Sacramento Beer Week finished its last pour Sunday of what turned out to be a very successful plethora of craft brew events. As a beer connoisseur myself, I was beyond excited to check out some rare beers that would normally not be available in the Sacramento area. The biggest event of the week, for me, came on Saturday at CalExpo's Capital Beerfest.
Craft beer: "Beer made in a small, independent, and traditional form" - Brewers Association
The Capital Brewfest of 2013 proved how drinking can be done responsibly and in good taste. Craft beer is known to bring communities together through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism, and sponsorship events. The day was a complete success. As the 3-hour event began to tap out, happy attendees piled into buses and taxis to find a safe way home.
If you are going to attend a craft beer tasting event, take my advice:
1. Eat before you go.
There is always food at beer tasting events. Certain foods compliment particular varieties of beer, and all serve as a necessity for soaking up the alcohol. Sometimes vendors will provide tasters with their own homemade food, but don't count on it.
2. Drink, drink, drink... water!
There is no limit to how strong a craft beer can be. It is crucial to drink water throughout the event to balance out the beer.
3. Assume every 2 pours is one beer.
A "pour" is the amount of beer the brewers pour into your glass. They almost always come in small portions, which can be extremely deceiving. It can seem like you're not drinking very much beer, but you are drinking a high percentage of alcohol. Don't let the small cups deceive you!
4. Don't get too excited (my biggest setback).
Beer tasting events can be exciting, social events. It's a chance to talk with the people that brought the beer to your glass. Much like a farmers market, you can engage in meaningful conversations about the product you're consuming. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the possible tasty beers you are going to drink, and you may even be worried that they'll tap out before you can drink them, but if you want to last the whole day, take it slow.
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