Does rockflavored beer rock?
Find out at Collaboration Fest on March 31
Colorado Craft Beer Week launches March 31 with a celebration of innovation and collaboration — two elements that help define the industry.
The beer party begins with Collaboration Fest, now in its fifth year. The event at the Hyatt Regency in Denver features beers made with two or more breweries and often showcases off-the-wall styles and ingredients, like ones made this year with rocks and a plant fungus.
“We have breweries creating new styles … and using ingredients I’ve never seen in a beer before,” said Alexandra Weissner, one of the festival’s promoters.
Not all the beers taste great, but usually, the creativity is worth at least a sip. And for those looking for the staples — hops, wild ales and big stouts — there’s plenty on the list of roughly 135 beers. More than 200 breweries are participating, representing 42 states and six countries.
This year, craft beer fans voted as part of a crowd-sourced collaboration beer with Little Machine brewery in Denver to help pick the ingredients for a saison.
The festival is just the start of the Colorado Brewers Guild’s annual celebration. This year, each day has a theme.
Make sure to check out the education seminars Monday, such as the sensory tasting event at Call to Arms Brewing in Denver. And Wednesday is Colorado Pint Day with a special glass — celebrating the state’s 300-some days of sunshine and 300-plus craft breweries — available at dozens of breweries.
On Friday, breweries will tap new beers, and on the final day, April 7, breweries will be offering tours, including Crooked Stave in Denver.
For more information on the beer fest, go to collaborationfest.com. Find the full list of events on the guild’s website, coloradobeer.org.