Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

THE BUZZ: Enjoying the Great American Beer Festival

By Dave Flomberg, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 9, 2008 at 7 p.m.

Text size  

More Nightlife

More stories »

"So, do you like your job?"

There have been times over the years when I haven't been able to answer that question in the affirmative.

There was one short-lived gig, back when I was 16, when I worked as a telemarketer. The job was cold-calling people and trying to persuade them to buy some sort of coupon book. I lasted exactly one shift and couldn't look at myself in the mirror for weeks afterward. In college, I temped on a number of occasions - the pay was decent, and I could work when I needed to ... and I hated about 96 percent of the jobs I was placed on. (Like the one where I spent three weeks stapling - and that was it. For eight hours a day.)

But it's hard to complain when your job is to hang out at bars and then go home and write about them. Sure, it has its share of drudgery and comes with all the pitfalls of the fame that follow being in the back half of the Spotlight section. But in the end, it's tough to complain about punching in to a watering hole filled with beautiful women and trading in my stapler for a rocks glass and my three-hole punch for a swizzle stick.

And, once a year, there comes that magical holiday that invariably stretches to encompass a whole weekend. The one where everyone has a glass in his hand, the one where you're expected to let loose and celebrate with a pint or 12.

That's right, folks, it's time for the Great American Beer Festival. It's been a couple of years since I've been, back when I was a paid correspondent for Beer.com, which came with an awesome laminate ID and the unfettered right to take pictures of every hot beer babe I could focus my lens on.

And it's only gotten bigger and better since then.

Sadly, I'll probably be able to squeeze in only one day of action - the festivities began on one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. And I have some serious atoning to do, so I'll be fasting.

But that was Thursday, and now I (and you) have today and Saturday to get our hands on tickets (which you'll no doubt have to beg for from some sot stationed near the Colorado Convention Center).

This year, there will be more than 1,800 kinds of beers from more than 400 breweries around the country, from the Alaskan Brewing Co. in Juneau to the Grumpy Troll Restaurant and Brewery in Mount Horeb, Wis.

Today's session starts at 5:30 p.m. with general admission for beer tasting (you get a 1-ounce glass with your ticket and until 9:45 p.m. to pack in as many tastes as you're able to handle without making a complete buffoon of yourself by stripping to your skivvies and challenging a keg to a wrestling contest ... er ... never mind).

Also on tap (sorry, couldn't help myself) are a beer trivia game, food and beer pairing demos and book signings by your favorite brewmasters-cum-authors.

Saturday is more of the same,along with a panel discussion about the health benefits of drinking beer, led by beer journalist Lisa Morrison.

You have two days left, my friends. Don't waste them reading my column - get down there pronto!

Great American Beer Festival

* Where: Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St.

* When: 5:30 to 10 p.m. today and Saturday

* Information: beertown.org

* Of note: Sold out, although tickets can probably be procured near the event. If not, belly up to the bar at the Corner Office (1401 Curtis St.) and stare longingly at the Convention Center and hope someone notices and takes pity on you.