It was hot.
98 degrees hot, even in the shade of a sleeping Brahma bull. But the heat didn’t quell the enthusiasm of a record crowd of over 600 craft beer lovers who attended the 8th annual Foam Fest at the Colorado State Fair on Saturday. This is a Colorado-only craft beer festival, and the only beer festival held at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.
If you went early, you could check out the 4-H dog show or the Fine Art and Crafts exhibitions. You could test your fear of heights on the 131-feet-tall Power Booster, or feel the G forces suck your face inside-out on the “Freak Out” ride. There’s the rodeo and all kinds of livestock and cowboys and cowgirls to see, and who could resist all those tasty treats: funnel cakes, smoked turkey legs, deep-fried Oreo cookies and chicken-on-a-stick. Along come Foam Fest in the early evening, and everyone is primed for some delicious craft beer.
Did we mention the competition?
Kristin Taylor is the Foam Fest Director and Homebrew & Craft Beer Coordinator. This was her ‘decade year’ for organizing the competition. 10 years ago when she started, there were 48 homebrew entries and 52 craft beer entries. This year there were a record-busting 457 homebrew entries, and 230 commercial craft beer entries. Both those numbers were an increase from last year, with the homebrew entries up by 118. No wonder they were judging up until the last minute before Foam Fest started. Kristen’s feelings about this? “It’s fantastic. The festival ran perfect. The number of people attending was up by 25%. And I’m really excited about the competition. The number of homebrewers keeps growing. They’re out there, brewing beer, thinking about beer.” And from what we observed, (and participated in), drinking beer.
More breweries were pouring their beers this year at the festival too,19 of them in all, including some of our newest members of the Colorado craft beer community. Pikes Peak Brewing, just a few months old, was pouring beer, winning 4 medals in the process. And Arvada Beer, planning to open this fall in Arvada, walked away with 4 medals. Three craft breweries tied for most medals awarded, receiving 6 medals each: Pagosa Brewing, AC Golden, and Dry Dock Brewing. Dry Dock also won Best Of Show, with U boat Hefeweizen. For the complete list of craft beer winners check here.
The homebrewers were not to be outdone. Best Of Show went to Jason Reinhardt of Lakewood for his Helles Yes! in the light lager category. And Mike Formisano of Thornton walked away with a heavy load of medals around his neck, 9 in all. For the complete list of homebrew winners, check here.
98 degrees hot, even in the shade of a sleeping Brahma bull. But the heat didn’t quell the enthusiasm of a record crowd of over 600 craft beer lovers who attended the 8th annual Foam Fest at the Colorado State Fair on Saturday. This is a Colorado-only craft beer festival, and the only beer festival held at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.
If you went early, you could check out the 4-H dog show or the Fine Art and Crafts exhibitions. You could test your fear of heights on the 131-feet-tall Power Booster, or feel the G forces suck your face inside-out on the “Freak Out” ride. There’s the rodeo and all kinds of livestock and cowboys and cowgirls to see, and who could resist all those tasty treats: funnel cakes, smoked turkey legs, deep-fried Oreo cookies and chicken-on-a-stick. Along come Foam Fest in the early evening, and everyone is primed for some delicious craft beer.
Did we mention the competition?
Kristin Taylor is the Foam Fest Director and Homebrew & Craft Beer Coordinator. This was her ‘decade year’ for organizing the competition. 10 years ago when she started, there were 48 homebrew entries and 52 craft beer entries. This year there were a record-busting 457 homebrew entries, and 230 commercial craft beer entries. Both those numbers were an increase from last year, with the homebrew entries up by 118. No wonder they were judging up until the last minute before Foam Fest started. Kristen’s feelings about this? “It’s fantastic. The festival ran perfect. The number of people attending was up by 25%. And I’m really excited about the competition. The number of homebrewers keeps growing. They’re out there, brewing beer, thinking about beer.” And from what we observed, (and participated in), drinking beer.
More breweries were pouring their beers this year at the festival too,19 of them in all, including some of our newest members of the Colorado craft beer community. Pikes Peak Brewing, just a few months old, was pouring beer, winning 4 medals in the process. And Arvada Beer, planning to open this fall in Arvada, walked away with 4 medals. Three craft breweries tied for most medals awarded, receiving 6 medals each: Pagosa Brewing, AC Golden, and Dry Dock Brewing. Dry Dock also won Best Of Show, with U boat Hefeweizen. For the complete list of craft beer winners check here.
The homebrewers were not to be outdone. Best Of Show went to Jason Reinhardt of Lakewood for his Helles Yes! in the light lager category. And Mike Formisano of Thornton walked away with a heavy load of medals around his neck, 9 in all. For the complete list of homebrew winners, check here.
Gold
German-Style Altbier
Little Red Cap
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
Loveland, CO
Irish-Style Red Ale
O?Rion Irish Red
Equinox Brewing
Fort Collins, CO
American-Style Dark Lager
Durango Dark
Durango Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
European-Style Dunkel
Dunkel Lager
Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co.
Glenwood Springs, CO
Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Move Back
The SandLot
Denver, CO
German-Style Pilsener
Pavlov?s Pils
C.B. & Potts Restaurant & Brewery
Fort Collins, CO
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Friek
Odell Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
American-Style Sour Ale
Le Terroir
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
Gluten-Free Beer
Gluten-Free Lemon Pale
Strange Brewing Co.
Denver, CO
Herb and Spice Beer
Mexican Chocolate Stout
Copper Kettle Brewing Co.
Denver, CO
Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer
Upslope Pumpkin Ale
Upslope Brewing Co.
Boulder, CO
German-Style Sour Ale
Berliner Weisse
Crabtree Brewing Co.
Greeley, CO
South German-Style Hefeweizen
Hefeweizen
Dry Dock Brewing
Aurora, CO
Sweet Stout
Steel Toe Stout
Ska Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
2011 GABF Pro-Am
Before Capone - Brewmaster: Dennis O?Harrow - AHA
C.B. & Potts Restaurant & Brewery
Westminster, CO
Mike Laur © DG2C
Kristin Taylor, FoamFest organizer, does her best to keep the awards ceremony moving along.
Silver
Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale or Belgian-Style Quadrupel
Séréneté Grand Cru
Bruz Beers
Denver, CO
Emerging India Pale Ale
Vladimir Brutin
Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
Session India Pale Ale
Trump Hands
Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
Specialty Saison
Westfield
Cellar West Artisan Ales
Lafayette, CO
Ordinary or Special Bitter
Cousin Jack
Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino
Central City, CO
Bock
Maibock
Dry Dock Brewing Co. - South Dock
Aurora, CO
English-Style Brown Ale
Eclipse Brown Ale
Equinox Brewing
Fort Collins, CO
Aged Beer
Belgian Quad
Green Mountain Beer Co.
Lakewood, CO
German-Style Koelsch
Ice Cutter Kölsch
Joyride Brewing Co.
Edgewater, CO
Irish-Style Red Ale
Balefire Irish Red
Mirror Image Brewing Co.
Frederick, CO
Australian-Style Pale Ale
Mountain Standard IPA
Odell Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
Experimental Beer
Shibbleshabble
Primitive Beer
Longmont, CO
German-Style Altbier
Howitzer Amber
Red Leg Brewing Co.
Colorado Springs, CO
Fruited American-Style Sour Ale
Hoochie Mama
Storm Peak Brewing Co.
Steamboat Springs, CO
International-Style Dark Lager
El Corn
The Post Brewing Co.
Lafayette, CO
International-Style Pilsener
Upslope Craft Lager
Upslope Brewing Co. - Flatiron Park
Boulder, CO
Oatmeal Stout
Yonder Mountain Stout
Vine Street Pub & Brewery
Denver, CO
Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
Itsy Bits
WeldWerks Brewing Co.
Greeley, CO
Imperial India Pale Ale
Westbound Double IPA
Westbound & Down Brewing Co.
Idaho Springs, CO
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Double Barrel Louie
Westbound & Down Brewing Co.
Idaho Springs, CO
Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Lindauer Lager
Wit's End Brewing Co.
Denver, CO
Mike Laur © DG2C
Judging took place over two long days, right up until the opening of the Foam Fest to the public.
Bronze
Light Lager
Lightner Creek Lager
Carver Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
American-Style Amber Lager
Grist Maerzen
Grist Brewing Co.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Session Beer
Peacekeeper
Launch Pad Brewery
Aurora, CO
Pro-Am Comp
Chess with Checkers
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
Australian-Style Pale Ale
Pete's Stash
Vail Brewing Co. - Vail Village Pilot
Vail, CO
Herb and Spice Beer
Deck Daze
Vail Brewing Co. - Vail Village Pilot
Vail, CO
Mike Laur © DG2C
Tony Simmons of Pagosa Brewing Co. is thumbs-up after winning an award for his Honeymoon Mead entry.
Mike Laur © DG2C
Cary Floyd of Arvada Brewing is stoked after winning his first of 4 awards. Cary and wife Kelly say that Arvada Brewing is on-track to officially open sometime in September.
Mike Laur © DG2C
Walt Chleva of Dry Dock Brewing is pleased as pilsner to offer a sample to one of 600 who attended FoamFest at this year's Colorado State Fair.
