The first event in the series, Collaboration Festival, was the headline event of Colorado Craft Beer Week in March. It showcased the release of more than thirty-five Colorado collaboration beers. Each beer featured at Collaboration Festival was created by at least one CBG member, with other participating breweries coming from near and far. Some collaborations involved more than five breweries!
The second event in the Lovibond series is Sesh Fest, which is being held on August 2 from 3:00–7:00 p.m at Sculpture Park in downtown Denver. And what does “Sesh” mean, you ask? “Sesh” is short for session. Session beers have lower alcohol percentages, but pack as much flavor as the craft brews you're used to. These beers have a crisp, clean finish to give the beer a high drinkability.
Over the years there have been many debates on the ABV numbers of true session beers. Many argue whether beer containing more than 4.5 percent ABV is considered too high or non-alcoholic beer with 0.5 percent ABV is considered too low to be sessionable. By highlighting session beers, the CBG and Imbibe hope to introduce beer drinkers to brews they will enjoy time and time again.
The British coined the term session beers,” said Steve Kurowski of the CBG. “These beers play a very important role in craft beer’s heritage. There is more to creating a session beer than just lowering the alcohol content, and that is the challenge we are asking breweries to accept by participating in this festival. It’s also nice to be able to enjoy a few more beers when they’re not 12 percent ABV.”
Current participating Colorado breweries include:
- Black Bottle Brewery
- Breckenridge Brewery
- CAUTION: Brewing Company
- Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
- Dad & Dude's Breweria
- Denver Beer Co
- Epic Brewing Company
- FATE Brewing Company
- Former Future Brewing Company
- Great Divide Brewing Company
- Kannah Creek Brewing Company
- Kokopelli Beer Company
- Left Hand Brewing
- New Belgium
- Odell
- Pateros Creek
- Ska Brewing
- Station 26 Brewing Co.
- The Old Mine - Cidery & Brewpub
- TRiNiTY Brewing Company
- TRVE Brewing Co.
- Upslope Brewing Company
- Vine Street Pub & Brewery
- Wonderland Brewing Company
- Yak & Yeti Brewpub
Drinking beer is a social experience in itself. Beer is colorful, dynamic, and enjoyed best with others. Sesh Fest highlights the socialbility of beer and the conversations and relationships that beer can create,” said PJ Hoberman of Imbibe Denver.
Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase at www.seshfest.com. Beerandbrewing.com readers can use the code BEERANDBREWING for an exclusive 15% discount on tickets.
The third and fourth events in the Lovibond series are a Brewery 5K in Fort Collins and the Fresh Hops Festival, September 27 in Denver. Check Imbibe Denver's Facebook page for details about these upcoming events.