Hereford & Hops, the grill-your-own-steak house and brewpub in Cranberry, is hosting a Brewer's Dinner at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Brewer Jim Lieb says he'll be there to help serve his Harmony Wheat with the salad (spring salad with pears, strawberries, walnuts and mango vinaigrette); Panther Pilsner with the first appetizer (smoked salmon); Whitetail Ale with the second appetizer (Irish egg rolls); Schwarz Bier with the first entree (Asian steak kabobs with rosemary mashed potatoes); IPA (India Pale Ale) with the second entree (Tex-Mex Chicken and fiesta rice); and Portersville Porter, his Baltic porter, with dessert (Tuxedo Cake with fresh strawberries and cream).

The dinner, which costs $50, is limited to 40 people. Make reservations by this Sunday by calling 724-742-BEER (2337).

St. Nikolaus, who likes it when families leave him out some Christmas cookies and a beer, will tap the ceremonial first keg of St. Nikolaus Bock at Penn Brewery at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Tomorrow and Saturday nights, you can enjoy German carols and other music as well as a special Yuletide dinner menu. For more, visit www.pennbrew.com or call 412-237-9400.

And if you're tastes lean toward "A Belgian Christmas," that's the theme of tonight's free sampling at 3 Sons Dogs & Suds beer store in Pine, where from 6 to 8 p.m. you can try Gouden Carolous Noel, Delerium Noel, Corsendonk Christmas and Sly Fox Christmas (www.3sonsdogsandsuds.com or 724-940-7667). The weekly tasting's theme for Dec. 14 is "A Sample of Santa's Favorites."

From 4 to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Sudsy's Beer Store on Washington Pike in Bridgeville holds a free tasting of the lager, dark and bock beers from the Czech Republic's Nova Paka Brewery (412-221-8081).

You can try Sprague Farm & Brew Works brew without going all the way up to Venango County by visiting the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox, which has Hellbender on tap (412-828-9842).

Even farther away, Denver's first brewpub, Wynkoop Brewing Co., again is seeking claimants of the title of "Beerdrinker of the Year."

Entrants submit "resumes" explaining their beer-drinking philosophy and their passion for and understanding of beer "and its importance to civilization."

In addition to "unmatched fame and glory," 2007's 11th Beerdrinker of the Year wins free beer for life at Wynkoop and $250 of beer at his or her local brewpub or bar, plus gets immortalized on the B.o.t.Y. trophy.

Resumes must be received by e-mail or mail by no later than Dec. 31. The winner will be chosen on Feb. 24. For more details, visit www.wynkoop.com.

You may not even yet have your 2007 calendar to mark, but organizer Greg Somers says many folks have wanted to know when the 2007 State College BrewExpo is going to be: July 28, once again at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. It'll be the 10th (www.scbrewexpo.com).

Speaking of calendars: Published in time for holiday gift-giving is a new calendar of sensuous photographs of various actual craft beers, from barleywine to stout. The 2007 calendars were shot and put together by Jim Witmer, who writes about beer for the Dayton Daily News, and are available for $15 plus $5 shipping via www.jimwitmer.com.