Beer, bites and more beer this weekend on the culinary calendar

Craft Beer Week kicks off today in Denver, with dozens of beer-themed events -- including the Collaboration Fest on Saturday. But a brand-new food festival also makes its debut this weekend (with beer, of course), so get out and enjoy the start of spring by drinking in Colorado's rich craft-beer...

By Ben Landreth

March 21, 2014

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Craft Beer Week kicks off today in Denver, with dozens of beer-themed events -- including the Collaboration Fest on Saturday. But a brand-new food festival also makes its debut this weekend (with beer, of course), so get out and enjoy the start of spring by drinking in Colorado's rich craft-beer and local food scenes.

Friday, March 21

Dulce Vida has finished transforming the former Cherokee Grill into a new neighborhood watering hole, and it will be celebrating its grand opening all weekend. From noon to 9 p.m. it will be hosting a Craft Beer Week kick-off party featuring Ska, Left Hand, Bristol, Funkwerks, Upslope and River North Brewing on its six-tap draft trailer in addition to sixteen taps at the main bar. And the party continues from noon to midnight Saturday, with drink specials, food samples and a chance to meet the staff.

To raise funds for the Colorado Brewers Guild, Epic Brewing will tap four firkins at 4 p.m. today: Sour Apple Saison, Santa Cruz Brown, Escape to Colorado IPA and State Stout. You can grab a flight of all four or a full pour of any one for just $5.

Saturday, March 22

A newcomer to the food festival circuit, A Bite of the Rockies is an indoor culinary event that will feature more than forty local restaurants and food trucks, along with 200-plus vendors. A culinary stage will feature Denver area chefs and cooking schools, an entertainment stage will highlight local talent, including the Colorado Symphony, and there's a kid's corner with games and activities. You can grab a taste at A Bite of the Rockies from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Denver Merchandise Mart, 451 East 58th Avenue; admission is only $5 (free for children ages twelve and under), and tasting tickets are fifteen for $10. For more information, check out abiteoftherockies.com.

As part of Colorado Craft Beer Week, over 35 new Colorado Collaboration beers will be released at Collaboration Festival today. Each beer was created by at least one Colorado Brewers Guild member in collaboration with a multitude of breweries from near and far; this is the first year that out-of-state brewery involvement was allowed. Exciting collaborations include Denver Beer Co. and Upslope, Avery and Russian River and many many more.The event will be at the Curtis Hotel from 3 to 7 p.m.; admission is $50 (plus fees) for general admission, and $80 for VIP. For tickets and a list of many of the collaborations, go to imbibedenver.com.

Sunday, March 23

Station 26 Brewing is holding its first Bluegrass Brunch today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with music from the Hayward Strangers and doughnuts from Glazed & Confuzed. It's also releasing a Coffee Vanilla Porter just for the occasion.

For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings -- and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to [email protected].

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