The TBEX 2012 Conference for new media travel writers kicked off June 15 at 8:15am with a Beer Road Rally for about 25 conference attendees. The event route was unknown to the individuals in the four beer vans with up to 7 members per team.
Destination #1 – Denver Zoo
Silverback Pale Ale – Wynkoop Brewery, Denver, Colorado
Destination #2 – Coors Brewery, Golden, Colorado
The last time I did this tour was 1983. Coors actually makes some nice beers these days and my favorite was the Batch 19 Pre-Prohibition lager.
Destination #3 Red Rocks Amphitheater
The Visitors Center was playing Jimi Hendrix “Castles Made of Sand” when I entered. There was something very special about this place as a legendary location for music.
In the parking lot of Red Rocks was the beer bus for Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons, Colorado with ice cold beer waiting.
The sun was hot and the beer was cold.
Destination #4 – TommyKnocker Brewery, Idaho Springs
Thirty minutes later we were driving through a hail storm on I-70 heading to TommyKnocker Brewery in the old mining town of Idaho Springs.
After another couple of beer tastings of brews with names like Butt Head Bock we were heading up a dirt road to a working gold mine.
Destination #5 – Phoenix Gold Mine, Idaho Springs
Phoenix Gold Mine, near Idaho Springs.
There is still gold in these hills.
A little nature after beer is always a nice way to bring your mind back down to earth.
Feeding the gold mine chipmunks.
Destination #6 – Loveland Pass, Colorado and the Continental Divide
For some reason I was loaded with energy and quickly jaunted up these stairs to the final beer drinking location at over 12,000 feet on the Continental Divide. Feeling my pulse in my fingertips indicated I probably should have walked up the stairs.
The high Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
At the top of Loveland Pass waiting for us were skis of beer shots.
Avalanche Ale from Breckenridge Brewery in glass ski boots.
Feels like team spirit.
This exercise in drinking takes balance.
Even a three oz. beer shot gives you a buzz at 12,000 ft.
Final Destination – TBEX 12, June 15-17, 2012 – Keystone Resort, Colorado
Ric Garrido, writer and content owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.
2 Comments
Comments are closed.