<strong>As the days warm up,</strong> the world of beer festivals gets into high gear. Here’s a listing of some noteworthy events…

<strong>Thursday, May 8, 5:30 p.m.</strong>, Anchor Brewing hosts Charles Bamforth, Brewing Sciences Chair, UC Davis, author of a new book:<em> <a href=”http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521849371″>Grape vs. Grain: A Historical, Technological, and Social Comparison of Wine and Beer</a></em>, (Cambridge Pess, $27) Here’s a note about the the book:
<blockquote><a href=”http://www.ibabuzz.com/beer/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/book-grape-vs-grain-charles-bamford.jpg” title=”Grape vs Grain”><img src=”http://www.ibabuzz.com/beer/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/book-grape-vs-grain-charles-bamford.jpg” alt=”Grape vs Grain” align=”left” border=”3″ hspace=”10″ vspace=”10″ /></a>Charles Bamforth is a brewing scientist. One of the best. He’s been bothered for a while with a nagging question: why do many people consider wine to be more sophisticated than beer? Is it really better? Healthier? Why do most fancy restaurants have massive wine lists and a few token beer selections?

Bamforth picks apart the complex social, cultural, and scientific histories of both beverages. He has quite a few suprising insights about the (often highly scientific) production of both beer and wine. He’s not seeking to take wine down a notch, but to elevate beer to its proper place, right next to wine, demonstrating just how healthy and complex a beverage it really is.</blockquote>
Anchor Brewing, 1705 Mariposa St., San Francisco. Open to the public, no charge.

<strong>Saturday, May 10, 7 p.m.</strong> CD Release Party, Ray & The Detonators, <a href=”http://www.the-bistro.com/”>The Bistro</a>, 1001 B. St., Hayward, CA. Not exactly a beer event, but great music and the Bistro’s outstanding beer selection right at hand.

<strong>Sunday, May 11, Conversations on Cheese, Wine & Beer.</strong> Guest Speaker: William Brand (yes, that’s me). Guest Home Brewers Matt Ridge, Ukiah, and Sean Paxton, Sonoma. Craft Brew Bar including beers from Russian River Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Marin Brewing Company, Moylan’s Brewing Company and Rogue Ales. Cheese provided by Sheana Davis, The Epicurean Connection. 3-4 p.m. Conversations, 4-5 p.m. Beer and cheese tasting. Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa St., Sonoma, CA. $20. Reservations: 707-938-4646, ext. 1. All proceeds to the Sonoma Community Center Kitchen Rebuilding Fund. This will be a free-wheeling event, with questions from the audience welcome.

<strong>Tuesday, May 13, 6 p.m. Monk’s Kettle</strong>, 3141 16th St., San Francisco, CA. S<strong>am Adams Beer Dinner</strong> celebrating American Craft Beer Week. Three-course beer dinner with Sam Adams Brewer Grant Wood, $50. Reservations: 415-865-9523. See you there!

<a href=”http://beertown.org/events/SAVOR/index.html” title=”Savor Logo”><img src=”http://www.ibabuzz.com/beer/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/savor-logo.jpg” alt=”Savor Logo” align=”left” border=”3″ hspace=”10″ vspace=”15″ /></a><strong>May 16-17 S<a href=”http://beertown.org/events/SAVOR/index.html”>AVOR:</a></strong><a href=”http://beertown.org/events/SAVOR/index.html”> An American Craft Beer & Food Experience</a>, Washington DC, Andrew Mellon Auditorium. Sponsored by the Brewers Association, the Boulder, CO. craft beer trade group to mark American Craft Beer Week, May 12 -18. <strong>This is a BIG DEAL</strong>. There will be three dinners, featuring 96 craft beers from 48 craft breweries across the country and 35 foods, prepared by Federal City Caterers in tapas-size portions. Julia Herz of the <a href=”http://www.beertown.org”>Brewers Association</a> says pours will be two ounces; the idea is to sample the tapas, sample a beer and go on to the next beer and the next tapa. Kind of like the Great American Beer Fest with food and no medals.

Here’s a partial list of some of the brewers who will be there: Tomme Arthur - Port Brewing Company, Adam Avery - Avery Brewing Company, Peter Bouckaert - New Belgium Brewing Company, Sam Calagione - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Greg Koch - Stone, Jim Koch - Boston Beer Company, Garrett Oliver - The Brooklyn Brewery, Hugh Sisson - Clipper City Brewing Company, Carol Stoudt - Stoudts Brewing Company and Rob Tod - Allagash Brewing Company

Lots of California brewers and their beer will be present, including 21st Amendment (San Francisco), Hoppy Brewing (Sacramento), Port Brewing (San Marcos), , Russian River (Santa Rosa) . Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing (Santa Cruz) , Sierra Nevada (Chico) , Stone (Escondido). There are all kinds of presentations and events besides thje actual dinners. I’m going, it’s one not to miss. If you think you’d like to go, get tickets now. They won’t be sold at the door. <a href=”http://beertown.org/events/SAVOR/index.html”>You can buy them here. </a>$85.

Because of all the brewers in town, there are going to be all kinds of events at local pubs and restaurant. Greg Kitsock writes about them in the <a href=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/25/AR2008032500870.html”>Washington Post.</a>