Beer lovers, rejoice — Alaska Beer Week is back, and in addition to the Great Alaska Beer & Barleywine Festival, there are plenty of events around town to tickle your palate. You can meet the brewers, paint your own growler, try some unusual beer and food pairings or take a blind taste test. Whether you're a connoisseur or your tastes are simple, there's no better time to find your new favorite brew.
Thursday, Jan. 14
Williwaw Social's Beer Week kick-off party — The first 200 guests at this event will get a Beer Week goblet, two 8 oz. beer tickets, plus other goodies with their $25 ticket. (After 200, it's still everything but the glass, so come early.) Beer Week toast and photos at 7:30 p.m. Music by Superfrequency brings the funk after the toast. 7 p.m. at 609 F St. (etix.com, 868-2000)
Grain vs. Grape Beer Dinner at Fat Ptarmigan — A five-course dinner by Chef Guy will pit beer against wine in a challenge to answer an age-old question of which pairs better. Beers from Alaskan Brewing Co. will go up against wines from Chateau Ste Michelle Wine Estates. Dinner is $75 per person and seating is limited. 8 p.m. at 441 W. Fifth Ave. Call for reservations. (777-7710)
Friday, Jan. 15
Barley Wine Blast-off at Midnight Sun Brewing — Enjoy bottle pours that showcase Midnight Sun's brewing and oak-aging "chops" with barley wine: 3000 Belgian-style Barley Wine, Arctic Devil Barley Wine (2010-13) and Termination Dust 2014 plus draft Bore Tide Wheat Wine, Arctic Devil 2015 and Termination Dust 2015. 5 p.m. at 8111 Dimond Hook Drive.
Beer Dinner at PubHouse — There will be five courses paired with five Bearpaw River Brewing Co. beers. $49 per person plus gratuity. Only 45 tickets available at the PubHouse or at eventbrite.com. 6 p.m. at 1020 W. 12th Ave.
Sunday, Jan. 17
Beer Week Bonfire and Beer Garden at Jack Sprat — Jack Sprat will host an eclectic lineup of Midnight Sun brews: Snowshoe White Belgian Wit Beer, Hibernator Smoked Double Bock, Sloth Belgian Imperial Stout, Fresh Pow Pils, Pleasure Town IPA and Termination Dust Belgian Barley Wine. Entertainment will include "winter games" plus live music. 4 p.m. at 165 Olympic Mountain Loop, Girdwood.
Beer Dinner at Peter's Sushi Spot — Enjoy five courses of Asian fusion cuisine paired with Midnight Sun beers at Peter's Sushi Spot. This will be a fresh new option for AK Beer Week geeks: sushi and craft beer pairings. $65 per person.
6 p.m. at 3020 Minnesota Drive. Call or go online for reservations. (562-5187, peterssushispot.com)
Monday, Jan. 18
Make Your Own Growler Night — Palette Art Studio will guide participants through the process of decorating their own growler. Get your reservation in now through Palette at palettepopupart.com. Limited space available. $55.
6-8 p.m. at Midnight Sun Brewing Company, 8111 Dimond Hook Drive.
Silver Gulch Beer and Pizza Pairings at Uncle Joe's — Downtown on Monday night? Swing by Uncle Joe's for a pizza and beer pairing. They'll pair five hand-crafted, specialty pizzas with five Silver Gulch Brewing Company beers for your enjoyment. $25. 6:30 p.m. at 428 G St.
Tuesday, Jan. 19
Samuel Smith Tribute at Williwaw Social — Head to Williwaw to celebrate Samuel Smith beer coming to America in 1978. This historic milestone is credited with helping to launch the American craft beer revolution. To celebrate, nine local breweries are participating in this event by brewing a tribute beer influenced by a Samuel Smith beer style. Williwaw will have all of these beers on tap for the event, as well as representatives from Samuel Smith and plenty of their beer alongside the local tributes. 6 p.m. at 609 F St. Free admission.
Beer Dinner at South Restaurant — Celebrate beer week in the back room at South with Chef Jake from Spenard Roadhouse and Darcy, the beer ambassador from Midnight Sun Brewing Co. These two serious beer lovers put their heads together and dreamed up some perfect pairings of food and Belgian-style beers. $75. 6 p.m. at 11124 Old Seward Highway. Very limited seating. Call for reservations. (770-9200)
Meet the brewers at Brown Bag — Meet Alaska brewers — including folks from Kassik's, Baranof Island Brewing, Glacier Brewhouse, Denali Brewing and 49th State — at Brown Bag Sandwich Co.'s new location downtown. 6:30 p.m. at 535 Third Ave. (277-0202)
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Beer Meets Records: Vinyl Night at Resolution Brewing — Bring your records or play some of the brewery's while enjoying a cold one. Vinyl nights are every Wednesday. This week, brewery staffers want to honor the memory of David Bowie. If you've got records they can borrow, great. Even better, bring them to this event. 5-8 p.m., Resolution Brewing Company, 3024 Mountain View Drive. (facebook.com/ResolutionBrewingCo)
Blind Beer Tasting — Join Midnight Sun Brewing Co. for a special blind taste test in Muse restaurant. Tapas accompany the beer flights. Flavors revealed after tastings. No peeking! Ages 21 and older. Flights are $20. 5 to 7 p.m. (anchoragemuseum.org, 929?9210)
Kenai River Brewing Beer Dinner at Simon and Seafort's — Dig into a four-course beer dinner featuring Kenai River Brewing beers in the banquet room. 6 p.m. at 420 L St. Seating is limited. $55. Call for reservations. (274-3502)
Belgian Beer Dinner at Yes Bistro — The restaurant will present a five-course beer dinner showcasing five unique Belgian beers. Featured guest presenter is Sarah Brezina from Global Beer Network. Call for reservations. (258-3199)
Beer Dinner at Kinley's Restaurant — Kinley's will host a multicourse beer dinner featuring Denali Brewing Co. beers. $75 per person. 6 p.m. at 3230 Seward Highway. Call for reservations. (644-8953)
Beer Dinner at Sub Zero Micro Lounge — The mother of all Alaska beer dinners: Humpy's presents its annual spread at Sub Zero. $100 per person. 6 p.m. at 612 F St. This event sold out already, so if you scored a ticket, count yourself lucky. (akbeerweek.com)
Unibroue Beer & Food Pairings at Grape Tap — Grape Tap will host a Unibroue Beer Tasting with food pairings created with recipes from the Unibroue cookbook. $40 per person. 6 p.m. at 322 N. Boundary St. in Wasilla. Call for reservations. (907-376-8466)
Thursday, Jan. 21
I'll Have Another at Cafe Amsterdam — Try all five versions of this year's "I'll Have Another" collaborative brew and meet the brewers at Cafe Amsterdam. This year's recipe is an Imperial Hoppy Lager, which was designed during Haines Brew Fest in May 2015 and then brewed individually by four Alaska brewers: Denali Brewing Co., Haines Brewing Co., Kenai River Brewing Co. and Midnight Sun Brewing Co. 3 p.m. at 530 E. Benson Blvd.
Brewers Karaoke at Mad Myrna's — Mad Myrna's welcomes brewers and craft beer-lovin' folks to hit the stage and get some unwind time. This has become an annual tradition. Craft brews available on draft and in bottles and cans. 9 p.m. at 530 E. Fifth Ave. Free admission.
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 22-23
Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival — Aurora Productions presents the 22nd Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival with more than 200 craft beers at the Egan Center. Sessions 1 and 3 are set for 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday at the Egan Center. Admission to either is $45 plus fees. Session 2, aka the Connoisseur Session, will be held 2-5 p.m. Saturday and proceeds benefit the Alaska Brewers Guild. $55 plus fees. Purchase tickets online. (auroraproductions.net)
Beer for Breakfast — Anchorage Brewing Co. guest chef Heather Cuedek and Tap Root's Delicious Dave will serve a brunch pairing beer and barley wine with creative food. Tickets are $55. 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23. (taprootalaska.net, 345-0282)