So, as you probably know by now if you enjoy craft beers, it's American Craft Beer Week. There are no doubt plenty of local events going on already, but there is more to ACBW than getting a few drink specials. Some local brew pubs and craft brewers are putting on demonstrations and special tours to help people learn more about brewing and what makes their offerings special. But, even if you can't get out to a local craft brewer there are still some things you can do to take part in the celebration…

1. Arrange a craft beer sampling party. Go out to your local grocery/liquor store and pick up a few different varieties of craft beers. Try to either get a mix/sampler pack of buy individual bottles were available. Get some small plastic cups (or even use some shot glasses if you want) and invite some friends over for a sampling party. Pour a small sample of each beer to everyone at the same time. After sampling each beer, take some time to talk about the flavors and what everyone thinks before moving on to the next beer.
2. Craft Brew Bar Hop. Head out for a night on the town with some pubs and bars you know have craft brews. Spend some time in each bar and be sure to keep it to craft brews tonight. If they happen to have something new, then be adventurous for once and give it a try, you can always get an old favorite on the next hop.
3. Plan a Brewcation. Summer is upon us, and that means it's time to take some time off from work and get away. You can plan a road trip to check out some cities and their breweries or you may want to try a beer themed vacation. For example, Cog Wild in Oregon has a brewery-bike tour that may appeal to some of you out there – get some exercise and some brew bliss.
4. Learn about a Local Craft Brewer. We know times are tough and you might not be able to afford a party or a night out, but you can still discover and support some craft brewers. Head out to Google and search for craft breweries and brew pubs in your area. Check out their back stories and see if they have any beers that are calling out to your with their flavor profile, or maybe just their whacky name. Make it a point to check them out when the economy picks back up – craft beer is good all year long.
5. Learn to brew your own homebrew. For the really adventurous, buy some ingredients and get cooking. Be a brewer and a patriot – you could be the next Sam Adams. Check out some of the links below for supplies and visit a home brewing website or blog like Brew Fanatics for some information on getting started.

And remember, its American Craft Beer Week – so don't wait until the weekend to take part.

Brew Your Own Craft Beer at Home...		or just Get It Shipped to You