Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Sigda's Green Chili Beer. Laughing Lab Scottish Ale. Boysenberry Nectar. Captain Hickenlooper's Flying Artillery Ale.

These frothy brews were just four of about 50 unique and cleverly named beers sampled by attendees of Saturday's Steamboat Mountain Brewfest.

Brewfest organizer Jolene Esswein estimated that 1,500 people showed up to sample beers from about 25 regional breweries.

"Brewfest is all about the brewers," she said. "They set the tone. They bring the beer."

Esswein said Brewfest appeals to locals who see the event as the last big hoorah of summer and to tourists and other Routt County visitors.

"This is an extremely good weekend to be in Steamboat. This is just an excellent venue," she said.

Jeff Ogden, head brewer at Durango's Ska Brewery, took it upon himself to ring in this year's Brewfest by wearing a cow costume complete with udders and a Hawaiian lei.

"I get very excited to come here every year," he said. "This event has by far the nicest people. This is a nice situation, and it's very calm."

Ogden brought four kegs to this year's event, including the brewery's backbone beer -- Pinstripe Red Ale.

Pinstripe is brewed with caramel and has a slightly fruity finish, which appeals to a lot of people, Ogden said.

Ogden takes opportunities such as the Brewfest to have fun -- hence the cow costume -- but also to listen to what people have to say about his beer.

"I enjoy mingling with the people and finding out what it is people like and what they think of our product," he said.

"There is a huge variety of beer here, so we try to find out what a person's palate is like to guide them to a beer they might like, just like with wine," he said.

Denver resident Dominick McPeake didn't need help figuring out what he liked. He went straight for two of his favorite beers -- Sigda's Green Chili Beer and Redhook ESB.

It was McPeake's first visit to Steamboat, and he could not pass up the opportunity to indulge in so many beers for $25.

"I like crowded places. They have this set up good, so people can talk and drink," he said.

The only thing McPeake would do different would be to put the Steamboat Mountain Brewfest logo on the mugs. That way, he could capture the memory forever, he said.

"I want to be able to keep this mug as memorabilia, so when I look at it I can say, 'I was there,'" he said.

Although most people were less concerned about what was on the outside of their mugs, the crowds seemed to enjoy watching some of the more eccentric beer drinkers.

There were a few who took the opportunity to sport festive attire, including a feather boa, a "Save the Hairless Fox" T-shirt, a bathrobe and a pink sweat suit with bleach stains.

"I thought, 'Why not?'" Minnesota native Bobby Tucker said about his pink sweat suit and Looney Tunes fanny pack. "We went to Rummager before this, and this is what I found."

Brewfest was Tucker's first taste of what Steamboat has to offer. He moved here from Minnesota on Friday.

"I think our outfits make this thing more fun and more festive," he said.

Tucker's friend Joey Tauer decided to follow in his buddy's footsteps and make Bre--w--fest into a fashion show.

Tauer sampled beers like any true beer lover might -- in his bathrobe and teddy bear slippers.

"I plan on making people smile today. Everyone should be happy. It's all about the love," he said.

The crowds felt that love by relaxing in the sun, listening to live music and catching up with old friends.

"This event is so laid-back," Esswein said. "For the locals, this is the party of the year."