Craft beer is a hot trend right now.: AP

For a sense of how Houston’s craft-beer culture has evolved, consider this warning for one of the special tasting events scheduled during Houston Beer Week: “This will go quickly, so get here right at 3 p.m.”

The note on the Beer Week website refers to Delaware brewer Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute India Pale Ale, a high-alcohol “extreme” beer that packs a wallop four times as powerful as, say, a Bud Light. And it’s advice worth heeding: A crowd is likely to be lined up at the popular Hay Merchant craft-beer bar right at 3 o’clock hoping to sample this wildly flavorful beer.
No matter that it’s on a Wednesday afternoon.

The third annual Houston Beer Week kicks off Saturday with a lineup of at least 30 dinners, rare keg tappings and brewing demonstrations to satisfy craft-brew lovers and celebrate how far the city’s craft-brew scene has come.

The spotlight will be on locally made beer — more brewers are making a lot more beer than during the inaugural Houston Beer Week — but it also will shine on some of the other breweries that have begun selling their product in the Bayou City.

Among the local headliners will be Saint Arnold, the city’s first craft brewery; Karbach and Buffalo Bayou, which weren’t even in production when Houston Beer Week debuted in 2010; and 8th Wonder, a brewery project from the Eatsie Boys food-truck operators that is still at least a couple of months away from commercial production.

The latter event, at Down House craft-beer bar, will pair free samples of 8th Wonder “test batches” with a menu executed by chefs Matt Marcus of Eatsie Boys and Benjy Mason of Down House.
Capping off the week will be the Draft, a craft-beer festival at Guadalupe Plaza Park east of downtown. Organizer Cathy Clark Rascoe said at least 30 breweries have already committed.
Rascoe also said that while the festival focus is definitely on Texas breweries, she happily welcomes those from out of state that have played a big role in fostering a strong beer culture here. California’s Stone Brewing, for example, has been an active part of the local scene for years, and she said the brewery has committed to bring more “good stuff” to the Draft.

And speaking of Stone, Hay Merchant hopes to earn the brewery-sponsored title of “Most Arrogant Bar” in a national competition to see who can serve the most Arrogant Bastard ales. Beginning Friday, Nov. 9, Hay Merchant will feature steep discounts on beers in this popular Stone series.

That’s yet another way to celebrate Houston Beer Week.

HOUSTON BEER WEEK
Toast locally made beer and Houston’s burgeoning craft-beer culture during the third annual Houston Beer Week, which begins Saturday. Festivities include special tasting events, dinners that pair food and beer, homebrewing demonstrations and local brewer meet-and-greets. A sampling of the 30 or so events on tap around town:

Nov. 10: DeFalco’s Home Wine & Brewing Supplies, 9223 Stella Link, and the Foam Rangers host “Pros Versus The Joes” homebrewing demonstration. Matt Schlabach of the forthcoming City Acre brewpub takes on the homebrew club’s 2012 grand wazoo, Jaime Robles.
Nov. 11: Craft-beer phenomenon Hay Merchant, 1100 Westheimer, hosts its first beer dinner with Shmaltz Brewing, makers of He’Brew and Coney Island brands.
Nov. 12: Beaver’s, 2310 Decatur, brings in Ben Fullelove of Petrol Station for a dinner pairing rare beers with fine food.
Nov. 13: Q&A with a panel of brewmasters at Whole Foods Market, 2955 Kirby. The brewers are bringing some special kegs and Whole Foods is offering $20 sample flights.
Nov. 14: Meet brewers from Southern Star, Buffalo Bayou and other Texas breweries at Rockwell Tavern, 12640 Telge in Cypress. You can also pick up an autographed copy of “Houston Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Bayou City.”
Nov. 15: Heights hangout Onion Creek, 3106 White Oak, will tap the first kegs of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator with nitrogen, rather than oxygen, for a different tasting experience. Keep the souvenir pint glass.
Nov. 16: Down House, 1801 Yale, will turn over its tap wall to Dallas craft brewer Deep Ellum. The tasting will include some familiar brews, plus others that haven’t been seen around these parts.
Nov. 17: Capping the week will be the Draft craft-beer festival with food, music and beer from at least 30 breweries. The Draft, at Guadalupe Plaza Park, hopes to raise $30,000 for the local Live It BIG charity.
Lots more, every day: See the full lineup, with times, ticket details and more at Houston Beer Week .