GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL

The end of summer quickly leads to the most wonderful time of the year – for beer lovers, that is. Whether you managed to snag one of 60,000 tickets to Great American Beer Festival (we did!) or not, several area restaurants, hotels and breweries offer additional opportunities to experience Colorado’s craft beer scene, up to and during the event, which takes place September 24-26 this year.

The seventh annual Denver Beer Fest, presented by Visit Denver in partnership with the Colorado Brewers Guild, occupies the week leading up to the premier beer festival and competition in the U.S. With more than 300 beer-related events expected to take place at area breweries, restaurants, tap houses and attractions, BPR has pulled some of our favorite ideas to help you celebrate your love of suds from September 18-26, and beyond.

St Julien Hotel & Spa’s Boulder Brew Package

A distinguished member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts LVX Collection, a AAA Four-Diamond Property and a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Hotel, Boulder’s St Julien Hotel & Spa recently launched the Boulder Brew Package in partnership with Avery Brewing Company. One of Boulder’s most beloved brewers, Avery opened a new, and much larger Gunbarrel location on February 16.

The Boulder Brew Package – which will be offered the weekend of GABF – includes a guestroom for two at St Julien Hotel & Spa, an Avery Brewery welcome amenity (two Avery pint glasses and an assortment of Avery Beer waiting in-room upon arrival), a $50 daily food and beverage credit at St Julien Hotel & Spa and transportation to and from the hotel and the brewery for your tour and tasting.

The Renaissance Denver Downtown

The Renaissance Denver Downtown, housed in the historic Colorado National Bank Building, will feature specials leading up to, and during, GABF. Former Future Brewing Co. brews Countinghouse Cream Ale exclusively for the Renaissance Denver Downtown, and during the hotel’s nightly Bar Ritual, from 5-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Former Future will serve complimentary Countinghouse in the hotel’s iconic lobby, “the most beautiful room in Denver,” according to the Denver Post. Additionally, a pretzel necklace station will be available in the lobby each day for patrons to enjoy.

Bittersweet

Each month, Bittersweet, a Washington Park neighborhood fixture with an artisanal approach to handcrafted cuisine, introduces a seasonal tasting menu. Offered every Thursday, and priced at $50 per person, Thursday Tasting Menus are comprised of four courses with wine pairings. In celebration of GABF, however, September’s Thursday Tasting Menu will be paired with four unique beers.

  • Bière de Garde, or “beer for keeping,” is a strong pale ale or keeping beer traditionally brewed in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. It was traditionally brewed in farmhouses in winter and spring, in order to avoid unpredictable problems with the yeast during summer. Although farmhouse production is now supplemented by commercial production, most brewers are small businesses.
  • Gouden Carolus Van De Keizer Rood is a Belgium beer brewed once per year in celebration of Charles V’s birthday, who was born where the brewery is located.
  • Duchesse de Bourgogne is fermented twice and matured in oak barrels for 18 months. The beer is named for Duchess Mary of Burgundy, the only daughter of Charles the Bold.
  • Louis Premium Peche is a Belgian fruit beer with a summery, refreshing taste. It has the lowest alcohol content of any beer in the St. Louis region, with an alcohol content of 3.5 percent.

How will you celebrate GABF?