Friday, March 30
Grandma's House, 1710 South Broadway, has established itself as a center of crafting and brewing in Denver; with frequent cross-stitch, sewing and knitting classes, the taproom is the second-best place in town (other than the saggy IKEA couch in your own living room) to tie one on while you're tying those artisan fly-fishing lures. On Friday, March 30, you won't even need to sign up for a class — just show up at 7 p.m., when the tables will be covered in paper and art supplies, so you can draw your filthiest, funniest cartoons. The only cost will be for the beer (and your dignity). Visit the Dirty Doodles Facebook page for details.
If you're curious about Collaboration Fest, but balk at the thought of the crowds, lines or ticket prices, treat yourself to a mini-fest at Finn's Manor on Friday, March 30. The bar and food-truck landing, 2927 Larimer Street, will be hosting a Collab Fest preview party starting at 8 p.m., with a very manageable three beer partnerships on tap throughout the evening. Ratio and Ska, Lone Tree and Cannonball Creek, and Great Divide and 4 Noses will be represented; see the event's Facebook page for more information about the beers. You'll feel the sense of accomplishment that comes from sampling all the offerings without that pesky alcohol poisoning.
Saturday, March 31
Those whose tastes lean more towards extravagance than temperance will want to clear their calendars (and possibly call in sick to work) from Saturday, March 31, through Saturday, April 7; Colorado Craft Beer Week kicks off with Collaboration Fest (below), but the next seven days are packed with suds-centric events. Starting Sunday, April 1, breweries around the state will be boasting beer releases, food pairings, specials, classes and tours along daily themes (education, food and beer, Colorado pint day, craft beer gear, new beer, and meet-the-brewer). Find a complete schedule of events at coloradobeer.org, and steel your liver for a week of barley-based excess.
Imagine that old stalwart The Dating Game was still on the air. Imagine you went on it and didn't end up on a date with a serial killer; instead, you went out with a nice boy or girl and had to brew a beer together the first time you met. In a nutshell, that's the premise of Collaboration Fest. The beer festival has spent the past five years teaming up breweries and seeing what maniacal brews come from the partnership. This year, the fun is moving to bigger digs at the Hyatt Regency Denver, 650 15th Street, where on Saturday, March 31, you'll be able to imbibe creations from nearly 100 teams of brewers. Our most anticipated collabs? Local favorites Our Mutual Friend and TRVE Brewing Co., and Renegade Brewing Co. and French brewery Brasserie du Baril. The event runs from 4 to 7 p.m., though VIP ticket holders get in at 3 p.m. Get your ticket, $65 or $85, at the Collaboration Fest website.
The OG zombie.
Flickr/Michael Starcevic
Brunch is big business every day in Denver, but never more than Sunday, April 1 — the perfect storm of Sunday morning, your hangover, and the resurrection of Christ. The most cursory Googling will point you in the direction of approximately 666 serious brunches you'd be proud to take your parents to, so we're not going to add to the fray; instead, we recommend you hit up Black Sky Brewery, 490 Santa Fe Drive, for its April Fool's! I'm Not Dead Costume Party. Dig up your children's Bible illustrations for inspiration and you may win the costume contest. And while all attendees will probably end up going to hell, at least the road will be paved with beer, Bloody Marys and mimosas. Find out more at Black Sky's Facebook page.
Keep reading for future food and drink events.
