Why Rapids & Grass is a Brewer's Favorite Festival, Even When They Can't Go

Photo by Zach Mahone @ South Main Co.

“The beer is great, the music is fire, and the venue is laid out wonderfully.” 

That’s Ashleigh Carter, the co-founder and head brewer of Bierstadt Lagerhaus. She’s not alone.

You know it’s a good sign when you see a brewer at a beer festival. And in this case, the Rapids & Grass festival in Buena Vista is packed full of them— especially in anticipation of the festival’s rafting component. 

Rapids & Grass is so much more than just a beer fest; it’s an opportunity to get to the mountains, enjoy the river, and get social. Although the festival has decided to skip this year, keeping public health and safety in mind, it still goes down as one of our favorite festivals -- and here’s why the brewers agree. 

“The Rapids & Grass beer festival is unlike any other beer festival I have attended. I have traveled all over the country and poured at a few different beer festivals in Europe and none of them are as laid back and chill as Rapids & Grass,” shares Skip Schwartz, wood cellar and innovation lead at WeldWerks Brewing, “Attendees have access to some of the best beer Colorado has to offer at their fingertips with a relaxed, no lines or waiting. Last year was my first time attending and I know why I will be going back in the future.  Never have I worked a festival with my shoes off and my pants rolled up and it fit into the atmosphere of the festival. Not to mention a water gun fight broke out mid-festival with a few other brewers, which was a lot of fun!” 

Jordan Wheeler, senior packaging operator at WeldWerks Brewing adds, “Ummm everything Skip said. It’s definitely a festival I want to attend every year. It will never get old pouring beautiful beer with such a beautiful backdrop.”

There’s no arguing that the festival’s venue is one that is hard to rival. It also makes for a perfect location for brewers to also kick back, relax, and hang out with each other. 

“Obviously Buena Vista is beautiful,” shares Carter, “and really the beer is just a small part of the fest.”

“What makes it unique is how many brewers actually participate,” Carter continues, “We all get to hang out and camp together the night before and night of the festival, so there is that added social aspect that makes it fun to participate.”

It’s not just the brewers who enjoy it, either. 

“It’s an honor to get to pour our whiskey amongst some of the best beers around, and it’s inspiring to see what these brewers continually offer up such bad ass expressions of their craft,” says Lenny Eckstein, founder & head distiller at Deerhammer in downtown Buena Vista, “It’s always been Deerhammer’s approach to bring innovation and creativity to whiskey. A huge part of this is fueled for us by those on the beer side of the fence.”

Not to mention, the festival draws huge crowds to the Arkansas Valley, boosting tourism and the area’s economic viability. 

“There’s this ongoing effort to bring visitation to BV throughout the year,” shares Eckstien, “The thing about Rapids and Grass is that the crowd that comes up here, who’ve maybe blazed through BV or heard of our hot springs or killer mountain bike trails, or whatever, when they come here for Rapids & Grass they are getting full exposure to the full spectrum of awesomeness that BV has to offer. Deerhammer is PACKED during Rapids and Grass. It’s a great crowd who comes here looking to enjoy this place.”

To our friends Sarah, Shane, and their great Rapids & Grass partners, we love you and we miss you. Thank you for bringing world-class beer and music to Buena Vista. 

— Words by Karen Mills

Westbound & Down Brewing Company Introduces New Cans

IDAHO SPRINGS, CO— Fresh off its Midsize Brewpub of the Year recognition at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival®, Westbound & Down Brewing Company announced this week the release of new cans and distribution beyond Idaho Springs

Westbound & Down will begin canning Colorado Pale Ale, a beer brewed to be enjoyed on outdoor mountain excursions; Westbound Double IPA, one of the company’s recent GABF medal winners; and Chicago Peaks Kolsch, originally a collaboration with Bierstadt Lagerhouse; named for the surrounding Chicago Peaks that include Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt. Fans can celebrate these new cans at Westbound & Down on Friday, December 20 at the official can release at the Idaho Springs brewpub. Cans will also be available on December 21 at The Cultural Center, Westbound & Down’s shared barrel cellar in Northwest Denver.

These popular brands from the brewery will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz cans to-go from Westbound & Down’s Idaho Springs brewpub location, and at Westbound General that will open in 2020. There will be an announcement in coming weeks about this new provisions store.

“We have always wanted to can our products,” says Jake Gardner, Westbound & Down’s Head Beer Drinker. “The marketplace might be crowded, but there is always more room for excellent beer. We want to drink our beers on the go, and there seems to be a market for crushable beers in a can.”

Culture Beverage, an affiliate wholesaler partner of Shelton Brothers Importers, will pick up Westbound & Down’s kegged and bottled brands in 2020. Westbound & Down’s canned brands will be available in very limited quantities outside of its Idaho Springs brewpub and Westbound General locations.

For more information about Westbound & Down’s new cans, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT WESTBOUND & DOWN BREWING COMPANY

Westbound & Down Brewing Company runs a small brewpub in Idaho Springs, CO that prides itself in brewing well-executed beers in a wide array of beer styles to pair with great food. Brewed with a bit of Rocky Mountain air and served with a side of fresh powder, Westbound and Down’s beers have been awarded multiple accolades since their opening in 2015. In 2018, Westbound & Down and Amalgam launched The Cultural Center, a shared barrel cellar and tasting room celebrating the art and exploration of mixed culture fermentation with an emphasis on barrel-aged saisons and sour ales. In 2020, Westbound & Down will add the Westbound General store to its family of craft beer destination places in Colorado. Find the company online at westboundanddown.com.