Top 10 East Valley events to check out during Arizona Beer Week

The second annual Arizona Beer Week, which starts Saturday, is nirvana for Valley beer geeks, seven days of rubbing shoulders with nationally renowned brewers and quaffing normally-hard-to-find ales.

The Arizona Strong Beer Festival is the week’s signature event. It not only kicks off Beer Week, but is considered by many, including me, to be the state’s premier event. (Read my preview)

For casual beer fans, though, the 200-plus other events on tap (pun intended) might seem overwhelming. Where does one start? I’ve got 10 suggestions in the East Valley (in chronological order):

Boulders on Broadway Beer Festival

Can’t make it to the Strong Beer Fest? Boulders on Broadway in Tempe features its own mini-version the following day. For $20, you get 15 beer tastings. Brewers from Oskar Blues, Big Sky, Marble, New Belgium, Great Divide, Left Hand, Lost Coast, Bridgeport, Odell and Sierra Nevada will be on hand. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. More info

Bicycle Brews Cruise

Why not burn off some of those Beer Week calories with a fun bike ride through Chandler? After lunch and a pint at SanTan Brewing, the group will ride to Majerle’s and Uncle Bear’s for pints, then return to downtown for a pint and the Suns-Lakers game at Coach & Willie’s. Just $20 covers food and beer. 1 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. More info

Hot Scotchys

Here’s an event I’m really looking forward to: The Arizona Society of Homebrewers will be making Hot Scotchys – a sort of “beer cocktail” made with malted barley and Scotch – at The Hungry Monk in Chandler. This is believed to be the first time the rare drink has been sold in Arizona. 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Monday. More info

Manless Mondays

One of last year’s most popular events was SanTan Brewing‘s women-only night. This year, the Chandler brewery’s female staffers are bringing in Krista Daily, owner of Wedge & Bottle in Ahwatukee, to talk cheese: six different gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches paired with different beers for just $20. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday. More info 

Beer Team Trivia

Think you know a lot about beer? You can prove it when Flanny’s in south Tempe hosts a beer trivia night. You can compete against teams of brewers from Four Peaks, SanTan, Sonoran, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, Deschutes, Firestone Walker and Bridgeport for prizes. 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. More info

Bell’s Eccentic Cafe

The Hungry Monk will be converted into a mecca of Michigan beer when it puts a whopping 20 of the award-winning Kalamazoo brewer’s beers on tap, including some never before seen in Arizona. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costumes, and there’ll by music, contests and giveaways. 3 p.m. to close Thursday. More info

Locals Only Beer Tasting

Want to learn more about Arizona beers? The Watering Hole at Whole Foods Chandler hosts an evening focused on beers from 14 of the state’s breweries. 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. As a bonus, Firestone Walker’s Dave Walker will show up around 7 with rare kegs of his California brewery’s 15th Anniversary and Velvet Merkin. More info

Cigar, Beer & BBQ Festival

Four Peaks Brewing and Fox Cigar Bar are teaming up for this first-time fest, which will feature 12 beers (including four special ones) from the Tempe brewer at the Gilbert cigar shop. The evening also will include homemade barbecue, live music, raffles and door prizes. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. More info

Brewing Up Hope

OK, technically Papago Brewing is in Scottsdale, but it’s so close to the Tempe border I ‘m annexing it into the East Valley. Papago wraps up Beer Week with this outdoor festival celebrating the camaraderie of the beer industry. Admission is $20, with proceeds going to charity. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. More info

Tempe Pub Crawl

The Great Arizona Beer Festival drums up interest for its March 3 event with a pub crawl from Dave’s Electric Brew Pub to Gordon Biersch Brewery, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar and Robbie Fox’s Public House. Tickets are $10 and include a GAZBF shirt and prize drawings. 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. More info