are a recent phenomenon, primarily in the US, where restaurants, bars, and other institutions in a city or region host a large variety of different beer-themed events over multiple days. As seems appropriate for a “beer week,” the festivities often last longer than 7 days, with 10 days the apparent norm. The stated goal of most beer weeks is to showcase the local beer scene, increase tourism, and introduce beer in new and different ways to both the neophyte and seasoned beer lover alike. These usually include not just traditional beer festivals but also beer dinners, specific food and beer pairing events (such as cheese, chocolate, charcuterie, etc.), and many other innovative events that display beer in new ways. The 2010 New York City Beer Week featured dozens of dinners at many of the city’s best restaurants and even an India pale ale tasting aboard a full-rigged 165-ft clipper ship.

The first typical modern version of a beer week is Philly Beer Week, which debuted in March of 2008. Originally inspired by beer writer Michael Jackson’s events for an earlier “food week” called The Book and the Cook, the original Philly Beer Week spanned around 375 events over 10 days. Now permanently moved to early June, the granddaddy of beer weeks comprised over 900 events in 2010.

In addition to Philadelphia, established beer weeks are held in the San Francisco Bay Area (February), Seattle (May), Ohio (July), New York (September), Baltimore (October), and San Diego (November). There are now nearly 40 beer weeks, taking place in communities such as Alaska, Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Sacramento, and Washington, D. C.