Good libations
Now in its 24th year, Denver's Great American Beer Festival remains the largest celebration of beer in America

by Vince Darcangelo
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(buzz@boulderweekly.com)

Mead comes back in vogue every 2-3,000 years like clockwork," says David Myers, founder of Redstone Meadery in Boulder. That being the case, the Great American Beer Festival wasn't around the last time mead was the next big thing. But with the latter-day honey wine revolution well underway, and the Great American Beer Fest, the largest beer festival in America, celebrating its 24th installment this weekend in Denver, the two popular alcoholic libations are joining forces to showcase the best in craft brewing.

"Craft brew drinkers are mead drinkers as well. [The Great American Beer Fest] gives us an opportunity to get our product out to the public—and to a public that is very open to the product we're making," says Myers. "It's about getting the word out that the mead revolution is occurring."

Myers founded Redstone in September of 2000 after years of home brewing, and his honey-based concoctions have won numerous awards at the International Mead Festival, which takes place in Boulder. In pushing his mead agenda, Myers has teamed up with other area brewers: Spruce Mountain Meadery in nearby Larkspur and Medovina Meadery in Niwot, just east of Boulder. Bringing close to 100 meads from across the country to Boulder for the International Mead Festival each year, the three meaderies have helped make Boulder and the Front Range the "Napa Valley of mead." Prior to the Mead Fest, which takes place in February, the three are hosting an educational "Get Back To Your Roots" media event at the Beer Fest on Friday, bringing together beer makers and festival judges to sample mead and learn about the history of the honey-based beverage credited as being the first recorded recipe.

This is Redstone's fourth year in the Great American Beer Festival. While Myers uses the event as an opportunity to educate consumers and promote his product, he understands that first and foremost it's all about the beer.

"It is a beer festival, and that is the focus," says Myers. "We just like being a complement to all those great beers. It's an opportunity for us to be a part of the craft brewing scene, which is very similar to the artisan mead scene."

Myers has a long history with the Great American Beer Festival, dating back to his days as a home brewer. He has served as a volunteer and as assistant manager of the competition, so he knows first hand how prestigious it is to be included in the event.

"It is the greatest show on Earth," he says. "If you're into beer and you want to try a lot of eclectic things and sample the best stuff being made in America, this is the place to be."

Many of the brewers will be manning the booths themselves, so connoisseurs can talk to the masterminds behind their favorite ales. Myers also points out that one of the best features of the festival is its easy access through Boulder/Denver's top-ranked transit system.

"It's within bussing distance," he says.

For many Boulderites, it's a one-bus trip—one or two transfers at the most for others—to the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. Just hop on the "B" to Market Street Station and follow the parade of eager festivarians marching down 14th Street.

This year's festival includes more than 1,600 beers from 380 breweries. The attendance numbers from last year's festival topped 28,000, defending the Great American Beer Festival's title as largest beer festival in America. In addition to beer sampling and the competition, there are also cooking demonstrations. Music at this year's event will be provided by Lyons-based brewpub and rock 'n' roll central Oskar Blues, featuring performances by the "Bard of Beer Songs" Marty Jones, Oakhurst and Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively.

The Great American Beer Festival starts at 5:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, with connoisseur tasting beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver. For more information, visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com, or www.beertown.org. In conjunction with the festival, He'Brew beer will host a tasting at 4 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 30, at Old Chicago, 1102 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-443-5031.