File under “Cool shit in Sacramento that makes us world class” …

The city’s most popular local brewery, Track 7, will host its first ever Invitational Festival this year during Sacramento Beer Week.

The skinny: Only 500 tickets, 50 bucks a pop, on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets. They’re bringing in some of the best IPAs in the state, from the likes of Societe, Fieldwork, Sante Adairius, Cellarmaker, Faction and Kern River breweries. 

“We wanted to do a fun event with the best new breweries and some of our personal favorites as a way to give back to Sacramento during Beer Week,” head brewer and co-owner Ryan Graham wrote in an email. “Most of these breweries are out of market and excited about making the trip to Sacramento for the event.  I’m very excited about the quality of beer and the talent that will be participating.”

The irony: When Track 7 first opened, they didn’t include an IPA on their lineup.

More details from Track 7: “The IPA, Specialty IPA and Anything Goes Invitational is scheduled for February 28 from 12-4 at the Natomas taproom. We will only be selling 500 tickets at $50/piece for this intimate gathering of exceptional craft breweries in the Western United States. The list of the participating breweries is below. The competition will consist of three categories that will be judged based on (1) best use of hops in an IPA (2) best use of specialty ingredient or process in a Specialty IPA (3) People’s Choice which includes the Anything Goes beer as well as the IPAs and Specialty IPAs. Come have a pint and get your ticket this New Year’s Eve.

The tickets will be available for purchase online the following day until sold out.”

Find out more at Track 7’s Facebook and website. 

Other cool factoid: I get to judge at the Invitational (yes, I know how lucky I am!).

Sacramento Beer Week is February 25 to March 6.