This sudsy Tacoma celebration moves to March with lots of events, four new beers
Tacoma Beer Week is back — a little earlier than usual, as the annual sudsy celebration of South Sound breweries and taprooms has moved to a new late-winter schedule.
Since 2014, events have happened in August, but this year it will run March 1-9 at venues in Tacoma, Puyallup and Gig Harbor.
Event director Matt McClaren, a well-known figure in the local beer business, said the decision was made after consulting with area breweries and bars that participate.
“Shifting the event to March allows us to bring even more attention to the local economy during a quieter season and provides easier access to travel and accommodations for those visiting from out of town,” he said in a news release.
It is a pointed boon for the local industry, added communications manager Kyleigh Palmer. Some venues have reported their highest sales during Tacoma Beer Week, as well as Saturday-level revenue on a Monday.
Despite having a week-plus of events five months ago, the event lineup hasn’t suffered, and the venues have diversified. It’s actually the largest yet, said Palmer, with more than 40 events on the docket, with something for everyone from beer lovers to non-drinkers and families with kids.
The group was also excited for Feb. 25, when city council recognized March 1-9 as Tacoma Beer Week.
The fun then kicks off on Friday, Feb. 28, at the “pre-funk” party at E9 Brewing Co.’s flagship taproom downtown. Moving into the weekend, events include the Proctor Polar Bear Crawl on Saturday and a haiku festival at Camp Colvos at Brewery Blocks. Learn about beer with the whole fam at E9 Firehouse’s first beer-science fair, complete with poster boards and maybe some overflowing beakers of foam.
Also on Sunday, a popular Spokane-based storytelling event, Spoke, will take over The Living TapRoom. Anyone can sign up to share a 5-minute story in a setup similar to the public-radio program, The Moth Radio Hour.
The Heidelberg Derby, where folks fashion derby cars out of beer cans, returns to 7 Seas Brewing on Monday. Stink Meat and Cheese will host a pairing event on Tuesday, while Rainier Growlers in Puyallup will offer ‘90s-themed bingo. Wednesday highlights include marine-themed trivia at The Red Hot, a Bob Ross Paint and Pint Night at Top Down Brewing Co. in Sumner, and a campy acoustic set at The Camp Bar near downtown Tacoma.
Later in the week, there’s more trivia at Busy Body on Sixth Avenue and Narrows Brewing, a pinball tourney at Caskcades in Puyallup, and a ticketed blow-your-own-beer-glass event with Hilltop Artists.
This year, several local businesses and organizations have worked directly with breweries on four exclusive beers:
▪ Bayanihan, a pale rice lager with citrus zest made by Jan Parker Cookery, Delightful Neighborhood Market, home brewer John Hocking and E9 Brewing Co. The name refers to the Filipino tradition of collaborating on a common goal in the spirit of community and unity. Release party at Delightful on March 2, 12-2 p.m.
▪ Gose with the Flow, a tart ale with local lemon balm and San Juan Island sea salt made by Communities for a Healthy Bay and Silvery City Brewery. Release party at Peaks and Pints on March 1, 2-4 p.m., plus oyster happy hour at The Fish Peddler on March 3, 2-8 p.m.
▪ No Bad Time, a Cascadian dark ale (also known as a Black IPA) inspired by Lander Coffee’s roast of Nueva Montana, a Guatemalan coffee, with notes of strawberry, raspberry, brown sugar and chocolate — but no coffee itself, made by Grit and Grain Podcast and Logan Brewery. Release party at Peaks and Pints on March 5, 5:30-7 p.m.
▪ An amber ale made with Amber Pacific, a pop-punk band from Federal Way, and Georgetown Brewing. Release party in conjunction with the band’s album-release show at Airport Tavern on March 8, 8-11 p.m.
TACOMA BEER WEEK 2025
▪ Feb. 28-March 9, various locations
▪ Full schedule at tacomabeerweek.com
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 5:15 AM.