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2018 Colorado Beer Festivals

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Colorado is full of great breweries and of course, great beer. Along with the great beer comes many fun beer festivals around the state. Our list includes some of our favorite festivals and is not meant to be a master list with every beer festival in Colorado. The 2018 Colorado Beer Festival list will continue to grow throughout the year and you can find the updated list here.

2018 Colorado Beer Festivals

Belgian Brewfest – Denver, CO: Belgian Brew Fest started in 2017 as a celebration of Belgian-style beer and the Denver breweries bringing it to life. We pioneered RFID Taste Tracking and Spigot Labs is back with their latest tech. Come enjoy the first outdoor festival of the season with your favorite friends, family, and Flemish Reds!
April 28, 2018

Big Beers, Belgiuns & Barleywines Festival – Breckenridge, CO: A world-class beer festival in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Meet renowned brewmasters and brewery owners, taste hundreds of big, Belgian style, and experimental beers, explore beer & food pairings, and learn from an impressive array of brewmasters and industry experts. January 4-6, 2018

Boulder Craft Beer Fest – Boulder, CO: The 4th Annual Boulder Craft Beer Festival brings together the best craft breweries from Boulder County and beyond for a tasting festival, offering attendees samples of Boulder’s best beer. The festival includes live music and food for purchase. This is a ticketed event for those 21 years of age and older. August 18, 2018

Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival – Breckenridge, CO:  The Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival is one of the coolest events of the spring in the Colorado Rockies!  Featuring brews, views and free live music, the Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival is an event you don’t want to miss. April 8, 2018

Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival – Breckenridge, CO: The Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival is one of the coolest events of the Summer in the Colorado Rockies!  Featuring brews, views and free live music, the Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival is an event you don’t want to miss. July 7, 2018

BrüFrouFEST – Denver, CO: BrüFrouFEST 2017 will not only be the largest craft brewer + chef pairing event in the country, but also the finest. As always, the main attraction will be the finest Colorado craft beer + culinary pairing menu featuring 120 local brewers & chefs collaborating on 80+ unique pairings. 2018 Date TBD

Bruises & Brews Festival – Glendale, CO: Join thousands of rugby fans and beer aficionados at Glendale’s Bruises & Brews Beerfest Saturday, August 25 & 26, 2018 at Infinity Park in Glendale. More than 20 breweries will showcase their top brews, along with a few distilleries and a couple terrific hard ciders. Beer and rugby… they are better together! August 25-26, 2018

Burning Can notjusta BeerFest – Lyons, CO: The 2018 Colorado Burning Can Fest at the Lyons Outdoor Games is the perfect weekend for lovers of adventure, beer, music, and camping. Nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Lyons Colorado boasts a natural playground for runners, riders, kayakers, dogs, and climbers. Featuring adventures to see and watch, a mountain-side beer fest with close to 100 breweries, world class athletes, beautiful camping, and a huge concert, the Burning Can Fest at the Lyons Outdoor Games is quickly growing to be one of the top outdoor lifestyle festivals in the U.S. June 2-3, 2018

Collaboration Festival – Denver, CO: Collaboration Fest returns for a 4th year! Don’t miss out on America’s most creative beer festival featuring 100+ beer projects with over 150 participating breweries. Come for the beers, stay for the conversation! Every beer tapped at Collaboration Fest has a unique story as two or more breweries come together to brew something special. The result? Some of the most exciting, delicious beer tappings you’ll find anywhere. March 31, 2018

Colorado Brewers’ Festival – Fort Collins, CO: Beer (and Music) Fans rejoice! The Colorado Brewers’ Festival returns to Downtown Fort Collins on June 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2018! This iconic event weekend will feature 90+ Colorado beers, 40+ Colorado breweries and an interactive Beer School with tastings and demonstrations. The fest also proudly features some of Northern Colorado’s finest musicians, vendors and food trucks – with no admission charge to enter the festival grounds in Washington Park. June 22-24, 2018

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous – Salida, CO: Over 75 Colorado Breweries celebrate the 21st Annual Colorado Brewers Rendezvous with plenty of food and fun with live music throughout the day! Sample more than 200 different beers from 78 Colorado brewers on Saturday, July 14, in Riverside Park. Hosted by the Salida Chamber of Commerce. It takes place along the banks of the Arkansas River and features great food and music. July 14, 2018

Denver Brew Fest @ Mile High Station –  Denver, CO: The Brew Fest at Mile High Station will celebrate craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond and features; live local music, food, and other vendors. 100+ brews from 45+ craft breweries! There are two Denver Brew Fests, Winter & Summer.
    Winter Brew Fest: January 26-27, 2018 |  Summer Brew Fest: July 27-28, 2018

Easy Brews Beerfest – Aurora, CO: Join us at Easy Brews Beer Festival for an afternoon of unlimited craft beer tastings, food trucks galore, live music from Wake Up & Live all while enjoying the view of the beautiful rocky mountains! All proceeds to benefit the National Hemophilia Foundation: Colorado Chapter. 2018 Date TBD

Erie Brewfest – Erie, CO: 30 Local Colorado Breweries, Regional Food Trucks, Music by local groups. This is the Erie Chamber’s 6th Annual OUTDOOR BREWFEST held in Historic Downtown Erie on Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt. June 9, 2018

Estes Park Winterfest – Estes Park, CO: For those that have been with us from the beginning, you have seen us grow from hosting 1,000 people in year one to over 7,000 last year. This event is quickly becoming a popular festival not only in Colorado, but surrounding states. Micro-brews and Wine tastings from Colorado!
January 13-14, 2018

Evergreen Summerfest & Palette of Brews – Evergreen, CO: Colorado breweries serving unlimited tastes to ticket holders as part of Summerfest on July 21. The event takes place only five minutes off I-70 in Evergreen at the Buchanan Park Athletic Fields (at Hwy 74 & Squaw Pass Rd.). July 21, 2018

Feast of Saint Arnold – Colorado Springs, CO: The 5th Annual Feast of Saint Arnold. “Colorado’s Family Friendly Beer Festival ” showcasing the best of Colorado’s craft brewers, winemakers, and emerging distilleries. It is located on the historic grounds of the Chapel of our Saviour Episcopal Church in the heart of the Broadmoor Neighborhood at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain. June 9, 2018

Great American Beer Festival – Denver, CO: A Denver tradition that takes place each fall. With exhibits manned by more than 400 of the top craft brewers in the nation, attendees are able to sample more than 1,800 different brews. The festival is produced by the Brewers Association, the national trade association for all craft breweries, which is located in Boulder, Colorado. September 20-22, 2018

Hops + Handrails – Longmont, CO: Back for its sixth year, Hops + Handrails Beer Fest & Rail Jam, returns to Longmont, Colorado with the support of Winter Park Resort. The hybrid winter event will feature a 2-day beer fest with 55+ craft breweries. Day 1 will feature a 40’ high snowboard ramp & rail jam competition and headliner Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Day 2 will be a family-focused winter wonderland featuring a sledding & tubing hill. March 24-25, 2018

JUL-IPA Festival – Boulder, CO: A CELEBRATION OF THE BEST & BADDEST IPAs! The West End Tavern and The Millennium Harvest House bring you the Third Annual JUL-IPA Festival. Bringing together brewers, beer geeks + the community. Check back for 2018 info.

Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival – Keystone, CO: Keystone brings the wonders of Appalachia to the Rockies. Down-home cooking, mountain music and a unique blend 30 microbreweries from Colorado and beyond showcase their unique blends of hops and barleys. Live music rocks out on 3 stages. August 4-5, 2018

Lafayette Brewfest – Lafayette, CO: Come and join us for the Lafayette’s Brew Fest featuring craft beers for sale from 25+ breweries.  Explore craft/micro beers one pour at a time! No entrance fee. Tickets sold by 4 oz pours. Visit a variety of restaurant and food booths, wine will also be sold. Only Service Dogs allowed. September 8, 2018

Leadville BBQ & Brew Festival – Leadville, CO: The world’s highest BBQ competition at 10,152′ Don’t miss all of the incredible beer, bbq, and fun to be had in historic and scenic Leadville, CO. The Leadville BBQ & Brew Fest is facilitated by the Leadville/Lake County Chamber of Commerce. June 22-23, 2018

Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival – Manitou Springs, CO: Manitou Springs welcomes 25+ local craft breweries to Memorial Park for the ultimate beer tasting experience! Tickets get you admission unlimited tastings, a commemorative tasting glass, music, food and more. Help support the Manitou Springs Heritage Center in the preservation of Manitou Springs History. September 29, 2018

Palisade Brews & Cruise Festival – Palisade, CO: The Colorado National Bank Brews & Cruise Festival offers an opportunity to taste and chat with fellow beer lovers. We will have several acclaimed craft breweries, beer, and food pairings, live music and the finest quality of handcrafted unique products and arts and crafts. New this year is the VIP tent for 100 serious beer lovers. May 5, 2018

Parker Brewfest – Parker, CO: Many of the best, local craft brewers from Douglas and surrounding counties will showcase their products for sampling and discussions with attendees. 100% of proceeds from this event go to our Rotary Club’s support for many local projects and organizations and can be eligible for matching funds from our Rotary District 5450. August 18, 2018

Rocky Mountain Beer Festival Tour – Boulder & Louisville, CO
The Rocky Mountain Beer Festival Tour brings together the best for your summer afternoon – refreshing craft beer, live music from local artists, and classic lawn games – in a family-friendly forum for breweries to showcase their best products. June 23, 2018 Community Park in Louisville and September 3, 2018 Hometown Festival, Boulder.

Red, Whites and Brews in The Boat –  Steamboat Springs, CO – The Reds Whites & Brews In The Boat Festival (formally known as Reds Whites & Brews) is proud to announce we’re moving to Steamboat Springs this June. The Reds, Whites & Brews Festival has evolved to become a ‘don’t miss’ event of the summer!  This event will feature amazing unlimited wine & craft beer tastings, LIVE music, vendors and food all in beautiful Downtown Steamboat Springs. June 23, 2018

Save the Ales – Denver, CO
Raise a glass with friends while helping Conservation Colorado raise funds to protect, conserve, and ensure a future with plenty of clean water for all Coloradans. Because no water means no beer! Your Save the Ales ticket purchase will help Conservation Colorado educate citizens on how to be stewards of water, collaborate with lawmakers to protect water at the policy level, and encourage people to stand up for the basic human right to clean, healthy water for all. 2018 Date TBD

South Denver Beer Fest – Littleton, CO: South Denver Beer Fest features over 60 breweries both local and national. The festival takes place in beautiful Clement Park in Littleton, Colorado.  The festival is set next to a lake with Rocky Mountain views in a distance.Guests will have the opportunity to sample over 150 beers and vote for their favorites in a variety of categories. Check back for 2018 info

Steel City Brewfest & Competition – Pueblo, CO: Join us at the beautiful Pueblo Riverwalk for the 4th Annual Steel City Brew Fest. This event is part of the 17th Annual Loaf ‘N Jug Boats, Bands and BBQ Festival, presented by Loaf ‘ N Jug, an annual event that draws over 30,000 people over a two day period. The Steel City Brew Fest will allow participants to sample beer from both Colorado and national craft breweries. This event benefits the HARP Foundation, a 501(c)(3). 2018 Date TBD

Steers and Beers Brewfest with Whiskey – Colorado Springs, CO: There will be hundreds of brews and spirits to sample. Yes, we said spirits too. It’s a Whiskey and Beer Brew Fest. Step into the RNDC Whiskey Trail Rooms to listen to some live music and enjoy some of the top whiskey out there served to you by whiskey professionals. August 18, 2018

Taste of the West – Golden, CO: Taste of the West is the premier culinary event in Jefferson County, Colorado. The “Taste” will feature award-winning cuisine from many of Jeffco’s best restaurants and caterers. In addition to tasty food samples, the festival will feature an assortment of beer from local breweries, wine and culinary exhibitors. 2018 marks the 4th year for our Taste of The West beer garden, which highlights the great local craft beer from Jefferson County. June 7, 2018

The All Colorado Beer Festival – Colorado Springs, CO: Lots of Great Colorado Beers. Lovers of Colorado Beer allow the All Colorado Beer Festival to distribute over $80,000 to very deserving charities during the past five years. The festival is located in Colorado Springs, CO. November 10, 2018

The Springs Beer Fest – Colorado Springs, CO: Enjoy a fun-filled day of bottomless, fresh, craft beer samplings from over 55 Notable Craft Brewers. Join 4,000 beer enthusiasts for an afternoon of live music, local vendors, and local fare from food trucks and area restaurants. July 21, 2018

Ullr Grass Music & Beer Festival – Golden, CO: Enjoy a fun-filled day of bottomless, fresh, craft beer samplings from over 20 notable craft brewers along with an afternoon of live music, local vendors, and local fare from food trucks in lovely Parfet Park Golden, CO.  Beer Festival sampling comes with a commemorative sampling cup and bottomless tasting from 1-4 PM January 26-28, 2018.

Westy Craft Brew Fest – Westminster, CO: Westminster’s premier beer festival is back and better than ever! Presented by RE/MAX Alliance, this year’s event features more than 45 regional breweries! Enjoy unlimited 5-oz beer samples while enjoying live music, food trucks, an enhanced VIP experience, and unparalleled vistas of the Front Range. Free childcare available on site. Buy your ticket in advance and $save! Tickets are limited so you can enjoy the beer — not long lines. July 28, 2018

Wild West Fermentation Fest – Glenwood Springs, CO: The Glenwood Springs Historical Society and Roaring Fork Events look forward to spending the weekend with you at the 2nd Annual Wild West Fermentation Fest. Craft Breweries ♦ Cideries ♦ Distilleries ♦ Wineries ♦ Music ♦ Art ♦ Food. June 29-30, 2018

Black Shirt Brewing Company – Denver, CO

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Black Shirt Brewing Company is located in the River North (RiNo) district in Denver, near the intersection of Walnut and Downing. Just north of the brewery, maybe a couple hundred yards away, is a stop for RTD’s A-Line Light Rail line. Many travelers either heading out to DIA or coming from DIA to Denver, stop at Black Shirt Brewing to try a fresh Colorado craft beer. Due to their unique location, Black Shirt has loyal fans all over the country that enjoy stopping in when they visit Colorado. Black Shirt is one of the must-try breweries in the Denver area whether you live nearby or you’re planning to visit from another state.

History:
Black Shirt Brewing Company’s story began in 2011 when brothers Branden and Chad Miller along with Chad’s wife, Carissa, decided it was finally time to realize their dream of owning a brewery. The siblings had the idea to make this happen as far back as 1999, but like they say, “good things take time”. With help from Carissa’s brother, Aaron Holstad, they worked long hours to transition the old brick building into a functioning brewery. The building is thought to be from the 1920s and there are varying stories as to its exact history. From a furniture store in the 50s to a disco in the 60s-70s, to a brothel sometime along the way (not confirmed), the building had a lot of history.

The owners worked hard to begin the next chapter for the building as it transitioned to a brewery. For nearly two years (one year, 9 months) Branden, Chad and Aaron worked to renovate what they could as they were paying for improvements as they went. Due to the fact they had a small budget, every single piece of the brewery was touched by one of the three. There are some really cool touches to the construction that have unique stories. For instance, the barn wood was brought in from Branden and Chad’s hometown.

Black Shirt Brewing Owners Branden and Chad Miller are Colorado natives, having grown up in the Southern Colorado town of Westcliffe, CO. They will proudly tell you that they are in fact, 5th generation Coloradans. The brothers gravitated towards skateboards and the music of Johnny Cash, while preferring their clothes to be black. It wasn’t what all of the popular kids did, it was what Branden and Chad did. When they decided to open the brewery, Branden and Chad thought it was important to stay true to their style and design things to fit what they liked. When you walk in Black Shirt Brewing, you quickly notice pictures of Johnny Cash and many references to music on the walls. You will hear music playing and it might just be coming from the back patio.

The Beer:
One of the questions we like to ask at Colorado Craft Brews is what makes a brewery unique from the others. For Black Shirt this is an easy question to answer. Black Shirt specializes in Red Ales, a style of beer that is an uncommon focus among most breweries. Sure, most breweries brew a Red IPA from time to time, or a Red Ale for a seasonal, but very few focus on primarily brewing Red Ales. When we asked Branden Miller why he chose to brew Red Ales, he quickly told the story of his dad and the fact he believes it’s best to one thing and do it better than everyone else.

Branden and Chad decided to pursue brewing Red Ales for a number of reasons. Colorado is a Spanish adjective that means “red”. Early Spanish explorers named Colorado for the red that could be found around the state. A great example of this is the area in Southern Colorado where Branden and Chad grew up. This area is known for being the home of the Sangro de Christo Mountains. Sangre de Christo means “the blood of Christ” in reference to the red hues of the mountain range. Branden thought Red Ales were being done well but there was definitely room for improvement. Ultimately, it seemed fitting that in a state known for its red soil and red rock formations, he could brew Red Ales and brew them better than anyone else.

We sampled a number of Black Shirt’s beers and were impressed by the variety and quality of the samples. While difficult to pick a favorite, we thoroughly enjoyed the Frontmaniac IPA. Hop lovers will enjoy this big, bold IPA with a smooth finish. The Baritone Black IPA stood out for the earthy, piney notes – definitely a beer we will be trying again. The Colorado Red Ale (Black Shirt’s flagship beer) has floral and citrusy notes that make it a favorite for American IPA drinkers. If you prefer lighter, less hoppy beers, the Semitone Saison, Common Red Kolsch are great options. One thing we noted in trying some of the higher ABV (alcohol by volume) beers was that they were not overpowering, each was smooth and balanced. Often times, higher ABV beers can be either too hoppy or too malty. Overall, we enjoyed the tastings and would recommend Black Shirt’s beer to anyone from craft beer fanatics to those that are looking to try craft beer for the first time.

Beer List:

  • Born to Hula (Nitro) – Sour Ale: 6.5% abv – Sour Ale conditioned atop Pineapple and Coconut, dry-hopped w/ Citra
  • Common Red – Kolsch: 5.5% abv – Crisp, clean, and crushable
  • Semitone – Saison: 5.4% abv – Petit Saison brewed with sweet orange peel
  • Stringender Saison – Saison: 7.5% abv – An amplified, resonant and expressive Saison
  • Timekeeper Rye Pale Ale – American Pale Ale: 6% – A precise, balanced and crisp Rye Pale Ale
  • Colorado Red Ale – Amber Ale: 7.3% abv – The flagship beer, a floral citrusy Red IPA
  • Frontmaniac IPA – IPA: 7% abv – Hopped to a rate of over 5 lbs per barrel of Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops
  • Blood Orange – Double IPA: 8% abv – Double IPA conditioned atop fresh blood oranges and double dry-hopped w/ Mosaic and Amarillo hops
  • Ocean of Noise – Gose: 5.4% abv – Gose brewed w/ Yuzu, Lemongrass, Hawaiian Red Gold Sea Salt, dry-hopped w/ Equinox and Hallertau Blanc
  • Fourtrack Porter – Porter: 6.3% abv – American Porter w/ notes of milk chocolate, caramel and toffee
  • Baritone – Black IPA: 7.5%: Dark and brooding Black IPA inspired by the original man in black Johnny Cash. Warrior, Chinook and Simcoe hops
  • Black Beacon Storm Nitro – Imperial Stout: 8.5% abv – Imperial Rye Stout aged in a variety of bourbon barrels.
  • Frontman IPA – IPA: 7.3% – A mic’d up, hoppy and loud IPA brewed w/ Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic Hops.

Black Shirt Brewing distributes their beer in many liquor stores around the metro Denver area. You can also find Black Shirt in a handful of mountain towns including, Buena Vista, Gunnison, Salida and Crested Butte. If you want to find a location near you that sells Black Shirt’s beer try their beer locator. The best way to enjoy a Black Shirt beer is to visit the taproom. If you can make it on the first Wednesday of the month, you’ll be able to try a new release beer and help raise money for local charities. $1 from each sale of the special release beer is donated to a local charity. If you are not able to make it on the first Wednesday, you can still try the new release beer for the entire month, until the next special release (and your purchase still helps raise money for charity).

Events:
We mentioned that you may hear music coming from the beer garden at Black Shirt. They have a stage in the back that is a hot spot for artists in the local music scene. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Black Shirt hosts live bands on the stage and welcomes fans to enjoy music with a fresh craft beer.Be sure to check the schedule as there are many events going on throughout the spring and summer.

We would like to thank Branden Miller for taking time to chat about Colorado craft beer. It was apparent in our discussion how passionate Branden is about brewing high quality beer. We encourage anyone reading this to make a trip to Black Shirt Brewing to enjoy a delicious beer, you won’t be disappointed. If you would like to learn more about how they got their start, you can see Black Shirt in a craft beer documentary called Crafting a Nation.

Black Shirt Brewing Company
3719 Walnut St.
Dener, CO 80205
(303) 993-2799