Photo by Samer Farha.

During D.C. Beer Week, we will be highlighting some exciting beers and events to attend every day throughout the week.

What: 12% Imports Takes Over Old Town
Where: 124 King Street, Alexandria
When: Wednesday, August 17, 5 p.m.

Importers are often the unsung heroes of getting the beer from soil to lips. While their job may seem like a little slice of beer heaven — traveling the world in search of the finest and bringing them back to the U.S. to spread the hop-infused love — the reality of importing laws, regulations and accompanying headaches make the job quite stressful and one for which fanfare is rare. The brewer gets praised for creating and the bar gets the nod for having it available. So what about the importer? Is there no glory for the recherché?

Alexandria’s Pizza Paradiso is showcasing some of the 12% Importer’s best hard-to-pronounce European finds with “12% Imports Takes Over Old Town” Wednesday evening. All featured beers will be $4 from 5-7 p.m. and $8 from 7 to close. This is a great opportunity to try something new at a reasonable price. Most of these obscurities often come with a hefty price tag because of the amount of ingredients, blending, aging and transportation costs associated with an artisanal product. So you owe it to your wanderlust to have a trip to the Lowlands without having to deal with the TSA.

BEERS:
Cask: Stillwater Cellar Door – 6.6% White Sage Saison
Cazeau Tournay Blonde – 7.2%Belgian Farmhouse
Cazeau Tournay Black – 7.6% Belgian Stout
Emelisse Espresso Stout – 10% Dutch Stout w/ Espresso
Emelisse Russian Imperial Stout – 11% Dutch Stout
Emelisse Rauchbier – 6.2% Dutch Smoked Beer (which recently made GQ’s 10 essential beers)
Houvebrouwers Toria – 6.5% Belgian Blonde
Hof Ten Dormaal Amber – 8% Belgian Farmhouse
Hof Ten Dormaal Blonde – 8% Belgian Farmhouse
Hantverksbryggeriet Kosacken – 7.5% Swedish Stout
Sint Canarus Tripel – 7.5% Belgian Tripel
Stillwater/Mikkeller Our Side -7.5% Gypsy Saison
‘T Gaverhopke Extra – 12% Belgian Quadruple
‘T Gaverhopke Koerseklakske – 5.5% Belgian Saison
‘T Gaverhopke Singing Blonde – 9.2% Belgian Blonde

What: Midwest Brewery Night
Where: Smith Commons, 1245 H Street NE
When: Wednesday, August 17, 5-11 p.m.

Smith Commons has done a great job of being H Street’s beer vanguard since Miles Gray took the beer program under his wing. On Wednesday night, they will be featuring D.C.’s favorite mid-western imports and offering up $5 pints, $15 bombers and $5 regionally themed small food pairings.

Breweries included:

Colorado
Avery Brewing Co.
Boulder Beer
Oskar Blues Brewery

Ohio
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Michigan
Bells Brewery Inc.
Founders Brewing Co.
New Holland Brewing Co.
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Missouri
Schlafly Beer

Utah
Epic Brewing Co.