One of the nicest things about Spring in Seattle is the arrival of Seattle Beer Week.  On May 13th, the week kicks off with an opening party at Hale’s Brewery (the producer of this year’s official SBW beer).  Following the kickoff – breweries and taphouses around Seattle explode with activity dedicated to enjoying quality beers.  The week (which is actually closer to 10 days) was established to recognize Seattle’s role in the micro and craft brewing industry and to encourage locals to get out and appreciate the great beers that this region is known for producing.    A complete list of events is available here and a map of participating locations is also available.