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I was enjoying a pint at my favorite Ballard brewery when I noticed the advertising flyer for the upcoming Seattle Beer Week. 

I quickly glanced at the participating breweries in my neighborhood, and realized I’d visited almost all of them. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not, but since Beer Week kicks off May 17, let’s go with the former.

Seattle Beer Week launched in 2009 to highlight the city’s growing craft beer scene. Statewide, the approximately 460 craft breweries carry an economic impact of almost $1.8 billion annually. The impact is even larger in Oregon.

The week kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday at my favorite brewery, the relatively new Old Stove Brewing – Gardens in Ballard (in the former Lagunitas space and, before that, Hilliard’s). Old Stove’s new Whereas West Coast IPA is even this year’s official beer of the 15th-annual festival. Beer lovers are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero or villain, as the theme is “old school comic books and superheroes.”

Breweries across the city are holding special events all week, including celebrations of all types of beer (think pilsners, hazys, sours, and more) as well as events including professional wrestling, Christmas in May, a trivia night, and even a beer can derby. There are many more.

The week concludes May 24 at another of my favorite breweries, the Queen Anne Beerhall.

As Winston Churchill once said: “Most people hate the taste of beer to begin with. It is, however, a prejudice.”

Cheers!