2013 Commercial Tasting Event
I-70 Traveling Promotion Tasting

The Commercial Tasting on Saturday afternoon has been dubbed “one of the best collections of beer ever seen in one place”. This international slice of beer is extremely diverse; Belgians,  lambics, sours and mead highlight the lighter end of the spectrum, while the Barleywines and Strong Ales dominate the other, with specialty beers from some of the most creative commercial brewers in the world.

Consistent with the format for the past couple of years, the Commercial Tasting will begin a little bit later (2:30 pm) in the afternoon than we did for prior years, following the Experimental Brewing Seminar (10:00 am), and our Featured Brewmasters’ Seminars led by Kevin DeLange, Owner/Founder of Dry Dock Brewing Co. in Aurora CO (12:30 pm), and Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster for Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, CA (1:45 pm). For more information regarding all Seminars, see the Seminars webpage.

During the Commercial Tasting, the 2013 Big Beers Homebrew Competition Awards Ceremony will be held at 3:00 pm, and a new workshop about the collaboration between breweries and cheese makers will begin at 3:30 pm.  Ska Brewing Co. from Durango, CO initiated the concept behind this seminar and will be leading the workshop.

Once again this year each attendee will receive a coupon with their admission ticket that entitles them to a credit at the food station inside the Commercial Tasting event. This will encourage everyone to locate & frequent the food station, enjoy the selections created by Chef Todd Bemis and his staff at the Vail Cascade, and help all attendees be responsible with their consumption of fabulous beers throughout the afternoon.

The Educational Format of the Tasting portion of the festival is something unique dreamed up during the First and Second Big Beers Festivals by the festival’s founder, Bill Lodge, then of High Point Brewing, and has been well received by our guests. We suggest that each guest limit themselves to one sample of each beer for the first two hours of the event, as tracked by the extensive event program dedicated to educating the guest. This system encourages the guest to learn about the various breweries and beers available from around the world, and also slows consumption of the rather high octane brews available. For the record, we define 7.0% as the alcohol by volume minimum to qualify as a “big beer”.

Volunteers for the Big Beers Festival can earn complimentary or discounted admission to the Commercial Tasting (as well as a staff t-shirt!) through their time and effort. Volunteer shifts include such options as coat check, homebrew competition judging/stewarding, pouring during the tasting, assisting with the seminars, etc. One volunteer shift will reduce your Commercial Tasting ticket cost to $25, and two volunteer shifts earn free admission. To volunteer to assist with Big Beers Festival programming, please contact Laura Lodge.

I-70 Traveling Promotion Tasting
Big Beers I-70/ Mountain Corridor Promotion
Valid: Monday, January 7- Monday, January 14, 2013
How: Mention/Bring this information with you

Aspen Brewing Co.
304 East Hopkins Ave
Aspen, CO  81611
Promotion: None Confirmed

Bonfire Brewing Co.
127 Second Street
Eagle, CO  81631
Promotion: 'Buy one, get one free' pints!

Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.
439 Edwards Access Road, B-201
Edwards, CO  81632
Promotion: Free Beer Tasting Flight with the Purchase of a Pint

Dillon Dam Brewery
100 Little Dam St. I-70 Exit 205
Dillon, CO  80435
Promotion: Free Pint of Dam Beer with Food Purchase of $7.95 or More.

Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co.
The Hotel Denver
402 Seventh Street
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Promotion: 15% discount on Growlers

Gore Range Brewery
0105 Edwards Village Boulevard
Building H
Edwards, CO 81632
Promotion: Free GRB pint with purchase of food and 10% Off retail items.

Tommyknocker Brewery
1401 Miner St
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Promotion: Free Pint with the Purchase of Food

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