Beer calendar: American Craft Beer Week edition

Jonathan Shikes

Ska Brewing's malted goodness.

There are a huge number of events going on this year in the Denver/Boulder area -- not to mention the rest of the state -- so not all of them are included below. I've mainly hit some of the highlights, but I'll continue to update the list as I hear of others.

Before the week starts, though, don't miss a couple of pre-ACBW activities during the next few days. Cheers!

Jonathan Shikes

Oskar Blues rolls into American Craft Beer Week.

Upslope Brewing in Boulder hosts a grand reopening party with the band Acorn Project, after being closed for a month while it renovated its tap room, more than tripling its size. The brewery has also expanded its tap room hours; it's now open Tuesday through Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. The remodel includes a custom concrete bar, five new tables, 24 more stools, two dartboards, two more draft lines, and an authentic beer engine.

Friday, May 13

Don't be bitter. Dry Dock Brewing's firkin Friday is back with a cask of Hop-eration: Geronimo -- a big IPA dry-hopped with Centennial hops; doors open at 3 p.m.

Saturday, May 14

Kyle Hollingsworth is known for his music. But the keyboardist for the String Cheese Incident is also a big-time home brewer and a regular at several Boulder-area brewpubs, where he's been known to perform, hang out, or wander into the back where the brewers are doing their thing. Today, Boulder Beer will release Hoopla, a dry-hopped pale ale that's brewed in conjunction with Hollingsworth. The party starts at 3 p.m. at the Boulder Beer Brewery & Pub, 2880 Wilderness Place in Boulder, when beer and music fans can try the beer and then meet Hollingsworth. There will also be party games and contests.

Sunday, May 15

American Craft Beer Week doesn't officially start until Monday, but Hops & Pie, 3920 Tennyson Street, will celebrate a day early with its monthly Littlest Big Beer Fest. This edition features two breweries -- New York State's Ommegang and Michigan's Jolly Pumpkin -- that specialize in Belgian-style beers. On tap: Ommegong's Witte, Rare Vos and Gnomegong, along with Jolly Pumpkin's E.S. Bam. There will also be three Jolly Pumpkin beers in bomber bottles. The fest runs from 2 to 6 p.m.; the beers are priced singularly, but flights are available.

The Denver Beer Co, 1695 Platte Street, which plans to open this summer, will host a neighborhood "Hop Swap" today, handing out American Cascade hop plants to Denver residents who want to grow them in their back yards. When the plants mature in the fall, Denver Beer Co's owners want these helpful farmers to bring the hops back so they can be used in pale ale that is hyper local. The Swap takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. The plants (there are 100 of them) can be reserved in advance www.facebook.com/DenverBeerCompany.