Setting Sun Behind Pavilion

Last night I attended the Big Band & Bigger Beer Festival in Ault Park. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the festival other than the little information that was advertised. We knew that we would get 20 beer samples for just $20, but we had no idea what breweries would be there. We also knew that the 17-piece Jump n’ Jive Show Band would be there, but we didn’t really know what to expect from them. We also knew that there would be food for sale, but little information on the vendors was available. After spending nearly four hours at the event I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by most of what the event had to offer.

Event Ticket

Dutch’s is a fantastic wine bar and bottle shop nearby that was presenting the festival. Having them in charge of the beer tasting, I knew there would be some good offerings. I was happy to see Colorado well represented immediately upon our entry with Boulder, Breckenridge, Great Divide, and Left Hand featured at a couple of tables together. They mostly had the regular offerings from each of those breweries, so I spent the majority of the time trying to find good beers that I had never heard of or seen before. I really enjoyed some of the Buckeye Brewing Company offerings as well as Hoppin’ Frog Brewery.

Buckeye Brewing Hippie IPA

Here’s a full list of what I tasted (though I might have missed a few). I used the Untappd app to track my samples:

• Left Hand Brewing Company – Good Juju
• Boulder Beer Company – Cold Hop
• Buckeye Brewing Company – ’76 Imperial IPA
• Hoppin’ Frog Brewery – Frogs’ Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale
• Hoppin’ Frog Brewery – Hoppin’ To Heaven IPA
• Tallgrass Brewing Company – Oasis
• Buckeye Brewing Company – Hippie IPA
• Clipper City Brewing Company – Heavy Seas Marzen
• Great Divide Brewing Company – Denver Pale Ale (DPA)
• Stevens Point Brewery – Pale Ale
• Mendocino Brewing – Eye of the Hawk
• Unibroue – Trois Pistoles
• Great Divide Brewing Company – Claymore Scotch Ale
• Boulder Beer – Mojo IPA
• Breckenridge Brewery – Vanilla Porter

Jump n' Jive Show Band

Overall it was a great time. One suggestion is that I would do away with the sample counting and just offer unlimited samples. I found it impossible to completely fill my card with 20 check-marks, even giving some of my samples away to others. The tasting glass was probably three ounces, so a good amount of beer is already being offered with 20 samples. Plus some of the volunteers forgot to mark cards anyway. Other than that, this was the third year for the festival and I think they have a good thing going. I hope to see it return next year, as I will definitely be there.