Seattle Beer Week: Coming to a Pub Near You!

Cinco de Mayo is over, and if you're like me, you've had enough marginal Mexican beer and *gag* tequila to tide you over for 364 days.

We've also made it over the hump of the Kentucky Derby and the awesomeness that is mint julep season.

So what's next?  Seattle Beer Week, that's what.

More than a week, really, Seattle Beer Week is a 10-day extravaganza throughout the City of Seattle and environs bringing special tastings, promotions, guest appearances, and an opportunity to drink some fantastic beer from the tap that typically never makes it into the pubs up here.

In it's fifth year, this year's SBW will bring more than 200 events at more than 80 of your favorite beer venues throughout the Seattle area.  Seriously, check the map, you'll certainly find something within stumbling distance.  If you'd rather browse by event versus venue, you can do that too.

Now that we've dispensed with the "facts", on to the WestToast Seattle Beer Week recommendations.   While you can find 3 - 4 events on each of the 10 days that look awesome, these are the ones on my must-do list:

Saturday, 5/11:

• Kegs n' Eggs:  I think the name speaks for itself, but if not, Brave Horse Brunch and awesome beer?  What a way to kick off the week.
• BrewGrass 2013:  Here's our altruistic plug.  A benefit for Northwest Harvest, Brewgrass brings beer and music to Hale's Ale.

Monday, 5/13:

• Class of '88 Collaboration Barley Wine Release:  Deschutes, Rogue, and North Coast all made special collaborative barley wines to commemorate the craft brewing class of '88.  Try all three at the Latona pub.

Tuesday, 5/14:

• Deschutes Brewery Night:  A chance to try the Black Butte XXIV and 2012 The Abyss on tap at Ballard's Noble Fir.  Simply awesome beers.

Friday, 5/17:

• Eugene vs. Corvallis Night!  Corvallis is going to win, duh.  Fremont's The Sixgill will be pouring brew from Oakshire, Block 15, and Flat Tail for a side by side comparison.  Pretty sure this is the first time that Block 15 has been poured in these here parts.

Saturday 5/18:

• Anderson Valley Barrel Extravaganza:  I was sold at the word "barrel".  Back to the Noble Fir we go for the Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, among others.

There's my lineup. Andrea will surely have a few more to add to the list as I focused on triangulating awesome events with navigability via pedestrian means or public transport.  Close to home or close to work?  Check.

Oh, one more thing...each year, SBW asks a local brewer to make a beer all special like for the week  This year it's Fremont Brewing and they've done what sounds like a very nice Pale Ale.  Get it while you can.

See you around Seattle next week!