What The Funk? Invitational Festival | CBC Denver 2014

Last night we had the good fortune to once again be invited to attend the What the Funk? Invitational Beer Festival. After having an amazing time at their inaugural event last October during GABF, we knew that this would once again prove to be one of our Craft Brewers Conference 2014 event highlights. In a nutshell: it did not disappoint.

While last October’s event was a success, event organizers made a shift in location and in the logistics of this second event. What the Funk? moved to the EXDO Event Center which had a more open layout, more restroom facilities, and an outdoor smoking area in addition to two local food trucks. A live DJ was also on hand to add to the atmosphere this time around. Check-in was speedy and no-fuss for this sold out $80 ticket featuring unlimited pours of over 140 of the rarest, wildest, funkiest brews. Approximately 700 people filed into the EXDO, but lines moved fast and crowds were well maintained in the ample floor space.

Highlights for us included Jester King’s Atrial Rubicite (a vibrantly magenta barrel-aged sour with raspberries), Sante Adairius’ Saison Bernice (w/ Brett & Lacto), and Cigar City’s Double Barrel Hunahpu (aged in Apple and Brandy barrels). Our mouths watered at the idea of sipping on Cantillon’s Fou’Foune and Lou Pepe Kriek, but we were drawn more to the beers not readily available to us in southern California. We once again were impressed with the offerings of Prairie Artisan Ales including their new Bible Belt collaboration with Evil Twin (for all you Bomb! fans out there). Crooked Stave was equipped with some of their best sour offerings. Their Waelzblood, Raspberry Dark Origins, and Mama Bear’s Sour Cherry Pie being particular favorites for us this time around.

Cascade, The Bruery, and Almanac Beer brought more of the west coast funk to the event with a full arsenal of fan favorites including Bourbonic Plague, Melange #1, and Golden Gate Gose while craft beer veterans Russian River and The Lost Abbey also dazzled with their popular offerings. Surprisingly however, it was The Rare Barrel based out of Berkeley that took the money as being one of the most highly sought-after brews of the evening; running out of beer just a little over an hour into the 4-hour event.

If these two What the Funk? events are any indication of the path Crooked Stave and crew will be following for events to come, we strongly advise you considering booking your trip to Denver. It’s not to be missed.Be sure not to miss it the next time around by following Crooked Stave at www.crookedstave.com – @CrookedStave – Facebook

Check out some of the photos we snapped in between sips: