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Press and Event Photos
Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival
Testimonials | In The News | Press Releases | Event Photos
2013 Brewmasters
Testimonials
- "Honestly, I don’t want to tell you anything about the Vail Big Beers Belgians and Barleywine Festival, but I must. I’d prefer not to list breweries who were in attendance, the beer celebrities who were milling around the grounds, and I especially would rather not divulge the amazing bounty of beers that was poured. Why? Because I’m selfish and I just attended one of the best damn beer fests that I’ve yet to come across and I don't want you overpopulating it in the future. If you ever find yourself ready to graduate to the truly obsessive level of beer tasting, this is certainly the event to be in the know about."
-Tristan Chan, Porch Drinking
- "The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival is one killer beer festival. It is perhaps the most comprehensive, educational, and fun-filled festival I've ever been to and the most exciting four hours of beer tasting I've ever done!"
-Eric Steen, Focus on the Beer
- Blogspot Review and Photos - "I highly recommend this festival. There are seminars, beer dinners, a homebrew contest and a grand tasting session of over 200 different beers!"
Michael Demers
- "A lot of festivals have extraordinary beers. This festival has nothing but extraordinary beers."
- Gary Glass, Director of the American Homebrewers Association
- "(Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines) has become my favorite fest of the year. True camaraderie paired with a high level of brewing knowledge in a relaxed setting."
- J. Todd Usury, Brewery Director for Breckenridge Breweries, Denver, CO
- "(We) have made some friends that we see each year at this event and we look forward to it each year. For us, this festival combines snowboarding, fantastic beer, a beautiful setting, and great friends...it doesn't get much better!"
- Darrell Maudlin, Homebrewer, Houston, TX
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Event Photos
2013 Festival
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Experimental Brewing Seminar Panel: David Edgar (Moderator), Ray Daniels (Cicerone Program Director/Author), Geoff Larson (Alaskan Brewing Co./Author) & Ro Guenzel (Left Hand Brewing Co.)
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Elizabeth from Firestone Walker pouring a sample of Wookey Jack for an attendee at the Commercial Tasting.
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Attendees enjoying the Traditional Brewmasters' Dinner, hosted by Matt Brynildson from Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and Kevin DeLange of Dry Dock Brewing Co.
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The dessert course featured at the Brewmasters' Dinner.
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Staff & contestants after the CraftBeer.com Beer & Food Pairing Taste-off: (L to R) Andy Sparhawk with the Brewers Association, Nathan Venner of Altitude Chophouse & Brewery, Shawn DeWitt of Coronado Brewing Co. (2x winner), Geoff Larson of Alaskan Brewing Co., Scott Witsoe of Wit's End Brewing Co. and Julia Herz (CraftBeer.com & Brewers Association) host/moderator.
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Left to Right: Natalie Fletcher,
Denver, CO, Ann Smith, Lakewood,
CO and Joy Cottrill, Phoenix, AZ.
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2012 Festival
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Sam Calagione's seminar "The Marriage of Good Beer & Good Music" with concert ambiance, eg lower lights and more informal seating.
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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Experimenting with craft beer & cigars at the inaugural Cigar & Beer Pairing Seminar outdoors by the Vail Cascade's fire features.
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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Volunteers pouring one of the beers for "The Evolution of a Barrel" experimental brewing seminar attendees.
Photo by David Foxhoven
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Jill Redding, Editor of The New Brewer and Zymurgy for the Brewers Association, judging for the Big Beers, Belgians & Strong Ales Homebrew Competition.
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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Scott Witsoe, Owner of Wit's End Brewing Co., serving samples of his beers to Peter Bouckaert & his wife. Peter is the Brewmaster for New Belgium Brewing Co.
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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(L to R) Nathan Fleming,
Mary Fleming and
Stephanie Long from Laramie, WY. Sonja Hanson, Denver, CO and
Jared Long Laramie, WY.
Jared (right) won 4 medals in the 2012 Big Beers Homebrew Competition!
Photo by David Foxhoven |
2011 Festival
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The perfect pour
(of Firestone Walker's "Parabola") in 2011
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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Sam Calagione passing out snacks during the 2011 'Regional Brewing Traditions Around the World' seminar.
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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Mark Sample of Left Hand Brewing Co. judging the 2011 home brewing competition
Photo by David Foxhoven
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2011 Seminar
Photo by David Foxhoven |
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"Bobo" of Manneken-Brussel Imports, Inc. pouring Schneider Aventinus and Chimay products at the 2011 Commercial Tasting
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2010 Festival
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Lodewijk Swinkels, Brewmaster for LaTrappe at Bierbrouwerij Koningshoeven.
James & Tina Pachorek, Owners of the Cheeky Monk Beer Cafe in Denver & Winter Park, CO.
Rob Tod, Founder/Brewmaster at Allagash Brewing Co, in Portland, Maine.
Photo by Laura Lodge
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Andy Sparhawk, Brewers Association
judging at the 2010 Big Beers Homebrew Competition.
Photo by David Foxhoven |
Crowd shot at the 2010 Commercial Tasting Event.
Photo by Prosper Studios |
John Mallet, Production Manager for Bell's Brewing Co., Kalamazoo, MI pouring for a guest at the 2010 Commercial Tasting.
Photo by David Foxhoven
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