‘Alaska Beer Week’ begins Friday in the Valley

MAT-SU — Beer lovers will be pleased to learn that a few of the events planned as part of Alaska Beer Week this year are scheduled at Valley venues.

The fun begins in the Valley Friday in advance of the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival Jan. 16 and 17 in Anchorage.

Here’s a partial list of events (a full list of events is available online at akbeerweek.com):

• Stop in for a flight of fresh Denali Brewing beer, dinner and perhaps spend the night at Sheep Creek Lodge tonight before heading to Talkeetna for Ice Curling and Beer on Saturday. The lodge is located at Mile 88, Parks Highway.

• Alaska Beer Week Kick-Off Party is at 6 p.m., tonight at the Crossbar Restaurant, 2850 C St., Anchorage. Arkose Brewery of Palmer will be one of several breweries pouring their beers. Tickets are $10 at the door for tasting glass and four beer sample tickets. For more information, contact 907-569-2222.

• Beer Meets Canvas is at 2 p.m., Jan. 10 at Arkose Brewery, 650 E. Steel Loop, Palmer. Sip. Relax. Create. Kick off Alaska Beer Week with a creative bang. $30 participation fee includes one pint and all art supplies. No experience required. Must be 21 years or older. For more information, or to make reservations, call 746-2337.

• Ice Curling and Craft Beer at noon, Jan. 10 at Denali Brewpub, 13605 E. Main Street, Talkeetna.

• First Tap is at 4 p.m., Jan. 10 at West Rib Pub & Grille, 100 E. Main St., Talkeetna. Celebrate the beginning of a beautiful relationship as Denali Brewing taps its first keg at West Rib Pub.

• “Meet the Brewer” at 6 p.m., Jan. 13 at Locals Pub and Pizzeria, 3100 E. Parks Highway, Wasilla. Meet Arkose Brewery’s owner and head brewer, Stephen Gerteisen. Chat about craft beer and brewing over complimentary Arkose beer samples and appetizers.

• Pint Night at Eagle River and Palmer Alehouses begins at 4 p.m., Jan. 14 at the Palmer and Eagle River Alehouses. The Palmer Ale House is located at 320 E. Dahlia Ave., and the Eagle River Ale House is at 11901 Old Glenn Highway. Buy a pint of Lagunitas beer and keep the glassware.

• Kinley’s Restaurant proudly hosts a six-course “Contrast and Compare” Beer Dinner at 6 pm., Jan. 14, 3230 Seward Highway, Anchorage. Each course will have two beers to contrast and compare. Tickets are $80 per person. For tickets and reservations, call 907-644-8953.

• Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival begins at 6 p.m., Jan. 16 and continues from 2 to 6 p.m., Jan. 17 at the Egan Center, West 5th Ave., Anchorage. Aurora Productions’ annual event features more than 200 craft beers in one venue. Tickets are available online at auroraproductions.net/beer-barley.html