The 10th annual Sacramento Beer Week runs from April 26–May 5 this year (yes, it’s actually 10 days!) and brings with it hundreds of fun and creative craft beer-themed events all throughout the region at breweries, taprooms and more. There will be countless special releases, collaborations, food pairings and hands-on educational events. You can check out Sacbeerweek.com to create your own list, but, in case you’re too busy and/or too lazy to look into it, we’ve curated a list here of just some of the many Sacramento Beer Week events we’re looking forward to (one for each day, in fact). You can also read our more in-depth feature story on SBW later on in this very issue. Read. Learn. Drink good beer.



Friday, April 26

You can’t go wrong with the official SBW kick-off event, the second annual Sac Mac + Brew Review, where local chefs and brewers pair unique and delicious mac and cheese dishes with regional beers. Get unlimited tastings and vote on your favorite pairing! Event takes place at River Walk Park (651 Second St., West Sacramento) from 6–9 p.m. and tickets are $45. You can save $5 by using the code “SUBMERGE5” when purchasing tickets online!



Saturday, April 27

Nowadays with the craft beer boom, we’re all drinking really fresh beer all the time, but have you ever had zero-day old beer? If not, hit up Urban Roots Brewing and Smokehouse (1322 V St., Sacramento) for their Drink Like a Brewer: Freshies Off the Line event, happening from 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Saturday. For $5 you can snag a can coming directly off the line, and then drink them in-house. The Can Van mobile canning service’s Jenn Coyle will be there to talk about the canning process, and Urban Roots’ brewmaster Peter Hoey will be available to answer questions on their award-winning beers. So come snag an EZPZ Hoppy Pilsner (their first time ever canning it!) and/or a brand new, unfiltered double IPA called Nothing Can Stop Me.



Sunday, April 28

If you’re into dark, high-alcohol brews, this is the event for you! New Glory Craft Brewery (8251 Alpine Ave, Sacramento) is hosting an all-day event called Six Shades of Dark [Beer] on Sunday from noon–9 p.m. Come try and tame beasts like Mallow Blaster, an imperial pastry stout with marshmallows, dark Belgian candi sugar, cacao nibs and vanilla beans that comes in at a cool 15.5 percent; or Psychic Venom, an imperial stout with Valiant Coffee and vanilla that comes in at 14.4 percent. Thankfully, there will be a food truck on hand to help offset the buzz you’re inevitably going to get (and we shouldn’t have to remind you, but here it is anyways: Don’t drink and drive, you dummy!)



“Big Mike” Moore

Monday, April 29

Join beer and food pairing connoisseur “Big Mike” Moore at Crooked Lane Brewing Company (536 Grass Valley Hwy., Auburn) on Monday from 6:30–7:30 p.m. for Beer and Cheese, If You Please. For just $25 (plus fees if you buy online) you’ll enjoy four beers expertly paired with four cheeses so you can explore complex and contrasting flavors. Tickets available at Beercheeseifyouplease.eventbrite.com.



Tuesday, April 30

If you like your craft beer with a side of fierce competition, check out Drake’s: The Barn (985 Riverfront St., West Sacramento) on Tuesday for Brewer Royale, a “beer battle” of sorts featuring Drake’s, New Glory, Berryessa and Bike Dog. Three courses of small bites will be paired with beers from each brewery and you will decide who balances their flavors best. Event runs from 6–9 p.m. and tickets are $50. Check out Drinkdrakes.com/barn for more info.



Wednesday, May 1

Beer Week takes to the lanes on Wednesday at Pins N Strikes (3443 Laguna Blvd., #150, Elk Grove) for Bowling N Breweries, where for $24 you’ll get two hours of Glow Bowling (with shoe rental) and a 6-Pack Beer Flight including two tastes each from Anderson Valley, Calicraft and Knee Deep. Takes place from 6–8 p.m.



Thursday, May 2

Alaro Craft Brewery (2004 Capitol Ave., Sacramento) will host Farm to Tap: Taste Sacramento! all day on Thursday from 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Alaro and a few other local breweries partnered with Admiral Maltings and the University of California’s agriculture program to use Sacramento grown and sustainable barley on a professional level. This event offers the chance to taste and talk with the farmers, maltsters and brewers involved in the project via an educational panel discussion. The tap takeover will feature beers from Alaro, New Helvetia and others made using Sacramento-grown barley!



Friday, May 3

Final Gravity Taproom and Bottle Shop (9205 Sierra College Blvd., #100, Roseville) and Sacramento Taproom Alliance (check them out at Facebook.com/sacramentotaproomalliance) will host the second annual Tie Dye Friday event, this time with Pizza Port and Russian River taking over the taps. Kegs get tapped at noon and a tie dye station will be set up from 4–8 p.m. For $20 you’ll get a pint of any beer on draft and a logo T-shirt to tie dye. Groovy, baby!



Tiny Sounds

Saturday, May 4

New Helvetia Brewing Co. (1730 Broadway, Sacramento) will be where it’s at on the second Saturday of SBW! They’re hosting May the Fourth 5K Fun Run Beerfest from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. featuring a non-timed 5K fun run, followed by a Block Party Beerfest that will include food trucks (The Culinerdy Cruzer and Flour Dust Pizza Company) along with live music (Red Dirt Ruckus Trio and Tiny Sounds). Through May 2, pre-sale prices are $35 for the 5K Fun Run and Beerfest, or just $10 for the run only. Check out Newhelvetiabrew.com/beerfest5k for more.



Sunday, May 5

The Sacramento Area Brewers Guild and SBW are hosting the official closing event at Beatnik Studios (723 S St., Sacramento). The Capitol Brewers Dinner will feature a five-course prix fixe menu from top area brewers and chefs. The event starts with a tasting hour with small bites and unlimited beer tastings, then once you get seated, each chef and brewer duo will present their course, explaining their pairing. Get your tickets at Sacbeerweek.com before they are gone!

**This piece first appeared in print on page 9 of issue #290 (April 24 – May 8, 2019)**

    Jonathan Carabba

    View Articles

    Find me at the bowling alley. Co-founder + Advertising Director + Marketing at Submerge. Contact: jonathan@submergemag.com

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