11th Annual San Juan Brew Fest

The 11th Annual San Juan Brew Fest has come and gone, if you weren't there Sunday you missed some good beer. It was a benefit for The United Way of Southwest Colorado and I hear it raised a ton of money.

Click here to check out the Buzztown Durango Beer Club group and view a video from the Brew Fest.

For the second year in a row Durango's own Carver Brewing Company took home the people's choice award for their Raspberry Wheat. 

Since there were 18 breweries present, all pouring multiple beers, I couldn't try everything at the festival but below are some of my favorites.

Ska Brewing Co.'s Merlo Stout, Local Series #12 - Brewed in collaboration with Cortez homebrewer and last year's Snowdown Osiris Homebrew competition winner Chris Vest, Merlo Stout is a big Imperial Stout. Tough to drink on a hot summer day, but pick up a couple bottles soon (very soon, it's limited and will be brewed only once, sure to go quick) and drink it when the temperature goes down.

Carver Brewing Co.'s Monkey Wrenched IPA - I was so excited to see this at the Brew Fest and learn it's back on tap at Carver's. Brewed for the first time this spring, they've brewed it again and will be on tap at Carver's until it runs out. This Imperial IPA is good and hoppy. You won't find it anywhere but Carver's and it will be gone soon.

Eske's Brewpub in Taos, NM's 10,000 Ft. Stout - I was told this beer was originally brewed at 10,000 ft in the mountains above Taos. An Imperial Stout like Ska's Merlo Stout above, this isn't the best warm weather beer, but I'm a sucker for Imperial Stouts if you haven't noticed. Eske's Taos Green Chile Beer was a favorite of many and went great as a "half-and-half" with the 10,000 Ft. Stout.

Some other standouts:

Boulder Beer Co. - Mojo IPA (the winner of the "Beer with Balls" Category.

New Belgium - Hoptober

Silverton Brewery - Bear Ass Brown

Alaskan Brewing Co. - White Ale