For the initiated, it’s already well-known that if there’s one non-negotiable, can’t-miss beer festival in the state of Colorado that represents the ultimate beer nerd experience, it’s Big Beers Belgians and Barleywines. And this year, expect the spectacle to be even bigger than ever.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary the weekend of January 9-11, the next Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines will offer a full slate of programming, the return of some of Big Beer’s biggest names from past Featured Brewmasters including Adam Avery, Sam Calagione, Eric Wallace, Brian Dunn, Doug Odell, John Mallett, Jeffrey Stuffing, Cory King, Dave Thibodeau, and more, as well as a Brewers Reception and Traditional Brewmasters’ Dinner on Thursday night with featured brewmasters Neil Fisher of WeldWerks Brewing and Troy Casey from Casey Brewing & Blending.

Over the years we have extolled to great length some of the innumerable characteristics that distinguish Big Beers as one of the industry’s best-kept secrets.

Stemming from organizers Laura and Bill Lodge’s passionate approach toward curating the best talent, while also going above and beyond in ensuring the best attendee experience, Big Beers has come to capture the essence of what it takes to throw the ultimate beer lover’s festival, ranging from a star-studded cast of brewers, to an elite level lineup of beers, intimate brewers dinners, premier educational seminars, and world-class skiing all to the backdrop of some of the world’s most stunning mountain vistas.

For more on the history and importance of VBBB read our in-depth profile of the fest.

Now entering its 20th year, Big Beers Belgians and Barleywines has truly found itself in the picturesque ski town of Breckenridge Colorado. This year’s event will feature technical seminars from the likes of Jeffrey Stuffings from Jester King, Cory King from Side Project, John Mallett from Bell’s Brewery, Florian Kuplent from Urban Chestnut, Steven Pauwels from Boulevard, Nile Zacherle of Mad Fritz, Kevin DeLange of Dry Dock, Charlie Gottenkieny of Bruz Beers, John Holl from Beer and Brewing Magazine and many more to be announced.

Additional elements include a Cicerone Workshop and Exam, Homebrew Competition, Small Plates and Beer Pairing, Beer & Food workshop with CraftBeer.com’s Julia Herz and Adam Dulye, and 20 Year Reunion event on Friday night, Beer Yoga, followed by Brewmasters, Technical, Experimental and Sensory seminars on Saturday, all culminating Saturday afternoon with the Commercial Tasting event.

But even more impressive is this year’s lineup for the main event, the Commercial Tasting. Not only will all the heavy hitters be back to pour on the festival floor but this year’s fest will also include a few impressive newcomers including Transient Artisan Ales, Homes Brewery, Alvarado Street Brewery, Cellarmaker, Kane Brewing, and Referend Bier Blendery to name a few.

Buy your tickets to the 2020 Big Beers Belgians and Barleywines Festival

While the brewery list is always subject to change, here’s your first look at the 2019 Big Beers Belgians and Barleywine’s list of participating breweries.

• 4 Hands Brewing Company
• 4 Noses Brewing Co
• Primitive Beer
• Alesong Brewing and Blending
• Alpine Beer Company
• Alvarado Street Brewery
• Highland Park Brewery
• Amalgam Brewing
• Angry James Brewery
• Dillon Dam Brewery
• Artisanal Imports
• Avery Brewing Co.
• Baere Brewing Co.
• Mockery Brewing
• Ballast Point
• Spangalang Brewery
• Barrel of Monks
• Bell’s Brewery
• Black Project Spontaneous and Wild Ales
• Blackberry Farm Brewery
• Bonfire Brewing
• Eddyline Brewing Co.
• Bootstrap Brewing
• Strange Craft Beer Company
• Boulevard Brewing Co.
• Breckenridge Brewery
• Brewery Ommegang
• Duvel USA
• Broken Compass Brewing
• Woods Boss Brewing Company
• Brunswick Bierworks
• Bruz Beers
• Burns Family Artisan Ales
• Cannonball Creek Brewing Company
• Casey Brewing and Blending
• Cellar West Artisan Ales
• Knotted Root Brewing
• Cellarmaker
• The Rare Barrel
• Cerebral Brewing
• Chrysalis Barrel-Aged Beer
• Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
• Beachwood Brewing
• Culture Beverage (Shelton Portfolio)
• Deep Ellum Brewing Company
• DESTIHL Brewery
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Dry Dock Brewing Co.
• Ecliptic Brewing
• Elevation Beer Company
• Epic Brewing Co.
• Fiction Beer Company
• Fifty West Brewing Co
• FiftyFifty Brewing
• Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
• Flying Dog Brewery
• Founders Brewing Company
• Fremont Brewing
• Verboten Brewing
• Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co
• Goose Island Beer Co.
• Grand Teton Brewing Company
• Great Divide Brewing Co
• Guanella Pass Brewery
• HighSide Brewing Co
• Holidaily Brewing Company
• Horse & Dragon Brewing Company
• Jackie O’s
• Jester King Brewery
• Atom Brewing Company
• Kane Brewing Company
• La Cumbre Brewing Co.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company
• Left Hand Brewing Co.
• LIBERATI restaurant & brewery
• Liquid Mechanics
• Mash Lab Brewing
• Locavore Beer Works
• Lone Tree Brewing Company
• Loveland Aleworks
• Mad Fritz Brewing Co
• The Ale Apothecary
• Merchant du Vin
• Mikerphone Brewing
• Muckraker Beermaker
• New Belgium Brewing
• New Holland Brewing Co.
• New Image Brewing
• Odd13 Brewing
• Odell Brewing Company
• Oskar Blues Brewery
• Cigar City
• Perrin
• Squatters
• Wasatch
• Outer Range Brewing Co.
• Pagosa Brewing & Grill
• Payette Brewing Company
• Pikes Peak Brewing
• Purpose Brewing & Cellars
• Ratio Beerworks
• River North Brewery
• Roadhouse Brewing Co.
• Rowley Farmhouse Ales
• Westbound & Down Brewing Co.
• Samuel Adams Brewery
• Side Project Brewing
• Ska Brewing
• Solemn Oath Brewery
• Launch Pad Brewery
• Soulcraft Brewing
• HOMES Brewery
• Speciation Artisan Ales
• Stone Brewing
• Surly Brewing Co.
• Telluride Brewing Company
• Sanitas Brewing Company
• The Bakers’ Brewery
• The Bruery
• The Colorado Farm Brewery
• The Lost Abbey
• The Referend Bier Blendery
• Three Barrel Brewing
• ToOl Brewery
• Transient Artisan Ales
• Tröegs Independent Brewing
• Two Roads Brewing Company
• Unibroue
• Upland Brewing Company
• Upslope Brewing Company
• Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
• Ursula Brewery
• Vail Brewing Co.
• Väsen Brewing Company
• WeldWerks Brewing Co.
• Wiley Roots Brewing Company
• Alaskan Brewing
• Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery
• Chain Reaction Brewing Co
• DEAD HIPPIE BREWING
• Phantom Canyon Brewing Company
• Wynkoop Brewing Company
• Resolute Brewing Co
• Spice Trade Brewing Co.
• Four Peaks Brewing Co
• Boggy Draw Brewery
• Gunbarrel Brewing Company

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