{"id":98305,"date":"2018-08-23T16:41:33","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T22:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/san-juan-brewfest-marks-20-years-of-beer\/"},"modified":"2018-08-23T16:41:33","modified_gmt":"2018-08-23T22:41:33","slug":"san-juan-brewfest-marks-20-years-of-beer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/san-juan-brewfest-marks-20-years-of-beer\/","title":{"rendered":"San Juan Brewfest marks 20 years of beer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Marcus
Marcus Smith of Evoke Productions, which books music for the San Juan Brewfest, raises a toast above the crowd at last year\u2019s fest. In the background, the band Dragondeer plays.<\/span>Courtesy of San Juan Brewfest<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The San Juan Brewfest is celebrating two decades as the largest beer fest in the Four Corners on Saturday, but it\u2019s still just shy of drinking age.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s almost legal. In one more year, it will be legal,\u201d said event coordinator Tim Walsworth.<\/p>\n

Over the past 20 years, the event has shifted footprints, and new breweries delivering 4-ounce samples to thirsty attendees come and go. Other than that, there haven\u2019t been any major changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s standard. We have a good model,\u201d Walsworth said. \u201cIf it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The beer festival<\/a>, which takes place at Buckley Park and Main Avenue adjacent to the park, will showcase 50 local and regional breweries, including Fenceline and Big B\u2019s cideries as well as Durango Craft Spirits, which will be pouring splashes of liquor samples. There will also be three live bands and food trucks and booths from Gosar Sausage, Mountain Stir Fry and Mariana\u2019s Indonesian Cuisine to keep drinkers fueled and entertained for the full four hours of the grand tasting from 1 to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of new (breweries) that peaked my interest are the Mancos Brewing Company \u2013 they weren\u2019t ready to come in the past,\u201d Walsworth said. \u201cAnother personal favorite is La Cumbre<\/a> out of Albuquerque.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mancos Brewing Company<\/a> brewer DeWayne Jackson said the company recently grew out of a 1,100-square-foot space into a 4,000-square-foot space last May.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t been at the San Juan Brewfest primarily because we didn\u2019t have enough beer at the end of the season,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n

The expansion allowed the opportunity for Mancos Brewing Company, which has been operating for four years, to brew more beer. Their appearance at the festival will also help the company reach its goal of growing hits presence in the Durango market.<\/p>\n

Jackson plans on bringing four beers to the festival, including his Extra Dizzy IPA and Mancos Sh\u2019ale, a dark ale fermented in oak, and two other undecided brews totalling around 45 gallons of beer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Extra Dizzy IPA is as good as any IPA around. It\u2019s done with Australian hops, so it has different flavor and aroma,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n

\"Crowds
Crowds meander between breweries\u2019 booths at the 2017 San Juan Brewfest. This year, its 50 local and regional breweries include Fenceline and Big B\u2019s cideries as well as Durango Craft Spirits.<\/span>Courtesy of San Juan Brewfest<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

As far as other specific beer suggestions, Walsworth does not know what the breweries will be pouring until the day of the event, but attendees can expect more elbow room this year. The event, which has sold out the past four years, is selling 200 fewer tickets (2,300 total) to free up more space in the tight boundary lines.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t changing the goal of raising 40 grand for United Way of Southwest Colorado, which has hosted San Juan Brewfest for the past 11 years. United Way allocates those funds to various local causes focusing on mental health, education and financial stability.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we OK having a hot ticket? If we max out, we don\u2019t have an opportunity to make more money for (United Way),\u201d Walsworth said. \u201cWe\u2019ve looked at (moving), but we\u2019re not there yet. I don\u2019t know where we would go that would be convenient in the heart of the town.\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest change is beefed-up security and options for designated drivers. \u201cWe are serving mocktails. It\u2019s not just a batch of powdered lemonade in a cooler,\u201d Walsworth said.<\/p>\n

Five restaurants, including Eolus and El Moro, are making non-alcoholic drinks such as a lemon mint fauxito and peach melba coolers. There will also be a small section with seating only for DDs to escape the crowds.<\/p>\n

DD tickets cost $20 compared to the $35 general admission ticket (Walsworth said they are still looking for volunteers who will get in for free.) Designated drivers still must be at least 21 years old to enter.<\/p>\n

\"Austin
Austin Lashley of Avalanche Brewing in Silverton holds up the People\u2019s Choice Award at last year\u2019s Brewfest. His wife Cassie stands to his right.<\/span>Courtesy of San Juan Brewfest<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Walsworth said they will sell out again, so it\u2019s best to buy tickets in advance. (VIP tickets are already sold out.) He said they will most likely have 100 or less, if any, available at the gate.<\/p>\n

Once inside, Walsworth suggests trying the familiar beers you know you love but then spend the bulk of the time hitting the booths you\u2019re unfamiliar with.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy other big tip is eat and hydrate,\u201d Walsworth said. \u201cIt\u2019s a tasting event, not a beer chugging event. We want people to truly enjoy the artistry of these beers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

If you go<\/h4>\n

What:<\/strong>
\n San Juan Brewfest
\n When:<\/strong>
\n 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday
\n Where:<\/strong>
\n Buckley Park at 12th Street and Main Avenue
\n How much:<\/strong>
\n General admission ticket is $25. Designated driver ticket is $20. VIP tickets are sold out.
\n Tickets can be purchased at:<\/strong>
\n http:\/\/sanjuanbrewfest.com\/tickets\/<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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