Don’t miss these 5 NYC Beer Week 2016 events

NYC Beer Week is back beginning Feb. 19, and with almost 400 events going on at 250 venues around the city there’s more to do and drink than is possible (or advisable). From traditional beer pairings like trivia and dinner parties to 101 and master classes, if you want to know something about beer, somebody will be happy to teach you, usually by putting a drink in your hand.

Fried Chicken & Donuts Beer Week Brunch
Feb. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Redhead, 349 E. 13th St.

Other Half Brewing takes over the taps for an indulgent brunch of fried chicken paired with Underwest Donuts’ wacky confections.

Brewpiphany Revelation
Feb. 23, 7-10 p.m.
KelSo Beer Company Tap Room, 529 Waverly Ave., Brooklyn

The culmination of a project that started on the day of the Epiphany (Jan. 6), KelSo gave about 50 homebrewers free wort (the liquid from mashed malt that will become beer) to ferment and create in their own styles, which will all be tapped and tasted alongside KelSo’s own brew.

Beer Week Cask Fest and Awards Gala
Feb. 27, 1-4 p.m., 6-9 p.m.
Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St.
$69-$85

Beer Week’s official closer gathers together 150 cask beers from around the state for unlimited tastings and chats with the brewers, paired with free light bites, then the vote to decide the best of the fest, with people’s choice awards for beer, bartender, event, bar and brewery. Get an extra hour of tasting with VIP admission.

Sensory Evaluation for Beer Lovers
Feb. 28, 2-4 p.m.
The Wine Lab, 1000 Dean St. Suite 254, Brooklyn
$75

Just because there’s no fancy French certification for beer sommeliers doesn’t mean the brews aren’t plenty complex enough to merit studying. This class will fine-tune your nose and tastebuds through experiments that teach how to pick out the positive — and negative — tasting notes in beer.

Summer in Winter Party
Feb. 28, 3-11 p.m.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St.
$10

We didn’t get much of a winter, but if you’re over it anyway, then Brooklyn Brewery is throwing a beach-themed bash with live music, dancing, giveaways, surfing lessons from Surfset NYC and, remembering that this is Beer Week, sneak tastings of its American Ale and Bel Air, which won’t be out until spring. The ticket price includes the first beer, and luau attire is encouraged.