Soon enough you won’t be able to turn around in this city without having a beer event smack you in the face. It’s all beer, all the time. With the weather warming up and people getting into the summertime spirit, there are plenty of things going on in Richmond to keep you sipping the suds.

Tonight, Capital Ale House will be tapping their I.D.E.A. (India Dark Elusive Ale, brewed in conjunction with Sierra Nevada) at 5pm, which will also coincide with Steal the Glass Night. Catch the Southern Hemisphere, Chico IPA, and Kellerweis, among others, while you’re there getting some Sierra glassware.

Also tonight is Mekong’s “World War Beer“, an insane plan hatched to pit American beers versus Beers from Around the World. It’s $25 per person, starts at  and there are 12 listed match-ups ready to go. Check out Ed’s blog, MMM… Beer, for more on the featured beers. It’s pretty ridiculous.

On Wednesday, the very same Cap Ale will host a “hop off” at 6pm at their Downtown location as a kick-off to Hoperation Alpha, an ode to Humulus lupulus which continues into Thursday. The contest is going to feature 5 hop varietals that contestants will attempt to identify. The winner will be crowned “hop royalty” and be featured in Cap Ale menus all month. Not only that, but a special seat at the “V.I.P.A.” table on Thursday that will receive the first 3 oz. tasters of each of the 15+ special edition hop bombs that are to be tapped that day. And to top it all off? Two free tickets to the upcoming Virginia Beer Festival in July.

Also that Wednesday they’ll feature hoppy firkin and cask offerings from several breweries including Starr Hill, Blue Mountain, Clipper City, and Lagunitas. Plus there’s going to be everyone’s favorite:  Dogfish Head 60 and 90 Minute IPAs through the infamous Randall the Enamel Animal. As if your palate wouldn’t already be shredded by that point.

Wednesday will also see the aforementioned Allagash Beer Dinner over at TJ’s, in the Jefferson Hotel. How much beer can one week handle?

Finally, I’ll leave you with that Virginia Beer Festival information I mentioned earlier. It’s going down July 3rd from noon to 11pm at their Midlothian location, and it’s Cap Ale’s second annual. Tickets are a mere $10, which includes a commemorative pint glass and five tasting tickets. Live music will be happening throughout the event, and designated driver tickets are only $5 and children under 12 get in free, so long as they stay away from the beer. Classic Virginia grub will be available, including crab cakes, Smithfield hot dogs, and pulled pork barbeque. Accompanying the food will be beers from all over the Commonwealth from St. George, Olde Richmond, Tuppers, Blue Mountain, Devil’s Backbone, Shooting Creek, Blue & Gray, Richbrau, and Starr Hill.

Had enough? I’ve only hit some of the ones in Richmond. There’s more to come this summer, so stay tuned and hold onto your liver.