Drink in Sacramento Beer Week

The Sacramento beer scene is richer than ever before—after Prohibition, that is—with more and more exciting beer being produced every year. Of course, there are also way more breweries to keep track of, with each doing its own events for Sacramento Beer Week. One look at the events page can send you into a foamy, FOMO tailspin.

Luckily, a bunch of the annual events are reliably excellent. If you’re not obsessed with tracking down the newest of brews, consider the following:

On Thursday, March 2, the Sacramento Brewers’ Showcase marks the official start of Beer Week, with a $40 ticket getting you unlimited pours from more than 40 local breweries. Get to the California Automobile Museum (2200 Front Street) at 6 p.m. and pace yourself. More details—and the full list of Beer Week events—at http://sacbeerweek.com.

Boneshaker Public House’s (2168 Sunset Boulevard in Rocklin) sixth annual Sour Power fest takes place Saturday, March 4. Get your fill of tart, wild and funky goodness from breweries such as the Bruery, Avery Brewing Co. and Shady Oak Barrel House. More at www.facebook.com/boneshakerpub.

Go to New Helvetia Brewing Co. (1730 Broadway) early on Sunday, March 5, for its popular beer and chocolate pairing flight, a collaboration with Ginger Elizabeth. It’s so, so delicious, and last year’s supply sold out fast. Details at http://newhelvetiabrew.com.

That same day, hop-heads shouldn’t miss Track 7 Brewing Co.’s (826 Professor Lane in Natomas) second annual Brewery Invitational + Competition, an ambitious gathering of West Coast breweries pouring their best specialty IPAs. Participation from San Diego is strong with the likes of Belching Beaver Brewery, Modern Times Beer and Societe Brewing Co. Find $60 tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2771489%20.

And because Beer Week is a whopping 11 days, let’s fast-forward to Saturday, March 11, for the third annual Mikkeller Weekend at Hot City Pizza (5642 J Street). You’ll have two days to try some of the best beers from everyone’s favorite Danish gypsy brewery, which happens to be the Hot City team’s favorite brewery, period. Check out the rest of the pizza shop’s always-killer Beer Week lineup at www.pizzatanning.com.