Here’s what you need to know about D.C. Beer Week

If you are still nursing your food hangover after Restaurant Week, it’s time to man up. D.C. Beer Week is here and ready to provide an entirely different kind of hangover.

D.C. Beer Week is keeping the August food-and-drink event momentum going with more than 180 tappings, tastings and signature blowouts sure to please the region’s growing cadre of beer lovers. Here’s a mini-guide:

Highlights in non-local beer: The week celebrates craft beer of all origins, not just local, though local brewers are hosting their share of events. There’s a 30 Beers for 30 Years event at Longview Gallery Tuesday from Sam Adams, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Bell’s Brewery from Michigan, Lagunitas from California, Chicago’s Goose Island and others are doing tap takeovers and special tastings around the city.

For locavores who love beer: Those looking to support the local beer scene also have plenty of options, from the Virginia Brewers’ Bash at Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church Wednesday to the third-annual D.C. Brau Crab Feast at the Quarterdeck in Arlington Monday evening (tonight)— though word has it that event may sell out, so get your tickets sooner rather than later. Capitol Riverfront brewpub Bluejacket will also be unveiling a number of special collaboration beers this week, including the official beer of Snallygaster 2014, the brewpub’s massive October beer festival.

Meet-and-greet: Lots of interesting beer personalities will also be in town from D.C.’s master beer rater Gene Bonaventre and the founders of Funky Buddha Brewery to Sheryl Yuengling, a sixth-generation family member from the Pennsylvania brewery that holds the title of America’s Oldest Brewery.

Drinking games: We’re talking less flip cup and more regular games while drinking beer. Beer Week events offer the options to participate in tournaments for pinball, frisbee beach game sensation Kan Jam, S kee-Ball, trivia and more.

Don’t forget the food: If you want to make sure you have something to nosh on while you sip, some participants have you covered. See “The Ultimate Pig’s Head Feast” at the Partisan featuring roasted pig head with rare New Belgium beers, the lower-brow but still pork-tastic Jerk the Belles event at Big Hunt featuring Jerkface Jerky and 3 Stars Beers, both on Thursday, or the $1 oysters that go along with two separate happy hours at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle.

(Oh and if food’s more your thing, plenty of restaurants extend their Restaurant Week specials further into August, so be sure to check in with any restaurants you missed last week.)

Hot tickets: The only event that’s definitely sold out is Right Proper Brewpub’s “Brewing with Bugs” dinner at the brewpub Thursday — an exploration of the different wild yeasts that can be used to brew beer (Go figure). The signature events require tickets, so check out D.C. Beer Week’s website for ticketing. So far, none of the major events have sold out, though things may be getting close for the 30 for 30 Sam Adams Event and the Crabfest, according to D.C. Beer Week reps.

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