Can You Dig It?

Most people are only interested in what's inside their beer can. But most people aren't members of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America (BCCA), the 4,000-member outfit that will hold its 37th annual CANvention today through September 1 at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 1550 Court Place. Denver adman and beer fan Lew Cady is one of a small group who's been to every one of the CANventions — "we're down to about three six-packs" — including the only other CANvention held in Denver, back in 1974. "Me, personally, I'm hardly interested in cans at all," Cady says. "I'm interested in the phenomenon and these interesting people. It's like a week-long party to me."

The party starts with room-to-room trading of "breweriana" — advertising, souvenirs and cans, of course (the BCCA even sells handy totes in two sizes, twelve-ounce and sixteen-ounce) — on the seven hotel floors where the hundreds of attendees will stay, each floor equipped with a beer station "where you can grab a brew to enjoy as you work your way around that floor," according to the BCCA program.

Technically, the trading, business meetings, tastings and seminars — including "15 Things Your Brewer Never Told You" and "The History and Preservation of the Alpen Brau Ghost Sign" — and awards banquet where brewpub owner and Denver mayor John Hickenlooper will speak, are open only to registrants and their guests. But on Saturday, the trade floor, with all its displays of beer memorabilia and, yes, cans, will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a $5 fee that can be applied to a BCCA membership. For more on the CANvention, go to www.bcca.com.
Sat., Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.