2008 Colorado Beer Festivals

Looking to attend a beer festival in Colorado? Here are some of the many Colorado beer festivals coming up this year. This list is updated often so stop back later for even more festivals in Colorado. Please add a comment if you know of more.
Last updated May 10, 2008.

Boulder Strong Ale Festival
April 11-12, 2008
Harpo's Sports Grill, Boulder, CO
A tribute to "big beers" (all 8% ABV or higher) from around the country, with 70 beers from 30 to 40 breweries. More details of this year's festival will be posted on the Avery Brewing Company's website.

Breckenridge Massive Beer Festival 2008
April 12, 2008 - Saturday
Main Street Station (505 S. Main Street)
Breckenridge, Colorado

Springfest 2008
April 12, 2008 - Saturday 4-11pm
Crabtree Brewing Company
625 3rd Street #D
Greeley, Colorado
3 Live Bands. Free Music & Pool in the brewery.

Microbreweries for the Environment Benefit
April 25, 2008
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder, CO
Since 1993, the Microbreweries for the Environment benefit has raised nearly $100,000 for local environmental causes. The proceeds from this year's benefit will further the environmental efforts of the University of Colorado Environmental Center, Colorado Conservation Voters, EcoCycle and Wild Earth Guardians. Twenty Colorado microbreweries serve their best beers for only $2 each. Participating breweries include: Arctic Craft Brewery, Avery Brewing, BJ's Brewhouse, Boulder Beer Co., Breckenridge Brewery, Bristol Brewing Co., Flying Dog Brewery, Fort Collins Brewery, Great Divide Brewing Co., Left Hand Brewing Co., Mountain Sun, New Belgium Brewing Co., Odell Brewing Co., Oskar Blues Brewery, Pumphouse Brewery, Redfish Brewhouse, Ska Brewing Co., Steamworks Brewing Company, Twisted Pine Brewing, and Wolf Rock Brewing Company. The benefit will feature musical performances by Corn Meal and Elephant Revival. This event will sell out so if you want to go visit the Boulder Theater website. The price is $17.50. Always packed, always fun!

Brew-Ha-Ha
May 10, 2008 - Saturday
Veterans Park, Canon City, CO
Benefit For the Fremont Center for the Arts. Beer from more than 20 Colorado microbreweries, and a lineup of top-notch comedians; live music after the tasting.

Left Hand Beach Party at Arapahoe Basin
May 18, 2008
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Think great beer, a hot BBQ, live music, and cheap lift tickets, all at the base of Arapahoe Basin on a sunny Sunday in May. If you haven't been up to the Basin in a while, it's a beautiful place to be as the ski season comes to an end. Frisbees, dogs, spring skiing.that's what Colorado is all about. Sponsored by Left Hand Brewing Company.

Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
May 24-25, 2008
Park Hyatt Resort and Spa, Beaver Creek, CO
Highlights: More than 100 beers from 35 microbreweries, all based in Colorado; barbecue, be prepared by top chefs from Kansas City and other locations nationwide; live blues music, children's activities, and cooking demonstrations.

7th Annual Festival of the Brewpubs
May 25, 2008
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, A-Basin, CO
Join us for our largest party of the year! Spend the day sampling mugs of beer from a variety of Summit County brewpubs for one low price per 14 oz mug (must be 21). Breweries include Pug Ryan’s, Breckenridge, Dillon Dam, Backcountry and Wolf Rock. $20. Beer pouring begins at 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Small Batch Beer Festival
May 31, 2008
Odell Brewery - Fort Collins, CO
3-7pm. Odell Brewing, 800 E. Lincoln
The festival pays homage to innovative brews, fine malts and whole flower hops. A variety of ales handcrafted on Odell's five-barrel brewing system, also known as the pilot system, will be featured.

Chili Pepper and Brew Fest
June 6-8, 2008
Snowmass Village, CO
The International Chili Society holds its two chili competitions and tastings in Snowmass, while microbrewers face off in a prestigious summer ale competition with two brew sampling sessions for festival- goers, featuring 30 plus breweries. Plus Fanny Hill rocks with hot music all weekend.

Rocky Mountain Brew Fest
June 14, 2008
Estes Park Brewery
Estes Park, Colorado

23rd Annual Bike MS
June 28, 2008
Fort Collins, Colorado
FREE BEER being poured at the WOW festival on the CSU Campus.

Colorado Brewer's Festival
June 28-29, 2008
Old Town, (Downtown)
Fort Collins, Colorado
Great beer, food, music and fun. This year's festival, the 19th Annual Colorado Brewers' Festival in Downtown Fort Collins will take place June 28 & 29, 2008. Over 400 kegs of beer will be poured beginning on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and conclude on Sunday at 6:00p.m. in Old Town Square. (The festival hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.) All beer samplers must be 21 years of age, and purchase an entry and tokens at the entry station located on Mountain Ave, the day of the festival. Admission is $10 for a 2-day Saturday/Sunday Pass & $6 Sunday Only Pass. All beer tokens are $2; you need beer tokens to get your beer samples. Designated Driver Program available for non-beer samplers with valid driver's license.

12th Annual Colorado Brewers' Rendezvous
July 5, 2008
Salida, Colorado
Saturday 1-5PM The Colorado Brewers Guild, a trade association dedicated to the Colorado craft brewing industry, facilitates beer educational activities in Colorado. No other nation offers as many different and exciting, flavorful beers as the United States, with thousands of different ales and lagers now available to Americans in all regions of the country. The Colorado Brewers Rendezvous is an excellent opportunity for everyone to tap into the rich heritage and tradition of American brewing, as well as the unique flavors offered by Colorado brewers. Located at Riverside Park.

Rails and Ales Brewfest
July 12, 2008
The train leaves Alamosa, CO at 9:00 AM on July 12th and will take everyone to a beautiful mountain meadow spot along the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad route. Beer Festival will run from Noon to 3:00 PM. The train will then take us all back to Alamosa, CO, arriving about 5:30 PM.

Breckenridge Beer Festival
July 19, 2008
Breckenridge, CO
Samplings from many, many breweries! FREE LIVE MUSIC! And Kegs of Fun!

Beer and Bluegrass Festival
August 2, 2008
River Run Village, Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO
Highlights: Beer from more than 30 Colorado microbreweries, served in a beer garden; down-home cooking; acoustic bluegrass music on two stages; inflatables and children's activities at "Energy Alley"; free parking and admission.

4th Annual Taste of Grand County
August 9, 2008
Winter Park, CO
Lovers of gourmet food, fine wines and hand-crafted beers shouldn't miss this opportunity to sample and enjoy a wide array of food and beverages. Highlights include: wine, beer and food tasting; a silent auction; and live entertainment. All festival-goers will receive a commemorative wine glass or beer pilsner and unlimited samples of food and drink. Proceeds benefit the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). For festival and Ski Train deals, please call 303.293.5315.

Colorado Fest
August 9, 2008
Gunnison, CO
2nd annual festival here in Gunnison celebrating Colorado wine, beer, food & art. More details to follow as summer draws closer. Online at www.coloradofest.com

Brew at the Zoo and Wine, Too
September 5, 2008
Denver Zoo, Denver, CO
Beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres from more than 50 Colorado breweries and restaurants, music and dancing at the zoo after dusk; event is a fund-raiser for the zoo's Red Apple Fund for life-long learning.


Fall Festival of Beers and Chili Cook-off
September 6, 2008
Crested Butte, CO
Plan on heading up to Mt. Crested Butte Saturday, September 6th to take part in the Annual Fall Festival of Beers and Chili Cook-Off. In 2007 there were over 15 breweries on hand with samples of their finest, along with locals cookin’ up all varieties of chili for your tasting pleasure. The Festival takes place from 12 – 4 p.m., on the grass at the base area of Mt. Crested Butte by the Red Lady Lift. In addition to beer and chili there will be live music for your enjoyment. Admission is $10 for Chili Only, $15 for Beer Only, and $20 for Beer & Chili. We will also be introducing the Pepper Eating Contest this year, there will be an additional cost for entry into the contest. Mountain Express will have their regularly scheduled shuttles running between Mt Crested Butte and Crested Butte, and Gunnison Safe Ride will offer shuttles leaving the parking lot across from the Rec Center in Gunnison at 11:30am & 1:15pm and leaving Mt. Crested Butte at 2pm & 4:15pm, making stops in between Gunnison and Crested Butte. If you are interested in entering the Chili Cook-off, volunteering to help out with the Festival, or if you have any questions, call Erin at the Chamber at 349-6438 or stop in to the Visitors Center.

Telluride Blues & Brews
September 12-14, 2008
Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO
Outdoor music venue with mountain peaks for a backdrop; beer from 50 breweries during Saturday's Grand Tasting; nationally-renown blues artists; a variety of food and crafts vendors; festival continues in late-night juke joints and after-hours jams. Tickets go on sale March 3.

Breckenridge Oktoberfest
September 13, 2008
Breckenridge, CO
Grab your stein, throw on your lederhosen, and get ready for Breckenridge’s 14th Annual Oktoberfest! The event returns to Main Street to commemorate a time-honored tradition of German heritage. The festival has become a Breckenridge mainstay and offers Oompah music, Bavarian foods and kids’ activities. Join Breckenridge and Paulaner Bier for the best Oktoberfest in the mountains.

Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge
September 19-20, 2008
Grand Junction, CO
Lincoln Park, 4:00 pm- 10:00 pm & 20th 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Buy barbeque from award-winning cooking teams! Enjoy your favorite micro brews from around the region. And listen to some of your favorite local bands!

Oktoberfest on Larimer Square
September 19-21, 2008
Coors Field Neighborhood (between 20th and 22nd Streets), Denver, CO
Event is modeled after Munich's Oktoberfest; German attractions, music from national touring groups, performances by international dancers, children’s activities, heritage booths selling German good; traditional German food; children’s activities.

Steamboat Brewers' Festival
September 20, 2008
Torian Plum Plaza, Steamboat Springs, CO
Highlights: Beer from 15 or more Colorado breweries; "Brewer's Choice" and "People's Choice" awards; live music, food vendors, and root beer for kids.

Great American Beer Festival
October 9-11, 2008
Convention Center
Denver, Colorado
The Mecca of Beer Festivals

All Colorado Beer Festival
November 7-8, 2008
Colorado Springs, CO
They are already planning the 2nd Annual All Colorado Beer Festival. This year they will have three sessions over two days. Each session will provide attendees 4 1/2 hours to sample great beers from across Colorado as well as enjoy live music. The first session will take place on Friday, November, 7, 2008 from 5:30 until 10:00 PM. Session two and three will take place on Saturday, November 8th. Session two will run from Noon until 4:30 PM. Session three will run from 5:30 until 10:00 PM.
Twenty brewers attended the 1st annual in 2007. Should be bigger than last year.

Festivals summarized from the BeerFestivals.org web site.