By Rick Karlin

Contributing writer

One of the nice things about the advent of fall is the preponderance of events celebrating that universal beverage, beer. Whether you enjoy a lager, pilsner, bock, stout or ale, it seems that there’s a beer for everyone.

As early as 1587, Virginia colonists brewed ale using corn. They would have to wait at least 20 years before their first shipment of the cold stuff arrived from England. Remember that next time you’re complaining about slow service! Americans’ love for beer is so strong that during Prohibition, more than a dozen manufacturers continued to produce “near beer” (beverages with an alcohol content of 3.2 or less), which kept them in business until prohibition was repealed.

Oktoberfest is a worldwide celebration of all things beer. We can thank Prince Ludwig of Bavaria for its beginnings in 1810 as a celebration of his marriage. The general public was invited to share in his celebration, an unusual event for that era. Almost 200 years later, year after year, the celebration is held at the same location, a Bavarian event that has become a celebration of life for the entire world.

Although beer is great at barbecues and ball games (as well as the prince’s wedding), it is quickly climbing up the drink status ladder, with brews being marketed as “top shelf” premium brands, designed to pair with fine dining. Restaurants, noting this trend, have begun hosting beer-tasting dinners and special menus in an effort to educate their customers and refine their palates.

In Chicago, if there’s one name synonymous with beer, it’s Berghoff. The more than 100-years-old beer hall-cum-restaurant has been taken over by Carlyn Berghoff, the fourth generation in her family to run the business. In the past year or so, she has given the newly christened 17West at the Berghoff an updated menu, yet managed to keep the old European feel. From Sept. 12-14 she hosts her company’s annual Oktoberfest celebration from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kluczynski Federal Plaza. In addition to the house lager and root beer, classic dishes such as bratwurst are available. For more information, check out 17westchicago.com.

To prove that beer really is universal, Red Light, 820 W. Randolph, hosts an “East Meets West” beer dinner Sept. 27. The $65 per person dinner (limited to 60 guests) begins at 5 p.m. with passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seated dinner starting at 6 p.m. Among the beers being sampled are Sapporo, Tsing Tao, Singha, Goose Island Harvest Ale and Pere Jacques. Call (312) 733-8880 or check out the restaurant’s website, redlight-chicago.com.

Le Lan, 749 N. Clark, and Unibroue Brewery host a beer and food paired dinner Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Executive Chef Bill Kim offers a six-course small plates menu with selected beer pairings from the artisanal brewery of Quebec, Canada. Le Lan's special menu is priced at $65 per person and includes Éphémère Apple Beer and La Fin Du Monde, triple-fermented Belgian-style ale, among others. Call Le Lan, (312) 280-9100 or go to lelanrestaurant.com to make your reservation.

If beer’s not your thing, you might want to try a port-tasting dinner at Carlucci, 1801 Butterfield Rd. in Downers Grove Sept. 22. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. and is $30 per person. Miguel Corte Real, the winemaker for Cockburn’s port, leads this tasting. Eight ports are sampled and paired with appetizers during the event. Among the ports being sampled are fine ruby, special reserve, late bottled vintages (2000 & 2003), Quinta Dos Canais (2003) and a 10- and a 20-year Tawny. Contact Carlucci for reservations at (630) 512-0990.