L.I. Craft Beer Week kicks off Friday and there’s a lot happening

Long Island Craft Beer Week, a celebration of suds from across Nassau and Suffolk, has arrived.

The festivities officially begin this Friday, May 12, and run through Sunday, May 21, but there’s already an event on the calendar for Thursday night in Patchogue (Hoptron & Sand City).

The organizers describe Long Island Craft Beer Week as an “advocacy co-op.”

“LICBW unites local breweries, restaurants, retailers, bars, and business partners with beer enthusiasts for an island-wide celebration of beer, the making of beer, and the enjoyment of beer,” reads the website.

The “week” (11 days of events) features tap takeovers, food and beer pairings, giveaways, brunches, even a 15K run to the Port Jeff Brewing Company on the last day, May 21.

The opening ceremony occurs at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 12, with the SimulCask, where cask ales are tapped at these various locations at the same time: 1940’s, The Brewers Collective, Rudi’s, The Tap Room Patchogue, Parlay, Tap and Barrel, Bobbique and Blue Point.

From LICBW on Facebook:

When you do go, be sure to check into Untappd and get your official Untappd Badge for Long Island Craft Beer Week! Be sure to use the official hashtag #LICBW17

There are now nearly 30 events listed on the Beer Week calendar.

If you’re looking to not leave Babylon, however, you’ll have to wait until the very last day: Sunday, May 21. That’s when Tres Palms will be hosting a fundraiser for Surf Rider Foundation and Save the Great South Bay.

The event will feature the Blue Point Boat Bar from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Blue Point will be pouring Prop Stopper, Toasted Lager, and Summer Ale. Hoptical Illusion will be pouring inside.

There’s also a charitable component to L.I. Craft Beer Week: