Groundhog and snowstorms be damned, I say we are heading into the final stretch of winter. I'm already thinking sun, mud and green shoots — and, of course, spring seasonal beers. Who's with me? Anyone? Bueller?

Well, at any rate, late February/early March seems to be a relatively quiet time on the local beer scene. Whether you choose to look ahead to warmer, greener days or continue to revel in the snow, here's your Week in Beer, below.

Thursday, Feb. 25
Representatives from Battle Creek's Arcadia Ales will be at Bar Louie, 401 E. Liberty, beginning at 7p.m. to talk beer and help pour glasses of Arcadia beers, including the new Brigid's Irish Red Ale and others from their Big Brew series.

Saturday, Feb. 27
It’s not a local event, but many local beer lovers will be leaving from buses chartered by the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, and Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington, Ann Arbor, for the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids. Yours truly regrettably will not be making the trek this year, but those who are going will get to sample from more than 200 beers from around 40 of Michigan’s best breweries, including all the establishments regularly covered by this column. The festival is officially sold out, so if you didn't get your tickets, well, there's always the Summer Beer Festival in July.

Tuesday, March 2
Arbor Brewing is hosting a stout release party from 6-8 p.m., featuring three out of the five stouts they will be pouring come St. Patty's Day: St. Patrick's Strong, Steamroller Russian Imperial and, of course, good old Faricy Fest Irish Stout. Tickets, which are free for Mug Club members and $10 for non-muggers, include beers and a nice little snack spread.

Decisions, decisions. From 6-9 p.m. at Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington, it's the monthly Brewer's Night — discounted samplers, a brewery tour, hanging with Grizzly head brewer Duncan Williams and something special on cask; this month, Duncan will feature the Uber-Marzen or a dry-hopped version of Draconus Belgian Dark Ale (he has not decided as of this writing). Either way, be sure to put your drinking caps on.

Notes on the Napkin

• In a list of top 10 Belgian-style ales, writer Eric Asimov of the New York Times ranks not one, but two beers brewed by Dexter's Ron Jeffries. Oro de Calabaza  was ranked number one — "spicy, fruity and floral, with soft carbonation and fresh, vibrant flavors" — and Good Harbor Golden Ale was named number four - "tart, sour and beautifully funky with wild, vibrant citrus flavors and subtle sweetness." Lovers of Jeffries's Jolly Pumpkin brewery are well familiar with Oro, but Good Harbor is an ale he contract brews for Leelanau Brewing Co. Congratulations to Ron, and be sure to read the whole article here.
• Now on tap at Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery, 207 E. Washington, is Schakolad Weizen, a 5.5 percent ABV ale featuring Cluster hops and chocolate from Schakolad Chocolate Factory, 110 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Although I'm not a big chocolate lover, I must admit to digging this brew, and you can grab a very affordable (half off) pint during their regular (3-6 p.m.) or late night (10 p.m. to midnight) happy hours (and also next door at Café Habana).
• The Honest Pint Project, a national effort aimed at highlighting those establishments that definitely do not shortchange beer drinkers by serving draughts in smaller glasses, has so far certified three local brewpubs as purveyors of honest pints: Arbor Brewing Co., Original Gravity Brewing Co. (440 County, Milan) and Liberty Street Brewing Co. (149 W. Liberty, Plymouth). Cheers to getting one’s full measure! More information is at www.honestpintproject.org.

That's your full measure of brews fit to pint for this week. Until next time, drink spring!

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit his Web site, DavidBardallis.com, to engage his services or read his latest. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com, follow @dbardallis on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page.