It’s time for Oktoberfest, Colorado Wine Week and much more

By The Thirst Team

It’s September, so it’s time for some Oktoberfest parties. I know the September-October thing is kind of confusing, but it means you get tasty beers, German food and oompah bands, so don’t overthink it.

But it’s not all bratwurst and lederhosen this week. I’ll start with some other events, then give you our first roundup of Oktoberfest parties.

Colorado Wine Week

As the name suggests, Colorado Wine Week is a statewide celebration of Centennial State wine, and runs all next week, from Monday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 17.

Events include e-bike tasting tours in Palisade, wine education workshops at Blanchard Family Wines in Denver and Fort Collins, concerts at Avant Vineyards in Palisade, grape analysis in Gunnison and much more.

The event culminates with Colorado Mountain Winefest next Saturday in Palisade, including wine tastings, chef demonstrations, educational seminars and more.

Park Hill Beer Fest

The 90s-themed Park Hill Beer Fest runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, with unlimited sampling from at least 15 breweries, cideries and distilleries, as well as a costume contest, food trucks, games and a dance party. Attendees may also vote in the People’s Choice award.

Chili and Beer Festival

The 25th annual chili and beer festival is coming to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, with performances by the Lil Smokies and Black Canyon Ramblers while professional and amateur chili chefs compete in various categories. Craft breweries also pour samples and compete for prizes. General-admission tickets cost $60.

Beermuda Triangle

Six south Denver breweries have launched a month-long neighborhood brewery crawl. Public Offering Brewing, Chain Reaction Brewing, Platt Park Brewing, Grandma’s House, the Overland Ratio taproom and the South Downing Denver Beer Co. taproom all have free passports. Anytime before the end of September, get a BOGO beer and a stamp at each stop, then get a prize redeemable at any location for completing all six stamps.

Scotfest whiskey tastings

The Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival (just call it Scotfest) is coming to Estes Park all weekend. In addition to live music, dancing, clan celebrations and more, there are Scotch whiskey tasting seminars for beginning and master enthusiasts. Tickets start at $76, and also require an admission ticket.

Libraries brew tour

Douglas County Libraries host a brew tour through the end of September. Participants sign up here, then log visits to area breweries and coffee shops, earning points to unlock rewards and enter a grand prize drawing. The library has also posted fun lists of brew and book pairings (such as bitter IPAs with bitter Fredrik Backman protagonist Ove).

Denver Food and Wine Festival

A reminder that the Denver Food and Wine Festival is coming to the Tivoli quad this week. Check out our preview story with all the details. And we’ll see you at the Grand Tasting on Saturday.

Oktoberfest events

Outer Range Brewing in Frisco hosts Oktoberfest all weekend, with custom steins, stein olympics, $3 lager pours, “German-ish eats” and live music.
Lone Tree Brewing will have an Oktoberfest party and craft market on Saturday. The craft market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a stein hoisting competition. The event also includes German food, live polka music, a Stroopwafel festbier firkin and more.
Next weekend, Lone Tree hosts its 7th annual Drink for Pink cornhole tournament, benefiting breast cancer research.
Three Barrel Brewery and 1874 Distillery in Del Norte host the town’s Fall Festival Oktoberfest from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, nearby Monte Vista hosts a potato festival, with a 5K tater trot, craft and food vendors, a mashed potato dunk tank, chef demonstrations, farm tours and more.
Holidaily Brewing hosts a totally gluten-free Oktoberfest at 11 a.m. Saturday in Golden, with a märzen release, food trucks, stein holding contests, best dressed contests and more.
River North Brewery hosts Dogtoberfest at 1 p.m. Saturday, with festbier on tap, new Oktoberfest mugs, and dog caricaturist and vendors on hand.
Copper Kettle Brewing in south Denver hosts Oktoberfest Friday and Saturday, with German beer, music, food and games. The brewery also will sell branded steins and host a stein-holding contest. Beer releases include Oktoberfest lager, dunkel lager, hefeweizen, helles lager and pilsner.
Also, Copper Kettle recently released Spooky Hollow 2023, a rum barrel-aged imperial pumpkin porter.

WestFax Brewing’s Oktoberfest starts at noon Saturday in Lakewood, with three new beer releases, German food, live music, a stein-holding contest, and $9 pours of select beers in a WestFax Brewing Co stein.
The beer releases are a märzen, a helles and a West Coast Style IPA.
Also in Lakewood, Green Mountain Beer hosts its fifth Oktoberfest, with live music, a märzen tap takeover, $6 steins of märzen and German-style food trucks.
Gilded Goat Brewing hosts a party at its original midtown Fort Collins location, including festbier, food, live music and a raffle.
Kokopelli Beer Co. in Westminster adds a car and truck show to the Oktoberfest revelry. The show is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with an award ceremony at 2:30. Vehicle entry costs $10, and attendance is free. The event also includes German food, beer and music, as well as games, giveaways and raffles.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.