Rye Beers for A Purpose

Eleven Colorado breweries will bring Denver Rye Fest 2017 to life on Saturday, March 18.

The Brew on Broadway in Englewood will host the event’s third anniversary from 1-5 p.m.

The breweries that will feature some tasty rye beers include: Black Sky Brewery, The Brew on Broadway (The BoB), Strange Craft Beer Company, Chain Reaction Brewing Company, CAUTION: Brewing Co., FERMÆNTRA, Brewery Rickoli Ltd., Boggy Draw Brewery, Dead Hippie Brewing, Halfpenny Brewing Company, and Barnett & Son Brewing Co.

All proceeds will go to the Colorado Adaptive Sports Foundation (CASF). At CASF, the mission is to build independence, improve self-confidence, elevate social interaction and enhance quality of life through organized team sports for people of all ages throughout Colorado who have physical disabilities including spinal cord injuries, spina-bifida, amputations and cerebral palsy. “CASF manages, promotes and raises funds for adaptive team sports across the state of Colorado, including wheelchair basketball, sled hockey, wheelchair softball, wheelchair lacrosse, adaptive curling and power soccer, representing over 200 adult and junior athletes,” according to their website. 

Being able to provide these services allows the participants and coaches to focus on learning, playing and teaching the sports. “Sports teams, like basketball and hockey, especially in the CASF, often have to cross state lines to compete, creating a funding issue with traveling,” said Marni Myers, an owner at Strange Craft Beer Co., and member of the CASF board. The proceeds from the event will help fund the traveling expenses for the athletes in the program. The foundation is something that the owners of Strange Craft, Marni and husband Tim Myers, hold close to home. Marni has been part of the CASF dream since before it became a reality by meeting with the executive director and promising to help do whatever to build the foundation. When the owners of The BoB, who are close friends of the Myers, found out about the foundation they didn’t have a second thought about using CASF for the fundraiser. They said it was a program they wanted to support.

During the event, the El Toro food truck will be available and there will be music by The Denver Celtic's and The Rye Pushers. The garage doors will be thrown open and the patio will fill with revelers expecting good weather. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the door or through the Facebook event page. Come and help support a great cause while trying some great rye beers because after all, like their slogan says, “rye the hell not!”

- Jamie Mills