Beer of the dog

Midtown Cocktail Week is still upon us (through Sunday, August 25, to be exact). If you wake up one morning in a stranger's bed, on your front lawn or right where you'd planned—but with a splitting headache—then it's probably time for some hair-of-the-dog-style remedies. Even if you don't partake in any cocktail drinking whatsoever this week, that's fine, too: SN&R has you covered with a few beer-related events happening this week, so even the beer snobs can stay thirsty.

Davis is currently celebrating a citywide Davis Beer Week, which lasts through Sunday, August 25. One of the highlights: de Vere's Irish Pub and the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame (located in Davis) team up for the Bike & Brew Fest on Saturday, August 24. Happening from 3:30 to 8 p.m. in Central Park (401 C Street in Davis), the festival will have unlimited beer sampling (from places such as de Vere's and Sudwerk Brewing), food trucks and live music. Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door, and $10 for designated drivers. Head to http://davisbeerweek.com/bikes-brewfest for more info.

Just a bit further east, West Sacramento offers ales on rails with the Sacramento Beer Train on Saturday, August 24. A special program of the Sacramento RiverTrain, the Beer Train will serve eight tastings from four Northern California breweries (Auburn Alehouse Brewery, Wildcard Brewing Co., River City Brewing Company and Two River Cider Company). Tickets ($45-$65) for the three-hour train excursion include a souvenir glass, but food and additional drinks will cost extra. Designated-driver tickets are $25. It starts at 6 p.m. at Sacramento RiverTrain, 400 N. Harbor Boulevard in West Sacramento. For more information, call (800) 866-1690, or visit www.sacramentorivertrain.com.

Finally, for its Dog Days of Summer beer class, Total Wine & More will serve up beer that's both summer themed and features the word “dog” in its name. OK, that's kind of limiting, but this store has so many types of beer, it'll be hard to resist just picking up something else after the class. The event happens Thursday, August 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Total Wine & More locations in Sacramento (2121 Arden Way) and Roseville (5791 Five Star Boulevard). It costs $15. For more information, visit www.totalwine.com.