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5 Years of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week With Vecenie Distributing

April is an amazing time of year. Not only does it mark the accepted end of winter and start of spring, but for those of us lucky enough to live in and around Pittsburgh it means Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week is back once again. While some people might say the most wonderful time of the year involves decorated trees and an obese bearded man handing out gifts, I would argue that PCBW holds that crown.

From beer festivals to tap takeovers to your chance at learning a little more about the beer you love, Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week is by far the most wonderful time of the year, and this year it’s even more special than normal. 2016 marks the 5th anniversary of a group of people in the craft beer industry deciding over a few beers that Pittsburgh deserved its own week to celebrate all things craft beer. While the idea itself isn’t new, these craft beer pioneers gave life to the idea in Pittsburgh and since then, it’s only grown in size and appreciation.

This year Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week falls in the middle of April, running from April 15th through the 24th. Across the hundreds of events this year you’ll find something for everyone. From samplings of new breweries to meeting the brewer to trying some extra rare beers…there’s a lot going on!

Vecenie Distributing is a founding sponsor of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week and them, along with founding board member Tony “Beer Man” Knipling, they have made PCBW a reality for all of us in and around Pittsburgh. In fact, without sponsors like Vecenie Distributing we probably wouldn’t have a 5th year of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week to celebrate. You can learn more about Vecenie’s events and their involvement with PCBW by heading to BeerSince1933.com or checking them out on twitter and Facebook, both @ BeerSince1933.

Vecenie’s is bringing the big guns this year with some of the most interesting events of the entire week with some of the biggest names in craft beer like Stone Brewing Co., Dogfish Head Brewing, Bells Brewing, Oskar Blues, Victory, and Tröegs Independent Brewing to name a few. Check out some of the best events Vecenie’s has to offer for Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week below, and to see all the events head over to PittsburghCraftBeerWeek.com.

PCBW Kick-Off Party

Kick off Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week in style at The Library with Vecenie’s Distributing and Weyerbacher Brewing. Along with a variety of great craft beer on tab they’ll also have two different years of the elusive Sunday Morning Stout on draft. You won’t find this anywhere else, so don’t miss your chance to try a 2-year vertical of the barrel-aged stout. Best of all, there’ll be Weyerbacher glasses to give away for some lucky early birds while they last. Fun starts on April 15th at 7 pm.

Joint 20th Anniversary Celebration

Along with PCBW’s 5th anniversary this year, Victory Brewing and Dogfish Head Brewing are both celebrating their 20th year in the craft beer world. Vecenie’s will be helping them celebrate at Smokin’ Joe’s in the South Side the best way possible, with some amazing beers. Try some hard to find beers from Dogfish head including their huge beer “Higher Math.” Check this event out on the 21st starting at 8 pm.

Voodoo Tap Takeover

The always amazing Voodoo Brewing wil be taking over the taps at New Kensington’s House of 1,000 Beers on Friday the 15th starting at 7 pm. Come try some of their year-round favorites as well as a few hard to find rarities that’ll have to be seen to be believed.

Brewery Rep Olympics

Coming back again this year is the Brewery Rep Olympics on three different days at three different venues. Check out Night 1 on Sunday the 17th at The Summit, Night 2 on Monday the 18th at Hough’s, and Night 3 on Tuesday the 19th at Barrel Junction. Each night’s activities begins at 8 pm and features Dogfish Head, Oskar Blues, Victory Brewing, and Otter Creek.

Blue Dust Oysterfest

Another returning event for 2016 is Blue Dust’s Oysterfest held under the Homestead Grey’s Bridge. Join your fellow craft beer and oyster-loving comrades and try a variety of beers including Otter Creek Brewing and try a variety of oysters all while enjoying the nearly-guaranteed beautiful weather.

Beer and Pizza Pairing

Few things in this world go together better than beer and pizza, and to prove this point, Burgh Pizza and Wing Pub is featuring a Beer, Pizza, and Wing pairing on April 20th starting at 7 pm. Come hang out with Tony “The Beer Man” and try some hand-selected pairings featuring a variety of beers. They’re taking their beer, pizza, and wings so seriously that this is a ticketed event. Call 412-257-8767 to get in on the fun.

All About Beer Class

Speaking of ticketed events, The Crafty Jackelope is featuring an All About Beer Class with 5 beers, 5 “bits” (small plates), and lots of great beer stories from some craft beer industry folk. Class is in session on April 21st starting at 7 pm. Tickets for this event are available by calling 412-220-9785.

As for the rest of the events, there are far too many to even give you an idea of the size of PCBW 2016. With help from Vecenie’s Distributing and all the other PCBW sponsors, this is easily shaping up to be the biggest and best year yet. Get your excuses ready now to call off of work and have yourself a merry little PCBW.

The events listed above have all been made available by Vecenie Wholesale, a five-year founding sponsor of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week.