Heads Up: Denver Beer Fest Returns

Fourth Annual Celebration of All Things Beer Features 100 Suds-Centric Events

DENVER, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Proclaiming Denver as one of the world's great beer cities, VISIT DENVER will present the fourth Denver Beer Fest, October 5-13, 2012. The citywide celebration coincides with America's most prestigious craft beer competition, the Brewers Association's Great American Beer Festival (GABF)®, October 11-13. The nine-day Denver Beer Fest will include rare beer tastings, beer-paired dinners, "brewer vs. brewer" nights, beer tappings, brewery tours, firkin tappings and a variety of entertaining beer events.

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Kicking off Denver Beer Fest on October 5, will be a tapping of a special pumpkin ale brewed by Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. The Mayor started the brewing process by grinding up barley, shoveling grains, and adding hops and pumpkins grown by Denver Urban Gardens to a special brew prepared at the Denver Beer Company, and in conjunction with the Colorado Brewers Guild. 

Denver citizens were asked to go on Facebook to help name this new pumpkin beer. At a press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Denver Beer Company, the Mayor will reveal the name of his new beer and tap the first keg to offer a toast to Denver Beer Fest.  The beer will be sold at Denver Beer Company until it runs out.

The website, DenverBeerFest.com, is a one-stop shop for all things beer connected with the festival, and also includes information about local Denver brewers and brewery tours.

It also includes information about The First Annual Denver Beer Crawl, October 5-13, where twelve of our favorite watering holes and brewers each feature different – and spectacular - Colorado beers. From the tried-and-true to the truly unique, the Denver Beer Crawl has something for every taste, including four different Hops Nouveau beers at Ernie's Bar & Pizza, Belgorado at the Wynkoop, and Prost Hefeweizen at Highland Tap & Burger. Crawl participants can also enter to win tickets to GABF by entering our Denver Beer Crawl Giveaway on the VISIT DENVER Facebook page.

Denver's tap houses, brew pubs, breweries, gastro pub and distillery scene continues to expand with the past year seeing a number of new openings.  There are now more than 24 breweries in metro Denver.

Just some of the fun events during Denver Beer Fest include:

Chipotle FREE Cultivate Food, Ideas & Music Festival at City Park, Oct. 6

This free, one-day festival, featuring food, live music and much more will also feature plenty of beer. Attendees can sample some of the best microbrews and wines from Colorado producers, including Del Norte, Boulder Beer Company, Great Divide, Avery, and many more—all in the Brewer's Hall. What's more, each brewery will create a special beer—just for Cultivate! Free.

Beer Cocktail Tour, Oct. 6 & 13

Sample some of Denver's most creative beer cocktails in LoDo (lower downtown) on a spirited tour through Local Table Tours. Learn about the craft of creating a balanced beer cocktail at home from few of the best bartenders in Denver. $40

Wynkoop Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout Tapping, Oct. 8

It started as an April Fool's stunt, but the beer was just too good! During Denver Beer Fest, Wynkoop Brewing will tap this indigenous stout crafted with that old pioneer favorite – roasted bull testicles! The beer features flavors of roasted malts, coffee and nuts. Free.

Thank the Saints! Beer Event for Women, Oct. 9

Beer lovers of the female persuasion are invited to the Cheeky Monk for a fun night of Belgian beers hosted by the founder of WomenEnjoyingBeer.com, Ginger Johnson. $25

Odell Brewing Co. Beer Dinner at TAG, Oct. 9

One of Colorado's hottest brewers teams up with one of Larimer Square's hottest restaurants for a five-course menu designed to pair perfectly with five different beers from Odell Brewing Co. $58

Burlesque, Beers & Brats, Oct. 10

Naughty but nice! Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret (located beneath Downtown Denver's famed D&F Tower) present a night of fun, food, and free beer! Avery Brewery will offer nine different brews and the Burlesque Starlets will present nine amazing dances, each one tied to a beer in some way, shape, or form. Free brats all night long! $35

The Oskar Blues GABF Ordeal, Oct. 10-12

What a trip! A ride unlike any you've been on before, the Ordeal is a brewy bus tour of everything Oskar Blues, one of Colorado's signature craft beer makers. Visit the original brewpub in Lyons, Hops & Heifers Farm, Home Made Liquids & Solids Restaurant, and the brewery in Longmont. $60

Hooves & Hops Dinner at Osteria Marco, Oct. 10

One of the city's most acclaimed eateries, Osteria Marco will welcome beer enthusiasts from near and far for a five-course "Hooves & Hops" feast with beer pairings from Durango-based SKA Brewing Company. Executive Chef Burton Koelliker's menu has been carefully crafted to pair well with some of SKA's classic beers, moving from the brewery's hoppy Euphoria Pale Ale to its rich Steel Toe Milk Stout. $55

Craft Beer Tour with Culinary Connectors, Oct. 10

Join Denver's food and drink experts on this casual walking craft beer tour of Denver's well established beer community. Get a behind the scenes look at one craft beer brewery on a quick tour and a tasty beer and then head out to three craft beer bars, enjoying hoppy beverages along the way.

Avery Pucker Up Poker Run, Oct. 12

A crazy crawl among five of Denver's premier pubs! At each stop, players will get a 4oz. pour of a rare, barrel-aged sour beer, a 6oz. pour of a palate cleansing beer, and a playing card. Start at the Falling Rock Tap House at 11am, and split up into groups to visit Lucky Pie Pizza & Tap House, Highland Tap and Burger, Euclid Hall, and finish at Star Bar. Tickets-$45, best poker hand at the end wins a prize! Dress wild, bike it or walk it but don't drink and drive.

About Denver Beer Fest
The event was created by VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, to offer more beer events around the Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) – organized by the Brewers Association – and also give local breweries, tap houses, bars and restaurants an opportunity to showcase their products to the 50,000 beer lovers who attend the granddaddy of beer festivals, as well as Denver locals who can't make GABF 2012.  Denver Beer Fest is presented by VISIT DENVER, in partnership with the Colorado Brewers Guild and Denver Westword.  This year's sponsors include Boelter, the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID), Denver Yellow Cab, Frontier Airlines and RTD-Denver. Visit DenverBeerFest.com for more information about the citywide event, or for more about GABF 2012, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $3.3 billion in annual spending in 2011, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER, on Twitter @iknowdenver and the VISIT DENVER Facebook page, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau