Beer and baseball. What a classic combination. Ever since we started watching men swing for the fences over a hundred years ago, barley and hops have been there every step along the way. In fact, if baseball hadn’t claimed it first, beer drinking might very well be our national pastime. There will be plenty of room for both at Skybox on Sheffield (3627 N. Sheffield) in Wrigleyville this Sunday, May 19th.

They call it a ‘week’, but just as a baker’s dozen equals 13, a brewer’s week is usually closer to 10 days. Chicago Craft Beer Week kicks off on the 16th of May and will continue until the 26th. Throughout that time, folks lucky enough to find themselves along the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan will be inundated by a menagerie of malts and heady hops. One of the first events on the radar: Lagunitas Love at 2 Sparrows (553 W. Diversey).

The Big Apple is always providing access to the excess; the biggest skyline, the best bars, the most delicious food. When visiting La Birreria (200 5th Avenue), a rooftop beer garden in the middle of Manhattan, you get it all. Drink it in.

If you’re a microbrew in the Bay Area these days, it’s kind of tough to make a name for yourself. After all, the region is home to some of the world’s premiere small batch beers. But down in the South Bay, just up the hills from the sprawling city of San Jose, a contract brewery named Strike has attracted a good deal of attention in a short period of time.

Down in San Diego, California, they have a well-designed stadium called Petco Park. It’s home to the Padres of the National League. Opened less than a decade ago, it’s new, sleek, with great sightlines and an awesome location right alongside the bay. A lot of ballparks across the country share these characteristics. But Petco remains the only ballpark in the United States directly connected to a hotel, The Omni (675 L Street). This might not seem that special until you consider the deal they’re offering this season…

If you enjoy full flavored beers, Imperial Stout is a style with your name on it. If your name is Barrel Noir, then Almanac Beer Company’s 10%er literally has your name right on it. You might have an odd name but if it’s any consolation, your beer is nothing short of spectacular.

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, CA will always hold a special place in my heart. As one of the preeminent players in the craft industry over the past several decades, they’ve been there from the start. But on a personal note, their Pale Ale was the first I encountered, in my early 20s, to demonstrate that beer could indeed have fantastic flavor. Unfortunately for most college-aged consumers, beer is more about getting drunk as quickly and efficiently as possible. Enjoyment and appreciation have little to do with the process. But then you drink your first Sierra Nevada and you grow up. It is the true gateway to craft. So the idea of visiting their Taproom and Restaurant (1075 East 20th St.) was somewhat of a dream come true for me. I was not disappointed.

As an avid aficionado of craft beer, I’ve long been a fan of Simmzy’s (229 Manhattan Beach Blvd.) in Manhattan Beach, CA. I mean, how could you not? It boasts one of the widest selections of microbrews in this part of Southern California, backs that up with some of the most creative, mouth-watering menu selections, and then offers all of it just about a block away from the beach. The winning combination was such a hit that last year they opened a second location in the Belmont Shores section of Long Beach. The newer space is even bigger and has even more beer on draft. It might sound like it can’t get much better. But it can. More like, ‘canned.’