After much fermentation and anticipation, Seattle Beer Week is back. From May 12 to 22, beer will be pourin’ freely in your favorite seaside city; whether you’re an avid beer drinker looking to expand your portfolio – Machine House Brewery’s Stinging Nettle Ale and Lucky Envelope Brewing’s Peanut Butter Porter may be helpful here – or you just want to sip a pint of the good stuff on the patio, Seattle Beer Week has you covered. Events including everything from trivia to BBQ to beer “Olympics” and more will be spanning the week, and at each one, the city’s best brews will be on tap. We’ve compiled some highlights to keep your eye – and palate – out for.
Daily Pale || Reuben’s Brews
Since opening in 2012, Reuben’s Brews has become a key player in the Seattle beer scene, where co-founder and London native Adam Robbings was inspired by the city’s unique taste for a cold one. It’s only fitting that the brewery was bestowed the honor the brew the official beer for this year’s Seattle Beer Week. The “Daily Pale” is a sessionable, daily sipper weighing in at an easy 4.9 percent ABV, complete with citrus, passionfruit, kiwi and honeydew – clean and fruit forward, this brew benefits the Seattle Parks Foundation.
Seattle Proper || Naked City Taphouse || May 12
Start your week of beer off with the Seattle Proper held in Seattle’s tight-knit Greenwood neighborhood. So far, 17 brews are on the list with more to come. Standouts include Poss a Parsnip Sour from Mollusk Brewery and a Tangerine Hefeweizen from Peddler Brewing Company – both befitting the spring season.
Hogus Maximus Barriclus Release || Postdoc Brewing Company || May 13
Stopping by Postdoc Brewing Company to check out the release of Hogus Maximus Barriclus would also be be a smart beer week move; created by head brewer and co-owner Tom Schmidlin – who holds a PhD in Biochemistry – the limited IPA exudes experience, aged in J.P. Trodden bourbon barrels to boot.
Shout Out for Stout || Fairmont Olympic Hotel || May 15
Teaming up with the “unofficial king and queen of Seattle’s craft beer scene,” the hotel’s celebrated oyster bar, Shuckers, will collaborate with Charles and Rose Ann Finkel of Pike Brewing Co. for a multi-coursed dinner highlighting the complexities and matching of oysters and stout beer. Guests will be taken on a culinary journey by the Finkels and Samuel Smith of the seventh generation namesake English brewery and Rawle Jefferds of Penn Cove Shellfish.
Women in Beer || Pike Brewing Company || May 16
Another even for Pike Brewing, the Pike Place Market brewery will be hosting a celebration of women in the beer industry, and since Seattle is crafty in more than a few areas, women cidermakers, chocolatiers, cheese makers and more will be joining in to share their delicious talents with your palate – beer and cheese, anyone? Proceeds from this bash benefit Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands.
Silver City Brewery BBQ & Brew || Rhein Haus || May 19
Inside Rhein Haus’ mini Germany nestled on Capitol Hill, barbecue, bocce ball and a bier garden await. Look out for Silver City Brewery’s Ziggy Zoggy Summer Lager, Cooper Mountain Maibock and Nice Day IPA, plus bonus barrel-aged Wheelz of Steel black lager and Rye Whiskey-Aged Dark Lager.
Coffee Beer and Donuts || Reuben’s Brews || May 22
Cap the week – and curb your beer week hangover – with coffee-infused beer and local donuts. Yes, you heard that right; Reuben’s Brews is looking out for you this Seattle Beer Week, so fill that pint with a cup of faux “jo” and grab your favorite maple-dipped, glazed or sprinkled pastry – you donut want to miss out on this one.
