The 14th annual Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week kicks off on Friday with more than 100 events and specials taking place between January 12th - 21st. It’s a celebration of the craft beverage industry, highlighting the local breweries, wineries, and distilleries with events all around Kalamazoo county.
Highlights of some of the events include:
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Wreath Making & Wine collaboration with 468 Wine and Kalamazoo in Bloom
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Irish Godfather and Love Supreme beer releases, ice cream social, fish fry, and board games events at Brite Eyes Brewing Company
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Cider and vegan taco pairing flights at 600 Kitchen & Bar
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Stuff Cookies and Ice Cream pairing with stouts at Apoptosis Brewing Company along with their 1 year anniversary celebration
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Winter Beer Olympics, Retro Cartoon Brunch, Tricky Dick’s BREWhaha Beach Party, Build-A-Beer Workshop, Beer + Caramel pairing with Schultz’ Sweets, Beer + Jerky Pairing with Stubby’s and more at Presidential Brewing Company
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Disc golf on Bates Alley, beer themed trivia, and a beer and popcorn collaboration with Saugatuck Brewing Company and Pop City Popcorn
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Beer pairing dinner at Kalamazoo Beer Exchange in collaboration with Wax Wings Brewing Company
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Snow Jog, Beer Trivia, and Roll Out the Barrel at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
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Specialty pairing events at LFG Gaming Bar including a beer dinner with Brewery Outré, Fizz and Flights with Rocket Fizz, Hoppin’ and Poppin’ with Pop City Popcorn and more
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Make & Take Limoncello and tasting tours at The Kalamazoo Stillhouse
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Barrel-Aged Beer & Cheesecake pairing, Sweet Water Street Sunday Brunch, and brewery tour at One Well Brewing
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Distillery tours, cocktail classes, and Boheme Belly Dancing at Green Door Distilling
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Kalamazoo Valley Sustainable Brewing has special beer releases with Presidential Brewing Company and One Well Brewing along with their Taps on Tuesdays event at 418 Restaurant
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Centre Street Tap House Bloody Mary Brunch with Gull Lake Distilling, taco pairing with Short’s Brewing, and the Great Saugatuck S’more Down
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Grand Reopening event, tacos and wine pairing, and wine and canvas at Lawton Ridge Winery including cider collaborations with Texas Corners Brewing Company
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Speed Puzzle Competition, Old Nation beer and donut pairing with Peace, Love, & Little Donuts, beer and pop tarts pairing with Universal Snack Patrol and more at Shakespeare’s Pub
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Bourbon flight and steak board pairing at WL Socialhouse
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Beer and Sarkozy Soft Pretzel pairing at Brewery Outré along with a beer and cheese pairing with the Cheese Lady of Kalamazoo
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Dessert and cocktail pairing and Draft Bingo at Crafted Copper
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Vertical tasting event, beer and cookies pairing, breakfast for dinner pairing and another dinner pairing with merlot wine at Texas Corners Brewing Company
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Brewery Wing-Off best wings competition between Alaskan Brewing and Griffin Claw Brewing at Hub Tavern + Grill
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Mixologist masterclass, cocktails and canvas, burgers and beer pairing, cocktails and cookies, tap takeover, bloody mary brunch, and tours at Gull Lake Distilling Company
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Darts Tournament, DIY Glassware Painting with Colors & Cocktails, live music, taco & beer pairing with Mi Pueblo and more at Wax Wings Brewing Company including a special collaboration with Kalamazoo Literacy Council for their 50th Anniversary Kickoff
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Michigan Wine and Cheese Golf event at V’s Bogey’s & Stogies with The Cheese Lady
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Makers Bus Tour with West Michigan Beer Tours that will visit Gull Lake Distilling Company, Lawton Ridge Winery, and Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
Some of the events may require advance registration. The Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week website has details listed for each event and how to participate. Some drink specials, flights, and special pairing menus are available at any time throughout the week, found on the specials page of the website. With so many events, craft beverage fans can plan out a whole week and stay in Kalamazoo with special lodging packages which are also available online.
New this year, a free digital check in passport will allow participants to check in to participating locations and earn their way towards prize packages featuring gift cards, pint glasses, growler fills and more. There will also be a people’s choice vote to choose the best local collaboration and favorite breweries, distilleries, and bars/restaurants. The passport and link for voting can be found at KalamazooCraftBeverageWeek.com