By Donavan Hall, Beer Columnist

I know all you wine enthusiasts do occasionally open up a bottle of beer (or two). I also know that as folks that appreciate better wine, you also appreciate better beer, what most folks call "craft beer." When you reach for a craft beer next week, make it an American craft beer. I'll tell you why.

American Craft Beer Week starts on May 11 and runs through the 17th. All that we craft beer enthusiasts are asking you to do is when you reach for that beer to choose an American craft beer. And, if you are Long Island, visit one of the breweries near you and tell them you are there to celebrate the American craft beer scene.

You can find a list of the local breweries on my site.

This week-long celebration of American Craft beer started in 2006 when the U.S. Congress passed House Resolution 753. That year I did a wild tour of Long Island visiting every single brewery. If you can't do that you should at least visit one.

The premiere craft beer event on Long Island that week is the Long Island Brewer's Dinner on Monday May 11. This is the second year that the Black Forest Brew Haus in Farmingdale has hosted the event. The party starts a 6 p.m. with appetizers and Long Island Maibocks. The five-course dinner starts at 7 p.m. with beers from the Black Forest, Blue Point, the Brickhouse, John Harvard's, and Southampton being featured. Give the Black Forest a call to reserve: 631-391-9500. The price is $60 plus tax and gratuity.

Also, I want to ask a favor of all you wine enthusiasts. Long Island isn't listed on the "Favorite Beer City, USA" poll that Charlie Papazian is sponsoring. What I want you to do is go to his poll, scroll down, and under "Other" type in "Long Island". We need at least fifty votes to get put officially on the poll.

I know that not every wine enthusiasts will know who Charlie Papazian is, but he's a very important guy in the craft beer world. He's not only president of the Brewers Association, but he's one of the most well know homebrewing evangelists in the world. I learned to brew from reading Charlie's homebrewing book. I've adopted his motto for my life: "Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew!" And you can't get more American than that.