Event Planner: Seattle Beer Week: Our Last Minute Thoughts Part 1, 5/10 – 5/13

So it’s the day before the start of Seattle Beer Week and you haven’t decided which events to check out. Then again Seattle Beer Week is an endless (for 10 days) promotion of craft beer and the epicurious, diversity, it represents.

With events like dinners and food pairings, it’s easy to get distracted from the usual fare of brewery nights and grocery sponsored sample tastings. So we elected (like every other blog out there) to help you make some decisions associated with each day.

We won’t tell you to check out a specific location and do everything. Instead we will simply offer our nudge in one direction or the other on what is the most interesting event.

Thursday May 10th, 2012 4:00 PM
Whole Foods on Westlake hosts Angry Orchard Cider
2210 Westlake Avenue Seattle, WA 98121

Think of this event as an aperitif (appetizer or warm-up) to the Kickoff at Elysian’s Capitol Hill location (1221 E. Pike St. Seattle, WA 98122). If on the other hand a meal sounds best after trying some ciders, we suggest stopping into Bambino’s (not a Seattle Beer Week participant, but listed on the site) on 401 Cedar Street.

After a stop into Bambino’s we suggest catching either the 8, 4, or 255 to Pine Box (1600 Melrose Avenue) . Another option would be to catch the 5 near Bambino’s to Naked City where they will be hosting the third leg of the Seattle Beer Week Kick Off.

Friday May 11th, 2012 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cheese & Beer Pairing with Avery & Boneyard at Urban Family Public House
5329 Ballard Ave NW Seattle WA 98107

Stop into one of Seattle’s newest Public Houses in the Ballard neighborhood. With tentative plans to start brewing, the spot offers a cozy and well thought out beer selection. Paired with ala carte fare (right out of their toaster oven) you can’t go wrong with cheese paired with beers from Avery & Boneyard.

While you're in the neighborhood stop into Noble Fir which is practically across the street. There you will be able to sample from their current taplist of Double Mountain and Terminal Gravity beers. Noble Fire is on 5329 Ballard Ave NW in the Ballard neighborhood.

Saturday May 12th, 2012 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Kegs and Eggs featuring Elysian at Brave Horse Tavern
310 Terry Avenue North Seattle WA 98109

Admittedly for this writer I initially shuddered the idea of what a beer bar could be under the imaginative mind of Tom Douglas. With that said I can happily admit I was waaaay off.

With a focus on ala carte burgers and host sandwiches, often paired with their fresh made pretzels, Brave Horse gets this craft beer thing. Starting at 10:00 AM the Tavern in South Lake Union, opens its doors, and invites you take a load off from the week, while enjoying Elysian Beers paired with their breakfast menu.

Afterwards we invite you to take a rest up before heading out to Naked City in the Greenwood neighborhood. There you will be entertained as Don Webb & Donald Averil host beers from Colorado. Look for CO breweries Left Hand, Great Divide, Oskar Blues, Boulder, and Avery to be on draught. And who knows, there might be someone from one of the breweries there. Naked City is located in the Greenwood Neighborhood on 8564 Greenwood Avenue North.

Sunday May 13th, 2012 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Mother’s Day Lindeman’s Beer Tasting with Merchant du Vin at Beer Junction
4707 42nd Avenue S.W. Seattle, WA

Take the drive over to West Seattle and visit one of Seattle’s largest beer-centric bottleshops. Located on West Seattle’s answer to Main Street (California Avenue), the bottleshop is hosting Merchant du Vin as they pour various fruit beers from the European brewery Lindeman’s.

While there you should also pick up a couple of beers to take with you and possibly share with mom. But we won’t tell if you end up sharing them with Dad.

While in West Seattle don’t waste the trip.  Drive farther south on California Avenue to Beveridge Place Pub for their 5:00 PM Iron Brewers Triple Header. There you will get an opportunity to sample beers with a secret cooking ingredient. This time around Silver City and Seven Seas will be competing against current champion Black Raven. Beveridge Place Pub is on 6413 California Ave SW.

Stay Tuned. We still have a full week of suggestions for you.

Cheers