MattPat Ales 'n Such: Adrift in Beer Week

Blind double and triple IPA tasting at Boneshaker Pub (Image by Matt Doyle)

Sacramento Beer Week kicked off on Friday, and since then our region has played host to plenty of fun and real social contact in the name of beer. Fests, happy hours, tap takeovers, brunches, dinners and exclusive tastings – it has all been happening and there is more to come.

Some great local breweries have been featured and new collaborative brews released. The Knee Deep in Beer Week Track 7 collaboration, a really great Belgian double IPA, was both fresh and rich. Try it at Track 7 while it lasts, at Final Gravity on Thursday or at Capitol Beer and Tap Room on Friday.

Remember that author and brewing scientist Dr. Charlie Bamforth of the University of California, Davis, will be at New Helvetia tonight. The event is $30 at the door and includes up to six 10-ounce pours. If you prefer, learn to cook with beer at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op from 6 to 9 p.m.

Also tonight, The Davis Beer Shoppe will turn all its taps over to IPAs – 90 percent of which will be limited-release. Sure to be fantastic. Plus, when else do you get to try Sculpin on nitro? It’s rare to see an IPA of this kind of tap, but Sculpin’s balanced profile looks to be a very good fit.

Track 7 Brewing Co. (image by Patricia Willers)

If you missed the sold-out Mikuni and 21st Amendment dinner on Saturday, try Mikuni again Tuesday throughout the region. In Davis, Mikuni will feature Green Flash’s 5th Anniversary Double IPA. If you’re closer to Mikuni Roseville, stop in to try Rhizing Bines, an imperial IPA brewed by Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada. This beer is part of its Life & Limb collaboration series.

On any given night, if your group is fading but simply must continue on, head to 3 Fires Lounge at 15th and L for a Sierra, a pulled pork slider and garlic fries for $5 all beer week long. Other things to watch out for include Oskar Blues taps at Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, Pliny the Younger at Burgers & Brew (Sacramento and Davis) and Track 7’s Port Barrel Aged Dubbel.

Wednesday night at Magpie there will be a Drake’s tap takeover. Flights? Check. Hopocalypse, its wonderful and limited seasonal double IPA? Check. Hopocalypse Black Label Triple IPA? Go and find out.
There are, in fact, plenty of stops to help you make it through hump day. Barwest will be pouring Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA and Birra Etrusa, an herbal beer brewed as part of its Ancient Ales series. The Band of Gypsies collaboration will be at Flaming Grill on Wednesday as well.

Chimay is just $6 on Thursday at Zocalo, which sounds like the perfect opportunity for a mid-beer week date night. The Bruery, hailing from Southern California, will be featured at Pangaea Two Brews Cafe. The 750-milliliter bottles are perfect to share with an intimate group of beer-loving friends. If your friends are wine lovers and beer skeptics, this is a perfect gateway event. Thursday evening, don’t forget the tasting at the California Automobile Museum from 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday things will really pick up again. The Davis Beer Shoppe will go all barrel-aged, and Lagunitas founder Tony Magee will be making music at The Torch Club at 5:30 during happy hour. The Shack will host Coronado Brewing Company and the Whole Foods Folsom Bier Garten will be having a Grand Teton Tap Takeover.

Don't forget to get your tickets for the Capital Beerfest, with or without food, before Saturday rolls around. This is your best chance to try any and all beers you missed throughout the week, not to mention tasting and sharing some new favorites discovered during beer week. For a nice breakfast before the beerfest, start your Saturday at a Bluegrass Brunch at Hoppy Brewing.

If you didn't get out this weekend, be not afraid, there are still enough days and events to go. Take a look below to see just a taste and a sip of what went on this past weekend.

Image by Patricia Willers

Boneshaker Pub in Rocklin, Calif. (Image by: Matt Doyle)

Bicycle parking at Roseville Brewing Company (Image by: Matt Doyle)

Roseville Brewing Company released a new brew - a wild brown - for their first anniversary party. (Image by: Patricia Willers)

Homebrewers like those in the Placer Ultimate Brewing Society brewing up a scotch ale at The Brewmeister in Roseville, Calif. (Image by: Patricia Willers)