Over 1,100 Attendees, 100 Breweries and Donation to VVCF Key to Popular Event

Vail, Colorado–March 3, 2012-The 12th annual Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival held in January once again proved to be one of the nation’s premier craft beer events with sold out seminars, a commercial tasting with more than 100 breweries represented and a significant donation promised to the event’s designated charity, the Vail Valley Charitable Fund. New programs this year included a craft beer and cigar pairing led by Paul Gatza of the Brewers Association and a music and craft beer pairing, led by Sam Calagione, Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and returning popular selections, such as the CraftBeer.com Beer & Food Pairing Taste-off, which drew standing room only attendance. The event was generously sponsored by Vail Valley & craft beer industry businesses, beer publications, and organized locally in Vail.

Among the sixty craft brewers in attendance and 100+ breweries represented were the 2012 Featured Brewmasters Todd Usry of Breckenridge Brewery and John Mallet of Bell’s Brewing Company as well as annual event host brewmasters Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Adam Avery of Avery Brewing Company. More than eleven hundred attendees participated in educational events and tasting seminars over the three day festival. The annual Big Beers, Belgians & Strong Ales Homebrew Competition boasted 273 entries, and Best of Show was awarded to Jim Denier from Littleton, Colorado with his “Berliner Weisse” which will be available at the Falling Rock Taphouse, at Dry Dock Brewing Co. who graciously sponsored the Best of Show award, and will be also showcased as a joint entry at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival ProAm Competition. With an eclectic mix of options such as a white-tablecloth craft beer and food pairing dinners, a beer and music seminar with low lights and bean bag seating for “concert ambiance” and the traditional commercial tasting among the mix, the festival offered something for everyone.

Each year the Big Beers Festival donates proceeds from the event to the Vail Valley Charitable Fund, a local organization that helps individuals who live and work in the Vail Valley that have critical financial need due to medical catastrophes, accidents or long-term illnesses. For more information about the VVCF, visit www.vvcf.org .

The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival is a three day event featuring educational
seminars, two Brewmasters dinners, a Commercial Tasting, a homebrew competition and other tastings and pairings. Designed to welcome the beer connoisseur, the innovative homebrewer, or the novice taster, participants will find events appropriate for all levels of interest.

The festival regularly draws breweries from around the world offering literally hundreds of choices. The beer & food pairing competition is a popular option as well as the Cicerone

Workshop, a program similar to the Sommelier designation in the world of wine.

Additionally, the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival actively supports the efforts of the

Vail Valley Charitable Fund, a local organization that helps individuals who live and work in the Vail Valley that have critical financial need due to medical catastrophes, accidents or long-term illnesses. For more information about the VVCF, visit www.vvcf.org . Contact Big Beers, Barleywines Festival at www.bigbeersfestival.com and follow the event on facebook.