Better than Pliny the Younger

Calm the hell down, you Pliny the Younger-coveting maniacs. If you want some, you'll find some this month. In the meantime, stop calling every bar and restaurant in town and cork it. Because there are so many other just plain better things to drink during the 10-day keg blowout otherwise known as Sacramento Beer Week. Here are two: The second annual Sour Fest at Hot City Pizza (Friday, February 22, through Sunday, February 24; 5642 J Street; from noon to 10 p.m.) will have 16 funky brews on draft and five dozen more in bottles. Hot City's owner says he's been saving up sour brews for years for this throwdown; a special night, indeed. Pangaea Two Brews Cafe's Shelton Brothers night (Wednesday, February 27; 2743 Franklin Boulevard; 5 p.m.) will be like Westvleteren on acid (a good thing). Hit up these two parties—then we'll talk Pliny. www.sacramentobeerweek.com.

Beer: “Trendy the Triple” (triple IPA)
Brewer: Berryessa Brewing Co.
Where: 27260 Highway 128 in Winters, (530) 795-3526, www.berryessabrewingco.com

Beer: Humulus Lager
Brewer: The Bruery
Where: Samuel Horne's Tavern, 719 Sutter Street in Folsom; (916) 293-8207; www.facebook.com/samuelhornestavern

Beer: I Beat U
Brewer: Mikkeller
Where: LowBrau, 1050 20th Street; (916) 706-2636; www.lowbrausacramento.com