Spring Break
2009 Brewfest to feature over 50 beers along with food, music
Event coordinators predict 30,000 people at festival's 20th year
Jessica Cline
Issue date: 6/24/09 Section: News
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Nearly 30,000 beer lovers and festival-goers are expected to grace the streets of Downtown Fort Collins June 27 and 28, an increase from the attendance at the festival's birth two decades ago, which started up to showcase the work of a few local breweries and a drew in only a couple hundred people.
"The Colorado Brewers Festival was started by Doug Odell of Odell's Brewing, Scott Smith of Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing and the Downtown Business Association to help celebrate and promote all of the breweries here in Fort Collins," said Peggy Lyle, entertainment and event director for the Fort Collins Downtown Business Association.
When this event started it featured only local breweries and provided an outlet for brewers to introduce their recipes to the crowd and the process of how they brew their liquid creations. Now, however, it has evolved into a festival complete with breweries from all over Colorado, eating, listening to music and having a good time, event coordinators said.
"Brewfest has grown to be a celebration of Colorado brewing. It is a time for people to get together and enjoy an industry that Colorado clearly enjoys a lot," Lyle said.
She said the festival aims to showcase Colorado brewing and to bring the community together as well as to bring those who have moved from Fort Collins back to the community for a weekend. The scene offers a chance to reunite with old acquaintances and make new ones.
"To me, there is nothing finer than a warm summer day drinking copious amounts of carbonated malt beverage with friends," CSU alumnus Caleb Shuler said. "You throw in good food and music and you have the makings of a fine weekend."
There is a $10 entrance fee for two days and a $6 entrance fee for Sunday only. Attendants can purchase as many $2 tokens as desired, either from the entry station on Mountain Avenue or at the merchandise tent located in the center of the festival venue. Tokens are needed to sample the more than 50 beers on display.
All of the breweries donate one or two of their beers to give people a chance to try them out.
"It is a great opportunity for folks to sample beers that they might not always find or try out," Bryan Simpson, a New Belgium Brewing employee, said.
To make the event run smoothly there areProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ore than 500 volunteers who work throughout the weekend. They not only participate in set up and take down, but also serve all day and make sure everyone has a good time.
Many of the volunteers, who will come out from across the state, have worked the summer event for many years and say it's a good way to give back to the community and most importantly, enjoy the festival as much as those in attendance.
"I think (the Brewers' Festival) is important because it raises money for Downtown and I think it's one of the best festivals that Fort Collins does," said Rose Schlosser, a seven-year volunteer. "My favorite part is just being able to hang out Downtown with good friends, beer and food."
As one of the DBA's largest fundraising outlets, all proceeds from entrance fees and beer sampling tokens will go to the association to fund free events for the community throughout the rest of the year.
To go along with all the beer, food and people, there will be live music both days provided by local Colorado bands.
"We will have some great performers, all from Colorado, performing both days," Lyle said. "We will recognize our volunteers, and we have specifically ordered some sunshine, so we are going to have a great weekend."
Staff writer Jessica Cline can be reached at news@collegian.com.      Â
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