Danico Brewing Company Takes Top Honors with “Best Beer of Summer” Award at the Vail Craft Beer Classic
More than 60 beers were showcased at the high-altitude beer festival in Vail; attendees and brewers voted for their favorite brews
GOLDEN, Colo. (June 16, 2025)—The Vail Craft Beer Classic welcomed more than 1,000 attendees to the mountain craft beer festival this past weekend where they got to vote for the top three selections for the 2025 “Best Beer of Summer” Awards that honored the standout beers from the festival.
The awards were announced on Saturday, June 14 with winners taking home “Best Beer of Summer” tap handles to display year-round in their taprooms.
Vail Craft Beer Classic “Best Beer of Summer” Award Winners:
Something Brewery - Peach, Please: a fruity, peach-forward honey blonde that comes in at 5.5% ABV
Danico Brewing - Lost Hills Pistachio Ale: Pistachio Cream Ale with a nutty and surprisingly crisp finish that is balanced by a touch of sweetness. This delicate cream ale comes in at 5% ABV.
Launch Pad Brewery - Cape Canaveral: American Wheat beer with lime peel, key lime juice, vanilla beans, brown sugar, molasses and cinnamon
This is the third year in a row that Launch Pad Brewery and Something Brewery have placed in the top three; last year, Something Brewery took second place last year with the same beer.
“It means the world to us that people connected with the beer in such a big way. At Something Brewery, we pour our hearts (and a whole lot of peach) into crafting beers that are fun, flavorful, and made to be shared,” says Something Brewing Co-Owner David Allegrezza. “Getting this kind of recognition from craft beer lovers is both humbling and energizing—it inspires and gets us super excited to keep pushing the boundaries with every beer we brew. Cheers to the Vail Craft Beer Classic and Brighton!”
This is the ninth year for the Vail Craft Beer Classic and the third time that the event producer added a public voting component. Attendees were able to sample over 60 beers and vote on their favorites.
“We are so proud and excited to have Lost Hills Pistachio Cream Ale recognized for two years in a row! It doesn't fit well into any categories for other judged competitions, so having the lovely beer drinking folks at the Vail Craft Beer Classic acknowledge us in this way is really rewarding and special!” says Danico Brewing Owner Dave Lotierzo. “We've just started canning it in 19.2-ounce cans too, so hopefully we can get it into more hands and coolers this summer!”
The Vail Craft Beer Classic is proud to partner with the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Association (VVMTA). A portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales went to VVMTA’s mission of supporting a community of diverse participants that vigorously supports the maintenance and construction of sustainable mountain biking and hiking trails throughout Eagle County.
For more information about Vail Craft Beer Classic, visit VailCraftBeerClassic.com.
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About Vail Craft Beer Classic
More than 40 Colorado breweries are coming together in Vail for the ninth-annual Vail Craft Beer Classic to pour out their top craft beers, seltzers, and ciders. All-inclusive tickets allow you to sip on your choice of brews while taking in the scenic views of Vail, enjoying live music, and meeting the brewers. Voting will take place for the best Brewer’s Choice and People’s Choice beers. Created and produced by Team Player Productions, the Classic prides itself on presenting Colorado’s best breweries, worthy of a true Vail adventure. For more information, visit VailCraftBeerClassic.com, or follow @VailCraftBeerClassic on Facebook and Instagram.
About Discover Vail
Discover Vail in the spring, summer and fall. There’s no place like Vail for year-round recreation, outdoor pursuits and cultural experiences in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Nestled at the foot of Vail mountain just two hours west of Denver, Vail’s fresh air, rugged beauty and charming pedestrian villages await visitors. Discover quaint Bavarian villages where outdoor activities abound and the performing arts flourish. Matching the incredible winter mountain experience, Vail from May through October is characterized by a rich culinary scene, family activities, world-class events and everything in between.