Craft lagers lick up awards in Manitou Springs

Waiting in line to drink delicious craft (lager) beer is always the hardest part.

For a few hours every year the population of Manitou Springs nearly doubles in size as hordes of beer lovers descend on the small, Colorado mountain town.

What could possibly draw that many thirsty souls to one tiny location? The Craft Lager Festival. The only festival in the country that celebrates those bottom fermenting brews that many aficionados chide as the red-headed stepchild to the more beloved ale.

But guess what? Based on the throngs of humanity in attendance at this year's new and improved CLF... there are a lot of  lager lovers out there! This year -- the festivals seventh iteration -- more than four thousand people lined up to suck suds from the bottom o' the barrel. Literally.

As I've mentioned in earlier articles about the Craft Lager Festival, several things have changed, not the least of which was the long overdue move to a bigger location. For years the festival was held at tiny Soda Springs Park, just a few blocks away from the new location at Memorial Park. Saturday's crowd was huge, straining the boundaries of the larger venue. Here's a little secret for those of you who want to go next year: go on Sunday!  The crowds were much smaller and the lines much shorter, allowing for the imbibing of more beer and the chance to actually chat with one of the dozens of brewers in attendance.

Awards were given out Sunday in a variety of categories including best pilsner, bock, strong lager, etc. A full list of the winners can be found on the website. Some of my favorites (none winners mind you) included the Hefe Suave from San Luis Valley Brewing, Wheelsucker Wheat from Ska (a very limited batch fun, so don't expect to see it on stores shelves here in the Springs), the Blueberry Wheat from Durango Brewing Company, and most surprising... a couple of research brews (including one made with pear) from, of all places, the Michelob brewery in Fort Collins. Yes, I like fruit in my beer.

Food was certainly not an afterthought at the CLF. Jake and Telly's, a long-standing local favorite, had some incredible offerings, including their amazing gyro. Pizzeria Rustica, recently named as the Gazette's 2009 "Best New Restaurant," actually had a portable wood-fire stove on the premises to bake up fresh pizza on the spot.

The live music (Big Paddy, Grass It Up, Jack trades, and Creating a Newsense) was a perfect fusion of styles for the event. While the food, brew and music selection may not have been everyone's mug o' brew... what's the one thing that everyone at a beer fest utilizes? Bathrooms! For once, someone planned correctly and had enough port-o-pots on site to accommodate a mass of beer drinkers!

All the proceeds from this wildly successful event goes to supporting open space and parks in Manitou and Colorado Springs. In the past CLF has supported Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Friends of Cheyenne Canyon, and Soda Springs Park. Thus, the more tickets they sell the more they can help the local parks we all play in.

The Craft Lager Festival is without question one of the friendliest, greenest, and most unique beer gatherings in the land. Next year come see for yourself - you won't regret it!  Be sure to tune into Beer Tap TV later this week to see a number of video interviews with the likes of Jason Yester, John-Michael Holas, Duane Lajun, Scott Graber and other beer luminaries.

I would personally like to thank Julian Heron, Matt Reuer, Jason Yester, and the rest of the gang behind the Craft Lager Festival. Without people like them, Colorado's claim to being the "Napa Valley of the Beer World" would be nothing but lip service.