale Ale’ in cans for the first time. This is the first…
– 05:00 p.m. Christmas in May @ Pyramid – Everyone’s favorite winter warmer, Snow Cap, returns with a flurry of roasted chocolate and caramel malts making this beer the perfect beer we…
– 05:30 p.m. Oh Canada! Unibroue Tasting – Montreal’s answer to Belgian brewing. Come taste some of the best Belgian-style beers brewed in North America. Hosted by Rick Tamer.
– 06:00 p.m. You’re Not Worthy Nite with Stone – Stone Brewing Co. night, featuring rare and hard to find Stone beers.Steve Wagner, founder and original brewer, will be in attendance.
– 06:00 p.m. Cask Festival at the Latona Pub – Celebrate with some of your favorite local breweries with REAL casks on the bar. One of the featured beers: Boundary Bay Brewery’s series of…
– 06:00 p.m. Diamond Knot @ Alligator Soul – Meet the Guys from Diamond Knot Brewery for beer and Cajun and Creole cuisine at the Alligator Soul Restaurant.
– 06:00 p.m. Party on the Porch with Ninkasi – Join Jamie Floyd Brew Master for Ninkasi at Linda’s Tavern for a party on the porch. Hank will be rockin on the turn tables and Ninkasi beer …
– 06:00 p.m. Bourbon and Beer Pairing @ The Whiskey – Bourbon and Beer Pairing Featuring Whiskey From the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
– 07:00 p.m. Flights to (New) Belgium – Featuring six flavorful New Belgium offerings, each paired with a delicious snack, some savory, some sweet.  The snack availability is limited, so arr…
– 07:00 p.m. Schneider Dinner @ Shultzy’s – Beer dinner with special guests Susanne Hecht from the Schneider Brewery featuring 5 Schneider beers including Hopfen-Weisse. Seating is limit…
– 08:00 p.m. SEATTLE’S LOUDEST BEER PROMO!! – Heavy Metal Beer Bash continues with what will be SEATTLE’S LOUDEST BEER PROMO at Pub at Pipers Creek on Thursday May 20th from 8p.m. ’til your …

There are a number of great events today/tonight as Seattle Beer Week rages on. You should check with the Seattle Beer Week website to find out about all of the events. Be the first person to find us today and tell us the magic word and we’ll buy you a beer. The magic word is, “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

It is hard to pick. We all have our own interests and tastes. Some of us have more time than others. Maybe you should select an event based on your location? Whatever the case, this is where you can find Mr. and Mrs. Beerblog today/tonight.

Capitol Hill. Firkin-Firkin Throwdown: WA vs. OR. Elsian Brewing’s Capitol Hill pub, 3:00 – 11:00. The event features eight breweries from each state, competing head-to-head in eight style catagories. All of it in firkins. For example, in the IPA category Elysian Prometheus IPA will be facing off with Double Mountain Hop Lava IPA. The drinkers vote, the votes determine the winner. Work with a partner and do a blind tasting of each matchup. That way, nothing but the beer will influence your taste buds.

Here are today’s highlights. For details about any of these events go to the Seattle Beer Week website.

– 12:00 p.m. If it’s not Scottish, it’s CRAP! – “If It’s Not Scottish, It’s Crap” Festival where we’ll be pouring Scottish beer from taps and bottles all day.  We’ll also be offering a variety of Scot…
– 12:00 p.m. Lazy Boy & Left Hand BBQ @ Fiddlers – There will be plenty of food to go around. Join Left Hand Brewing from Longmont Colorado and Lazy Boy Brewing from Everette for a Fiddlers Inn…
– 12:00 p.m. Lunch with Tomme @ The Red Hot – Come bend Tomme Arthur’s ear of Port Brewing/Lost Abbey over lunch and a pint at the award winning Red Hot. Best Hot Dog in Western Was…
– 01:30 p.m. Tomme Arthur Bottle Signing – Tomme Arthur will be on hand to talk about Port/Lost Abbey breweries and sign some rare offerings of his award winning beers.
– 02:00 p.m. ‘The Odd Couple’ w/ Charles and Sam – Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewing and Charles Finkle of Pike Brewing will be on hand to talk about their beers, brewing and all that is be…
– 03:00 p.m. Firkin-Firkin WA vs.OR @ Elysian – This year it is WA vs OR, we will match 8 breweries from each state with 8 styles all in cask conditioned Firkins. From WA: Big Time, Pike, Si…
– 03:00 p.m. CAN-tankerous CAN-struction – CAN you build it? Yes you CAN! Join the crew at Piper’s Creek for the CAN building event of the year. 6 teams of up to six pitted against each…
– 04:00 p.m. Taste of Russia: a Dish’n Beer Pairing – Right behind vodka, beer is an incredibly popular drink in Russia. Baltika beers, first brewed in St. Petersburg, were introduced to the Russi…
– 04:00 p.m. Afternoon Delight @ Boundry Bay Brewing – Meet the Boundary Bay Brewers and join us for vertical tastings of Cabin Fever and Old Bounder! The beers will be paired with a selection of …
– 05:00 p.m. Snoqualmie Falls Tasting @ Bottleworks – We’ll have several of our year-round beers as well as Sunstroke Imperial Pilsner! Come meet Erik ‘Lemonrind’ Carels from the brewery!
– 05:00 p.m. Sodo Boys – Local South Park heros- Epic Ales, Schonner Exact and Two Beers. The brewers will be on hand to talk about brewing great beers in SoDo. Word.
– 05:00 p.m. Cask Night featuring Seattle Natives – Join the Park Pub crew in tapping some great casks from two of Seattle’s oldest breweries: Big Time and Elysian.
– 05:00 p.m. Flyers Brewery @ the 74th St. Alehouse – Celebrating Seattle Beer Week at the 74th. Wednesday, May 19th. The FLYERS BREWERY out of Oak Harbor will be bringing a CASK CONDITIONED PORTE…
– 05:00 p.m. Firestone Walker Brewers Night – Firestone Walker Brewing will be at the Elephant and Castlewith 3 great beers, including their award winning Union Jack IPA. Drawingsand Gi…
– 05:00 p.m. Heavy Metal Beer Bash #2. Eastlake Zoo – Eastlake Zoo Tavern, Seattle’s coolest Dive Bar, is having its first Heavy Metal Wicked Wednesday! May 19th from 5p.m. to closing. Happy Hour s…
– 05:00 p.m. Beers and Balls – Join us at King’s for $1 off specialty cans and bottled Beers. In the spirit of beer week we have put together a fun and unusual collection of…
– 05:30 p.m. Beer & Brats at the Ballpark – “Come down to Safeco Field for a Washington Brewer’s pre-funk, in the center field beergarden! Ticket price of $42 gets you a ticket to the 7…
– 05:30 p.m. The Beers of Mad River Brewing Co. – Come taste through some of the best beers brewed in N. California, Mad River Brewing, with Will Macleoud from the brewery.
– 06:00 p.m. Tomme Arthur Experience @ Brouwer’s – A journey the beers of Lost Abbey and Port Brewing. There will be rare beers, special vintages, and light banter with Tomme himself. From t…
– 06:00 p.m. Chuckanut Spring Dinner – 6p.m.: Chuckanut Brewery Spring Beer Dinner in the brewery at 601 W Holly St, Bellingham. Tickets to be purchased in advance. Four beers to thre…
– 06:00 p.m. Great Beer from Oregon @ Naked City – Serving some unique beers from amazing breweries from the second best beer state in the world.
– 06:00 p.m. IPA-A-Palooza & Frito Pie Cook Off – Come try some of the rarest IPA’s from Washington and beyond. Also, we will be having a Frito Pie contest. Bring your best version of Frito P…
– 06:00 p.m. Savor the Market @ Pike Brewing – A BENEFIT FOR THE PIKE PLACE MARKET FOUNDATION. New Price, a Seattle Beer Week Special! $20 all inclusive Please join us for a Seat…
– 06:00 p.m. Elliot Bay Brewing Barrel-aged Beer – A ticketed event ($40) featuring five barrel-aged Elliott Bay beers, each paired with an house-prepared appetizer. Only forty tickets availabl…
– 06:00 p.m. He Said Beer/She Said Wine – Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewing and Sommelier Kristen Young will battle with this age old issue. A 5 course dinner battle, each with its…
– 06:30 p.m. Billy’s Belgium Barbecue Brew Feast – Join Larry Rock of Click Distributing & Chef Jerry Jackson in an exclusive pairing of food & brew. $35.00 per person Appetizer: Smok…
– 07:00 p.m. Stone Brewing Co. Dinner – Join Chef Ericka Burke and Heather Earnhardt as they create a five-course dinner paired with the award-winning beers of Stone Brewing Co. Foun…
– 07:00 p.m. New Belgian Beers with the Monk – A trip through Belgium with New Belgium Brewing Company. Limited edition and rare releases.
– 07:00 p.m. Rock’em Sock’em Robot Tournament – Join Left Hand Brewing from Longmont Colorado and Snoqualmie Brewing from Snoqualmie Washington in a head to head tournament of ROCK’EM SOCK’E…
– 07:00 p.m. Undiscovered Beer Tour at the Fidd – Undiscovered Beer Tour: A Taste of the Unkown. Be at the Fiddlers Inn and be prepared to discover your new favorite beer. Taste beers from p…
– 07:00 p.m. Big Al @ DC’s Bar and Grill – Join Big Al as he brings a little piece of Seattle Beer Week to the Southend!
– 07:00 p.m. Baron/ Three Skulls “Meet the Brewer” Nite – Meet the Brewer – Three Skulls Ales and Baron Brewing. The brewer of these two great breweries will be at Pillagers starting at 7:00p.m. to tal…
– 08:00 p.m. All Beer Quiz Night @ Beveridge Place – Pretty self explanatory. All the questions this night will be related to beer, including taste tests!
– 08:00 p.m. Beer Trivia nite @ Pillager’s – Pillagers will be turning it’s attention to the great world of beer for our Wednesday Trivia Night starting at 8:00p.m.. Some great prizes will…
– 10:00 p.m. After party with Jamie Floyd Ninkasi – Join Ninkasi Brew Master Jamie Floyd at the Snoose Junction Part Deux for a after party. Drink specials and a DJ will be rocking into the ear…