Seventh annual OktoberWest event kickoffs Friday with Suds N’ Grub stroll | SteamboatToday.com
YOUR AD HERE »

Seventh annual OktoberWest event kickoffs Friday with Suds N’ Grub stroll

Audrey Dwyer
Steamboat OktoberWest will return to the base of Steamboat Ski Area on Sept. 19 and 20.
092213_oktoberwest8

If You Go...

What: Steamboat 7th annual OktoberWest

When: 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Where: Gondola Square

Tickets:

I Love Beef Cook-Off and tasting is $17 online in advance and $20 at the door

Beer Garden entrance: $29 online in advance, $35 at the door (includes beer stein and tastings)

Combo: $42 online in advance, $45 at the door (includes beer stein and beer/beef tastings)

If You Go...

What: Suds N' Grub craft beer tasting stroll

When: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18

Where: Downtown Steamboat

Tickets: $12 for a tasting mug and 12 tokens or $5 for five tokens, available for purchase at Schmiggity's starting at 5:30 p.m.

Suds N' Grub restaurants and pubs

The Colorado High 5 Bar

BARley Colorado Craft and Draft

Backdoor Bar and Grill

Steamboat Smokehouse

Cugino’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

Mambo Italiano

Old Town Pub and Restaurant

Johnny B. Good’s

Mazzola’s

Cantina

The Tap House

Carl’s Tavern

Local breweries

Butcherknife Brewing Co.

Storm Peak Brewing Company

Yampa Valley Brewing

Mahagony Ridge Brewery

I Love Beef Cook-Off competitors

E3

Cugino’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

Cafe Diva

Fireside Catering

McKnight’s Irish Pub and Loft

Steamboat Smokehouse

Casey’s Pond

Truffle Pig

Slopside Grill

Mahogany Ridge Brewery

Yama

— Treat your palate to some Rocky Mountain brews this weekend.

Two events, the Suds N’ Grub craft beer-tasting stroll and the annual OktoberWest, will feature local and regional breweries in celebration of fall and all things craft beer.

Suds N’ Grub restaurants and pubs

The Colorado High 5 Bar



BARley Colorado Craft and Draft

Backdoor Bar and Grill



Steamboat Smokehouse

Cugino’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

Mambo Italiano

Old Town Pub and Restaurant

Johnny B. Good’s

Mazzola’s

Cantina

The Tap House

Carl’s Tavern

I Love Beef Cook-Off competitors

E3

Cugino’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

Cafe Diva

Fireside Catering

McKnight’s Irish Pub and Loft

Steamboat Smokehouse

Casey’s Pond

Truffle Pig

Slopside Grill

Mahogany Ridge Brewery

Yama

“I think this is one of the top beer festivals that we do all summer,” said Rob Day, account manager for Butcherknife Brewing Co. “The amount that it has grown and the full weekend concept of it is incredible.”

Kicking off what has turned into a full weekend event, the Suds N’ Grub craft beer-tasting stroll will start at Schmiggity’s at 5:30 p.m. where patrons can purchase beer tokens and an OktoberWest tasting mug for $20 or buy five tokens for $5 in support of the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Steamboat Springs Young Professionals Network.

Beer lovers have a chance to visit 12 different establishments as they mingle, nibble and sample the local fare while strolling through downtown Steamboat.

“Colorado’s craft beer scene is definitely blowing up and adds to the already vibrant pull the state has,” said Matt Eidt, Young Professional Network board member and one of the organizers of the Suds N’ Grub stroll. “Also, I think people in general are more excited about Steamboat and what it has to offer.”

On Saturday, the popular OktoberWest will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. in Gondola Square along Burgess Creek featuring live music with local opener, Throwdown. and The Ben Miller Band as the headliner.

Adding another flavor of Colorado, the I Love Beef Cook-Off will give 12 local restaurants the same cut of beef brisket to concoct an original, signature dish. Each competitor will vie for best dish honors as patrons cast votes for their favorite.

Pouring over 80 variations and styles of beer from 43 tasting booths, the seventh annual OktoberWest will have more of the gold nectar than years past.

In addition to beer coming from all over the Rocky Mountain region, there be whiskey, a meadery and two cider distilleries featured.

But with so much beer in one place, a few “beer aficionados” have offered their advice for enjoying the festival to the fullest.

The Do’s and Don’ts of a Beer Fest

1.) “Pace yourself. That is always the number one rule, always.” Rob Day, account manager for Butcherknife Brewing Co.

2.) “Go outside your normal realm of beers you are used to, and checkout the new breweries on the scene that you may have never heard of.” Bug Stroop, director of marketing for Declaration Brewing

3.) “Don’t just get stuck on one style of beer, try different ones. For someone who may not like a porter usually, it could change your mind if you try a porter from a new brewery.” Rob Day, account manager for Butcherknife Brewing Co.

3.) “Talk to the brewers. They can help you understand what they are going for with the beer. Plus, it adds to the experience.” Dan Tullos, Steamboat local and avid beer connoisseur.

4.) “Follow your tastings with tastes of water.” Dimitri Brown, Steamboat local and avid beer connoisseur.

5.) “Taste lighter beers before “hop-ing” to a darker one.” Lucas Vondran, Steamboat local and avid beer connoisseur.

6.) “Stay away from drinking beers with high level brews, especially ones that are 7 percent and higher.” LaLa Cartmill, Steamboat local and avid beer connoisseur.

7.) “Don’t be afraid to pour out beers you don’t like. There are too many beers to try to fill up/get drunk on ones you just don’t like.” Tullos, Steamboat local and avid beer connoisseur.

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@ExploreSteamboat.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.