Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines 2010 (Day 2)

Here are some pictures and commentary from Day 2 (Saturday, Jan. 9) of the 2010 BBB festival in Vail CO. I highly recommend this festival. There are seminars, beer dinners, a homebrew contest and a commercial tasting session of over 200 different beers!

(you can click on the pictures for larger views)

The morning started at 10:00 AM with a seminar called "Brewing Outside the Box: Brewers Gone Wild!" The panelists spoke about their experience and experiments with unusual/extreme styles.

Panelists included: Kevin DeLange - Dry Dock Brewing, Sam Calagione - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, John Mallett - Bell's Brewing Co., Steven Pauwels - Boulevard Brewing Co., David Edgar - White Labs Yeast Co.

Here I am, listening intently, at 10:00 AM, with 7 beer samples in front of me. This brewing business is hard work!


The next seminar was called "Brewing With The Trappists" and featured Lodewijk & Gijs Swinkels from LaTrappe at Bierbrouwerij Koningshoeven in The Netherlands. They talked about what it's like to brew at a Trappist Monastery and the brewing climate in The Netherlands and Europe.

Lodewijk Swinkels

Dan Bradford - publisher, All About Beer Magazine

 The next brewmaster's seminar was called "La Folie: Wood Aged Sour Beers." It featured Peter Bouckaert of New Belgium Brewing Co. He explained the brewing process for various sour beer styles. His two sons helped with visual aids.

Peter Bouckaert and sons.


 And now, the commercial tasting with over 200 different strong beers from around the U.S. and abroad!

Congratulations to Nick Callaway, who won three medals in the homebrew competition!

Chad and John-Michael of Michelob Brewing Co.

Grand Teton Brewing Co.

Here's to good friends!

Nick, Luke, Me.

Sam Calagione, meet Luke Moore.

Sam Calagione and Adam Avery.

Rob Todd of Allagash Brewing Co.

Me with Ray Daniels and Nick Callaway.


Here's a link to photos from day 1