Maritime Pacific Brewing Company was selected to be the official 2011 Seattle Beer Week brewery and had the honor to make the 2011 Seattle Beer Week beer.

The Martitime Pacific crew have been brewing the Seattle Beer Week beer, the Decompression Ale, since March and will be available for its first tapping tonight at the Jolly Roger Taproom.

Brewed exclusively with Falconer Flight hops, the Decompression is a beast, said head brewer, Corey Blodgett in a note on the website.

"The color is designed to remind you of the sun setting beyond the Olympics to the west. Thanks to the careful addition of Falconer’s Flight hops, you will have no doubt you are in the Pacific Northwest. Decompression’s strength and complementary malt complexity nudges you on the shoulder and says, “It is spring in Seattle," Blodgett describes.

Seattle Beer Week's official kick-off will take place at the Jolly Roger Taproom at 5:30 p.m. with the Mayor's Proclamation and the first tapping of the SBW beer but events will start as early as 11 a.m. today.

Today's schedule of SBW events:

- 11:00 a.m. The Elliot Bay IPA Feast kicks off at 11 a.m in West Seattle with five house-brewed IPA's served on one sampler tray.
- 5:00 p.m. it's time for Lazy Boy Brewers Night. Head over to Everett's own Lazy Boy Brewing for 10 dollar beer flights.
- 05:30 p.m. Shmaltz & Vine - Taste through a variety of Shmaltz's beers while carousing with one of Coney Island's favorite sideshow freaks!
- 06:00 p.m. SEATTLE CASK-O-RAMA! - All Seattle breweries, all casks, all on the bartop!
- 06:00 p.m. Hale's Brewer's Dinner @ Deluxe - The DeLuxe Bar & Grill
- 06:00 p.m. North End Kick Off @ Fred's
- 06:00 p.m. Schooner Exact Night - Tasting with Schooner Exact Brewing
- 06:00 p.m. Upright Brewing @ Old Town Alehouse - Upright Brewing Night. Come support an innovative Belgian- inspired brewery showcasing Northwest ingrediants and unique brewing styles.
- 06:00 p.m. Bayern Brewery Night - Bayern Brewery Night! Thurs.
- 06:00 p.m. Colorado invades Ballard!! - Colorado takes over the taps at the Barking Dog Alehouse. Beers from New Belgium, Left Hand, Oskar Blues and Boulder Brewing.
- 07:00 p.m. Alaskan Brewery Smokin' Beer Dinner - Julia’s on Broadway and Alaskan Brewery Smokin’ Beer Dinner Celebrating Seattle Beer Week.
- 07:00 p.m. SBW Kick-Off Stop 2 at Brouwer's Cafe - The party Rolls on through Brouwer's Cafe
- 08:00 p.m. SBW Kick-Off Stop 3 at Pyramid - Stop 3 takes us to Pyramid to continue rocking the start of Seattle Beer Week before Our final stop of the night.
- 08:00 p.m. Carnies and Cornies - Seattle's newest and favoritest Carnival-themed bar will be playing host to Zak from Shmaltz and (more impressively) Donny Vomit.
- 09:00 p.m. SBW Kick-Off Stop 4 at Naked City! - There are 24 taps in the Naked City. 12 taps will be dedicated for our very own beers. The remaining 12 taps with beers from Seattle breweries.
- 09:00 p.m. Heavy Metal Beer Bash - Come finish off opening day of SBW with live searing metal from Midnight, Lightning Swords of Death, Saviors and Black Queen!
- 10:00 p.m. Heavy Metal Beer Bash! - A real live, wax spinning Heavy Metal DJ blowing the walls down, and metal-inspired brews from 21-A, Left Hand and Skagit River.

For more info on Seattle Beer Week and to see the schedule for the coming SBW days, go to: www.seattlebeerweek.com.