Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines 2010 (Day 1)

Here are some pictures and commentary from Day 1 (Friday, Jan. 8) of the 2010 BBB festival in Vail CO. I highly recommend this festival. There are seminars, beer dinners, a homebrew contest and a grand tasting session of over 200 different beers!

(you can click on the pictures for larger views)

Sampling off-flavors in beer during the Cicerone workshop

Ray Daniels lecturing at the Cicerone workshop. Ray developed the Cicerone certification program to train sellers, servers and distributors of beer how to better care for, understand and present beer.
For more info, visit: http://www.cicerone.org/



Welcome reception on Friday after the Cicerone workshop. Lots of great food and special beers brewed exclusively for the 10th anniversary of the festival.

Dave Mentus of the Pumphouse Brewery in Longmont, CO

Below are some of the beers (but not all) I sampled at the welcome reception.

After the welcome reception, it was time for the judges to convene. 60 judges sampled, rated, critiqued, scored and ranked well over 100 entries from top notch homebrewers. Nick and I stayed to help out.

Room full O' judges!

My table.

Nick standing at his table.

Friends gather after the judging. (L to R) Dan Rabin of Celebrator Beer News, David Edgar of  Mountain West Brewery Supply, John Carlson of Colorado Brewers Guild


Later in the evening it was time to head in to the gourmet beer dinner. 6 courses, each paired with beer from New Belgium and LaTrappe. Dinner was fantastic! Here is the menu:

We finished dinner at about midnight. What a day! Time to crash and get ready for day 2. Here's the link..