April Craft Beer Events

April Craft Beer Events & Going Ons

in and around Tacoma

(including related events outside of Tacoma that I think are rad and/or will be attending personally)

Tuesday 10th - Science Cafe @ The Swiss Pub (Tacoma, 6:30p) Get your nerd on while enjoying a pint or two! This month's Science Cafe topic is all about climate change. "Climate Change and the Arctic Ocean"As global warming continues, we hear a lot about melting polar ice, warming oceans, and their potential consequences. At the April Tacoma Science Café, join Dr. Mike Steele from UW's Polar Science Center to discuss his experiences in the Arctic studying how our changing climate is affecting the Arctic Ocean. If this date/time/location isn't convenient for you, check out the other April Science Cafes in different areas.

Thursday 12th - PRO-AM Parkway Submissions Due @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, by closing time) This is the last day to enter your beers in the Parkway Am-Pro. Bottles must be properly labeled and it is $5 per entry. MGD & I have been asked to guest judge again this year and I'm excited for another chance to do so, it was so fun and I learned a ton!

Saturday 14th - Snipes Mountain Brewers Dinner & Blending Panel @ Snipes Mountain Brewery (Sunnyside, 6p) All kinds of delicious, gourmet oddities (such as Prairie Oysters and Creole Bread Pudding) will be served up to us with Snipes beer pairings for their Brewers Dinner after we participate in a beer blending panel. And since MGD and myself are making the trek across the mountain on Friday night, we can commence the wine tasting at 10a on Saturday to get nice and lubed up for said blending and eating.

Sunday 15th - PRO-AM Parkway Beer Judging @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, should probably find out what time they need us there since we have to drive back from Eastern, WA this same morning...) We had a blast being a part of the beer judging process for Parkway's PRO-AM homebrew competition, I'm sure this year won't let us down one bit either! Can't wait to try what's been concocted! Last year I rated a barleywine that a good friend had brewed (unknowingly a the time, as all the brews are anonymous) and he gave me some kudos for my review a few weeks later. He said my comments were constructive and helpful, so this year I feel marginally more confident in my abilities as a judger of beery goodness vs. beery badness.

Wednesday 18th 
- Wingman Brewers Night @ Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse (Mukilteo, 6-9p) I don't have any other info on this so just show up at Diamond Knot and enjoy some tasty Wingman brews, mmmmkay?
- Sidetrack Distillery Collaboration Beer Release @ Airways Bistro (Kent,  5:30p) For the 2nd beer released in Airways' collaboration series you can head on down to the Bistro and enjoy Airways Starliner Stout with Oak Chips soaked in Raspberry Liquer.
- Black Raven Night @ Red Hot (Tacoma, 6p)Your favorite tube steak place has the hook up on some gems by the oh so popular Black Raven Brewery. Swing in tonight for a taste of the Trickster IPA, Totem Northwest Pale, Wisdom Seeker Double IPA and Grandfather Raven Redmond Imperial Stout (only brewed once a year). It's sure to be packed with this kind of line up, so get there early!

Thursday 19th -  Double IPA Blind Tasting @ Beveridge Place Pub (West Seattle, All day long) Think you know what your favorite IPA is? Challenge your taste buds with 6 of the best and find out the truth...

 Saturday 21st - Wingman's New Brewery Opening!!!  (Tacoma, starts at 2p) The Wingman Brewery doors will finally be open on the new brewery and taproom, a much needed expansion. You can find their new digs at 509 1/2 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, 98421. Come join the party!

Wednesday 25th
-PBR Night @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma) Something about there being a gigantic Connect Four game, IDK. Gets pretty kuh-razee up in the Parkway sometimes so bring your A-Game.
-DUO Brewing Brewers Night @ Dog & Pony (Renton, 6:30p) Go try a pint of DUO's Belgian Golden Ale, Coffee Porter, Cask Conditioned Vanilla Porter, or the Milk Stout.

Saturday 28th - April WABL Gathering @ H20 Bar (Anacortes, 3-6p) This new beer bar is owned and operated by the peeps of Anacortes Brewery. Go check out the new bar (maybe on your way to April Brew's Day in Bellingham) and enjoy 24 taps of lovely craft beer. WABL members can enjoy $3 pints (this means you should probably bring your passport) and there will be prize drawings!

Saturday 28th thru Monday 30th - Holy Crap, It's Barley Wine Fest! @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, from 2p on Sat. until closing on Sun. (technically 2a Mon.) My liver is both excited and currently cramping in anticipatory happiness for the Parkway's BWF. I don't remember last year very well but that means I probably had a stellar time. Hit up their Facebook page for a complete list, it's guaranteed to make your mouth hole water. They usually coordinate a Barley Brunch for one of the mornings with special food (brunch, duh) and beers so keep an eye out for that as well!

Reoccurring Events

Randall Wrecker Mondays @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6p) - A new beer (and much more!) will be thrown in the Randall every Monday night for your delight. They even have a punch card!

Beer Tasting Wednesdays @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Hit up your localest of local beer stores every Wednesday for a $2 beer tasting. You can always make your own tasting from the beers they have on tap but check out their Facebook page or sign up for the newsletter to see what special beers are being served every week.

Cask Thursdays @ Airways Brewing Tap Room (Kent, 4p) - A firkin will be tapped every Thursday at their Tap Room. You can find weekly updates on what cask ales are being served on their website.

Growler Fills @ Wingman Brewery (Tacoma) - New Taproom open now!!! Newly located at 509 1/2 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, 98421. Swing by for a growler fill or taste of their lovely beer on Thurs, Fri & Sat from 2-11p.

 April showers bring me

special beer powers!

March Craft Beer Events

March

Saturday 3rd - American Brewing Company 1 year Anniversary Party @ ABC Brewery (Edmonds, 1-11p) Come celebrate the awesomeness and success that has befallen American Brewing Company. There will be live music, awesome snacks (the advert says awesome) and new merchandise. Oh, and beer. You can also participate in a raffle to help raise funds for the Edmonds Food Bank. Get some more info through their Facebook page or through their website.


Sunday 4th - Seattle Urban Beer Hunt (Downtown Seattle, kicks off at 12p) Teams of 2, 4 or 6 will set out on foot for a challenge involving completing specific tasks and recovering select items. Players stick together to decipher clues, solve puzzles and race to finish. It all ends with an awards ceremony at a local pub with food and drink specials available.Cash prizes and costumes! Check out the site for registration fees and more details.

Friday 9th - Tacoma's Weekly Volcano Street Team Pub Crawl (Olympia, 6p) Join the cool cats of the Volcano's Street Team as they do a pub crawl of Olympic proportions. Meet up at Charlie's Sports Bar and Grill (by 6p) for some imbibing or meet up with the team en route. They will be visiting 8 bars total and prepare your happy dance for drink specials and door prizes at each place. Hit up the Volcano online for more info on the Street Team as well as the itinerary.

Sat. 10th & Sun. 11th - Custom Growler and Spring Seasonal CDA Release @ 7 Seas Brewery (Gig Harbor, 12p) If you don't already own one of 7 Seas super awesome growlers then you need to get on it. This years model is an emerald green color and decorated in loving devotion to the almighty hop. Love it so much and am currently talking myself out of buying our 3rd one. Although we don't have a '253' numbered on yet... Bring your 2011 growler on Saturday to get a 2012 of the same number. On Sunday all the left over growlers are up for grabs to anyone. Find more information about this event and pictures of the new growler on the 7 Seas website.

Tuesday 13th - Science Cafe @ Swiss Pub (Tacoma, 6:30p) Drink beer and learn sumptin' at the Science Cafe. A monthly event that pairs beer drinking and knowledge. This month's topic will be: "What's New in Stroke Care: Cool Toys & Cool Treatments" Thanks to recent developments in technology, care for people who have suffered a stroke has advanced to new and exciting frontiers. At the March Tacoma Science Café, join Aaron Heide, M.D., Director of Stroke Services at Auburn Medical Center, to discover the latest in how to prevent, treat, and recover from a stroke. Find out more about March's Science Cafes going on around the South Sound, for those of you not residing in Tacoma.

Wednesday 14th - Beer Tasting @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Tacoma World Beers will be hosting their first beer tasting. For $2 (and photo id) you can enjoy some different styles of beer from Sound Brewing and Port Brewing to start. Hopefully this is the first of many events of this nature, love love love it! You should also check out their new website at TacomaWorldBeer.com, they'll be posting up to the minute tap lists as they blow through those kegs.

Wednesday 14th - Sierra Nevada Brewers Night @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6-9p) You know the drill. Get there early to drink amazing Sierra Nevada beer and win some schwag. Sure to be a full house, as always!

Friday 23rd - Guest Tap Take Over @ Engine House No. 9 (Tacoma) From E-9's Book of the Face page: "The E9 is happy to announce that our friends from Stone Brewing & New Belgian brewing will be taking over our guest taps! As added bonus, the E9 brewers will be tapping up some of their special barrel beers. So far the lineup is looking GREAT! Stone 15th Anniversary, Stone Old Guardian, New Belgian La Folie, Ne Belgian Farmhouse, E9 Love Childe, E9 Bourbon Barrel Saison and so many more." Check on their Facebook page in the coming weeks for the whole lineup as the date gets closer. The Engine House is doing such great things recently, I'm so excited for and about them. That means you should be too.

Tuesday 27th - Ninkasi Pint Night @ Crown Bar (5p (from opening), Tacoma) Crown Bar will have the Spring Seasonal: Spring Reign, Total Domination IPA and the always delicious Oatmeal Stout on tap for your enjoyment. Great prizes and giveaways from the brewery and the fried oysters are always a fave of ours.

Friday 30th - Give Blood Get Beer @ The Swiss & The Rock: Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits (Tacoma, usually lunch time/early afternoon) Stop by the Cascade Regional Blood Services bloodmobile at either of these locations to donate some of your blood. You'll receive a coupon for a free pint of beer that can be redeemed the day following the blood drive. There is one about every month, check out the other times and places!

Saturday 31st
- Cask Beer Festival (Seattle Center Fisher Pavillion, 12-4p & 5:30-9:30p, $35-40) This festival is just full of deliciousness. Join the fun in Seattle where they will be featuring over 70 one-of-a-kind handcrafted cask beers from the state’s most innovative breweries. It's gonna be a good one, check out the site for more details. We had a jolly good time last year, I can't wait for a repeat. And this year we won't have to be jealous of all the people leaving early to attend Hops and Props. Yay!
- Elliott Bay Pizza Anniversary Party @ Elliott Bay Pizza (Mill Creek, not to be confused with Elliott Bay Brewing) I was turned on to this happy little pizzeria and craft beer joint a couple of weeks ago by a friend. After some empirical research I am now completely stoked to attend their anniversary party that said friend forced me to buy tix to. It's already sold out so I'm sad for anyone reading this who doesn't have tickets (but still, yay me!) but if you are ever in the area, definitely stop by for a slice and a pint. Hit them up on Twitter for up to the minute tap list.

April 1st - Parkway Tavern AM-PRO Submission Deadline (Bottles can be dropped off at the Parkway or Beer Essentials) Beer submissions for Parkway Tavern's annual AM-PRO brewing are due on April 1st, no joke dudes. Beers will be judged on April 8th and you can find all the detaily things you need at the Washington Homebrewers Association site.

Reoccurring Events

Randall Wrecker Mondays @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6p) - A new beer (and much more!) will be thrown in the Randall every Monday night for your delight. They even have a punch card!

Beer Tasting Wednesdays @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Hit up your localest of local beer stores every Wednesday for a $2 beer tasting. You can always make your own tasting from the beers they have on tap but check out their Facebook page or sign up for the newsletter to see what special beers ate being served every week.

Cask Thursdays @ Airways Brewing Tap Room (Kent, 4p) - A firkin will be tapped every Thursday at their Tap Room. You can find weekly updates on what cask ales are being served on their website.

Growler Fills @ Wingman Brewery (Tacoma) - On the off chance that you can't find a pint of Wingman brew on draft in the area, you can now swing by the brewery for a growler fill of the good stuff. Their current growler fillin' hours are on Thursdays (2-6p) and Saturdays (12p-5p). Cash only at this time.

Check this post often for updates on events the fall into my knowledge bubble as March marches on!

the pissed liBEERian 

This is my 'pour faster' face from the last Cask Festival.