2019 Bines and Brews Hopfest
The 2019 Bines and Brews Hopfest in Monument Colorado continues to be one of our favorite local festivals in the fall. It retains its intimate charm and contact with the brewers themselves that many have come to love over the past few years. There were fewer brewers manning their booths this year than there have in the past, but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying themselves on a sunny and pleasant afternoon in Limbach Park. It’s a great venue for the festival. Having an outdoor beer festival in the grass with some trees is always preferable to a parking lot. The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, who puts on the festival, said they were less than 50 tickets from selling out the festival this year so it increases in popularity every year.
2019’s festival was a bit different because the fresh hop element of the competition was not in play. Marigold Valley Hop Farm had the bulk of their crop wiped out due to powdery mildew so they were unable to provide hops for the competition as they have in the past. We wish them the best as they attempt to recover from this setback; as we learned that powdery mildew can stay in the soil and impact future crops as well.
Rolling with the punches of the hop crop loss, this year’s competition focused on attending breweries offering up their best ‘hop forward’ beer. Winning the Top Hop trophy this year with an American IPA, was a newcomer to the festival, El Rancho Brewing out of Evergreen. As tradition dictates, the Top Hop traveling trophy is passed from last year’s winner, Cerberus Brewing, to the new winner.
The passing of the Top Hop traveling trophy from Cerberus Brewing to El Rancho Brewing.
Two other awards are given out as well: the homebrewing competition winner was Mike Bordick of the Brew Brothers of Pikes Peak, and the people’s choice award for the festival went to Iron Mule Brewery of Castle Rock.
Iron Mule Brewery with their People’s Choice award. Mike Bordick with his Hopness Monster homebrew award. El Rancho Brewing with their Top Hop award.
Here are some additional pictures from the festival:
