APRIL 4, 2026

WESTIN WESTMINSTER

TICKETS

April 4, 2026 at the Westin Westminster

The Friendships & Roots of Collab Fest

Get ready for the ultimate liquid reunion! On April 4th, Colorado’s craft community is turning the volume up to eleven for Collaboration Beer Fest. This isn’t just about the beer; it’s about the 160+ breweries who have spent months trading secrets and sharing yeast to bring you something truly unique. From 13-year “brewmances” to mountain-town neighbors proving they are partners, not rivals, this lineup is a masterclass in Colorado community.

These rare pours are born from shared history—and once the kegs are kicked, they’re gone for good. Don’t leave your taste buds hanging… grab your tickets now before this legendary lineup sells out!

The “Long-Time Besties” Series

These breweries have histories that go back a decade or more, proving that good beer is built on great friendships.

  • Magnetic Anomaly / 11 Years Later (Broken Compass Brewing & Strange Craft Beer)
    • The Vibe: A West Coast IPA celebrating 11 years of friendship.
    • The Story: After 11 years of being great friends in Colorado’s brewing scene, Tim and Ford finally decided to bring Strange Craft and Broken Compass together for a collaboration!

 

  • Eternal Return (Joyride Brewing Company & Westbound & Down Brewing Company)
    • The Vibe: Their 13th collab total! A hop-forward New Zealand Pilsner that has become an annual tradition.
    • The Story: Joyride and Westbound & Down are at it again, teaming up for their 5th consecutive Collab Fest and 13th collaboration total!

 

  • Honey I Shrunk the Beer (Very Nice Brewing & BJ’s Brewhouse Boulder)
    • The Vibe: A Session Honey IPA marking 13 years of mentorship and brewing camaraderie.
    • The Story: Aaron Stueck (BJ’s) allowed Jeffrey Green (Very Nice) to shadow him starting in 2011 before Green opened his brewery in 2012. They have been close friends ever since.

 

  • Take Off, eh! (Locavore Beer Works & Soulcraft Brewing)
    • The Vibe: A North American Belgian-inspired Tripel on cherries, celebrating a former brewer’s “overdue” homecoming.
    • The Story: Kyle, brewer at Soulcraft, was Locavore’s first brewer. This collab was long overdue and features Canadian Belgian yeast and Canadian hops.

Mountain Magic & Neighborhood Pride

When the air gets thin, the brewing gets bold. These collaborations highlight the unique spirit of Colorado’s local hubs.

  • D U A L I P A (Broken Compass Brewing & Breckenridge Brewery and Pub)
    • The Vibe: Partners, not rivals, with an all-Colorado ingredient West Coast IPA.
    • The Story: Being the only two breweries in Breck, many folks think we’re competitors. But the exact opposite is the case. We brewed a beer that we want to drink—a crisp, low ABV IPA that’s easy to share with friends!

 

  • Spring Stampede (Gilded Goat Brewing Company & Urban Animal Beer Company)
    • The Vibe: A high-altitude Maibock bridging the gap between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.
    • The Story: A Maibock that balances a rich, bready malt profile with a crisp, floral finish perfect for the Colorado thaw. Blending our shared passion for traditional styles with an animalistic twist.

 

  • LittleFUN II (Coal Mine Ave, Zymos, Lariat Lodge, Comet Brews, Breckenridge, & Locavore)
    • The Vibe: A Tequila Sunrise inspired Mexican Lager showing off the Littleton beer scene.
    • The Story: Littleton isn’t really thought of as a city for craft beer. We want people to know that we’re here and we’re doing great things!

 

  • Monkeys and Typewriters (Vail Brewing Company & Oskar Blues Brewery)
    • The Vibe: A Juicy IPA born from a friendship that started at a beer fest years ago.
    • The Story: Drapeau (Oskar Blues) and Garrett (Vail Brewing) are both from Maine and became friends instantly years ago. This beer is brewed with 100% Colorado grown malt and hand-selected newer hop varieties.

Tradition Meets the Future

Clean, sessionable styles brewed by brewers who love the classics.

  • Krush Smash (Boulder Social & Bootstrap Brewing)
    • The Vibe: Getting the “band back together” for a clean, single-malt, single-hop Pale Ale.
    • The Story: No strangers to collaborating together, the band is back together again for a SMASH Pale this time around.

 

  • Not Made for Defest (Fiction Beer Company & Wild Sky Brewery)
    • The Vibe: A Saison Farmhouse Table Beer for those who never give up.
    • The Story: Our histories aligned with many obstacles in the recent past… but we will continue to prevail. This beer is for those who never give up, as a man can be destroyed, but never defeated!

 

  • Powder Cow (Cellar West Brewery & Fritz Family Brewers)
    • The Vibe: A Wisconsin-inspired Saison with German Vienna malt and lemon peel.
    • The Story: Cory and Zach are both from Wisconsin and enjoy hanging out at each other’s breweries. A Saison seemed right, using French-grown Aramis hops—a first for both breweries.

 

  • Cream Ale (Windfall Brewing & Melvin Brewing)
    • The Vibe: A smooth Cream Ale featuring Root Shoot’s new malted blue corn.
    • The Story: Jeremy from Prairie Malt got us together; we decided on a cream ale because we both wanted to try the new malted blue corn from Root Shoot.