The winter holiday season is here, and I couldn’t be more delighted. First there’s Thanksgiving, a feat of herculean gorging culminating in the revered presentation of one of the world’s blandest animals, the turkey. I just can’t get excited about a bird with a flavor that falls somewhere between a supermarket chicken and gas station paper towels. Next, there’s the compulsory shopping gauntlet of Black Friday and Cyber Monday where desperate consumers fight each other tooth and nail while risking trampling and pepper spray for vaunted treasures like discounted copies of Grown Ups 2  or that one TV they swear sold out just before you arrived. Then we limp shivering and penniless through Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, all scored with that execreble holiday music that’s been pummeling your ears for what feels like three months. I suppose my grinch status is well confirmed by this point, but I’m just not much of a holiday person. Thank Krampus there’s Festivus to look forward to.

No, I’m not talking about Mr. Constanza’s favorite holiday. I speak of Denver Beer Festivus, a celebration of local beer now entering its third year in the Mile High City while also reaching hoppy tendrils to nearby beer-friendly cities Boulder and Ft. Collins. What is Denver Beer Festivus? Simply put, it’s a beer festival devoted to Denver breweries—all are invited—and their fans. The first Festivus in 2012 featured 19 breweries – who would believe we had so many? In 2013, 30 participated. This year, a whopping 44 breweries and cideries will pour liquid holiday cheer to thirsty attendees. The exponential growth of Festivus is not only a product of the breakneck pace at which breweries are opening, but a reflection of just how fun the event is. Along with unlimited samples of brews, you can expect food vendors, music, photo booths, and seriously embarrassing dancing from people in ugly sweaters and holiday costumes. Organizers ask breweries to bring at least one of their staples but also something unique, so there’s something for everyone from the neophytes to seasoned beer nerds. Participating breweries range from members of the old guard to ones that sold their first beer last week to ones that haven’t even opened yet. I can distinctly remember drinking beer from two soon-to-open breweries at 2013 Festivus that went on to win medals at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival, so don’t be afraid to try the new guys!

The event will be held at at the McNichols Building in Denver and starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 13th. Tickets sold out very quickly this year, so hopefully you’re gripping them tightly in your hands as you read this. If not, don’t despair – Ft. Collins Festivus should take place in early 2015. More details are available at the event website, but here’s a list of breweries attending the 2014 Denver Beer Festivus to get you salivating:

BAERE •
BERYL’S •
BLACK SKY •
BRECKENRIDGE •
BROKEN SPINE •
CAUTION •
CEREBRAL
CHAIN REACTION •
COLORADO CIDER •
COMRADE •
COPPER KETTLE •
CROOKED STAVE
DE STEEG •
DECLARATION •
DENVER BEER CO •
DENVER CHOPHOUSE & BREWERY
DIEBOLT •
EPIC •
FACTOTUM •
FERMÆNTRA •
FICTION •
FORMER FUTURE •
GOLDSPOT
GRANDMA’S HOUSE •
GREAT DIVIDE •
HOGSHEAD •
JAGGED MOUNTAIN •
LOWDOWN
LOST HIGHWAY •
MOCKERY •
OASIS •
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND •
PLATT PARK •
PROST RENEGADE •
RIVER NORTH •
ROCK BOTTOM •
STATION 26 •
STEM CIDERS •
STRANGE
TRVE •
VINE STREET •
WIT’S END •
WYNKOOP •
ZEPHYR