DENVER – (July 22, 2009) – To celebrate Denver’s claim as one of the world’s great beer cities, VISIT DENVER is presenting the first Denver Beer Fest (www.DenverBeerFest.com), which will take place September 18-27, 2009.
“The Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins urban area brews more beer than any other metropolitan area in the United States, giving the Mile High City claim to another moniker – ‘the Napa Valley of Beer,’” said Richard Scharf, president CEO, VISIT DENVER, The Convention Visitors Bureau.
The 10-day celebration of beer-centric experiences will include beer tastings at restaurants and taverns, beer-paired dinners, “meet the brewer” nights, beer tappings, brewery tours, and a variety of entertaining beer events.
Denver Beer Fest will be a celebration of all-things beer leading up to America’s most prestigious beer festival and competition, the Brewers Association’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Denver Beer Fest also bridges the two weekends of Denver’s Oktoberfest on Larimer Street.
“Denver has so many other beer attractions and experiences during the week of GABF that it seemed natural to pull them all together under one umbrella,” Scharf said. He described how many of the breweries visiting Denver for the GABF have historically held special beer-tasting dinners and events, but there was no central place to look for information.
“The GABF had their events on their Web site, Oktoberfest had their information on their Web site, and brewers had information about their events posted on a variety of restaurant Web sites so someone would have to look at 15 resources to see everything that was going on,” said Scharf.
The Web site, www.DenverBeerFest.com, will be a one-stop shop for all things beer that week. Scharf explained that a similar beer extravaganza in Philadelphia, timed around their annual beer festival, created 60 beer events the first year, but swelled to 600 new beer events the second year.
Two landmark events bookend the 10-day Denver Beer Fest:
- Oktoberfest on Larimer Street: This 40-year Denver tradition will be held Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27. Modeled after Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest on Larimer Street commemorates this world-famous and time-honored tradition of German heritage. The festival has truly become a Denver mainstay offering music from national touring groups, performances by international dancers, children’s activities, the Oktoberfest Denver 10K /5K Run, the Long Dog Derby, an accordion concert, and authentic cuisine.
- The Brewers Association’s 28th Great American Beer Festival (GABF) at the Colorado Convention Center: The GABF, Sept. 24-26, has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as offering the largest number of beer’s tapped of any place on earth and attracts 46,000 beer lovers each year, as well as the nation’s top beer writers and critics. More than 400 breweries are expected to attend, offering more than 2,000 beers for tastings and medal competitions.
“VISIT DENVER started Denver Restaurant Week five years ago to increase awareness of Denver’s fine dining,” Scharf said. “In five years, we’ve seen Restaurant Week grow from 84 restaurants to 225 this past year, with nearly 300,000 special-priced meals being served. We are inspired by the success of restaurant week, and the business it drove for our local restaurants. We hope Denver Beer Fest will increase awareness, both locally and nationally, of Denver’s important role in the nation’s brewing industry and of how many fine beers are made and sold in Colorado.”
Some of the beer events VISIT DENVER is planning during Denver Beer Fest include*:
- Former brew pub owner and current Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will tap the first keg Sept. 18 at 4 p.m., proclaiming Sept. 18-27 as Denver Beer Fest.
- Rioja, Vesta Dipping Grill, Stubens, TAG, Elways, Rialto Café, Oceanaire, the Tavern, Duo and many other restaurants will be offering beer-pairing dinners, many with the brewer present.
- Pints for Prostates at Wynkoop Brewery will host a beer tasting of twenty rare beers.
- “Beer and Burlesque, Tastings and Tassels,” including an Avery Brewery tasting and “meet the brewer” night at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, Sept. 21.
- The Golden Hotel will be promoting events featuring the rare Coor’s Barman beer.
- The Dusty Boot will have a bartending contest to benefit charity.
*Subject to change.
Information on Denver Beer Fest and the Mile High City’s storied beer legacy can be found at: www.DenverBeerFest.com. Information will be updated frequently as more events are added every day.