Just as brewers innovate and change their craft with time, so do the festivals that celebrate it. Two irregular years - one without a festival (2020) followed by one with a festival but without a Grand Tasting (2021) - have given us the chance to step back and evaluate where we stand, as one of the original craft beer events in Colorado.

After months of market research, phone calls with industry colleagues and a lot of careful thought, we are thrilled to introduce the new Brewers Showcase at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Remaining true to our roots, this new experience replaces our traditional Grand Tasting and provides attendees with expanded opportunities to interact directly with breweries and to sample rare, new and classic beer offerings while supporting local, regional and national craftsmanship in the craft beer industry.

The new Brewers Showcase is a multi-faceted experience with events spanning the entire festival weekend. The Showcase will host five intimate tasting sessions with 21 breweries pouring unlimited samples for attendees. The Showcase also introduces a themed bar presented by the Colorado Brewers Guild serving one-of-a-kind, multi-brewery, collaborative beers along with a House of Brews bar with rotating beer styles each day. To top it all off, the Showcase will kick off with a multi-course beer pairing dinner that will strategically pair modern mountain dishes with special craft beer.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company will return as the long-standing craft beer partner to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Throughout the event, Sierra Nevada will pour many of their classic styles along with six rare, specialty beers and a unique "festival-only" flavor.

Tasting Sessions

Presented by the Telluride Blues Society

The Brewers Showcase will feature five tasting sessions in a new Beer Garden on the festival grounds located in between the Main Stage and the Blues Stage. These sessions will host fewer attendees and breweries than the traditional Grand Tasting, providing attendees with the opportunity to interact with the brewers on a more intimate level than in years past.

Two of the sessions will be held on Friday afternoon, two on Saturday afternoon and one on Sunday. Four of the sessions will offer attendees a tasting experience with 21 breweries pouring over 60 styles of craft beer. Each session will run for two hours in length with tickets available for $30 per session.

The late Saturday session will feature 30 or more special, high ABV, barrel-aged, rare, wild and non-traditional craft beers. This session will also run for two hours in length with tickets available at $45 per person.

Friday, September 16 from 1-3 pm
Friday, September 16 from 4-6 pm
Saturday, September 17 from 1-3 pm
Saturday, September 17 from 4-6 pm (special, high ABV, barrel-aged, rare, wild and non-traditional craft beers)
Sunday, September 18 from 12-2 pm

Tickets for each tasting session will go on sale on March 1 along with all other Festival Passes. Tasting sessions participants must be 21+ in age and must have an accompanying primary entry festival pass (Single-Day Festival Pass or 3-Day Festival Pass). The complete list of attending breweries will be released in spring of 2022 and the complete list of beer styles will be released in the summer of 2022.

Beer Collaborations

A partnership with the Colorado Brewers Guild

SBG Productions is excited to partner with the Colorado Brewers Guild, a non-profit trade association, to present one-of-a-kind, multi-brewery collaborative beers at the 2022 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Each beer will be brewed by two or more breweries working together to produce uniquely delicious and exclusive styles only available at the festival. The collaborative beers will be available for purchase at a new “State Of Craft Beer” Bar located in the Main festival grounds.

This new partnership furthers the mission of the Colorado Brewers Guild to promote, protect, and propel independent craft breweries in the state of Colorado through advocacy, community, education, and public awareness. The complete list of collaborative beers will be revealed this coming summer.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co

Official Craft Beer Partner

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company will return as the long-standing craft beer partner to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Be sure to check out their classic styles including the iconic Pale Ale and the award-winning Hazy Little Thing IPA all weekend, along with six rare, specialty beers and a unique "festival-only" flavor in a special High Altitude Lounge bar in addition to exclusive styles at the Tasting Sessions, House of Brews and High Altitude Craft Beer Lounge!

High Altitude Craft Beer Lounge

Rare Beer Offerings

During the festival Sierra Nevada will unveil rare and sought after craft beers. Many of these beers are only available at the brewery, special events or have spent time aging deep in the brewery’s vaults.

Listen up, this year’s selection of rare beers will be unveiled from the stage in between sets each day of the festival. Once each keg is tapped, the specialty beer will be available until it’s out, don’t miss out!

House of Brews

Try One Or Try Them All

The House Of Brews Bar returns this year with local, regional and national breweries showcasing their best suds. This year’s House Of Brews features a rotating list of styles from 15 breweries throughout the festival, with five or more styles each day. To ensure a diversified menu for all attendees, the House Of Brews will also have hard ciders, hard kombuchas and hard seltzers available for purchase.

The House of Brews Bar is located on the North side of the festival grounds, adjacent to the Festival Merchandise store and main entrance.

Beer Pairing Dinner

Presented by the Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

The Brewers Showcase will kick off in style on Thursday, September 15 with an evening of brews, world class fare, and, of course, music, featuring an exclusive multi-course dinner, presented by festival partner Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection. This culinary experience will pair curated, modern mountain cuisine by Executive Chef Bill Greenwood with unique craft beers and conversation with brewers. Stay tuned for the menu along with additional event and reservation information.

Blues & Brews Enhances Craft Beer Experience & Announces New Brewers Showcase