Don’t be fooled. Just because there might be a couple hundred kegs in Buckley Park on Saturday doesn’t mean it’s a keg party. The United Way doesn’t throw keg parties.
“There will be 100 different beers to taste, but we don’t encourage anyone to try all of them. It’s an opportunity to learn about beer,” said Tim Walsworth, who recently left his post as head of the local United Way chapter to take the reins of the Business Improvement District.
But there are some things a man just can’t quit, and for Walsworth, the San Juan Brewfest is one of them.
“I love beer, and I love the event,” Walsworth said. “I told them, ‘You can do everything else, but let me handle this.’ I didn’t want it to go away. And I found that when I have only one event to work on instead of five, I can be really successful.”
This year’s San Juan Brewfest will little resemble the previous 14. It started at Purgatory/Durango Mountain Resort, but about six years ago, someone wisely pointed out the potential downside of feeding people beer for four hours before sending them off on a 35-mile drive through the mountains. DMR handed off the event to United Way, which moved Brewfest downtown into the street in front of Buckley Park. It’s now one of United Way’s top moneymakers, bringing in more than $10,000 last year.
This year promises to be even better. Not only will Brewfest move off the street and into Buckley Park, but a revamped and professional system of judging has drawn a record 46 breweries to the event. They will come from near and far – 28 Colorado breweries as well as representatives from Alaska, Massachusetts, Ohio, California, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Arizona, Utah, Missouri and New York.
The increased participation can be credited to much more professional and “legitimate” judging. Walsworth recruited local home-brewer Bill Downs to oversee the process. Downs is a certified Beer Judge Certification Program judge, and he has his own collective of about 20 experts who know how to critically evaluate the brews. The Animas Alers meet on the last Wednesday of each month at Ska Brewing, and Downs said the group is ready for its biggest challenge.
“Tim’s long-term goal was to professionalize, and he’s given me a lot of leeway to bring in good, qualified judges,” Downs said. “Between us taking the time to judge in a professional manner and going to the brewers and saying we’ll be using commercial standards, we’ve seen an explosion in participating breweries.”
Outside the hallowed halls of the judges’ tent, the public still will get to voice its opinion by voting on the coveted People’s Choice award.
Walsworth is trying a different layout in Buckley for Brewfest. Boulder’s West Water Outlaws will headline the event with opening support from Durango’s own Waiting on Trial. Instead of placing the stage at its typical site at the north end of the park, it will be centered on the east side at the base of the hill, and tasting booths will be stretched the length of the park.
Regardless of the floor plan, few would argue that the change in venue is a vast improvement.
“It just feels better being on grass and under trees than on hot asphalt,” Walsworth said. “It’s going to be packed, and we’re maxing out the space, but that’s what we want – more people means more money for the United Way.”
ted@durangoherald.com
If you go
The San Juan Brewfest to benefit United Way will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday in Buckley Park. Live music by West Water Outlaws and Waiting on Trial. Tickets cost $25; VIP available for $50 (includes Friday night preparty at El Rancho Tavern, early admission Saturday, access to the VIP tent and a hands-free lanyard for the tasting glass); VIP is $40 day of show (without Friday night event). Tickets are available at the gate (cash only) or in advance at www.sanjuanbrewfest.com.
