The Beerhunter’s ears are always pricked to news of local craft beer happenings, and this month, they’re positively tingling. All that excitement in the air is thanks to the first-ever Western Mass Beer Week, a series of events at breweries, bars and restaurants all around the Valley June 11 through 18. Eighteen breweries and more than a dozen eateries have teamed up to celebrate the beer brewed around here.
All told, 52 events are scheduled as of press time. Stay up to date on Facebook, and check westernmassbeerweek.org for more info.
In the meantime, here’s this beer lover’s first stab at a personal Beer Week to-do list. Hope to see you all there, and elsewhere, all week.
Brews & Tunes at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton: Daily tastings, tours, and live music from Lunar Carnival, Eddie Riel and more.
Taproom Tasting at Berkshire Brewing Company in South Deerfield: Open June 13 through 17, 4 to 6 p.m.
Berkshire Craft Beer Festival in Pittsfield: At the Common Park from noon to 5 p.m.
German Brunch: Presented by The Dirty Truth in Northampton, with German beers imported by Shelton Brothers. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bike Path Beer Voyage in Turners Falls: New beer debut at Brick & Feather at 3 p.m., followed by a keg tap at the Five Eyed Fox at 4 p.m.
Amherst Brewing Barrel-Aged Golden Sour Release: Gathering on University Drive. 5 to 10 p.m.
Movie screening Blood, Sweat & Beer: Abandoned Building in Easthampton hosts a showing of a new documentary film about two start-up breweries. 7 p.m.
Franklin County Brewers at The People’s Pint: The Greenfield brewpub offers selections from Element, Stoneman, Honest Weight, and more. 5 to 11 p.m.
Learn to Cook with Beer: Chef Zach Shulman invites us to The Student Prince in Springfield, where he will make dressings, sauces, and dessert using a saison, two pale ales, an IPA, and a tripel. 6 to 9 p.m.
Beer Trivia at Plan B Burger Bar in Springfield: Test your beer knowledge, with local breweries on tap. 9 to 10 p.m.
BLDG8 at Moe’s Tavern: The Northampton brewery’s IPA makes its Berkshire County draft debut at the Lee restaurant. 3 p.m. to midnight.
The Foundry Firkin Faceoff: Five brewers were each tasked with turning a list of wacky ingredients into a quality cask beer. Come taste the results at the Foundry in Northampton. 5 to 10 p.m.
Amherst Brewing / Wormtown Collaboration Release: The debut of a new pale ale, made in Worcester using Valley Malt. 5 to 10 p.m. University Dr., Amherst.
Real Ale Wednesday at Smith’s Billiards in Springfield: Casks and games aplenty. 5 to 9 p.m.
Honest Weight at The Moan and Dove: The new Orange brewery will be tapping a firkin and two pins at the Amherst bar, with additional beer on draft. 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Dirty Truth Presents Lord Hobo Brewing Company: Eastern Mass. brewer Daniel Lanigan comes home to the Dirty Truth in Northampton, which he co-founded, to raise a glass from draft, can, or cask. 7 to 10 p.m.
Firkin at the Brass Cat: Abandoned Building Brewery taps a new cask at the Easthampton bar. 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Cask Night at Iron Duke Brewing: Ludlow brewers offer two special casks, plus food truck eats. 3 to 9 p.m.
Vanished Valley Brewing Tasting: Brand-new Ludlow brewery pours free sample tastings of IPA and stout at Europa, the nearby steakhouse. 4 to 7 p.m.
Patio and Pints: Brew Practitioners in Florence host outdoor pours, with a 7 p.m. set by The Tom Savoy Band. 5 to 10 p.m.
Local Focus Beer Tasting Seminar: Provisions in Northampton hosts tastes of 12 wide-ranging beers, paired with cheese and charcuterie. $35 per ticket, or $30 each for 2-plus tickets. 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Great Falls Harvest Food and Beer Pairing: The Turners Falls restaurant pours tastings of six Element anniversary beers, with Crooked Sticks Popsicles. 5 to 8:30 p.m.
C-LVIN India Pale Ale: One-time limited release collaboration between Brewmaster Jack and Abandoned Building Brewery. Available at Brewmaster’s Tavern in Williamsburg, with music, games, and food. 2 to
The Worthy Craft Beer Showcase: Hosted by Smith’s Billiards in Springfield. Four-hour sampling, featuring Artifact Cider Project, Tree House Brewing Company, White Lion Brewing Company, and many more. Noon to 4 p.m.
The upcoming Franklin County On Tap Beer, Cider and Mead festival — sponsored by The Recorder and Berkshire East Mountain Resort — will have plenty for beer, cider and mead lovers.
The event will take place on Saturday, July 16, from noon to 5 p.m. at Berkshire East Mountain Resort, 66 Thunder Mountain Road in Charlemont.
There will be local brews, food, live music by Shokazoba and Dave Houghton, and so much more.
Tickets are $25 when purchased in advance (purchase your ticket online and you’re guaranteed a gift souvenir glass). Tickets are $30 at the door. Identification is required.
Make your summer afternoon complete by enjoying some of the fun at Berkshire East, including rides on North America’s longest mountain coaster, Zip Line Canopy tours and Thunder Mountain Bike Park 101 packages.
To purchase your tickets online, visit: www.berkshireeast.com/franklin-county-beer-fest
The Beerhunter appears monthly. Contact Hunter Styles at hstyles@valleyadvocate.com.