Collaboration Fest returns April 4 at the Westin Westminster, bringing together more than 160 breweries for one of Colorado’s most beloved craft beer events.
Hosted by the Colorado Brewers Guild, the festival is both a celebration of creativity and a critical fundraiser supporting the state’s independent brewing community.
Attendees can expect more than 120 one-of-a-kind beers—each brewed exclusively for the event—ranging from traditional styles to boundary-pushing experiments that reflect the collaborative spirit at the heart of Colorado craft beer.
That spirit feels especially meaningful this year. The industry has faced significant challenges in recent years; in 2025 alone, more than 40 breweries, taprooms and brewpubs closed across Colorado. While those losses have been deeply felt, many in the industry see this moment not as a collapse, but as a necessary reset after years of rapid expansion.
The breweries that remain are becoming more efficient, more intentional—and often more creative. Collaboration Fest captures that evolution in real time, offering a glimpse into a leaner but more innovative future for craft beer.
“The craft brewing industry has faced its share of headwinds lately with rising costs and thinning margins that have tested even the most resilient breweries,” says Shawnee Adelson, executive director of the Colorado Brewers Guild. “But walk into Collaboration Fest and you’ll be reminded exactly why Colorado’s craft beer community is worth fighting for.”
That sense of resilience is paired with an unmistakable enthusiasm for experimentation. Adelson points to the uniquely collaborative culture that defines the state’s brewers.
“Colorado breweries compete for and earn national recognition, and yet they still can’t wait to get together, experiment with a new hop, try a yeast they’ve never worked with, and see if they can make something even better,” she says.
This year’s festival leans fully into that ethos. While past iterations often balanced innovation with more recognizable, style-driven beers, this year’s list of creations is defined by a more concept-first approach. Familiar foundations like IPAs and lagers are still present, but they’re increasingly used as jumping-off points for hybrids, culinary-inspired creations and unexpected ingredient combinations.
The result is a lineup that feels more adventurous than ever—less about fitting into traditional categories and more about exploring what beer can be. For example: A Bit Twisted Brewery & BBQ and The Elizabeth Brewing Company will pour a pizza-inspired hazy IPA infused with pineapple purée and “anchovy hops” aptly named Pineapple & Anchovies Belong on Pizza.
Here, 10 more beers to look forward to sipping at the festival:
- River North X Los Dos Potrillos: Step Father Figure, West Coast Mexican Lager
- Joyride X Westbound & Down: Eternal Return, New Zealand Pils
- Cheluna X Degree Brewpub (Metropolitan State University of Denver): Teacher’s Lounge, Cold IPA
- Rock Cut X Left Hand: E.T. Fonio Home/The Empire Strikes Bitter, African Pale Ale/ESB with Orange Peel
- Luki X Stay Tuned: Midnight Munchies, Baja Blast Wheat Beer
- MainStage X Broken Hops: Pink Bunny Club, Fruited IPA
- Littleton X TightKnit: Rotbier, Red Lager
- WeldWerks X Equilibrium (New York): ScienceWerks, Hazy IPA
- Platt Park X Mountain Merman: Smokin’ In The Van, Smoked Tea Beer
- Lone Tree X Eddyline: King Ghidorah, Black Rice Lager
“Collaboration Fest has become brewers’ favorite festival because it feels like a celebration of everything they love about this industry: the creativity, the camaraderie, and the relentless drive to push the craft forward,” Adelson says. “This festival raises critical funds for the Guild and the breweries we champion. This is community in action.”
Tickets for Collab Fest are on sale now; 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (early entry, $104.05) or 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (general admission, $82.13); 10600 Westminster Blvd., Westminster
