Monthly buzz: Beer and spirit events happening in Philadelphia

The month of March hosts one of the most overrated drinking days of the year: St. Patrick's Day.

For one thing, the Irish holiday isn't the only drinking event worth mentioning. This month includes beer festivals, charity events, boozy brunches and more.

Raise a glass to these events.

Misconduct Tavern (1511 Locust St.) teams up with local restaurants to host the first annual Pubs that Care event benefiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The evening will feature a five-course meal pairing that include culinary options from Smiths, Sancho Pistola's, Lucky's Last Chance, Watkins Drinkery, and beers from Southern Tier and Fegley's Brew Works. The dinner starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 and is $40 per person.

Meet the brewers behind your favorite beers. On Thursday, March 5 the Hop Angel Brauhaus (7980 Oxford Ave.) will host a Meet the Brewers event with Philadelphia's St. Benjamin Brewing Co. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. you can chat with Tim Patton and Christina Burris from the company and try their selected beers. Since spring is just around the corner, bock beer will be on the menu.

Philly Beer Fest returns to the Navy Yard (4747 S. Broad St.) on Saturday, March 7 for a celebration of everything craft brew. Taste over 75 national and local beers from Flying Fish, Lagunitas, Victory, Founders, and more. VIP admission begins at 12:30 p.m. and is $75. General admission starts at 1:30 p.m. and is $46.

On Sunday, March 8, the mid-Atlantic's best restaurants and breweries lineup inside the Kimmel Center (300 S. Broad St.) for the annual Brewer's Plate festival. This event features restaurants and breweries paired together including: Dogfish Head, 2nd Story Brewing, Stoudt's, Village Whiskey, Rosa Blanca, The Industry, and more. General admission to the event starts at $59 and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

In honor of American novelist Jack Kerouac, Spodee and Art in the Age Spirits celebrate his birthday at Tattooed Mom (530 South St.) Thursday, March 12 with themed cocktails in honor of his book, On the Road. From 5 to 11 p.m., enjoy $5 Spodiodi's (Spodee Wine mixed with whiskey), and "The Mad Ones" (Spodee wine mixed with AITA Root). Spodee merch and copies of On the Road will be raffled off throughout the event.

If you missed Friday the Firkenteenth at the Grey Lodge (6235 Frankford Ave.) in February, you have another chance. On March 13, the pub holds its annual Friday the 13th event where they tap over 20 different kinds of firkins of craft beer. The event runs from noon to midnight and is a cash-only event. Some firkins featured for the evening include: Evil Genius mango wit, Yards grapefruit Philly Pale Ale, Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA, Manayunk Clutch peanut butter porter, and Conshohocken single-hop Centennial.

It's time to hop back onto the Craft Beer Express. On Saturday, March 14 beginning at 11 a.m., bars across Center City are sharing their appreciation for craft brews with you for this annual pub crawl. Tickets are $10 prior and $15 day of, and you can choose any location as your starting point. A bus will take you from spot to spot – that  includes: Kraftwork, Standard Tap, Jose Pistolas, Devil's Den, Brauhaus Schmitz, Johnny Brenda's, Kite and Key, Race Street Café, The Sidecar, Pub on Passyunk East, Bishop's Collar, and The Institute.

On Saturday, March 14, start off your Sunday with a frosty pint and a refreshing Irish breakfast (blood sausage, beans, Irish bacon loin, and more) at Johnny Brenda's (1201 Frankford Ave.) during the 7th Annual Stout Brunch. Beginning at 11 a.m. the taps will be full of picks from Dogfish Head, River Horse, Troegs, Weyerbacher and more. In addition to the Irish breakfast offerings, oysters will be on special, too.

Take a break from slots and enjoy some brews when the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival returns to the A.C. Convention Center on Friday, March 20 through Saturday, March 21. Tickets to the event will get you unlimited tastings of over 100 international and national brews. Not only will you get to try out beers from brands like Terrapin, Sixpoint, Brooklyn Brewery, and Prism, but vendors and various workshops and cooking classes will be onsite. Tickets are $55-60 and session times are: Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Drink your whiskey for a good cause on Wednesday, March 25 when the Trestle Inn (339 N 11 St.) hosts the third Annual Bourbon Battle benefiting PAWS — Philadelphia's nonprofit organization dedicated to giving shelter and care to animals. Beginning at 6 p.m., four bartenders will face off to create the best bourbon cocktail. Entry gets you all four samples and you can vote for your favorite cocktail. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at door. $20 of your ticket goes directly to PAWS.

Get some knowledge on bourbon at the Institute Bar (549 N. 12 St.) at this whiskey and food pairing event on Thursday, March 26. The dinner starts at 7 p.m. and includes: pan-seared creole andouille with Four Roses bourbon, crispy-skin Cornish game hen with Eagle Rare bourbon, smoked brisket over roasted portabella mushroom with Eagle Rare, and bourbon-and-stout ice cream with Prichard's Double Chocolate Bourbon. Seating is limited to 20 people and tickets run at $40 prior, $65 day of.

Turn your "Sunday Funday" into Sixtel Sunday on March 29 at the Kite and Key (1836 Callowhill St.) as barrel-aged brews from Firestone Walker take over the tap line. The event is a pay-as-you-go and you can enjoy beers such as 2013 Velvet Merkin, Anniversary XVII, Pale 31 Opal, and more. The bar opens at 11 a.m.