THIS WEEK

First, a few beery events. On Thursday, December 1, author Christian DeBenedetti will be at Pike Brewing to sign copies of his book, The Great American Ale Trail: The Craft Beer Lover’s Guide to the Best Watering Holes in the Nation, an excellent guide to where you should be drinking in cities near and far. And since nobody expects you to discuss a book about beer without a drink in hand, Pike head brewer Dean Mochizuki is serving up a cask conditioned double IPA from 4 to 7:30pm at just $3.50 a glass.

THIS WEEKEND

Intrigued by the idea of a peanut butter dark ale? Or a bourbon-barrel chocolate porter? Thirty Washington breweries come together this weekend to showcase stouts, winter warmers, and all manner of offbeat seasonal beers at the 2011 Winter Beer Fest. This boozy gathering happens Friday and Saturday at Hale’s Palladium in Ballard, and the lineup looks pretty spectacular. Advance tickets are $23.

If you didn’t act fast enough to score a spot in Maggie Savarino’s Book Larder classes, Sunday offers another chance to check out her new book The Seasonal Cocktail Companion, and do so while enjoying a libation or two. Savarino is the manager of Madison Park Conservatory, and owners Cormac Mahoney and Bryan Jarr are bringing back their walkup-turned-Sunday-event Tako Truk in celebration of the spirits-laden tome. From 4 to 8 pm, the restaurant will offer music, tacos, sangria, and Maggie herself, signing books and doling out drink specials and jelly shots. Which are, presumably, far more legitimate than Jell-o shots.

AND BEYOND

If your wintertime imbibing preferences run warmer, Tom Douglas restaurant Cuoco is hosting a cocktail class December 12 focusing on eggnog, mulled wine, and hot toddies. The class lasts from 5:30 to 6:30 and runs you $15, though acquiring this skill set guarantees you will be pressed into drink service at any holiday gathering you might attend.