I don't think it necessarily qualifies as an "event," but if you haven't already, check out
http://www.beerknurd.com/
Awesome little beer joint. They don't brew anything, but if it's in bottles or kegs, they've got it or can get it.
The one here in Raleigh, NC has ~80 beers on tap and another ~160 in bottles. Their selection changes about quarterly. Right now, they've got 8 different barleywines on tap, ranging from 8-14% - makes for a GREAT Saturday afternoon.
The UFO Club, by the way, tracks the beers you've tried and gives you freebies on your way up to 200 different beers. At 200 you get a placque (i.e. plate, in keeping with the "saucer" theme) on the wall.
I've still got about 50 beers to try to get the plate.
Cheers!
