Celebrate a local favorite

JUL-IPA Festival highlights bold beers

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Hop lovers rejoice; there is a festival highlighting those bitter, intense beers you know and love. Boulder’s JUL-IPA brings together more than 30 breweries, both locally and nationally based, to pour India Pale Ales for your drinking pleasure. Boulder’s The West End Tavern and The Farm present the seventh annual event, taking place on Saturday, July 11.

Wild Woods Brewery, BRU Handbuilt Ales, Avery Brewing Co., Sanitas Brewing Co. and The Post Brewing Co. are just a handful of the local Boulder County breweries attending the fest. Besides many more breweries from across Colorado, Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing Co. and California’s Stone Brewing Co. and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. are serving their brews as well. Most of the breweries have participated in the event before, but organizers also try to incorporate recently opened breweries to try and get them involved in the craft beer community, according to Sharon Read, bar manager at The West End Tavern.

“It is mostly IPAs being served,” Read says, “but there are a lot of different styles or spins on them.” She says there’ll also be a meadery pouring mead and at least one other gluten-free option.

Between your sips you can enjoy live music by The Goonies and Sixty Minute Men, carnival games and as a perfect accompaniment, The West End Tavern’s barbecue pulled pork, bacon baked beans and mac and cheese, which is available for purchase.

For the third year, this all will take place on the scenic outdoor pavilion at the Millennium Harvest House (1345 28th St., Boulder), which is located on Boulder Creek.

FATE Brewing Company’s Sales and Events Director, Erin Peacock, says they enjoy participating in this fest because it’s intimate with short wait times for beers.

“You really get a chance to chat about the beers with an educated crowd and representatives from the other breweries,” Peacock says. This will be the third year FATE Brewing is participating, and they’re planning on bringing some unique options as well as hoppy options to fit the IPA style.

Peacock says the vibe of the event is relaxing. “The crowd is mixed with all ages, including beer geeks and those just trying to sip on some nice brews at an outside venue.”

As if drinking IPAs under shaded oak trees while enjoying great music wasn’t good enough, it’s all for a good cause. All of the proceeds from the event support Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, or SPAN. This human rights organization provides shelter and advocacy for victims of abuse in Boulder, western Broomfield, smaller towns and unincorporated Boulder County. Since 1979, they’ve been committed to ending violence against adults, youth and children through advocacy, support, community organization and education.

The festivities take place from 12-4 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $10 for nondrinking designated drivers.

To purchase tickets, visit www.thewestendtavern.com. To learn more about the SPAN, visit their website at www.safehousealliance.org.