American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
(Courtesy Brewtography Project)
Almost every big beer festival in 2020 has been cancelled (thank you COVID-19). And now that string of cancellations is unfortunately extending into 2021.
Here’s the deal…
In a world of faceless beer events, the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines festival was its own thing. A one day gathering when it began two decades ago, it has grown into a weekend of beer tastings, seminars, and beer hangs that draws both beer lovers and brewing professionals to Breckenridge, Colorado from all around the world.
The Big Beers Educational Foundation was created as a Colorado nonprofit 501(c) (6) in May of 2016 by siblings Laura and Bill Lodge in order to continue the Big Beers Festival in the state of Colorado.
But unfortunately due to the coronavirus pandemic, this legendary weekend of beer and beer talk, won’t be celebrating its 21st Anniversary in January.
This from Laura, Bill, and the Big Beers Board of Directors….
Big Beers 21st Anniversary
Our Big Beers board has met and discussed how we, as an event and as part of the craft beer community, should react to the pandemic in all of its aspects.
We are very clear that our first priority as a Big Beers community needs to be supporting our sponsors and brewers throughout this bizarre and difficult time as they work hard to adapt business as necessary – and not by asking any of you to travel and/or otherwise support us in January of 2021.
In addition to this primary focus, we are aware that our staff, brewers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees will need to feel comfortable and be financially able to join us. This seems like a very high bar to clear at present, and we will continue to be optimistic that our traditional dates in January of 2022 are viable (January 6 – 8, 2022) for our 21st Anniversary.
Beaver Run continues to support Big Beers and has offered every flexibility that we could possibly ask. For this we are eternally grateful. We plan to be back in Breckenridge in person in 2022, and will watch closely in the case that further adjustment might be needed.
With regard to an alternate event for 2021, we have decided not to attempt an online version of Big Beers. Regardless of how amazing our presenters might be for a series of seminars, it will never replicate – or even come close to – actually being part of Big Beers in person.
Most sincerely, Laura, Bill, and the Big Beers Board of Directors
The hits just keep coming….
