Festivals, anniversaries and unlimited bacon this week across Colorado

By the Thirst Team

Not sure what to do between sips at some beer festivals? That’s not a problem at the Joy on Tap festival. The Children’s Museum hosts the event from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday. The 21+ event includes local beers, food from local caterers and an evening of play at the museum (with no kids getting in the way). Attendees can blow bubbles, launch rockets, paint and more. We’ll see you there.

Beer festival at CU Boulder

The Winter Craft Beer Festival is coming to the Balch Fieldhouse on the CU Boulder campus from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, with more than 30 breweries pouring unlimited samples, alongside food, a silent disco and more.

Cider-versary in Mancos

Fenceline Cider in Mancos (aka “the gateway to Mesa Verde”) will celebrate its 6th anniversary from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, with live music from Little Brother, food, prizes and more.

Bockfest in Lakewood

Green Mountain Beer Company in Lakewood hosts its second annual BockFest from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, with a tap takeover of GMBC’s own bock beers, as well as a Tommyknocker bock and imported bock beers from Germany. There also will be food and drink specials.

Beer, bacon and coffee in Denver

Three of life’s great pleasures come together for the Beer, Bacon and Coffee Fest Saturday and Sunday morning at all five Denver Beer Company taprooms, including the new Littleton location.

Each $60 ticket includes a giant breakfast burrito, a branded mug and unlimited bacon, coffee and breakfast-inspired brews. The tappings include the Cap’n Crunch Milkshake IPA, Sunrise Sour, Honey Smacks cereal blonde, donut stout and a juicy POG. Designated-driver tickets also are available for $30, with coffee, bacon and a burrito, but no beer.

Winemaker dinner in Gunnison

The winemaker at Buckel Family Wines will lead a pairing dinner at 1880 Tapas in Gunnison at 5:45 p.m. Sunday. The winemaker will explain the process, vintage and more information about each wine, plus details about the pairing. And if you are a tapas fan, look for the upcoming March-April issue of our print magazine, which will include a roundup of great tapas spots across Colorado.

Stout party in Golden

There’s about a week left in stout month, so Over Yonder Brewing in Golden will squeeze in one last celebration. The stout month soiree starts at noon Saturday and Sunday, with small-batch releases, flight specials and more.

Caribbean beer pairing in Greenwood Village

Spice Trade Brewing in Greenwood Village will host a Caribbean beer pairing dinner on Thursday, Feb. 29, with five courses of jerk chicken, oxtail stew, Trinidad shrimp and more, paired with coconut porters, tropical guava IPAs and other creations.

Wine event tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for a pair of Barrel Into Spring winery events, hosted by the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology. The Barrel Into Spring is a self-guided tour of wineries across the Grand Valley in western Colorado, with barrel tastings and food pairings. The tours are scheduled for April 19 and 20, and May 10 and 11, with unique wineries for each month.

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