The public portion of the Great American Beer Festival won't take place in 2021 (it returns in 2022), but organizers at the Brewers Association had still planned to repeat their "national passport program," which took place in 2020, when the festival was canceled the first time; for $20, the program gave passport holders exclusive access to deals at more than 1,100 breweries from all fifty states.

But those same breweries simply weren't feeling it this time around. So, "after careful consideration," the Brewers Association tells Westword that the GABF passport program, which had been set for September 17-October 17, has been canceled "due to low brewery engagement." Instead, the organization is encouraging beer lovers to join the American Homebrewers Association, which also provides deals at breweries across the country.

In the meantime, mark your calendar for October 6-8, 2022, when the festival will return to the Colorado Convention Center for its fortieth anniversary (assuming America can get its ass in gear and get vaccinated).

Keep reading to see craft-beer tappings and events into mid-August.

Thursday, August 5
It's National IPA Day, and a few local breweries are celebrating by featuring their hoppiest beers. Comrade Brewing currently has eight different IPAs going: More Dodge Less Ram IPA, Superpower IPA, Pac Sun Express IPA Experimental 074 IPA, Super Bush IPA, Rad Man IPA, Honeyman 41 IPA and Honeyman 42 IPA.

Dry Dock Brewing taps Pineapple Milkshake IPA at its South Dock location — and will follow up by tapping a new IPA each Thursday for the rest of the month. Pineapple Milkshake, at 6.3 percent ABV, was brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops, pineapple purée, lactose and a dash of vanilla. "It carries a big nose of fresh pineapple with citrus undertones and a subtle vanilla finish," the brewery says.

Novel Strand Brewing has three new beers available in cans. Cool Smooth Like 2 Blue Suede Shoes is "an unfiltered hoppy beer featuring an unreal blend of Nectaron, Riwaka and Strata hops," the brewery says. Straight from the Labs #3 and #4 are the latest in Novel Strand's experimentations with trial hop strains out of New Zealand. "We can't say much about [either beer] as y'all will be providing your feedback on it to the farmers," the brewery explains, but it is a big fan of both of them.

New cans: Crooked Stave debuts a new canned beer called Brett of a Kind. "Light, herbal, and — most importantly — local," this 4.5 percent ABV white saison was brewed with fresh coriander, orange peel and lemongrass," the brewery says. It is available in the taproom on draft and in four-packs to go.

Friday, August 6
Bull & Bush Brewery celebrates its fifty-year anniversary with a two-day block party and bash. Friday's events, which run from 4 p.m. to close, include special tappings (like a collaboration with Comrade Brewing), an outdoor beer tent, food and the Whisky Wagon. (An 8 p.m. concert with DeVotchKa is sold out.)

"After two years of dreaming and scheming," Cohesion Brewing announces its grand opening today at 5 p.m., followed by an all-day affair starting on Saturday at noon. The brewery, at 3851 Steele St., Unit 1388, specializes is traditionally made Czech lagers and is owned by former Odd13 head brewer Eric Larkin and his wife, Lisa. There will be multiple food trucks and expanded seating throughout the weekend to help launch the brewery right. The brewery is collecting school supplies for Beer Kulture’s Kulture 4 Da Kids program through August 16, so you can bring donations. Check the brewery's Facebook page for specifics on what is needed.

After a mouthwatering wait, Music City Hot Chicken will finally open its small location inside TRVE Brewing today. The Fort Collins mainstay will serve sandwiches, chicken tenders and sides starting at 11 a.m. Pairing suggestion: Give TRVE's brand-new Vienna lager, Starless Age, a shot.

Comrade Brewing taps Stuck in My Cabana, a 5.4 percent ABV German-style hefeweizen. It has the "traditionally cloudy appearance with big banana and bubblegum aromas," the brewery says.

It's First Friday, and Wah Gwaan Brewing is celebrating in the Art District on Santa Fe with a Jamaican Independence Day Party. There will be new beers, tunes from DJ Chris Milly and food from Jamaican Jerk BBQ.

New Image Brewing has two new beers in cans. The first is Floral Pheromone, a 7.5 percent ABV IPA brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Columbus hops. The second is Pure Isolate Double IPA, at 8.5 percent ABV, made with Galaxy and Strata Fusion hop terpenes.

Cerebral Brewing

Saturday, August 7
Bull & Bush Brewery continues its fifty-year anniversary celebration with a block party from noon to close with a beer tent, special tappings, live DJs, a whole-hog barbecue with chef Justin Brunson from River Bear Meats, and an 8 p.m. concert with Dragondeer (tickets for that show are still available).

Cerebral Brewing brings back the Colfax Cove for the 2021 Tiki Party, which it calls "a hidden retreat of inflatable pools, misters, lounge chairs, fruited beers, umbrella beer cocktails, and the sweet sounds of the tropics. ... Dress for the beach and meet us at the tiki bar." There will also be custom sunglasses, tiki T-shirts, temporary tattoos, and three new tiki-style beers: Mai Tai Forbidden Idol Tiki Sour IPA, an 8.2 percent ABV beer made with tangerine, lime, almond, vanilla and lactose; Ultramodern Strawberry Daiquiri Smoothie-Style Sour Ale made with strawberry and Key lime; and Ultramodern POG, made with passion fruit, orange and guava.

Join De Steeg Brewing from 3 to 5 p.m. for Brews and BBQ in the Alley, featuring Dorsia Barbecue serving up its award-winning food. Tickets include two Mexican lagers and eats. Go to the Facebook page for details.

Knotted Root Brewing in Nederland knows what you want, so the brewery, which specializes in New England-style IPAs, will host its second annual Taylor Ham Egg and Cheese (Salt Pepper Ketchup) Day. The beer of the same name will be there. So will the famed New Jersey-style sandwiches. Confused by the food-inspired cans? We can explain.

The Garden at Left Hand Brewing opens on August 14.

Left Hand Brewing

Tuesday, August 10
Freshcraft taps Hadley's Hazy IPA, a limited-edition beer that Upslope Brewing made specifically to help raise funds for the Children's Heart Foundation, which supports congenital heart defect (CHD) research. "This is a cause close to our hearts, and we hope you will join us in supporting a good cause and drinking some damn good beer," Freshcraft says. The beer goes on tap at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 12
Continuing its series of IPA Month tappings, Dry Dock Brewing will pour Grapefruit DIPA, a 9 percent ABV, 90 IBU double IPA, at its South Dock location. Brewed with Simpson’s Golden Promise and the five "big C" hops — Chinook, Cascade, Columbus, Centennial and Citra — this beer is a staff favorite.

Saturday, August 14
The Parker Brewfest returns to O'Brien Memorial Park with around thirty breweries — most of them hailing from Denver's southern suburbs, but a few coming from other areas outside the city as well.

The Belleview Station Beer Fest includes unlimited samples from more than thirty breweries, along with food trucks, street-food vendors, a themed dance party and costume contest with a live DJ, lawn games, a photo booth, a DIY pretzel-necklace station, themed swag and more.

Left Hand Brewing in Longmont opens its new outdoor venue, The Garden, next to the taproom at 1245 Boston Avenue. To celebrate, the brewery will host its first Annual Sun Splash Reggae Festival featuring Harry Mo., Stylie & DJ Mxgxfire from noon to 5 p.m. There will also be food from Gaijin Street Food.

Adblock test (Why?)