Fun in the Sun in Snowmass Village this summer
Kick off the summer at the Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9 in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
If you love chili, microbrew beer and great live music, then the 9th Annual Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest is the place to be with tons of chili tastings, over 100 microbrew samplings along with a two-day music party.
The Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest will have over 100 varieties of microbrews ranging from a Ghost Face Killhah (brewed with six different types of chili peppers), Dirty Hippie Dark, Skinny Dip Pale Ale, Happy Camper IPA to a Black Butte Porter < a personal favorite). There will be two brew sampling sessions for festival goers featuring 50 plus breweries and a European and exotic beer tasting tent. The Beer Tap TV Guys were in attendance last year too as you can see from the photo below.
Top microbreweries from all over the country are invited to compete for various honors in the Best Summer Ale Brew Fest 2012.
Not a professional brewer? No worries. Home-brewers are encouraged to be part of the Homebrew Competition on Friday which features a professionally judged competition for participating brewers to showcase their seasonal summer brews while festival-goers savor the spirited results. The main events are the Seasonal Brews Samplings on Friday and the Grand Beer Tastings on Saturday creating high energy as brews flow freely while popular headliners rock the stage.
Chili is serious business to the chili cooks coming nationwide serving up their homemade chili ranging from mild, medium, to hot trying to win a spot in the International Chili Society’s 2012 World Chili & Salsa Championship and competing for over $3,000 in prize money. Judged chili categories include the traditional chili red, chili Verde and salsa. All competition chili must be cooked on site within a three hour time limit and are judged on taste, how the flavors blend, consistency, aroma, color and of course…the bite!
Judging Chili is serious business! Check out the Brew & Food Dude’s thoughts from last years event.
Music headliners include international sensation Gypsy Punk band Gorgol Bordello who perform on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m., along with New Orleans Funk Band, Galactic, who play at 1:00 p.m. On Friday night, West African Reggae band Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, will take the stage at 4:30 p.m. and open for The Congress, a southern Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll band, who play at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s fest will bring back the popular Champion Tasting Pass combining, chili and beer tasting, along with Jim Beam and Sauza Tequila tastings. Advanced ticket sales continue through May 31.
For more information on the Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, go to www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com. For more information on lodging and ticket packages call 1800SNOWMASS or go to www.snowmasstourism.com.
John Wenzel the A & E Writer for the Denver Post has it listed here too! He also covered the event last year for the paper.
Snowmass Chili Pepper Brewfest Event Schedule
9th Annual Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest
Friday, June 8:
- 2:30-3:30pm – Salsa Judging
- 3:30-4:30pm – Chili Verde Judging
- 5-6pm – Red Chili Judging
- 4pm – Festival Grounds Open
- 4-6pm – Home Brew Competition
- 4:30-6pm – Concert: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
- 5-8pm – Brew Tasting + International Chili Society Hot Times Chili Cook-Off
- Champion Tent Tasting: Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon
- 6-8pm – Craft Beer/Summer Ale Competition
- 6:30pm-8pm – Concert: The Congress
Saturday, June 9:
- Noon – Festival Grounds Open
- Noon-1pm – ICS Salsa Judging
- 1-3pm – Concert: Galactic
- 1:30-2:30pm – ICS Chili Verde Judging
- 3-4pm – ICS Red Chili Judging
- 3-5pm – Grand Beer Tasting
- Champion Tent Tasting: Sauza Tequila
- 6-8pm – Concert: Gogol Bordello
Chili Pepper Brewfest Ticket Information
- Ticket Prices through May 31:
- Friday, June 8
- Concert Only – $20
- Party Pass – $30 (includes 3 hr beer/chili tasting session & Souvenir Widmer Brew Tasting Glass)
- Champion Pass – $60 (includes beer & chili tasting session plus all day access to Champion Tent Lounge & exclusive Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon Tasting)
Saturday, June 9:
- Concert Only – $35
- Party Pass – $45 (includes 2 hr beer/chili tasting session & Souvenir Widmer Brew Tasting Glass)
- Champion Pass – $75 (includes beer & chili tasting session plus all day access to Champion Tent Lounge & exclusive Sauza Tequila Tasting)
- 2-Day Party Pass (Friday & Saturday) = $65
For more information on the Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, go to www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com. For more information on lodging and ticket packages call 1800SNOWMASS or go to www.snowmasstourism.com.
