Boulder County Brews Cruise Returns

Pre- GABF tour of Boulder breweries returns for another round

Details have now been inked for the return engagement of the Boulder County Brews Cruise.

Last year's debut run of the Brews Cruise was a sold-out excursion that carried area beer lovers and Great American Beer Festival attendees from Denver to some of Boulder 's best beer makers.

This year's tour is set for October 10, 2007, just one day prior to the start of the 2007 GABF, October 11-13 at the Colorado Convention Center .

The 2007 Boulder County Brews Cruise will carry 56 riders to Boulder Beer Company, Left Hand Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Brewery, and Redstone Meadery, this year's new addition to the Boulder County Brews Cruise lineup.

The cruise is sponsored by Draft Magazine.

For just $40, Cruisers get a seat on the bus, one free beer and samples at each brewery, a light breakfast, lunch, and a commemorative T-shirt. Riders also get a 15% discount on all other beers and merchandise at each stop.

The Brew Cruise gives GABF attendees a chance to try some of the state's best beers at their source, says Left Hand's Chris Lennert, organizer for the Cruise.

"And it's just plain fun to work together with other breweries," Lennert notes. "Could you imagine Budweiser, Miller and Coors working together on a bus tour? That's the beauty of the craft beer industry - we actually like each other."

"The Brews Cruise," says Oskar Blues Brewery's Marty Jones, "makes for a great day of beery fellowship, and adds another day of big fun to GABF-week festivities. And it gives local beer nuts a great excuse for taking another day off from work that week."

The 2007 Brews Cruise bus departs from the Colorado Convention Center (at 14th Street and Stout Street ) at 8 AM on the morning of October 10. The tour winds through Boulder County with stops at Boulder Beer Company (for beers and a light breakfast), Left Hand Brewing Company (for more beers), Oskar Blues Brewery (for beers and lunch), and a wrap up with meads at Redstone.

The Brews Cruise returns to Denver by 5 PM, so riders can rest up for round one of the GABF on Thursday, October 11.

Beer lovers can reserve a seat on the bus at www.lefthandbrewing.com by clicking on the Boulder County Brews Cruise link at the site.

Now in its second year of publication, Draft Magazine is a welcome addition to America 's growing beer-journalism niche. The bi-monthly magazine focuses on the globe's ever-expanding beer and alcoholic beverage culture, get details at http://www.draftmag.com .

This year's GABF will present over 1600 different beers from over 380 US breweries. Get details at www.beertown.org .