I wanted to make a quick point about beer festivals in Colorado. This might be a part of a larger conversation that I'll dig into later, but for now, I offer you some thoughts:
During my year here I've been overwhelmed by the amount of beer festivals although completely underwhelmed at the selection of beer at most of them. Every festival tends to have the same breweries and just about the same beers...and those beers are generally beers that I can easily get in bottle shops and at the pubs. If I'm going to pay $30-40 for a beer festival, I'd like to see more experimentation, beers that I'll never be able to try again.
My challenge to our local breweries is to participate in less festivals and/or begin entering unique beers into the ones you do participate in. I understand you're called to enter ridiculous amounts of festivals, providing free beer, but I'd really like to see some new beers at these things. To festival organizers, try and provide some way to reward breweries for providing a beer that will never be available again, or maybe that's available for the first time ever. Maybe have a specialty beer release section, and time it so that beers are released in intervals and excitement is created to try 'the crazy beers.' I'm sure you'll find more and more beer enthusiasts going nuts about your festival then. Like I said, this is just a small part of a larger conversation that maybe I'll dig into more in the future.
What are the festivals where you see specialty batches produced? What are some of your favorite festivals?
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I think you're right, breweries could push the boundaries a bit. I think in the interest of marketing it will always be beneficial to push their flagship brands, but with all the beer nerds out there it would be nice to see some more unusual things presented.
ReplyDeleteMaybe festivals could hold competitions for professional brewers to submit new, experimental beers?
There are some interesting things happening in Portland in regards to this discussion. Some folks (bloggers even) are putting on festivals and soliciting beers from breweries specific to the event. Look at the Portland Fruit Beer Festival as an example, a bunch of breweries made beers just for that event.
ReplyDeleteI think Colorado is getting in on that action in a small way with things like the firkin festival down in your neck of the woods (Colorado Springs) but I think the bar in our part of the beer world could be raised.
@_bussmann - You're absolutely right, I watched the Portland Fruit Beer from a distance and was really jealous. Also, New Belgium's contribution was mouth watering and I only read about it. Portland also has the Holiday Ale Fest. I don't know the numbers, but I imagine that half the beer at that thing is beer you'll never get to try anywhere else, and then there are even more rare beers that are released only at certain times (like Hair of the Dog or Widmer will pull out a 10 year old beer).
ReplyDeleteI think the bar can be raised way way higher in this state. I'm not sure if it's laziness on the part of the breweries, or if they are truly overwhelmed with how many festivals they become a part of, but something really needs to change.
I'd like to figure out how to be a part of that as well.
I'm not sure it's laziness, I think most breweries are doing their best, there are a lot of festivals and limited staff and cash. In the absence of solicited styles I think @ackleydg makes a good point about pushing flagship brands. If there are no style requirements most breweries are tempted to push the pushable beers. I think that's where the style requirements for festivals should come into play (again, like the firkin festival or the Belgians and Barley Wines in Vail).
ReplyDeleteThere is lots of room for fun festivals that are niche heavy. Some breweries may not want to get in on the action at first, but I bet there are some that will. The fruit beer idea is close to my heart as I love fruit beers, but a blend festival, or wood aged, or lager, or maybe picking an ingredient (lemon zest, or a saison yeast). Any way you go I think Colorado has enough educated beer drinkers to enjoy it and for the festival to be successful.
Maybe you and I should put one on...?
PS... (if it wasn't obvious already) I think bloggers should play a bigger part in driving the festival circuit.
ReplyDeleteI go to two or three festivals a year (not counting GABF) and I have to agree with you on the selection of beers for the most part; same breweries, same beers. There are some though, like Rails & Ales down in Alamosa/Fir where the line-up changes on a regular basis. Amicas from Salida participated and the brewer brought along a very good special strong ale that only a very few had tasted previously. Anymore, if you want rare beers, you have to attend events like Pints for Prostrates during GABF week, otherwise it's just the firkin tappings.
ReplyDelete@_bussman - Laziness was the wrong word...
ReplyDeleteBTW, How serious are you about putting on a festival together? Because...I'm down...
@brewtrek - Awesome, I'll need to make sure I put that on my radar in the future! Thanks.
I go to a couple beer fests each year, GABF included. GABF is the best place to find rare beers, but I believe you are right in saying there is a lack of experimentation at the other festivals. There are some exceptions, however. Avery puts on a wonderful Avery Sour Fest that brings out the most interesting sour experiments. Also, Odell Brewing has recently revived it's Small Batch festival where they pull out some rare brews that you only see tapped at their brewery.
ReplyDeleteIn cases where fest promoters expect the brewery to put out everything "free" the breweries will not put out their best and most expensive or rare goods. They essentially put out what they can afford and that is simply their common standards.
It's only festivals like the Denver Rare Beer Tasting where only the hard to get beers are featured. Brewers are given specific instructions to bring only their best and rarest. Of course they don't have to bring as much beer to those kinds of events and therefore can afford to bring a keg or two of their finest.
Beer fests are starting to get a bit pricey. Even the GABF, if you bought your ticket via TicketMaster, tacked on all kinds of fees and drove up the price to around $70. For that price you'd have to get plastered to get your money's worth. And with this tough economy, I'm surprised that event sold out as quickly as it did. But then again, you get to try some of the best beer in the world and there's plenty of it.