The Reinheitsgebot, or the “German Beer Purity Law,” was created in Germany nearly 500 years ago. It simply states that beer was to only be made with water, barley and hops. While this law was eventually repealed (though not for hundreds of years, mind you), it reminds us how seriously people take the quality of their beer, a trait that holds as true for Germans as it does Sacramentans, which brings us to the 2011 Sacramento Beer Week.

Running from Feb. 24 to March 6 and boasting over 200 events all over the Sacramento area, Sacramento Beer Week is a collaborative celebration of our area’s rich brewing history. Beer Week Executive Director Dan Scott said Sacramentans are ready for this to happen.

“It’s not only targeted at connoisseurs who know what they like and are seeking specific things, but people who are curious,” he said. “People who enjoy beer know that there is more out there that they haven’t had, and we’re giving them the opportunity to go out there and try it.”

People will be able to enjoy everything from pale ales to stouts and porters, and participate in events such as the Hopheads Scavenger Hunt and the Capital Beerfest at Cal Expo. One of the highlighted events will be the Sacramento Brewers Showcase taking place at the Crocker Art Museum on Feb. 24.

For $20 you can indulge in catering by the culinary specialists from Mulvaney’s B&L, who will be providing small plates paired with different beers for maximum enjoyment. The beers will come from every local brewery, including two brand new flavors made especially for Beer Week.

According to sacramentobeerweek.com, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company will be introducing “Highway 16,” a low-alcohol volume (4 percent) pale ale that provides the drinker with a fresh taste of citrus and fresh-pressed flowers. Lagunitas will be presenting “Sac ParaDime,” created when a group of locals in the restaurant business were invited to make a beer for fun. Through sampling many different ingredients and choosing their favorites, they forged an aggressively hopped dark ale made with barley, wheat and rye. Though none are quite sure what the beer will taste like, it’s all just part of the adventure.

Another event will be the cask beer tasting at Rubicon Brewing Company on March 3. Owner Glynn Phillips is especially looking forward to this event.

“The cask beer we’re bringing in from 10 different breweries are all just some of my favorite beers,” Phillips said. “I wish I could take the day off and drink some of those beers. People in the industry refer to cask beer as real beer because it’s fermented in a more old-school way and in a way that all the true flavors of the beers come out.”

Rubicon is just one of many Midtown bars participating in this year’s events. Others include de Vere’s Irish Pub, Centro Cocina Mexicana, Blue Cue, Monkey Bar, Harlow’s, Aura, Ink and The Momo Lounge. Some of these bars’ events range from Monkey Bar’s “Old School Happy Hour,” which offers beers that have stood the test of time at $1 each, to de Vere’s “Cider Brunch”, featuring Crispin Cider and a complimentary logo glass to take home.

With over 200 events to go to in the Greater Sacramento area, pint nights to try, designated drivers to secure and experiences that can change the way you think about beer. Scott looks back to last year’s success and shares his most common response after 2010’s Beer Week concluded.

“People told me I’ve never been to this bar before and now I love it; I’ve never tried this style of beer before and now I love it,” he said. “It shows that not only is Sacramento ready for events like this, but that the work the local businesses are putting into it is working.”

Matt Rascher is a writer for the Midtown Business Association.