Seattle Beer Week is about community — not just the crowds at taprooms and breweries, but the people who make the beer, haul kegs, trade ideas, and keep the taps running. This spirit carries into the 16th annual Seattle Beer Week, which runs May 9-17 with more than 50 events across the city. It’s grown into a choose-your-own-adventure of tap takeovers, goofy competitions and shared celebration. 

You can drink Japanese rice lagers while watching Japanese cult movies, test your knowledge at Beer Week trivia, compete in paper airplane, Mario Kart, or cornhole contests, or throw axes with a pint in hand. Want yoga? Head to Yoga & Pints. Want pedals? Join the Tour de Pints group ride. Looking for a place to take Mom this Mother’s Day? Try one with beer. Or find $5 pints from 30 breweries at This is Washington, Dammit!

“SBW is a very important reminder that beer is delicious, drinking beer with others is fun, and Seattle is a mighty fine place to be a beer lover,” says Grace Robbings, co-founder of Reuben’s Brews.

This year’s official Beer Week beer is fittingly called Group Project Helles Lager — a crisp, German-style light lager brewed by 33 local breweries. Draft hits taps May 9, with a ceremonial keg tapping at Urban Family Brewing. Cans are available now.

“We are stoked to participate in this year’s SBW Mega-Collab (Group Project) with Urban Family and the rest of our peers,” says Brian Stan, co-founder of Old Stove Brewing Co. “It’s important for us to help continue the long history of comradery and collaboration throughout the Seattle craft beer scene.”

Beer Week is also honoring co-founder Matt Younts, who passed away late last year. He loved cats, so both the Group Project cans and T-shirts include them. “This is our first SBW since the untimely death of industry veteran Matt Younts, who helped launch it 16 years ago,” Robbings says. “Part of his legacy is SBW itself, which helps to ensure that his memory and impact on the beer industry won’t be forgotten.”

For Stoup Brewing co-owner Lara Zahaba, the week is a chance to reconnect. “The day-to-day is very busy and we can get stuck in our neighborhoods,” she says. “Beer Week gives us all a great reason to see what is happening on the other side of town.”

Here are some ways to join the fun:

SBW Kickoff: Group Project Keg Tapping
Friday, May 9 at Urban Family Brewing
Collab beer. Citywide cheers. Beer lovers everywhere.

Seattle Cask-O-Rama
Friday, May 9 at Beveridge Place Pub
One of Beer Week’s longest-running traditions: 10 gravity-pulled cask beers, all brewed in Seattle. No gimmicks. Just beer the way nature intended.

Haze Fest
Saturday, May 10 at Reuben’s Brews Ballard Taproom
Fifteen hazys, including new releases and longtime favorites. Enjoy them in the beer garden with live music and plenty of hops to go around.

Around the World in Aslan Beers
Tuesday, May 13 at Aslan Fremont
A global tap list curated by Aslan with international beers.

Industry Party
Wednesday, May 14 at Stoup Brewing Ballard
A come-one-come-all industry party with DJs, karaoke, tarot card readings and $5 pints all night. 

Brewers Wing Competition
Thursday, May 15 at Queen Anne Beer Hall
Fifteen breweries bring their best wing recipes to fight for a permanent menu spot. Sauce flies. So do opinions.

Pig & Pint Night
Thursday, May 15 at Rhein Haus Capitol Hill
Pork and pints all night long, with beer from Icicle Brewing and a stein-holding competition on the patio.

Beer Can Derby
Saturday, May 17 at The Pine Box
Build a beer-can race car on-site. Win for speed or style. Co-hosted with New Belgium. 

See the full beer week lineup here.