While the phrase “beer dinner” still makes many people think of pizza and a pitcher at the local sports bar, there is a healthy and growing trend in Toronto for beer and food events of a more refined variety, with multi-course beer pairing dinners happening at restaurants like beerbistro and Esplanade Bier Markt every couple of months.

For the next few weeks, though, Toronto seems to be Beer Dinner Central, with beer and food events popping up all over the damn place. So in lieu of my usual beer review this week, here’s a round-up of the various dinners that’ll be keeping the beer geeks happy and well-fed between now and the end of May.

Tuesday, April 8th
Fuller’s Dinner with John Keeling
Duke of Westminster, First Canadian Place, 77 Adelaide Street West
5:00 PM
$45 - call 416.368.2761 for reservations
Premier Brands presents a dinner with John Keeling, Brewing Director of Fuller’s Brewery, Chiswick, London, UK. Beers to be served include Fuller’s London Pride, Fuller’s ESB, Fuller’s London Porter & Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew.

Wednesday, April 9th
Deliciously Dutch Dinner
Esplanade Bier Markt, 58 The Esplanade
6:30 PM
$50 - call 416.862.7575 to reserve
A night in the Netherlands, with a four course dinner menu that pays tribute to the great Trappist beers of the Koningshoeven Brewery.

Friday, April 11th
The Brewer’s Table
The Church at Berkeley, 315 Queen Street East
6:30 PM to midnight
$150 - call 416.644.1012 to reserve
A benefit for Green Enterprise Toronto, co-presented by Local Food Plus and Slow Food Toronto. Featuring finely crafted beers from Mill Street, Cameron’s, Wellington, Church Key, Steam Whistle and Black Oak to compliment dishes from Jamie Kennedy Kitchens, La Palette, Veritas, Cowbell, Gladstone Hotel and Rebel House, as well oysters from Oyster Boy, appetisers from Buddha Dog and Magic Oven, and live jazz bands.

Tuesday, April 15th
Bavaria/La Trappe Beer Dinner
Abbot On The Hill, 1276 Yonge Street
seatings at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM
$60 - call 416.920.9074 to reserve
Premier Brands presents a three-course dinner to mark the arrival of Bavaria on draught for the first time in Canada, and La Trappe (Koningshoeven) Bock for the first time in the Western Hemisphere.

Friday, April 25th
Southern Tier Beer Dinner
The Academy of Spherical Arts, One Snooker Street
6:00 PM
$75 - call 416.532.2782 to reserve
Roland + Russell with the cooperation of Taste T.O. and The Bar Towel presents a four-course dinner to celebrate the arrival of Southern Tier IPA at the LCBO. Southern Tier co-founder Phin DeMink and his brewmaster will be in attendance, and there will also be a more casual Southern Tier tasting and “meet & greet” on Saturday, April 26th at Volo.

Wednesday, May 28th
Dogfish Head Beer Dinner
beerbistro, 18 King Street East
$100 - tickets on sale May 1st
A dinner with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery, featuring the beer cuisine of beerbistro chef Brian Morin paired with a number of DFH beers, some available for the first time in Ontario. More details will be announced soon.