Starting this weekend, there’ll be a whole lot of pouring, tapping, shaking, muddling and sipping going on around the state.

Arizona Beer and Cocktail Week events not to miss

Arizona Beer Week

What: The week-long celebration of craft beer, boasting more than 150 events around the state, features tasting events, beer-pairing dinners, pub crawls, beer seminars, an introduction to home brewing, and meet-and-greets with industry experts.

When: Saturday, Feb. 18, through Saturday, Feb. 25.

Where: Events will be hosted at independent venues across the state. The official kickoff event is The Arizona Strong Beer Festival at Steele Indian School Park, on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix.

Admission: Independent events during Arizona Beer Week will be uniquely
priced and listed on the event website. Arizona Strong Beer Festival general admission is $35, $40 at the gate. Designated-driver tickets are $10.

Details: 602-341-5724, arizonabeerweek.com.

2/18: Strong Beer Fest at Steele Indian School Park

Arizona Cocktail Week

What: The inaugural Arizona Cocktail Week features seminars, tastings and parties at the Hotel Valley Ho, plus cocktail-pairing dinners and competitions at venues around the Valley.

When: Feb. 19-25.

Where: Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale. Dinners and parties at venues around the Valley.

Admission: $25 for seminars, $25 for Grand Tasting Arena, $200-$599 for packages. Cost for dinners and parties vary by event.

Details: 602-633-5357, arizonacocktailweek.com.

2/19-2/25: Arizona Cocktail Week highlights

2/21: Bartenders battle for title

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Arizona Beer Week returns for its second year, and on Sunday, Feb. 19, Arizona Cocktail Week launches, leading to perhaps the most buzz-worthy eight days the Valley has experienced.

The overlapping celebrations will be filled with tastings, beer- and cocktail-pairing dinners, meet-and-greets with industry experts and exciting competitions. Connoisseurs of spirits and beer will be able to learn about the history of mescal and tequila, pick out the defining factors in an imperial stout vs. an India pale ale and get an introduction to home brewing.

The two events put a spotlight on Arizona’s booming craft-beer industry and its growing craft-cocktail trend. For both event organizers, the hope is that Phoenix soon will catch up with such big-city counterparts as San Francisco, Denver and Los Angeles, and become a destination for those who enjoy such creative beers and cocktails.

“We felt like it was time that the market was at the point that people are really starting to pay attention to craft cocktails,” said Damon Scott, Arizona Cocktail Week organizer. “There are similar events like this around the country, in New Orleans and Manhattan, and with Phoenix being the fifth-largest city, we knew we were ready.”

“We want people to be aware that craft brewing is not going away, and the fact that I still hear people call it a fad blows me away,” said Andy Ingram, president of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild and owner of Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewery.

“Last year, the week was a huge success, and it’s really turned into a monster.”

Beer Week

Arizona Beer Week kicks off with the Strong Beer Festival, featuring nearly 70 breweries from around the country. Brewery representatives have been invited to stay in Arizona for the week and team with bars and restaurants to host events.

The Arizona Beer Week website logs more than 150 events, including the AZBW Bicycle Brews Cruise at San Tan Brewing Co. in Chandler, Flagstaff Ale Trail brewery crawl and a meet-and-greet with Doug Odell of Odell Brewing Co. of Fort Collins, Colo.

“This year, the website is improved so people can find events in their area or search for a certain type of event,” said Jerry Gantt, executive director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. “Last year, there were a lot of happy-hour events with $1 off certain craft beers, but this year things are much more involved. The quality of events is much better this year.”

Cocktail Week

As for Arizona Cocktail Week, main events will take place at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale early in the week. Guests can register for seminars on such topics as Whiskeys of the World and Garden to Glass. At the poolside Grand Tasting Arena, representatives will offer tastes of many of the liquors mentioned in the seminars.

Other events include a five-course cocktail-pairing dinner at Posh in Scottsdale, a punch crawl through Old Town Scottsdale and an Absolut after-party at Scottsdale’s Casablanca Lounge. Guests also can watch many of the best mixologists in the state face off at the Last Slinger Standing cocktail competition Tuesday evening.

“This week is a steppingstone for Phoenix to become the next destination cocktail city,” said cocktail consultant Kim Haasarud who is organizing the seminars. “It’s for people who really want to learn and know what they’re drinking. It raises awareness with both educational and fun cocktail events.”

Interest in craft cocktails has been growing quickly in the Valley, with such destinations as Jade Bar at the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, in Paradise Valley, and Citizen Public House and Mabel’s on Main, in Scottsdale, taking the lead on mixology and the creation of innovative drinks.

Scott hadn’t intended to schedule Cocktail Week during the same week as Beer Week, but he thinks it will turn out to be a positive move.

“I think the events will complement each other,” he said. “In a city of 4 million people, there’s certainly enough room for both events.”

Gantt said that if people learn anything from the two weeks, the observances will have been worth it.

“I think it will be a really good week for alcohol education in general,” he said.

Details: Arizona Beer Week, Saturday-Saturday, Feb. 18-25. 602-341-5724, arizonabeerweek.com. Arizona Cocktail Week, Sunday-Saturday, Feb. 19-25. 602-633-5357, arizonacocktailweek.com.

5 Beer Week events not to miss

Ska Brewing Co.’s St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Cruiser Ride

T.T. Roadhouse is a biker bar, but this pub crawl concerns the pedal-powered kind of conveyance. The crawl takes you from that dive to Papago Brewing Co., then Rogue Bar and the Well Bar.

Details: Noon Sunday, Feb. 19. T.T. Roadhouse, 2915 N. 68th St., Scottsdale. Free. 480-947-8423.

Beer Bacon Dinners

Beckett’s Table hosts the Beer Bacon Dinners series in which guests gather round an 18-person community table for a three-course meal paired with beers. Four words: chocolate-covered bacon s’mores. Enough said.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 5-10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Wednesday, Feb. 22, and Thursday, Feb. 23. Beckett’s Table, 3717 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $30. 602-954-1700, beckettstable.com.

Girls’ Pint Out with Bell’s Brewing

Girls’ Pint Out, an all-female beer-education group from Phoenix, teams with sales manager Veronica Sanders of Bell’s Brewery in Michigan for a talk on the brewery’s history and beers.

Details: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. Boulders on Broadway, 530 W. Broadway Road, Tempe. 480-921-9431, bouldersonbroadway.com.

Brewing Up Hope

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Phoenix’s Little Guy Distributing, Papago Brewing Co. will host an outdoor festival featuring specialty beers from many of your favorite breweries. All proceeds will benefit the M.I.S.S. Foundation, which supports families of missing children.

Details: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. Papago Brewing Co., 7107 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale. $20. 480-425-7439, papagobrewing.com.

Four Peaks Kilt Fest

Hoist a Kilt Lifter or two at Four Peaks Brewery’s Kilt Fest. The outdoor event, which closes out Arizona Beer Week, takes place at CityScape in downtown Phoenix and features live music by the Keltic Cowboys and food trucks. Guests are encouraged to wear kilts or other Scottish attire.

Details: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. CityScape, 1 E. Washington St. $5. 480-303-9967, fourpeaks.com.

5 Cocktail Week eventsnot to miss

Grand Tasting Arena

If there’s a spirit or two that intrigued you at one of the seminars, head out to the Valley Ho’s pool area, where sponsors will offer samples of their products. Or if you just want to try a variety of unique, even rare libations, buy a ticket and you’ll have access all day.

Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, and Tuesday, Feb. 21. Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale. Free for seminar participants, $25 each day for non-participants. 602-633-5357.

Whiskeys of the World

Valley whiskey master David Johnson and bourbon expert Trudy Thomas lead a panel that includes Hollis Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon, Bobby Gleason of Jim Beam and Neyah White from Suntory Japanese Whiskey.

Details: Noon-1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20. Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale, $25. 602-633-5357.

Bulleit Bourbon Kentucky BBQ

Foodies won’t want to miss this. Chef Aaron May creates a four-course barbecue dinner, paired with hand-crafted Bulleit bourbon and rye cocktails. There are only 50 spots, so make reservations soon.

Details: 7:30-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20. Mabel’s on Main, 7018 E. Main St., Scottsdale. $100. 480-889-5580, mabelsonmain.com.

Distrito Cocktail Dinner

Distrito offers an interactive cocktail-pairing dinner, where guests learn how to make three cocktails. The drinks will be paired with modern Mexican fare at the restaurant, run bythe Food Network’s Iron Chef Jose Garces.

Details: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Distrito at the Saguaro, 4000 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. $40. 480-970-4444, jdvhotels.com/dining/distrito.

St. Germain’s Bottoms Up Event

St. Germain Elderflower liqueur and Young’s Market Co. host this all-day party to close out Arizona Cocktail Week, offering a hip space for conference participants to chat about what they learned, ask industry experts questions and enjoy some final quality cocktails. Mention that you’re part of Arizona Cocktail Week and receive a complimentary St. Germain cocktail.

Details: 11 a.m.-midnight. Saturday, Feb. 25. Culinary Dropout, 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. Free for conference participants. 480-970-1700, foxrc.com/culinary_dropout.html.