The Best of Sydney Craft Beer Week

Sydney Craft Beer Week runs from 20 to 28 October with a wide range of events for craft beer lovers, foodies, and the brave. Even if you're not yet a fully converted beer lover, there might be some events to change your mind, or if you are already crazy about your hops, it's a great chance to learn a little more and try out some new brews. The week-long beer extravaganza has been organised by the guys behind Beermen.TV and will bring together famed brewers including The Lord Nelson Brewery, 4 Pines Brewery and Murray's Brewing Co.

Here's Concrete Playground's top ten picks to get you amped to pop a few coldies.

1. 4 Pines Keller Door vs. Beer Mimics Food

Adriano Zumbo, Three Blue Ducks, Rob De Paulo (4 Pines Head Chef) and Myffy Rigby (Chief Food and Drink Critic for Time Out Sydney) have all decided to throw their pans (or laptop away) for the night and give beer brewing a go. They'll be creating some one-off brews that mimic food, that will then be launched as the “Keller Door” set of four. This will be a beer party like no other.

7pm, 23 October; 4 Pines Brewing Company, 49/43-45 East Esplanade, Manly; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

2. Beerme.TV presents Hair of the Dog Breakfast

We all know that the most important meal of the day is Breakfast. So why should it not be served with beer? This is a six course meal, served alongside a selection of 10 specialty and rare beers. The Beermen.TV boys will be serving up the courses, including some interesting ones like fried crickets, blood sausage and confectioner.

10am-12.30pm, 20 October; The Union Hotel, 576 King Street, Newtown; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

3. Beer Lovers Guide to Extreme Beer

Extreme. Beer. Extreme beer. These words don't usually sit side by side, but at the beer lovers guide to extreme beer they will. You'll be served a tasting paddle on arrival at The Local Taphouse and then you'll be talked through the 5 extreme beers. You'll also get to walk home with The Beer Lovers Guide.

7-10pm, 23 October; The Local Taphouse, 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

4. Food Flight at Danks Street Depot

You like food and beer, that's why you're here. You'll be served a specially designed menu by renowned chef Jared Ingersolls, created to match beers from those crafty brewers Riverside Brewing and HopDog Beerworks. Menu items include Slow cooked carrot in fermented grapes, pork scratching, malt and nut crumble, matched with Riverside 44 Amber Ale.

6.30-9pm, 24 October; Danks Street Depot, 1/1-2 Danks Street, Waterloo; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

5. Women's Beer High Tea at The Pumphouse

Diaries at the ready, ladies. All is about to change after you've matched beer with your high tea. In an attempt to remove the association beer has with men chatting around a bbq, the Pumphouse is holding a Women's Beer High Tea. There will be five beers, picked by two of Australia’s leading female brewers, matched with traditional canape style high tea.

3-5.30pm, 28 October; The Pumphouse, 17 Little Pier St, Darling Harbour; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

6. Chocolate and Beer Flights at the Pumphouse

This night is all about pairing chocolate with beer; yet another event designed to challenge your beer preconceptions. There will be four courses that combine the sweet and savoury of the high quality Belgian chocolate variety with five rich dark beers.

6.30-9.30pm, 24 October, The Pumphouse, 17 Little Pier St, Darling Harbour; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

7. Food Truck Ambush

One of the many free events as part of SCBW, two food trucks, Eat Art and The Veggie Patch will be heading to aMBUSH Gallery. Matching craft beers will be compliments of Stone & Wood Brewing Co. You'll also get a side of live art and tunes with this one. Do it.

5-8pm, 26 October; aMBUSH Gallery, 4 James Street, Waterloo; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

8. Young Henrys House Party

Young Henrys Brewing wants us all to know about their Sydney Rock and Roll collaboration brews, Fresh Six and Black En More. Their brews, inspired by the tunes of Front End Loader and Peter Fenton from Crow, will make an appearance at The Union Hotel, alongside the bands. And if you're lucky enough the brewers might even join in too.

7.30pm-12am, 25 October; The Union Hotel, 576 King Street, Newtown; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

9. Doctors Orders Tap Takeover & Beer Launch

Don't mess with the Doctors Orders. As part of the tap take over series, Doctors Orders Brewing will be taking the reigns at the East Village Hotel for the night. They'll be bringing their special type of medicine with five of "Docs" limited release special brews, as well as a brand spanking newly delivered one. The flavours will be big, they'll be bold and you don't want to miss this opportunity to get access to some usually sold out brews.

All day-12am, 23 October; East Village Hotel, 234 Palmer St, Darlinghurst; sydneycraftbeerweek.com

10. Beer, Cheese & Chocolate

Just as its title suggests this events experiments with beer, cheese and chocolate. Paired with Josephan's Fine Chocolates, punters can expect to indulge a custom-made chocolate cup from which they'll drink a barrel aged Rum Porter. Ah, yes please.

7-10pm, 22 October; Harts Pub, Corner of Essex & Gloucester St, The Rocks; sydneycraftbeerweek.com