June 2026

Monthly Meeting

• Date: June 20th

• Start Time: 11 am – 12 pm

• Location: Old 121 Brewhouse

• Address: 2010 S Oak St, Lakewood, CO 80227

Join us at our June meeting as we sample the entries for our Non-Beer Quarterly Challenge! Participants will share insights into their fermentations, followed by the announcement of the challenge winners!

June Quarterly Challenge

This quarterly challenge is Non-Beer. This category is wide open, think about cider, wine, mead, seltzer, hot sauce, or sour dough-but the list doesn't stop there. As long as it is fermented and isn’t beer, it fits this challenge. Looking forward to what everyone comes up with! There is still plenty of time to do a little countertop fermentation experiment. Full challenge details and the entry form can be found here.

Up Coming Competitions

Orpheus MeadFest

• Registration opens 05/04/2026, register here

• Entries are due 06/05/2026

Liquid Poetry Slam

• Registration opens 07/11/2026, register here

• Entries are due 08/12/2026

Up Coming Events

Vail Craft Beer Classic - June 12th & 13th 2026

Returning for its 10th year is the Vail Craft Beer Classic, located in Vail Village. Take in the scenic mountain views while you immerse yourself in hop-culture. More details can be found here.

Lake Dillon Beer Festival - June 13th 2026

The Lake Dillon Beer Festival is a really fun event at the Dillon Amphitheater. If you haven’t been, the views from the amphitheater are amazing. A great venue for drinking great beer! More details can be found here.

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous - July 12th 2026

Brought to you by the Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG) and the Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce, the 29th Annual Colorado Brewers Rendezvous will take place on Saturday, July 12th, in historic Salida, CO, against a backdrop of beautiful views of the Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River. More details can be found here.

Belgian Brew Fest - August 22nd 2026

Celebrate the legacy of Belgian brewing at Bruz Beers annual festival! Since its inception in 2017, this outdoor festival has honored Denver’s vibrant Belgian-style beer scene. Your ticket grants you unlimited access to a premium selection of both local Belgian-inspired ales and esteemed international imports. To complement your tasting journey, there will be a curated lineup of live music and local food trucks. More details can be found here.

Education Corner

Ginger Beer

Homemade ginger beer is a quick, refreshing ferment that uses freshly grated ginger, sugar, and (sometimes) lemon to create a lightly alcoholic, naturally carbonated drink. You can make it two ways: using a “ginger bug” (a wild yeast starter made from ginger, sugar, and water) or with a small amount of commercial brewing yeast for a predictable fermentation. The process is fast—less than a week —and yields a spicy, aromatic beverage with gentle fizz and a dry finish if allowed to ferment fully.

Basic Ginger Beer Recipe

• 1 cup grated fresh ginger

• 1 cup sugar

• Juice of 2 lemons

• 2 quarts water

• ⅛ tsp dry yeast (champagne or ale) or ¼–½ cup ginger bug starter

Boil half the water with ginger and sugar for 10 minutes, then cool and strain into a fermenter. Add lemon juice, the remaining water, and your yeast or ginger bug. Ferment loosely covered for 48–72 hours, stirring or swirling daily. When it tastes spicy and lightly tart, it’s ready to keg.