Are you hoppy, spicy, floral, balanced? Or more earthy, malty, nutty, sour? Find out as the Third Annual Huntsville Beer Week 2013 kicks-off this Saturday October 19, 2013.

Tap into the craft beer movement that has taken North Alabama by storm. There are myriad libation offerings through the week, however, this blogger is spotlighting the events at the best craft beer establishment in downtown Huntsville – Below The Radar.

My guide through the maze of hops is bar manager and beer week event organizer Chase Shelton. If you haven’t been in to talk shop with Shelton you are missing a great craft beer resource.

He confesses to being a self-taught beer connoisseur, “Truthfully I’ve only been drinking craft beer for a couple years. When they passed the law to free the hops a lot of the big beers started coming in. I just kept going back every week to try the new stuff. And now I’ve got three beer refrigerators in the garage.”

Below The Radar Beer Week

Throughout the run of Huntsville Beer week – as regular beers are consumed – they will be replaced with Alabama brewed beers at Below The Radar. Shelton says “the goal of this week is to have 31 of the taps be Alabama beers in the restaurant.”

Kicking-off beer week at Below the Radar this Saturday Shelton says is, “A Birmingham-based beer called Rammer Jammer. It’s a light pilsner kind of like Bud Light. We’ll have it for $3 until it runs out. It’s a great drink for football.”

Listen up beer lovers and mark your calendars for the big soirée Monday, October 21 when BTR has Yellowhammer Night. Bartender extraordinaire Shelton tells us no one else in town has the 2012 ‘Darkhammer’ they plan to serve up. Also available that night is the Yellowhammer seasonal craft beer ‘Frankenhammer.’

“The Darkhammer is like the big brother to Frankenhammer. It’s been aged one year. It’s going to be really big.”

On Tuesday, October 22 Straight To Ale will be in the house with their chief brewer and giveaways. Special that night according to Shelton is, “Unobtanium aged for one year in house by BTR. We’ve also got a bourbon barrel aged laika, and a pumpkin beer for people to try.”

If you haven’t had the Unobtanium I really encourage you to do so, as it is one of this bloggers personal favorites. Unobtanium is a barrel-aged English-style Old Ale that soaks up all sorts of amazing whiskey character, and hints of oak and vanilla, while aging. This brew packs a punch too at 11.5% ABC.

On Wednesday, October 23 Fairhope, AL-based Black IPA called ‘Painted Black’ will make a special appearance at Below The Radar. Shelton tells me, “The cool thing about that is it’s one of six Painted Black kegs in Huntsville. And they won Pro Bono brews last week.”

Also available that night is a craft beer known as Cahaba. This beer is exclusive and Below The Radar can crow about being the only Huntsville establishment to have it.

Prices for the craft beer offered at Below The Radar during Huntsville Beer Week 2013 range from $5 – $8.

Huntsville Beer Week 2013 Events

Bottoms up Huntsville! Here are others craft brew options for you during Huntsville Beer Week 2013 running Saturday, October 19 through Sunday, October 26.