ABQ Beer Week 2013 is here at last! Wondering what to do tonight? Here is all the info you will need for Thursday’s opening events.

What: Special Beer Tasting. Where: Imbibe Cigar Bar in Nob Hill. When: 4 to 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Santa Fe Brewing will be bringing some of its beers and some additional goodies for people to take home. Stop on by this afternoon to see what they have; as of now we’re still waiting to hear if Santa Fe will let us know what they’re bringing. We will update this post if they reply. UPDATE: SFBC got back to us. They will have the Java Stout and Pale Ale on tap at Imbibe, plus they will pour from bottles both the Chicken Killer Barley Wine and the Kick’n Chicken, a barley wine aged in bourbon barrels! You get a special commemorative pint glass that you can take home afterward as well. Why you should go: Free stuff plus good beer plus no cover charge.

What: Eurotrash Tasting. Where: The Bird of Paradise, 5409 Gibson Blvd. SE. When: 6 p.m. Cost: $15. Details: Seating is limited for this event, where patrons can try beers from many of Europe’s lesser-known breweries, including Mikkeller of Denmaker and Nogne of Norway. You can call Pete Kees at 268-1424 to reserve your spot. Why you should go: Unless you’re planning a EuroTrip of your own anytime soon, this may be the only time you ever get to try these unique beers.

What: Beer 101. Where: Marble Brewery downtown. When: 6 p.m. Cost: $15. Details: There is a lot more to beer than the average person may realize. Let Marble’s crack staff teach you all about the differences in hops, malts, and more. This is the kind of education you probably always wanted but were never offered in college. Why you should go: You get to try different beers and expand your knowledge. Plus, yours truly (Stoutmeister) will be there.

What: Kickoff Beer Dinner. Where: Chama River Brewery. When: 6 p.m. Cost: $60 per person. Details: Enjoy some delicious foods prepared by Chama River, paired up with beers from Chama and other local breweries. This is the official kickoff event of Beer Week, so plenty of the big names in local brewing should be on hand. Why you should go: Yes, it’s expensive, but you know the food will be great and the beer will be, too.

What: Lips of Faith Pairings. Where: Geckos in Nob Hill and Geckos on Academy. When: All day. Cost: No cover charge. Details: All throughout Beer Week you can stop by either Geckos location and enjoy special Tapas dishes paired up with New Belgium’s Cascara Quad and Heavenly Feijoa Lips of Faith Beers. Why you should go: Good food, good beer, two locations, and it lasts all of Beer Week, so it should not be too hard to find time.

What: Hot Sunner Nights. Where: Desert Fish, 4214 Central Ave. SE. When: All day. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Another event that will occur every day of Beer Week, this one will feature Sunner Kolsch, one of Germany’s most popular beers. It is rarely made available outside of Cologne, so head on over to sample this golden ale. Why you should go: The Germans are not capable of making bad beer.

That’s it for tonight’s events. We will be back Friday with a preview of that day’s events, and again Saturday and Sunday and so on.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister