Bostonist had barely recovered from the New England Real Ale Exhibition when we realized that May 12th-18th was American Craft Beer Week. Established in 2006 by House Resolution 753, this week celebrates craft brewers as "a vibrant affirmation and expression of American entrepreneurial tradition" and their promotion of "the Nation's spirit of independence through a renaissance in hand-crafted beers like those first brought to colonial shores by European settlers and produced here by the Nation's founding fathers ... for the enjoyment of the citizenry." The following are a few events at which we hope to comply with the wishes of Congress:

Sam Adams' founding father Jim Koch will be on hand for a three-course dinner at Toro tonight. (1704 Washington St., 7 pm. $50 per person; definitely call 617-536-4300 about reservations.) Their Jamaica Plain brewery has extended tour hours on the 15th and 16th. (30 Germania St., Jamaica Plain, 12-7 pm. Free.)

Also this evening, Cambridge Common serves an Opa Opa Steakhouse & Brewery Beer Dinner. The weather has yet to warrant watermelon gazpacho, let alone watermelon ale, but it'll be tasty regardless. (1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 6:30-8:30 pm. $39 per person; call 617-547-1228 for reservations, which tend to be scarce.)

Brookline's Wine Gallery hosts two auspicious tastings this week. On Friday (5-7 pm), they'll be pouring Smuttynose's hop-crazed double IPA, Big A (as well as more reasonable brews "for the faint of heart"). Saturday's tasting (3-6 pm) will be enhanced by the presence of cheeses from Westfield Farm. Drinkcraftbeer.com has a list of the happy pairings—we're looking forward to tasting artisanal chevre alongside the likes of Lost Abbey's orange-peeled Red Barn Ale. (375 Boylston St, Brookline. Free.)

For beginners, Gordon's Fine Wine & Culinary Center is offering a free Beer 101 course on Friday, with samples and historical insights. (894 Main Street, Waltham, 7-8:30 pm. Free; registration required).

Anybody who happens to be in Malden on Saturday is advised to swing by the Kappy's for more samples from breweries domestic and foreign: Lefthand, Leffe, Victory, Duvel, Otter Creek, Ommegang, and many others. (325 Bennett Hwy., Malden, 2-6 pm. Free!)

Photograph depicts a tasting, earlier this year, at the Sam Adams brewery in Jamaica Plain.