Brewing Up Fall

Brewing up a Fall Festival
By Dawne Belloise

A beautiful golden autumn Colorado day, glorious mountains looming overhead, the aroma of chili stewing in the kettle, noshing, fabulous music and delectable beers... aaah, it's the Fall Festival of Beers and Chili Cook Off at the base of Mt Crested Butte. Grab your buddies and head up on the free Mountain Express Shuttle and drink in Colorado breweries' finest while groovin' to the sounds of homeboy Drew Emmitt, of Leftover Salmon and Left Hand String Band fame, who will be playing with both bands: the World Beat sounds of Sol Jibe, and Nederland's newest bluegrass sweethearts, Mountain Standard Time. Stroll around the beer tents from noon to 4 p.m. where you can imbibe over a dozen breweries' best beers and sample hearty chili from vegetarian to professional. It’s up to you to vote for your favorite chili; votes will be counted at 2 p.m.

“One of the potential areas for this festival to grow is on the chili side with a lot more competitors. The big chili cook-offs have hundreds and thousands who go just for the chili. So we’re trying to open up the chili competition,” says CB/Mt CB Chamber Events Manager Scott Still. There are currently thirteen entries in multiple categories of International Chili Society Red (no beans, no fillers), Anything Goes, Pros Only and Vegetarian. There is also an award for Table Decoration. New this year is the Chili Chalice, the winner’s cup to be engraved and passed on to future winners from year to year. Prizes include cash awards, Mountain Khakis gift cards, and of course, bragging rights.

If you're feeling feisty by 11 a.m., the new Beer-n-Chili Dash-n-Dine 10K Fun Run on CBMR trails should give you a thirst and an appetite. The lifts will be running and the new Adventure Park will be open with ice skating, climbing tower and bungie jump. Admission to the festival is only $20 for 5 beers, chili samples and bands, other admission options include chili only at $10, Beer only for $15 or Chili, Beer and 10K Fun for $25.

Beer Here
You won't get bored with the variety of quality beer. Just remember to take the free RTA bus or Mountain Express shuttle home. Here's a quick gander and the lowdown on the participating breweries. For their full line of beers and descriptions visit their websites:

The Eldo Brewery and Taproom (eldobrewpub.com)
Crested Butte's very own and only brewpub (located on Elk Avenue) will be showcasing their beers. Their small 7 barrel system and limited distribution allows experimentation and tweaking of each recipe to create a variety of delicious beers from robust Sledgehammer Porter brewed with Camp4Coffee to stouts, pale ales, IPAs and brown and everything in-between. As they say at the Eldo, “Remember to drink like you mean it!”. Eldo brewer Fred Orndorff will be supplying Hooligan IPA and Kings Kolsch at the festival this weekend.

Revolution Brewing (revolution-brewing.com)
Just over the mountain in nearby Paonia is a family owned and operated hand-crafted beer brewery whose small batches focus on a quality revolution. They use mostly locally grown ingredients. It's a 4 barrel system, and they brew daily the likes of North Fork IPA, Sticky-Thickett Nut Brown, Stout Ol' Friend, and House White. And the entire operation is housed in a former church, bless its head...

Smuggler's Brewpub & Grille (smugglersbrew.com)
A small 7 barrel Brewery located in the heart of the San Juan's and Telluride's only brewery. They also have tap house, bar and restaurants located in Montrose and Grand Junction. Skiing Magazine named them in the "Top 5 Brewpubs in North America". They'll be pouring their Rocky Mountain Rye, The Stinger (a braggot with barley and honey), San Juan Sky Hop and powder Night Espresso Porter. Yum...

The Great Divide Brewing Company (greatdivide.com)
In 1994, Brian Dunn recognized Denver’s potential to be a great beer city. With his beer passion and business background he set up shop in an abandoned dairy-processing plant at the edge of downtown Denver. Great Divide beers have earned 13 Great American Beer Festival medals and 4 World Beer Cup awards. Great Divide was also ranked 14th in Ratebeer.com’s 2008 “The Best Brewers in the World” and was ranked 7th in Beer Advocate’s 2008 “All-Time Top Breweries on Planet Earth. They'll be pouring Wild Raspberry Ale, Yeti Imperial Stout, Titan IPA and Samurai.

Aspen Brewing Company (aspenbrewingco.com)
This craft beer brewery was founded in 2008 by Duncan Clauss and Brad Veltmanin. Just over the other hill, Aspen Brewing Company will drop into the Butte bearing their Ajax Pilsner, a czech style pilsner that is light, crisp, with a fair amount of hoppy bitterness and flavor and Brown Bear Ale; an American brown ale that is rich and smooth with chocolate and roasted flavors, and surprisingly refreshing for a dark looking beer. Maybe they'll pass the Pearl Pass Tour bikers on the way over...

New Belgium Brewing Company (newbelgium.com)
Jeff Lebesch, a Ft. Collins, CO electrical engineer by day and tinkerer by nature, built a home-brewing kit in his basement out of repurposed dairy equipment. His Belgian inspired brews garnered enough praise from friends and neighbors that Jeff and Kim commercialized their basement brewery in 1991. Thier tasty amber named Fat Tire grew in popularity, and Jeff and Kim brought in Brian Callahan, an aspiring brewer, as an employee-owner. Ownership, and an anniversary cruiser bike, is now awarded to all at one year of employment. Sweet...

San Luis Valley Brewing Company (slvbrewco.com)
Down in southern Colorado's Alamosa, Scott and Angie Graber opened their brewery in 2006. They create the brews on the premise – lager, amber, oatmeal stout, and their special Scenic Rail Pale Ale, Raspberry Wheat and Belgian Brown Ale.

Bristol Brewing Company (bristolbrewing.com)
In June of 1994, this company settled into the lap of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs and began hand-brewing one-of-a-kind ales that reflected their philosophy – quality, purity, and sanity. They use only natural ingredients. And declare, “We take extra care to make our beers better because we like to drink them.” Good thinking... Look for their Laughing Lab Scottish Ale and Compass IPA being poured this weekend.

Steamworks Brewing Company (steamworksbrewing.com)
With locations in Bayfield and Durango, CO, Steamworks Brewing Company makes lagers, ales and stouts using “only the finest ingredients and lots of love.” Patrons of their brewpubs can even watch Steamworks brewmasters at work making Lizard Head Red, Backside Stout and for your tasting pleasure check out Third Eye Pale Ale, Steam Engine Lager and Colorado Kolsch.

C.B. Potts Restaurant & Brewery
Family owned and operated since 1971 when the founders took their experience of making pizza and serving beer at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor to open a their own restaurant. In 1995 they launched the Big Horn Brewing Company which serves up Big Horn Hefeweizen, Buttface Amber, Big Red IPA and Total Disorder Porter. They're now in Denver and Ft. Collins as well as various other front-range locations. With names like Pilsner Noelle and Darz Marzen who wouldn’t want to try them?

Odell Brewing Company (odells.com)
Doug Odell's passion for crafting great beer started in his kitchen in Seattle and grew to the point of relocation. Doug and his wife Wynne, decided Fort Collins was the ideal spot. His sister Corkie joined forces with them and the brewery opened in 1989. The original brewery was located in an old 1915 grain elevator and was the second microbrewery in Colorado. They're now three quarters of a mile east of downtown Fort Collins brewing 5 Barrel Pale Ale, Easy Street and on tap at the festival, Odell IPA, Cutthroat Porter, and 90 Shilling.

Stone Brewing Company (stonebrew.com)
The Stone Brewing Company is the brainchild of beer-lover/brewer Steve Wagner and beer-lover/business guy Greg Koch. Based on Steve's knowledge and experience in brewing and Greg's past successes in business, the two managed to convince some private investors to drop a bunch of dough on some shiny new stainless steel brewing vessels, and off they went. They found the perfect location in San Marcos, CA and moved in February 1996. By July they had their first brew. Just for you, they are showcasing their Stone Vertical Epic Ale, Stone Ruination IPA and Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard. Soon to hit the shelves is their Kona coffee, macadamia, coconut porter ... sounds heavenly.
Deshutes Brewery (deshutesbrewery.com)
Out of the Great Northwest overlooking the wild and scenic Deschutes River in Central Oregon, Deschutes Brewery has brewed handcrafted ales since 1988. Starting as a small brew pub serving locals their favorite beers in downtown Bend, Deschutes now sells beer across the western U.S. and has a second pub in Portland, Oregon. Deschutes serves flagship beers such as Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter, as well as new additions like The Abyss and Hop Trip.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (sierranevada.com)
In 1979, Ken Grossman began building a small brewery in the town of Chico, California. Later joining up with co-founder Paul Camusi, they cobbled a brewery together from dairy tanks, a soft-drink bottler, and equipment salvaged from defunct breweries. Through expansion and moves, the brewery is now a taproom, restaurant and 350-seat venue. Their winning and most popular beer is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which will be served alongside Torpedo Extra IPA, Kellerweis, and Anniversary Ale.

Start the music!
Take time in between brews to cleanse your palette by shakin' it to the beat of top notch performers. Shows are on the Red Lady Stage at the base of the lift.

Mountain Stand Time (MST)
The bluegrass starts at 12 noon, with traditional bluegrass standards played with a unique twist and offering up some pretty spicy originals. If you like bluegrass, you won't be disappointed. Hailing from that other wacky town of Nederland, which also birthed Leftover Salmon and Yonder String Band, the mountain community has embraced MST as the golden children of Colorado jamgrass. "We go into our shows with the aim that everyone will come out sweaty and hot, talking about how much fun they've had," says Phillip Dyer of the band.

Sol’ Jibe
Sol'Jibe, from the Reno/Tahoe area, plays at 2 p.m. with their “World rock for the Gypsy soul.” Blending American roots, world beat, and Latin rhythms into an inspired sound that has been dubbed "World Pop,” Sol'Jibe creates a high-energy performance. Their eclectic sound draws from extensive travels to Spain, Cuba, and Central America where they studied folkloric rhythms and culture. The band has provided musical support for such acts as Michael Franti, Robert Randolph, and Steel Pulse, while independently staging upwards of 200 festivals and shows yearly across the United States, Mexico, Canada and Cuba. Inspired by a trip to Spain in 2002, classically-trained violinist, lead vocalist/songwriter, and guitar player, Tim Snider had a clear vision of fusing diverse styles of music. His open approach to writing and arranging drove him to choose these diverse and exceptional musicians from the acclaimed Jazz Department at the University of Nevada, Reno in pursuit of his goal: saxophonist James Hoover, keyboardist J. Cowell, bassist Fernando Flores, and drummer Justin Kruger.

Drew Emmitt
Fans of the former Leftover Salmon member, frontman of the Left Hand String Band, Drew Emmitt Band, and the Emmitt-Nershi Band know Emmitt's rollicking mandolin and voice as one of the most innovative and energetic in music today. After touring as the Emmitt-Nershi band with Billy Nershi of The String Cheese Incident for the past year and making several reunion appearances with Leftover Salmon, Emmitt is once again taking the contemporary, live gig, fresh every time approach to bluegrass music. He’ll be playing a 30-minute set with each band. And he's one of Crested Butte's very own...

A perfect opportunity to enjoy the last of summer before the aspens put on their cloaks of gold and orange, go grab a brew, chow some chili, move your feet to the beat and head up to the Fall Festival of Beer and Chili.

Dawne Belloise is a freelance writer, photographer, musician and traveler. She is associate editor and feature writer for the CB Weekly who is hoping to taste as many porter beers at Saturday’s festival as possible. Email dbelloise@gmail.com and follow the adventures at rubysroad.com.