Local beer expert Andy Baker's informal House of Brews beer- tasting is a little-known pau-hana weekly for beer lovers amid the laid-back urban cool atmosphere of brew- and-pizza-lounge Bar 35.

HOUSE OF BREWS

Where: Bar 35, 35 N. Hotel St.

When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays

The appeal: An informal, themed beer-tasting that lends international and domestic suds the nobility of a vino sampling. Eight beers over nine 5-ounce samples. Gourmet pizza slices. Beer smarts. All worth it for $20.

Selected and hosted by: Andy Baker, founder of beer-and-food-pairing monthly Hops & Grinds at The Willows, self-taught expert on all things beer-related.

Here we are now, entertain us: You'll find a flier with brief facts about each of the evening's brews — type of beer, brewery history, flavors to look for, etc. — on each table. Let your server know you want in, and a first sample arrives with a wristband. Consume samples at your own pace, handing over numbered stubs from your wristband as you finish each of the eight brews. Your ninth stub is for another go at your favorite.

To learn or not to learn: Baker moves around, talking story about the brews. Got a question? Ask the genial Baker about anything from the basics (what, exactly, is a hop?) to the expert (what was done in fermentation to get this gravity?). Want to enjoy your brews without the personal discourse? Andy's cool with that, too.

Themes change each week: And may focus on regions, a single brewery, seasonal brews or specific types of beer.

Pizza for thought: Samples of way tasty on- and off-the-menu Bar 35 house-made gourmet pizzas are proffered throughout.

Best time to arrive: Early, if you want to sample all the pizza varieties — they come out one at a time and don't repeat — served until 8 p.m.

Upcoming themes: "What Ales You?" — ale knowledge and a sampling of ale varieties — Oct. 3; beers from Oregon-based Rogue Ales on Oct. 10.

To find out each week's theme: Join Baker's e-mail list at rampgroup@hawaiiantel.net.

NIGHT NOTES ...

FRoGSTOMP

Just-opened Waikiki Mexican restaurant and cantina Señor Frog's throws down its promised first club event this week with the debut of Cancun Thursdays. Flash & Matty and Vertical Junkies are collaborating for the 9 p.m., 21-and-older party promising mash-up tunes, and margarita and tequila shot specials. The ever-busy F&M crew launches its new, designed-for-the-18-and-older set weekly The Market the next evening at Zanzabar.

TRIPPIN' THE LIGHTS

Not after dark, but worth checking out ... The Lightsleepers crew offers another outing of its beat battle series, Trip The Lights: Beatroot 6, Saturday at rRed Elephant Cafe from 1 to 5 p.m. Performances by Parlous, Fat Soul, Nabahe and Kavet the Catalyst; spins from Observ, Oliver Twist, MattRatt and KTC. Plus, an Angry Woebots artist battle.

THE 86 LIST AT 8

Help Josh86, Derek86 and Otto celebrate the eighth birthday of their veteran punk band at Anna Bannana's tonight from 9. It's free. You can bring a gift.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.