Better Together: Collaboration Fest Beers to Remember
Photo courtesy of Ryan Cox Photography
Organized by the Colorado Brewers Guild and presented by On Tap Credit Union, Collaboration Fest is the original collaboration-focused craft beer festival celebrating the camaraderie and innovation at the heart of Colorado's craft beer scene.
On April 4 at The Westin Westminster, 160+ breweries will pour over 120 exclusive, limited-edition collaboration beers. Since 2014, the fest has brought together member breweries and independent partners — from local neighbors to international collaborators — to create one-of-a-kind beers for this annual fundraiser supporting the CBG's mission to promote, protect, and propel independent craft brewing through advocacy, education, and community.
Classic styles and out-of-the-box experiments alike, the stories behind these collabs are just as fun as the beers themselves. Here are some highlights:
A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ and The Elizabeth Brewing Company
Beer name: Pineapple & Anchovies Belong on Pizza
Beer style: Hazy IPA
Beer story: Hazy IPA brewed with Pineapple Puree, all anchovy hops and pizza seasonings
A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ and Monolith Brewing
Beer name: TBD
Beer style: Stout
Beer story: Round three of Steven’s and my smoked food beer series! This time, we're blending smoked grains with our own house-smoked sausage and jalapeños for one beautiful concoction
Grossen Bart Brewery and Mountain Merman Brewing Company
Beer name: Liquid Thanksgiving - Get Basted
Beer style: Veggie Casserole Pale Ale
Beer story: The brewers at Mountain Merman and Grossen Bart finally brought a long-simmering idea to life with the release of Veggie Casserole Pale Ale. What started as a running joke and late-night brew deck brainstorming slowly turned into a serious (but still playful) collaboration. An idea that’s been brewing for years has finally found its way from conversation to kettle. Liquid Thanksgiving is the deliciously unexpected result of creativity, friendship, and a shared love for pushing boundaries
Liquid Mechanics and Base Camp Beer Works
Beer name: Potsdamer Stange
Beer style: Potsdamer Stangenbier
Beer story: Potsdamer Stangenbier is a traditional, top-fermented beer style from Potsdam, Germany, often described as a refreshing, golden-amber colored, and slightly fruity beer. Traditionally unfiltered and served in a Stange glass
Liquid Mechanics and Pinthouse Brewing (TX)
Beer name: West Coast Cartel
Beer style: West Coast IPA
Beer story: West Coast Cartel is a running collaboration series of West Coast IPAs. Highlighting some of the best West Coast IPA producers in the country, this rendition was a collab with Pinthouse (Austin, TX) featuring select Citra, Mosaic and Rakau
Mash Mechanix Brewing Co. and Peaks N Pines Brewery
Beer name: American Hop Revolution
Beer style: IPA
Beer story: American Hop Revolution IPA is a tribute to the dual anniversary of America's 250th and Colorado's 150th termed "sesquisemiquincentennial"! We brewed this once in a lifetime beer using locally grown red wheat, white barley, and blue corn. We used Colorado grown hops and yeast to round out this all American, all Colorado beer. This beer was proudly made by brewers hailing from every corner of the country. From Alaska, Massachusetts, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, we collaborated under the shadow of America’s Mountain to honor the Centennial State
Mirror Image Brewing and Broken Hops Brewing
Beer name: Snoop a Loop
Beer style: WC Pils
Beer story: Just a quick answer to a craigslist missed connections ad and the rest is history, it went like this: Our eyes met through the window of the Prost brewhouse for a quick second. You were taking notes on your computer, data driven, I'm sure. Just seemed like our interests align, and thought maybe we should collab together. If you feel the same way, send a sign
Odell Brewing Five Points Brewhouse and Comrade Brewing Company
Beer name: Convertible Cargo Pants
Beer style: IPA
Beer story: Comrade makes great IPAs and we have some cool hops. It was time to collab on a recipe and have some fun
Our Mutual Friend Brewing and Stodgy Brewing Company
Beer name: Bodgy
Beer style: American Bock
Beer story: This beer is inspired by our love of brewing with Colorado ingredients and showing that classic and modern beer styles can be made using local ingredients. Brewed with Troubadour malt, Kernza, and Colorado CTZ and Colorado crystal hops
Phantom Canyon Brewing Company, Mash Mechanix, Gunslinger, Brewing, and Urban Animal Brewery
Beer name:Smokey and the Bandit
Beer style: Smoked Bock
Beer story: Gunslinger, Mash Mechanix, Phantom Canyon, and Urban Animal have officially joined forces to release Smokey and the Bandit, a 6.1% ABV Rauchbock (Smoked Bock) fueled by a shared passion for beer and a suspiciously high tolerance for each other’s company. This liquid celebration of downtown camaraderie features a bold blend of toasted bread, caramel, and rich beechwood smoke that hits smoother than a Trans Am. We’ve channeled our collective grit and friendship into a single fermenter to prove that the best way to enjoy downtown Colorado Springs is with a pint in hand and a few good neighbors by your side
Prost Brewing, Zwei Brewing, and Root Shoot Malting
Beer name: Thunder Struck Export Pils
Beer style: GR Export Pilsner
Beer story: We wanted to take an opportunity to highlight the new pilsner malt coming off of the Kaspar Schulz malting equipment at Root Shoot Malting (Thunder Pilsner Malt). Zwei and Prost were actually connected through our mutual friend Heyward at Root Shoot and the potential to brew Kaspar Schulz created malt on our Kaspar Schulz brewhouse was too good of an opportunity to pass up. We selected an Export Pilsner because it felt like a great way to showcase the German processing methods, equipment, and raw materials. The results are a crisp, bright, and elegant Pilsner that we hope everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy
Two22 Brew and Woods Boss Brewing
Beer name: Forage and Flow
Beer style: Kölsch
Beer story: A German Kölsch brewed with copious amounts of Chanterelle Mushrooms and Ponderosa Pine Needles
WeldWerks Brewing Company and Equilibrium Brewery (NY)
Beer name: ScienceWerks
Beer style: Hazy Double IPA
Beer story: We brought back this popular beer with one of our favorite Hazy IPA breweries in the country, Equilibrium, specifically for Collab Fest. ScienceWerks is a Hazy Double IPA brewed with Strata, Citra and Mosaic hops, featuring notes of peach rings, mango nectar, and lime zest on top of homemade whipped cream. So, whether you're feeling like Jekyll, Hyde, or Einstein today, this brew has you covered
WeldWerks Brewing Company, Full Frame Beer, and Our Mutual Friend Brewing
Beer name: Noche, Mi Amigo
Beer style: Barrel Aged Imperial Pastry Stout
Beer story: Born from a shared love of innovation and pushing the boundaries of beer, Noche, Mi Amigo is an Imperial Stout aged in a blend of Weller, Stagg Jr., Old Fitzgerald and Willett bourbon barrels, then finished on toasted coconut flakes, unsweetened raw coconut chips, toasted hazelnuts, black sesame, caramel and sea salt. There is only one keg in existence and it's available exclusively at Collab Fest!
WeldWerks Brewing Company and Inland Island Yeast
Beer name: Smells Like Steam Spirit
Beer style: California Common
Beer story: A nod to West Coast brewing heritage, Smells Like Steam Spirit is a California Common Ale brewed with Inland Island Yeast’s Steamer Lager strain. This beer honors the tradition of warm-fermented lager yeast that defines the style
WestFax Brewing Company and Our Mutual Friend Brewing
Beer name: Le Matts Bleu
Beer style: Canadian Pilsner
Beer story: Le Matts Bleu stems from a long time friendship and collaboration between friends and breweries. Both breweries have stellar people named Matt (who have been friends for a bit), and the owners of both WestFax and OMF are from Upstate New York...hence the Canadian Lager theme