Beer Week Breakdown: Editor’s Picks

Columbus Craft Beer Week kicks off May 12 and with almost 300 events taking place across nine days, many people are understandably overwhelmed by all that’s tappening (geddit). I’ve had a lot of people ask what I think the best events are, so I’ve scoured the list to share my top picks for each day of Columbus Craft Beer Week 2017. Check out my favorite events below as well as our other Beer Week Breakdowns, and be sure to browse the full list of Beer Week events online and look for the official Beer Week programs (pictured above) at bars and breweries around town.

Click to jump to date:

Friday, May 12
Saturday, May 13
Sunday, May 14
Monday, May 15
Tuesday, May 16
Wednesday, May 17
Thursday, May 18
Friday, May 19
Saturday, May 20

Columbus Ale Trail Volume 3 Kickoff Party
Smokehouse Brewing, 4pm-6pm
This will be the first chance to preview the new rewards for Volume 3 of the Columbus Ale Trail and get your first stamp at Smokehouse on a fine Firkin Friday.

Columbus Craft Beer Week Kickoff Party
Market District Grandview Yard, 6pm-10pm
This is THE official kickoff for Columbus Craft Beer Week, an event which has drawn hundreds of brewers and brew fans out in year’s past. More than 20 local beers will be featured on tap alongside live music and snacks.

2nd Annual Infusapalooza
The Daily Growler Upper Arlington, 4p-12am
The Daily Growler is taking over their taps with more than 20 specially infused brews, mostly from Ohio breweries, plus the Tortilla Street Food truck will be serving on-site.

Locally Crafted
Easton Town Square, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Celebrate Local is partnering with Easton to showcase a wide range of Ohio beer brands alongside Ohio-made food and accessories that all beer-lovers will enjoy. ($8)

Science on Tap
COSI, 6m-10pm
Sample local beer and spirits and talk to experts from the breweries and distilleries to build your knowledge of brewing and distilling. Take time to cleanse your palate while you explore COSI’s 300 hands-on activities. ($30)

Bike the Breweries
North High Brewing / Various Breweries, 8:30am-2:30pm
Pedal your bike through beautiful downtown Columbus and stop at local breweries. 6 miles, 12 breweries and a lot of great beer. ($50)

Beer + Donuts
Platform Beer Co, 9am-11am
The Columbus Craft Beer Alliance is bringing the latest installment of their educational (and delicious) Beer and Donuts series to Beer Week. ($20)

Canis Mexicanus Bottle Release
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, 10am-11pm
Wolf’s Ridge is busting out bottles of their spiced imperial stout Canis Mexicanus as well as a barrel-aged Belgian tripel, Tripel Whiskey, and Cinnamon Toast Brunch. Even if you don’t want to buy a bottle, the taps are always full of fun infusions and special releases ob WRB bottle release days.

14th Annual Mini Real Ale Fest
Smokehouse Brewing, 12pm-3pm
Real beer served here. This annual fest features exclusively cask ale, or “real” ale, from over a dozen Ohio breweries. ($25)

Double IPA Blind Tasting
Crafted Drafts, 2pm-3:30pm
Hey hop heads, think your taste buds are up to the challenge? Crafted Drafts is hosting a blind double IPA tasting. ($7)

Tiger Party 2: Cosplay vs. Furries
Actual Brewing, 7pm-12am
I have no goddamn idea what is in store for this event — which also acts as Actual Brewing’s four year anniversary party — but aren’t you, like, dying to find out?

Beer School: Sensory Class
Lineage Brewing, 9:30am-11am
Have you ever had a beer that tasted a little off? In this class you’ll sample real flawed beer (yum?) to learn about beer off-flavors and their typical causes. ($25)

1803 Bacon + Por’Ketta Beer Week Brunch
Pins Mechanical Co, 11:30am-2pm
1803 Bacon and Por’Ketta have teamed up to craft a killer four course brunch menu with beer pairings from Pigskin Brewing and Platform Beer Co. ($40)

Moms, Bikes and Beer
The Ohio Taproom, 2pm-6pm
Don’t forget about Mother’s Day! The Ohio Taproom is hosting a fun Sunday of appreciation for Moms, the power of Pelotonia, and the beer of Homestead Beer Co! Enjoy special beers, special food and some fun(d)-raising for Pelotonia.

East Meets West – Sushi, Sake, Craft Beer Soirée
The Daily Growler Upper Arlington, 4pm-8pm
Alongside a sushi bar and sake bombs, TDG is tapping East to West IPA, a collaboration IPA between Ballast Point Brewing and COEDO Brewery from Japan brewed with Sake rice, plus more beers from Ballast Point and Sapporo.

Fundraiser for Hoffman’s Farm
Brewcadia, 8:30am-2:30pm
Several breweries are teaming up to raise money for Hoffman’s Farm, a local farm which was damaged by fire earlier this year. (Hoffman’s has a close relationship with local breweries as many of them donate their spent grain to the farm.) $20 donation at the door will get you a pint plus complimentary food and access to a silent auction featuring unique and beer-centric items.

Wolf Pack Kick-Off Party
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, 8:30am-2:30pm
Wolf’s Ridge is launching their new mug club small — only 100 members can join for the first year, with perks ranging from draft discount specials to private parties. At this kickoff party, interested guests can chat more with staff about specific details and sign up.

Floyds for a Cause
Local Cantina Grandview, 12pm-12am
Sip on ten taps from 3 Floyds with a portion of the proceeds donated to Pets Without Parents.

Beer School with Madtree Brewing
Whole Foods Market Upper Arlington, 6pm-7:30pm
Join Madtree Brewing for Beer School and a tap takeover at The Social bar inside Whole Foods. ($5)

Liquid-ation Party
Seventh Son Brewing, 3:30pm-12am
Seventh Son is releasing bottles of their new Jack in the Green Brett IPA as well as selling off extremely limited quantities of vintage Seventh Son bottles. Every bottle must go!

Beer and Ice Cream Pairing featuring Jeni’s
Land-Grant Brewing Company, 3:30pm-10:00pm
Land-Grant and Jeni’s have teamed up to take you on a beer and ice cream filled journey. Follow along with a printed tasting guide as you sample five Land-Grant beers and five scoops of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. ($20)

Ride the Elevator
Elevator 13th Floor Taproom, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Hop on your bike and “Ride the Elevator” from Goodale Park to Elevator’s 13th Floor Taproom. This is the 8th year of this fun fundraiser for Yay Bikes! and Franklinton Cycle Works.

JAFB Wooster Brewery Showcase
Bob’s Bar, 6pm-11pm
JAFB — that’s “Just Another Fucking Brewery” — is recognized by many as one of the top breweries in the state, but their beer rarely makes it from Wooster to Columbus. Don’t miss this special chance to try their brews in Central Ohio.

Collaboration Night with Bacca Coffee
Kindred Beers, 4pm-7pm
Kindred’s former sales rep has founded a new small batch coffee roaster called Bacca Coffee. The two are teaming up to feature three different beers infused with fresh roasted beans.

The Science of Pairings
101 Beer Kitchen Gahanna, 8:30am-2:30pm
Take a deep dive into the science of food and beer pairings! Chef Julian and the Rhinegeist Brewery team will be pairing courses and guiding guests through the brewing process and science behind why certain pairings just taste so damn good! ($50)

The Big Brew & View Festival
Drexel Theatre, 7pm-10pm
Be the first to see the craft beer documentary series, “Beer Fix”. The event will include the premier episode which features Elevator Brewing Company along with highlights from the rest of the upcoming season and a panel discussion with the filmmakers. ($5)

Blues Night with Oskar Blues
Woodlands Tavern, 5pm-9pm
Drink some (Oskar) blues from the tap takeover while listening to the blues with a free show from The Blue Cats.

Nina West’s Some Like it Hopped
Seventh Son Brewing, 8pm-10pm
Catch a performance with Columbus’ favorite drag queen Nina West! Suggested $10 donation at the door with proceeds benefitting Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

Rhinegeist Brewery Boomerang Bus Tour
The Daily Growler Powell, 11am-9pm
If you want to get out of Columbus during Columbus Beer Week, hop on the best to head to Rhinegiest in Cincinnati for the day, followed by a party in Powell at TDG. ($53.50)

Ohio Tap Takeover
DogTap Columbus, 5pm-9pm
If you haven’t made it down to BrewDog’s DogTap Columbus in Canal Winchester yet, here’s your excuse: the Scots are taking over their taps with Ohio beer plus featuring food specials from the Punk kitchen.

Craft Beer Cocktails
The Bottle Shop, 6pm-12am
The Bottle Shop is mixing up a special selection of cocktails using a variety of Seventh Son brews.

“Chocolate and Cheese” Beer Pairing
Barrel and Bottle, 4pm-7pm
Chocolate, cheese and beer are my three favorite food groups. This event will feature four chocolates from Coco Cat Bakery & Chocolates, four cheeses from Black Radish Creamery, and four Seventh Son brews to pair with. ($15)

Pintwood Derby Featuring Great Lakes Brewing Company
Pins Mechanical Co, 4pm-7p=pm
Muster up those building skills and get ready for the ultimate Pintwood Derby, an adults-only version of the Pinewood Derby from Great Lakes Brewing Company and CD102.5. Registration and Car Kits are available for participants at Pins or the Big Room Bar. (Derby rules)

Brew-lesque
Bossy Grrls Pinup Joint, 10pm-12am
Quite possibly Columbus Craft Beer Week’s sexiest event. Enjoy draft specials and exclusives from North High and Rhinegeist while The Sex Kitten Purrlesque blow the lid off the joint with special guest Fever Blister.

April Showers, May Sours
Bodega, 4pm-12am
Various limited sours will splash Bodega’a draft menu from breweries like Jolly Pumpkin, Crooked Stave, Cascade and more. Sour Hour will begin at 4pm!

Rectifier Double IPA Vertical Release
Four String Brewing, 12pm-10pm
Try four different versions of Rectifier Double IPA (including coriander and pineapple; grapefruit zest and habanero peppers; and cask conditioned with blackberries) plus a special firkin infusion.

Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest
Huntington Parl, 5pm-9pm
Cap off beer week with 60 Ohio craft breweries pouring more than 100 Ohio craft beers, plus great music and food at Huntington Park! ($50+)