Press Release July 25, 2019
Breckenridge, CO – January 2020 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival. Among the brewers and breweries celebrated throughout the weekend of competitions, educational seminars, and tastings, there are always two outstanding brewers named Featured Brewmasters of the year. For this auspicious anniversary, Neil Fisher of WeldWerks Brewing Co. and Troy Casey of Casey Brewing and Blending have been named Featured Brewmasters. Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center in Breckenridge will be the host of the majority of Big Beers Festival events, January 9 – 11, 2020.
Fisher, Co-Founder, Co-Owner and Head Brewer for WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley Colorado, will be celebrating five years as a professional brewer in February. Interestingly, the Big Beers Festival was one of the catalysts that prompted Fisher and his partner, Colin Jones, to move forward with a business plan. The partners have seen tremendous success in their first five years, winning numerous accolades and awards.
Casey, Owner of Casey Brewing and Blending in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, began his brewing career at Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs in 2005, and invested time at UC Davis as well as brewing for larger breweries before he opened Casey Brewing and Blending in 2014. Specializing in mixed culture oak fermentation and barrel aging with fruit, he has likewise been highly decorated for his brewing prowess and his beers are highly sought after.
As Featured Brewmasters, Fisher and Casey will be hosting the Traditional Brewmasters’ Dinner on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Beaver Run Resort. A five course double-pairing dinner, the menu will be created around the beers that Fisher and Casey choose to show. By design, Beaver Run Executive Chef Phil Dilks and his team will be pairing one Casey beer and one WeldWerks beer with each course. Seats for dinner will be available when tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 4 or as part of the Big Beers Colorado VIP Pass, which will go on sale a day earlier.
In addition to announcing the Featured Brewmasters, the hosts for the 2020 Small Plates & Craft Beer Pairing have also been announced. Phil Markowski, Co-Owner and Master Brewer of Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford, Connecticut will be guiding dinner patrons through four paired courses with Matt Lincecum, Founder and Owner of Fremont Brewing in Fremont, Washington. Guest Chef Adam Dulye, Executive Chef for CraftBeer.com and the Brewers Association, will be working alongside Chef Michael Irwin to create a custom menu around Fremont and Two Roads beers. Although smaller portions and earlier in the day, patrons can expect outstanding beers and exceptional food pairings for this Small Plates event held at Sauce on the Maggie in the Village at Breckenridge on Friday afternoon.
For more information about the Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival, including a full schedule of events and ticketing details, peruse the festival’s website at BigBeersFestival.com or contact Festival Coordinator, Laura Lodge, at Laura@BigBeersFestival.com
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The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival is the perfect combination for a Winter Wonderland getaway: A world-class beer festival in the Colorado Rocky Mountains! Meet renowned brewmasters and brewery owners, taste hundreds of big, Belgian style, and experimental beers, explore beer & food pairings, and learn from an impressive array of brewmasters and industry experts over an action-packed three day weekend. As a novice, an aficionado, or an advanced homebrewer, you can enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to discuss beer with the amazing people who make it happen. Visit BigBeersFestival.com to learn more about this little festival in the mountains that the beer industry holds in such high esteem.
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Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center is located at the base of peak 9 at the Breckenridge Ski Resort. Beaver Run is a full service, year round resort featuring slope-side condominium style lodging, multiple on-site bars and restaurants as well the largest conference center in Breckenridge, Colorado. Visit BeaverRun.com for more information.
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The Breckenridge Tourism Office is the destination marketing organization for the Town of Breckenridge. Visit GoBreck.com for activity and event information or connect @GoBreck on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest photos and updates.