Denver off the Wagon

Weekend off the Wagon in your inbox, every Friday

You’re going to have to put on your big boy (or girl) pants this weekend and make some difficult choices. There’s something awesome happening just about every minute, and it’s not going to be an easy decision. For example, look at the tap lists at Star Bar and Avery tonight. How the hell do you choose? Or Blues and Roots vs. Five Points Jazz. Seriously. Ukefest, Denver Bike Prom, Avery Poker Pedal Run… Who planned all this stuff?

Here’s my plan: Tonight, Star Bar. I know, big surprise there. Tomorrow, maybe some breakfast at Strange, then off to some bar – British Bulldog most likely – for the Premiere League Championships. Up to Five Points for some Jazz, then back to the Bulldog for a nice bus ride out to Dick’s for the Rapids game.

Sunday? Bacon in bed. Obviously.

See below for a detailed list for weekend events. Check out our full calendar to plan your events well into the future.

 

Friday	Saturday	Sunday
High: 81˚ Low: 52˚ Partly Cloudy Precip: 10%	High: 61˚ Low: 45˚ Scattered T-storms Precip: 40%	High: 74˚ Low: 51˚ Mostly Sunny Precip: 10%

 

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Friday | Saturday | Sunday

 
 

Friday, May 18

 
 
“Help Me Out!” Stout Goes on Cask and Cask Dry Irish Stout tapping

Copper Kettle Brewing Company

American Craft Beer Week “Crazy Good Food” from 5:00-10:00pm

 
 
2012 Prime Time Pilsner Release

Vine Street, Southern Sun, Mountain Sun

The first batch of 2012 Prime Time Pilsner will be released. Prime Time is a pre-prohibition style pilsner brewed with flaked maize, and Hallertau and Saaz hops. This is a light to medium bodied lager with an assertive floral and spicy hop character. The finish is crisp, dry, and refreshing.

 
 
Boulder Roots & Blues Summit

Boulder Theater and Fox Theatre

4:30pm – Boulder Roots & Blues Kick-Off Happy Hour @ the Outlook Hotel with Randall Dubis and Friends + Special Guests, Grillin’ & Drink specials, and more!
Taj Mahal 70th Birthday Celebration with the Taj Mahal Trio along with Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin Blues Band &Fredericks Brown ft. Deva Mahal and special guest Keb’Mo’ at the Boulder Theater
Ladies of the Blues Night w/ Treasa Levasseur, Hope Waits & Fredericks Brown @ the Fox Theatre [Ladies Get In FREE]

More information

 
 
Odell Tap Takeover at FreshCraft

FreshCraft

 
 
Strange Brewing – Food and Music

Strange Brewing

Food by Worldwide Vittles Live Music – Colorado Goat Ropers – 6pm

 
 
Dry Dock Firkin Tapping: Peanut Butter Cup Porter

Dry Dock

3pm – 4pm

 
 
Firkin Friday at Great Divide

3pm – 6pm

Great Divide Brewing Co.

 
 
A Celebration of American Craft Beer

Star Bar

4pm – 11pm

Wood and Barrel Aged Beer – Pouring 14 Wood and Barrel Aged Beers FromSours to Stouts and everything in between.

• Great Divide 18th Anniversary Ale
• Great Divide Belgian Yeti – Aged in Leopold Brothers American Small Batch Whiskey Barrel
• Oskar Blues G’Knight – Aged in Leopold Brothers New York Apple Whiskey Barrel
• New Belgium Tart Lychee
• New Belgium Vrienden
• Crooked Stave – Petite Sour
• Odell Shenanigans
• Odell Saboteur
• Fort Collins Brewery – Oak Aged Maibock
• Boulevard – Rye on Rye
• Firestone Walker – Parabola
• Dogfish Head – Noble Rot
• Dogfish Head – Black and Blue

 
 
Avery Tapping on Steroids

Avery Brewing

5pm – 8pm

We tap a special beer every Friday at 5 pm.

Friday May, 18th we will be tapping some very special beers indeed. The lineup is as follows:

1. Tweak (the artist formerly known as Meph Addict)
2. Bourbon Barrel Aged Tweak
3. Rumpkin
4. Fred’s Mom
5. Eremita 1
6. Eremita 2

This means we’ll have Eremita 1, 2, and 3 on at once! Hooray!

 
 
Caution: Brewing Tap Room Grand Opening

Caution: Brewing

5pm – 9pm

Yes, it’s finally happening. CAUTION: gets a tap room! The only new tap room opening in Denver during Craft Beer Week, come celebrate the spirit of craft beer and enjoy our unique brews. We’ll have 5 beers on tap right off the bat with more to come.

Tap List:

• Lao Wang Lager
• Wild Blonde Ale
• Honey Matrimony Brown
• Toaster Bat Black Imperial Porter

Annnnnnnnd….we’re releasing an IPA on Friday! Our Hippity Hops Chrysanthemum IPA packs 75IBUs, 7.5ABV, and the best aroma out of an IPA you’ve ever had. Friday will also be when you can become a CAUTION: Groupie. We’re going to be selling limited edition Groupie Growlers, more details on our web site!

Regular tap room hours:
Friday: 5 – 9PM (special hours this Friday, 4PM until…it’s really late)
Saturday: 12 – 6PM
Sunday: 12-6PM

 
 
Spanish Happy Hour

Museo de las Americas

5pm – 7pm

More information

 
 
Rockies vs. Mariners at Coors Field

Coors Field

6:40pm – 9pm

 
 
Denver Bike Prom

Denver 404 Wheel Club

8pm – 12am

Bike Prom II is on sale now! BUY YOUR TICKET TO PARADISE! Thought the days of high school were long gone? Well think again because this year’s Bike Prom is bringing back the age old battle of “Nerds vs Jocks”. So get those suspenders out from hiding or wash your old football jersey, you’ll need em for this May 18th bash.

You can expect music, drinks, and a whole lot fun. And yes, the amazing photobooth from last year’s “Bike to the Future” prom will be returning. Check out these goofy pictures and start planning your own wild poses.

Bike Prom 2012 will be held at the snazzy new Denver 404 Wheel Club at 404 Broadway. Save the date and don’t let that teenage procrastination resurface — tickets are on sale now for $10 (a $5 savings!).

Doors open at 8pm! Bike Prom 2012′s media sponsor is www.westword.com

More information

 
 
Ukefest

Oriental Theater

8pm – 11pm

Join us for the 5th annual Denver Ukefest! Why are we doing the Denver Ukefest again? Because the ukulele is the instrument of the people: it’s accessible, easy to play, you can take it anywhere (on your bike or in a crowded train), pretty cheap, and it just plain fun. And, Swallow Hill Music believes that the people should make music.

Workshop and concert featuring Jake Shimabukuro w/ The Quiet American

More information
 
 

Saturday, May 19

 
 
Battle the Bear

Bear Creek Lake Park

New Finish and Expo location this year down below under the shade of the cottonwoods! Enjoy the green grass and cool waters of the lake for a post race soak of tired legs. Race #3 of The Series. Known as the Front Range 60 last year, we went back to our roots and put all the races under our historical name of Battle the Bear. Spectators and racers alike will enjoy the hot racing action at this fun venue. Bring your noise makers and join the party. There will be an industry expo with product sampling, and a Kidz Zone with jumpy house, games, and our Warriors Kids Race. Celebrate mountain bike season in Colorado with the whole family at this annual spring ritual of off-road fun.

More information

 
 
Boulder Blues & Roots Summit

Boulder Theater & Fox Theatre

Blues In the School w/ Dan Treanor ft. Keb’ Mo’ @ Boulder Theater 4pm FREE EVENT for Kids 8-18 yrs

Keb’ Mo’ with special guest Anders Osborne (acoustic) @ the Boulder Theater

Anders Osborne and his full band with an electric set featuring local opening act Musketeer Gripweed @ the Fox Theatre

More information

 
 
Copper Kettle Black IPA release

Copper Kettle

Release of our Double Black IPA from noon – 10 PM! For those of you wanting our Black IPA back, this is your chance!
“Street Eats” will be out with food from 5-10 PM
“Pete Stein” on acoustics from 6-9 PM with NO COVER! Listen to his amazing voice and unique personalized songs…

 
 
Five Points Jazz Festival

27th and Welton

12pm – 7pm

7 stages, 7 hours, free jazz. How could you not go to this? Check out the link below for a full listing.

More information

 
 
Parry’s Pizza Odell Tap Takeover with special Parry’s pilot brew

Parry’s Pizza

 
 
Race To Your Next Place

It’s not a foot race! It’s a FUN game of wit, strategy and skill as you tour open houses in urban Denver. Your $100/team registration fee (just $50/person) all goes to Habitat for Humanity of Colorado!

Hurry! Registration is filling up fast! Space is limited!

Join us on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 as teams of two participate in a city-wide scavenger hunt to win a $10,000 cash prize! Use it as a down payment or whatever you want! We’ll kick-off at The Tailgate Roadhouse as we send hundreds of people driving around the city to find clues, perform challenges and earn points. Top physical condition not required, but a sense of adventure is! After crossing the finish line, enjoy a post-race party with music, prizes, food & drink while we tally the points and announce the winner!

All racers will receive:

A Cool Race T-shirt
A Team Tote bag filled with discounts, coupons and goodies
Pre-Race food, drink and entertainment
Snacks and beverages along the route
Fun Post-Race party with drink tickets, food and drink discounts
Chance to win $10,000 along with other great door prizes!

More information

 
 
Rugged Maniac 5k

Thunder Valley Motorcross Park

Rugged Maniac is a 5K (3.2 mile) obstacle course race that combines the most rugged terrain and burly obstacles to allow those with a sense of adventure to define themselves, then bask in glory at a rocking after party with great bands, good food and plenty of beer!
Each Rugged Maniac features at least twenty obstacles constructed by an experienced crew of licensed contractors. These aren’t the pop-up kiddie obstacles you’ll see at other races. You’ll climb over walls up to 12’ high, crawl through mud under barbed wire, slide down a 50’ water slide, jump over fire and face many other challenges all while running through a combination of forests, fields, motocross tracks and ski slopes!

Unlike other races, we won’t run you around a golf course or parking lot and proclaim it rugged. We won’t make you wait in ridiculous lines mid-course and pretend you’ve been challenged. Instead, we offer a truly challenging and well-organized course that beats all others. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out what people are saying about us on Facebook.

More information

 
 
Strange Brewing 2nd Anniversary

Strange Brewing

HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY!!!

Kegs & Eggs 9am Chris will cook breakfast and the taps will be flowing

Live Broadcast of the Colorado Craft Beer Show at noon

Live Music – Acoustic Mining Company 7pm

Food All Day

 
 
Ukefest

L2 Arts and Culture Center

* All events on Saturday are at the L2 Arts and Culture Center, 1477 Columbine, Denver, CO 80206
9:00 am Doors Open
- Doors open for all-day pass holders
- Registration
- Instrument Builders and Vendors open for business
- Ukes available for loan
9:45 am – 12:00 pm Workshops & More
- Workshops for all ages and skill levels
- Mobile Recording Studio open for free recording
- Jams
- Instruments Builders and Vendors open
11:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Noon Concert featuring Victor & Penny
- Ukulele strum-a-long
- Lunch, beverages, and microbrew available for purchase (from Mikes2 Kitchen and Coaches Scoop Ice Cream)
– Noon Concert featuring Victor & Penny
2:00 – 4:00 pm Workshops & More
- Workshops for all ages and skill levels
- Mobile Recording Studio open for free recording
- Jams
- Instruments Builders and Vendors open
4:30 – 7:30 pm Open Stage w/ Ukuelele Loki and Film Screening
- Concert Ticket Holders and All-day Pass Holders can enter and watch or participate in Open Stage
- Rock That Uke Film
- Dinner, beverages, and microbrew available for purchase
7:30 pm Main Festival Concert
- featuring Nellie McKay, Aldrine Guerrero, Tina and Her Pony, Hapa Hillbillies, Victor & Penny, Ukulele Loki, Faceman, The Denver Uke Community and more!

More information

 
 
Avery Pedal Poker Run

12pm – 4pm

A two-wheeled pub crawl to five of Denver’s most legendary beer bars. Collect a playing card at each. At the end the rider with the best poker hand wins!

1. Hops & Pie 12-12:45
2. Ale House at Amato’s 12:45-1:30
3. Cheeky Monk 1:30-2:15
4. Star Bar 2:15-3pm
5. Freshcraft 3-4pm, Prizes drawn at 3:45-4pm

Prizes include a VIP tour at Avery with transportation provided, Avery swag, gc’s, etc.

Please drink responsibly!

More information

 
 
Caution: Brewing Tap Room Opening

Caution: Brewing

12pm – 6pm

Yes, it’s finally happening. CAUTION: gets a tap room! The only new tap room opening in Denver during Craft Beer Week, come celebrate the spirit of craft beer and enjoy our unique brews. We’ll have 5 beers on tap right off the bat with more to come.

Tap List:

Lao Wang Lager
Wild Blonde Ale
Honey Matrimony Brown
Toaster Bat Black Imperial Porter

Regular tap room hours:
Friday: 5 – 9PM (special hours this Friday, 4PM until…it’s really late)
Saturday: 12 – 6PM
Sunday: 12-6PM

 
 
Turquoise Mesa Winery Spring Celebration BBQ

Turquoise Mesa Winery, Broomfield, CO

12pm – 6pm

We will have a Spring Celebration on May 19th from 12 pm to 6 pm. Returning this year will be award winning barbecue from Hard Wood BBQ Catering. We’ll have smoked chicken, pulled pork, and infused sausage. Our wines will pair excellently with these items. We will also have available our newly bottled 2011 white wines – early reviews are fantastic. Also available will be our wines that have received new medals this spring.
So as not to disappoint anyone and run out of food, this will be a reservation BBQ so we can order enough. Order your BBQ now for $10 per person by completing the reservation attendance button. Please make your reservations by May 16 if possible. Thanks!

More information

 
 
Rockies vs. Mariners at Coors Field

Coors Field

2:10pm

 
 
Dry Dock Firkin Tapping: Mango Pale Ale

Dry Dock

3pm – 4pm

 
 
New Belgium Lips of Faith Tasting at Paramount Cafe

Paramount Cafe

3pm – 5pm

New Belgium Lips of Faith Tasting. Tapping a keg of Tart Lychee, ale brewed with oak, cinnamon, and lychee fruit. Very Rare Beer!!

 
 
Rapids vs. Sporting KC

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

7pm – 10pm
 
 
Denver Outlaws vs. Boston Cannons

Sports Authority Field at Mile High

7pm – 9pm
 
 

Sunday, May 20

 
 
Colfax Marathon Relay

City Park

Denver’s only marathon relay. With a fresh, fast course and amazing views of the Rocky Mountains, Colfax is the ultimate urban tour of Denver. Get your 5 person relay team together and get ready to run Colfax! New in 2012: epic stadium run-through at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium! Start and finish in City Park. Experience the best of Colfax Avenue, plus 7 miles of water – Cherry Creek, Sloan’s Lake – funky neighborhoods, and Denver’s Fire Station #1.

More information

 
 
Caution: Brewing Tap Room Opening

Caution: Brewing

12pm – 6pm

Yes, it’s finally happening. CAUTION: gets a tap room! The only new tap room opening in Denver during Craft Beer Week, come celebrate the spirit of craft beer and enjoy our unique brews. We’ll have 5 beers on tap right off the bat with more to come.

Tap List:

Lao Wang Lager
Wild Blonde Ale
Honey Matrimony Brown
Toaster Bat Black Imperial Porter

Regular tap room hours:
Friday: 5 – 9PM (special hours this Friday, 4PM until…it’s really late)
Saturday: 12 – 6PM
Sunday: 12-6PM

 
 
Rockies vs. Mariners at Coors Field

Coors Field

1:10pm

 
 
Hops & Pie Little Bit Beer Fest

Hops & Pie

2pm – 3pm

Featuring Stone Brewing

 
 
Dry Dock Firkin Tapping: Blake’s Juniper Berry Wit

Dry Dock

3pm – 4pm

 
 
Eat. Drink. Give. The Remix

6pm – 7pm

Yia Yia’s yia’ – 8310 East Belleview Avenue – Greenwood Village

Proceeds from the third annual Eat. Drink. Give. benefit Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital NICU. Enjoy passed bites and signature cocktails from Denver’s finest chefs and bartenders. Ticket price includes all food &beverages and one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets are $5 each. Raffle items include gift certificates from participating chefs’ restaurants.

More information

 
 
Comedy Debates at Vine Street Pub

Vine Street Pub

10pm – 12am