Hello San Diego Beer Week, we meet again. You run from November 1 to 10, so you're technically ten days long; that's ten days of pure, unadulterated beer joy. In city where every day is beer day, Beer Week is a celebration of San Diego's craft beer industry and a gauntlet for local beer drinkers.

Over the course of San Diego Beer Week, over 600 events are planned, highlighting more than 60 breweries; every bar and restaurant worth its salt will be hosting some kind of beer-related event so there's no excuse not to put together a game plan and a serious beer itinerary.

There's a sour beer day, a chocolate and beer pairing, a dinner for chicks who like beer, a beer and cheese pairing, a night of beer in a museum, and lots more beer opportunities that require nothing more than bellying up to a bar.

Though more can't-miss events will surely be posted in the days to come, here are our picks for the 5 Beer Week Events you should buy tickets for RIGHT NOW.

[Photo: Tim King]

What: VIP Brewer Takeover

When: Friday, November 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Why: This new preview event, held at the Port Pavilion, is the precursor to the official San Diego Brewers Guild Festival on Saturday. It'll be less crowded, have more brewers in attendance and rarer beers.

What: The Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set Listening Party

When: Monday, November 4 at 7 p.m.

Why: Neighborhood is hosting an intimate tasting party with The Lost Abbey's Tomme Arthur inside their Noble Experiment cockail den. Just 30 people will get cozy in the speakeasy while Arthur takes ticket holders through his Ultimate Box Set of music-inspired beers in the limited edition set released earlier this year.



What: Green Flash Freak Show

When: Monday, November 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Why: It's the bottle release of Little Freak, the brewery's saison, barrel-aged with brett. A ticket entitles you to a 4-pack of the beer, tastes of five rare barrel-aged beers plus three food pairings provided by The Lodge at Torrey Pines. There's even an upgrade that adds on more food and tastes of Silva Stout and Flanders Drive.

What: Societe Brewing Company's In the Barrel Dinner

When: Thursday, November 7 at 6 p.m.

Why: Societe is calling on South Park's Alchemy Restaurant to cater a special dinner in the brewery's barrel room, where ticket holders will be among the first to taste their highly-anticipated barrel-aged beers, including a blonde sour beer and red sour with cherries. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at the tasting room.

What: The Beer Garden

When: Sunday, November 10 from noon to 3 p.m.

Why: The official close to Beer Week is a doozy. Held at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, this event pairs 24 breweries, including Ballast Point, AleSmith, Karl Strauss, Stone, New English and more, with 12 chefs; Blind Lady Ale House, Sea & Smoke, Carnitas' Snack Shack and the La Valencia are among the participating restaurants. Did we mention the unlimited tastings?