This week marks the first Sacramento Beer Week.  Breweries, restaurants and bars throughout the Sacramento region will shine a spotlight on beer.  Sacramento Beer Week will feature more than 200 events including brewer’s dinners, beer and cheese pairings, rare ale tastings, pint nights and brewery showcases.

Sacramento Beer Week seeks to brew up interest in beer generally and in locally brewed craft beer in particular.  The period following the holidays and before the warmer Spring weather is traditionally a slow period for beer sales, and Sacramento Beer Week organizers hope their event will be a shot in the arm for the local economy.

Local brews won’t be the only ones showcased during Sacramento Beer Week.  Many of the scheduled events will feature craft beers from other American breweries or specialty imports with an emphasis on Belgian ales.

The Beer Week concept was born in Philadelphia just two years ago and has since inspired other cities and regions such as San Francisco, San Diego, Cleveland and Baltimore to follow suit.

The Sacramento region’s local beer community has had its struggles in recent years.  Elk Grove Brewery, Beermann’s (in Roseville), and Sacramento Brewing Company have permanently closed their doors.

Brewpubs, restaurants and bars from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Nevada City, Davis and more will host Sacramento Beer Week events February 22-28.  Go to SacramentoBeerWeek.com for more information.