The inaugural Colorado Brewers Cup will recognize top local breweries on January 24
Denver: Colorado is known for its craft beer scene, and now it’s getting its own competition. States like Texas and Minnesota have their beer contests, so why not Colorado? The new Colorado Brewers Cup aims to celebrate local breweries and their contributions to the economy, which is a whopping $2.5 billion a year.
This first-ever event is organized by the state brewers guild. They’ve been working on it since last fall, and the winners will be revealed on January 24, right after the Colorado Craft Brewers Summit in Aurora.
Shawnee Adelson, the executive director of the guild, mentioned that many brewers had been pushing for a local competition for a while. When she asked the guild members in 2024, they were all in favor of it.
Matt Hess, who runs River North Brewery in Denver, is excited about this local event. He’s used to competing at the Great American Beer Festival, but he thinks a local contest will get smaller breweries involved and unite the industry. Plus, at $45 to enter, it’s more affordable than other competitions.
“We’re lucky to have the Great American Beer Fest, but doing something local feels more meaningful,” he said.
Jake Gardner from Westbound & Down Brewing Co. agrees. He believes these awards will help beer lovers find the best local brews in their favorite styles.
Right now, if you want to taste the best IPAs, you might have to head to California, where they often take home the awards. But after the Colorado Brewers Cup, local breweries will be recognized for their amazing American-style IPAs and other hoppy beers.
Adelson pointed out that this recognition is especially important during Dry January when many people are cutting back on drinking.
To enter the competition, breweries had to be dues-paying members of the guild. About half of the 300 member breweries took part in this first event.
The Colorado Brewers Cup is smaller than other big contests, with 26 categories for gold, silver, and bronze medals. This was intentional for the first year, as they wanted to keep it competitive.
Judges will taste different beer styles head-to-head in broader categories. For instance, wood and aged beers will include stouts and sours, while North American beers will cover various ales.
However, some styles, like Kölsch, have their own category because there are many local breweries that excel in that area.
They’ll also recognize two breweries as the small and midsize breweries of the year based on their medal counts. Plus, there’s an Ambassador of the Craft Award for someone who supports the craft beer scene in ways other than brewing.
Interestingly, these competitions help build camaraderie among local brewers. Gardner noted that honest feedback from judges is super helpful for preparing for bigger contests and improving their craft.
“We’ve faced tough competition, and that’s motivated us just as much as winning,” he said. “Whether we win or lose, competition brings out the best in us.”
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