Here’s how to tap into the best events of Milwaukee Beer Week
Get ready for pint glass overflow. Milwaukee Beer Week launches on April 14.
The annual week celebrating the beverage that made Milwaukee famous was launched in 2009 to highlight craft beers in the Beechwood Sales & Service distributor portfolio by pairing them with special events.
Many of the events during Beer Week have free admission; some require tickets.
For details and prices, check out milwaukeebeerweek.com. Here are seven you shouldn’t miss: April 14: Milwaukee Flight Night from 2 to 5 p.m. at Sugar Maple, 441 E. Lincoln Ave.
Why you should attend: You go to a taproom and that’s the beer you get. Milwaukee Flight Night is a chance to try one hoppy, one malt forward and one barrel-aged brew from three local breweries — Third Space Brewing, Good City Brewing and Milwaukee Brewing Co.
April 17: Third Space Dinner at Wy’east Pizza from 4 to 10 p.m., 5601 W. Vliet St.
Why you should attend: Third Space brews are great. Wy’east pizza is great. Pairing them is genius. Wy’east uses spent grain from the brewery for focaccia and Third Space beer in the dips for the Laugenbretzl (pretzel) and tappings of Third Space beers including Nexus of The Universe.
April 17: Mounties vs. Demons starting at 4 p.m. at Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield
Why you should attend: It’s a chance to see our brewery neighbors duke it out. Michigan’s Founders Brewing Co. faces off against Minnesota’s Surly Brewing, and beer drinkers reap the benefits of two powerhouse breweries trying to outdo each other.
April 19: Karaoke Throwdown from 9 to 11 p.m. at Fixture Pizza and Pub, 623 S. 2nd St.
Why you should attend: Brewery representatives, beer salespeople, beer lovers and more try to do their best with a microphone in one hand and a brew in the other. Also, there is hardly a better combination than beer and pizza.
April 20: The Hemperor Release Party, 4:20 to 10 p.m. at Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield
Why you should attend: This is the non-barrel aged beer you can expect everyone to be talking about — even non-beer people. New Belgium Brewing wanted to re-create hemp terpene flavors in a beer and promises that dank taste, even though The Hemperor IPA does not contain THC. The Hemperor promises to be a potent reminder of every college dorm room ever.
April 21: The Wreckoning 4 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Vanguard, 2659 S, Kinnickinnic Ave.
Why you should attend: Vanguard is always fun, but the level motors to 12 for The Wreckoning. Surly’s Darkness (2016 and 2017) and Barrel-aged Darkness (2016 and 2017) take front and center. Vanguard has several other beers on tap as well.
April 21: Happy Hour with The Bruery from noon to 3 p.m. at The Rumpus Room, 1030 N. Water St.
Why you should attend: California’s The Bruery and Bruery Terreaux make White Chocolate, Mash & Coconut, Tart of Darkness and So Happens It’s Tuesday available by the glass.