In the meantime, tickets are also starting to go on sale for other big GABF-related events like the Oskar Blues GABF Ordeal, which was described by attendees in 2011 as one of the best things they did in Denver. The journey is a bus trip that takes you through all of the brewery's businesses, from its farm to its brewery to its restaurant. Tickets and details are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/264325.
Wednesday, August 1Strange Brewing taps Vanilla Cone as part of its One Barrel Wednesday program. The cold, creamy beer goes on at 3 p.m.
The Beast returns at 6 p.m. Avery Brewing worships the annual return of its 16 percent ABV Grand Cru today -- and the demon ale will have friends, as Avery will hold a "guided three-year vertical tasting of his manifestations with a pairing of exquisite culinary confections." Admission is very limited; contact the brewery at 303-440-4324 ext. 20 for ticket information.
Old Chicago rolls out its Gold Medal Mini Tour today featuring Wheelsucker Wheat, a beer brewed collaboratively by Avery and Ska to commemorate their yearly BoulDurango bike ride. The Gold Medal Tour is meant to tie into the Summer Olympic Games by including eight beers that have won medals or come from a medal-winning brewery, which leaves a lot of room for selection. Others included in the Mini Tour are Blue Moon Belgian White, Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss, Widmer Hefeweizen, Schneider Weisse Original and Empyrean Luna Sea Extra Special Bitter. The Mini Tour runs through August 19 at all Old Chicago locations.
Thursday, August 2
Copper Kettle will celebrate the life of Alex Teves, who was killed in the Aurora theater shootings, tonight with a charity event that's been approved by his family. Teves was a brew club member at the brewery -- meaning he had special status there. The night will run from 3 to 10 p.m., and Copper Kettle will donate 100 percent of its beer sales to the Ronald McDonald House, where the family requested.
Great American Beer Festival tickets go on sale to the general public today on Tickemaster for $65 a pop. They sold out in a week in 2011. This year? We're betting they're gone in a day. GABF takes place October 11-13.
Friday, August 3
The Bull & Bush continues its 41-day celebration of its 41st birthday this weekend with two concerts and lots of beers. Today, drink the brewery's 40th Anniversary Wheat Wine and check out the Legendary 4-Nikators at 9 p.m. See tomorrow's listing for the other concert. Go to the Bull & Bush web site for all the beer tappings.
Saturday, August 4
TRVE Brewing has been so busy since opening in late June that it had to cut back its hours and close on Sundays. It's been so busy, in fact, that it hasn't been able to fill growlers for its Growler CVLT members. To remedy this, owner Nick Nunns has been brewing like crazy and plans to release his newest beer, Hollow Idol, an India white ale brewed entirely with New Zealand hops. The beer will go on tap this evening (CVLT members get a first taste of it earlier today).
Dad & Dude's Breweria will hold a release party for its revamped Dank IPA, which is being brewed and canned under the authority of Bill Eye of Prost Brewing. American Craft Beer Radio will be in the house at noon, and there will be various giveaways from Dad & Dude's, Bartab and Big Shot Bikes.
The Bull & Bush continues its 41-day celebration of its 41st birthday this weekend with two concerts and lots of beers. Today, drink the brewery's 41st Anniversary Wheat Wine and check out The Samples. Go to the Bull & Bush web site for tickets and all the beer tappings.
The tenth annual Craft Lager & Small Batch Festival takes place today in Memorial Park in Manitou Springs, featuring live music, food and lagers from dozens of breweries in Colorado and around the nation. All day passes, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., are $40.00, while tickets to the morning sessions (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or evening sessions (4 to 8 p.m.) are $30.
Sunday, August 5
Avery Brewing will celebrate its nineteenth birthday by throwing its biggest bash of the year from noon to 5 p.m. General admission tickets, $30, include five twelve-ounce beers, live music and free barbecue. VIP tickets, $50, also include a visit to the Barrel-Aging Cellar for five pourings from some of Avery's rarest batches. Tickets are available at http://ticketalternative.com/Events/19360.aspx.
Monday, August 6
Lone Tree Brewing will features its periodic Beer and Bites event today with guest chef Carey Haller, who recently started in in-home company called Thrive. She'll be serving Cardamom IPA Bread Bites; Smoky Eggplant and Melon Wrap; Asian Edamame Cabbage Boat; Raw Kale Avocado and Tomato Roll; and Black Bean Brownie.
See events later in August on the next page. Saturday, August 11
Denver Beer Co will celebrate its first year in business with a block party that includes live music, food trucks and more than a dozen beers on tap. One of them will be Imperial Graham Cracker Porter, a bigger, badder version of the beer that won an award last year at the Great American Beer Festival. The party runs from 2 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, August 12
Dry Dock Brewing hosts its first annual Pie-A-Palooza today from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Bring a pie (although you should email the brewery first at [email protected] and include your pie category and what beer you think its pairs best with), serving utensils and toppings and hope for the best. Categories include Berry, Fruit, Creamy and Savory/Nut; judging begins at 12:30 p.m. in the barrel room. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
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