Dry Hop Fest set for Sept. 13 at the Phoenix

By Melissa Voss

The Dry Hop Fest, a first-of-its-kind celebration curated by The Phoenix and Tyler McMahon of Reducaholic, invites both the sober-curious and craft connoisseurs to sip, savor and connect while sharing a growing selection of non-alcoholic brews.

As a hobby, McMahon started Reducaholic in 2020 as his interest and enjoyment of non-alcoholic beverages grew. Reducaholic has the largest map of all available non-alcoholic brewers in the country, becoming a resource for non-alcoholic drinkers and the inquisitive. Earlier this year, McMahon attended his first non-alcoholic event and immediately wanted to work on one of his own.

Ceria Brewing’s non-alcoholic products will be on tap at Dry Hop Fest on Saturday.

Through connecting with other sober event coordinators in the Denver area, McMahon found The Phoenix, a Denver-based non-profit that works to build a substance-free community through peer support.

The overall goal of The Phoenix is to help their members heal through meaningful activities. They curate numerous substance-free gatherings throughout Denver to build their community of support. So for The Phoenix, working with McMahon on Dry Hop Fest was an easy yes.

“We put on events like this for many members of our community and those who are curious about the community. We want to build a safe, fun space for everyone to enjoy without the alcohol,” says Vince Huseman, The Phoenix’s community center manager.

And with more than 30 vendors from around the country, this fest will not be lacking in range of flavor. Just like in the craft beer sphere, not all brews are made the same. Non-alcoholic (NA) beverages are primarily made in two ways – biologically and physically. Physical NA brewers produce spirits, then remove the alcohol during the process. Biological NA brewers completely eliminate alcohol from forming within the brewing process.

“Legally, the definition of a non-alcoholic beverage is to have less than 0.5 percent ABV. True non-alcoholic beverages have a 0.0 percent ABV,” McMahon says. “Some individuals tend to avoid any alcohol because of religion, health risks or sobriety. At the Dry Hop Fest, we have numerous brewers willing to work along the spectrum to create an experience for everyone to enjoy, no matter the definition.”

Ceria Brewing Company, a Colorado-based and family-owned business, will be one of the vendors at Dry Hop Fest. Keith Villa, co-founder and brewmaster at Ceria, said Dry Hop Fest is a great opportunity to open the community up to the world of NA brews.

“Ceria Brewing Company is excited to be part of this year’s Dry Hop Fest, which brings people together through community, flavor and discovery,” Villa says. “As the only true alcohol-free (0.0 percent ABV) craft beer produced in the U.S., we look forward to being a part of offering guests the opportunity to taste a wide range of expertly crafted NA brews, learn about the brewing processes, and explore delicious food pairings.”

But the overall purpose of Dry Hop Fest is to make a fun, social environment for both craft beer connoisseurs and the sober community to bond over the range of NA beer and beverages.

“I do not believe that many people are aware of the breadth of the movement,” McMahon says. “It is possible to make adult choices on beverages without the challenges. The availability is there and it is growing. Not only do we want the craft beer community and the sober community to find common ground, but we want them to share the experience and flavor these brewers have to offer.”

Dry Hop Fest runs from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. This free, 18-plus event will include local food trucks and an exclusive raffle.