What’s brewing over at COLLABORATION BEER FESTIVAL

Saturday April 4, 2026 at the Westin Westminster

Collaboration Fest is a truly unique event because it's a chance for brewers to let their imaginations run completely wild. Think classic traditional styles on one end, and beers inspired by pineapple and anchovy pizza and veggie casserole on the other (yes, really) and plenty of creativity in between. This festival is a great way to try something you can’t quite wrap your head around or get a pulse on what beer trends are on the rise.

Amidst the 120+ beers that will be presented, here are some ‘hoppenings’ you won’t want to miss!

A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ and The Elizabeth Brewing Company

Beer name: Pineapple & Anchovies Belong on Pizza

Beer style: Hazy IPA

Beer story: Hazy IPA brewed with Pineapple Puree, all anchovy hops and pizza seasonings

A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ and Monolith Brewing

Beer name: TBD

Beer style: Stout

Beer story: Round three of Steven’s and my smoked food beer series! This time, we're blending smoked grains with our own house-smoked sausage and jalapeños for one beautiful concoction

Grossen Bart Brewery and Mountain Merman Brewing Company

Beer name: Liquid Thanksgiving - Get Basted 

Beer style: Veggie Casserole Pale Ale

Beer story: The brewers at Mountain Merman and Grossen Bart finally brought a long-simmering idea to life with the release of Veggie Casserole Pale Ale. What started as a running joke and late-night brew deck brainstorming slowly turned into a serious (but still playful) collaboration. An idea that’s been brewing for years has finally found its way from conversation to kettle. Liquid Thanksgiving is the deliciously unexpected result of creativity, friendship, and a shared love for pushing boundaries

Liquid Mechanics and Base Camp Beer Works

Beer name: Potsdamer Stange 

Beer style: Potsdamer Stangenbier

Beer story: Potsdamer Stangenbier is a traditional, top-fermented beer style from Potsdam, Germany, often described as a refreshing, golden-amber colored, and slightly fruity beer. Traditionally unfiltered and served in a Stange glass

Liquid Mechanics and Pinthouse Brewing (TX)

Beer name: West Coast Cartel

Beer style: West Coast IPA

Beer story: West Coast Cartel is a running collaboration series of West Coast IPAs. Highlighting some of the best West Coast IPA producers in the country, this rendition was a collab with Pinthouse (Austin, TX) featuring select Citra, Mosaic and Rakau

Mash Mechanix Brewing Co. and Peaks N Pines Brewery

Beer name: American Hop Revolution 

Beer style: IPA

Beer story: American Hop Revolution IPA is a tribute to the dual anniversary of America's 250th and Colorado's 150th termed "sesquisemiquincentennial"! We brewed this once in a lifetime beer using locally grown red wheat, white barley, and blue corn. We used Colorado grown hops and yeast to round out this all American, all Colorado beer. This beer was proudly made by brewers hailing from every corner of the country. From Alaska, Massachusetts, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, we collaborated under the shadow of America’s Mountain to honor the Centennial State

Mirror Image Brewing and Broken Hops Brewing

Beer name: Snoop a Loop

Beer style: WC Pils

Beer story: Just a quick answer to a craigslist missed connections ad and the rest is history, it went like this: Our eyes met through the window of the Prost brewhouse for a quick second. You were taking notes on your computer, data driven, I'm sure. Just seemed like our interests align, and thought maybe we should collab together. If you feel the same way, send a sign

Odell Brewing Five Points Brewhouse and Comrade Brewing Company

Beer name: Convertible Cargo Pants

Beer style: IPA

Beer story: Comrade makes great IPAs and we have some cool hops. It was time to collab on a recipe and have some fun

Our Mutual Friend Brewing and Stodgy Brewing Company

Beer name: Bodgy 

Beer style: American Bock

Beer story: This beer is inspired by our love of brewing with Colorado ingredients and showing that classic and modern beer styles can be made using local ingredients. Brewed with Troubadour malt, Kernza, and Colorado CTZ  and Colorado crystal hops

Phantom Canyon Brewing Company, Mash Mechanix, Gunslinger, Brewing, and  Urban Animal Brewery

Beer name: Smokey and the Bandit

Beer style: Smoked Bock

Beer story: Gunslinger, Mash Mechanix, Phantom Canyon, and Urban Animal have officially joined forces to release Smokey and the Bandit, a 6.1% ABV Rauchbock (Smoked Bock) fueled by a shared passion for beer and a suspiciously high tolerance for each other’s company. This liquid celebration of downtown camaraderie features a bold blend of toasted bread, caramel, and rich beechwood smoke that hits smoother than a Trans Am. We’ve channeled our collective grit and friendship into a single fermenter to prove that the best way to enjoy downtown Colorado Springs is with a pint in hand and a few good neighbors by your side

Prost Brewing, Zwei Brewing, and Root Shoot Malting

Beer name: Thunder Struck Export Pils

Beer style: GR Export Pilsner

Beer story: We wanted to take an opportunity to highlight the new pilsner malt coming off of the Kaspar Schulz malting equipment at Root Shoot Malting (Thunder Pilsner Malt). Zwei and Prost were actually connected through our mutual friend Heyward at Root Shoot and the potential to brew Kaspar Schulz created malt on our Kaspar Schulz brewhouse was too good of an opportunity to pass up. We selected an Export Pilsner because it felt like a great way to showcase the German processing methods, equipment, and raw materials. The results are a crisp, bright, and elegant Pilsner that we hope everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy

Two22 Brew and Woods Boss Brewing

Beer name: Forage and Flow 

Beer style: Kölsch 

Beer story: A German Kölsch brewed with copious amounts of Chanterelle Mushrooms and Ponderosa Pine Needles

WeldWerks Brewing Company and Equilibrium Brewery (NY)

Beer name: ScienceWerks

Beer style: Hazy Double IPA

Beer story: We brought back this popular beer with one of our favorite Hazy IPA breweries in the country, Equilibrium, specifically for Collab Fest. ScienceWerks is a Hazy Double IPA brewed with Strata, Citra and Mosaic hops, featuring notes of peach rings, mango nectar, and lime zest on top of homemade whipped cream. So, whether you're feeling like Jekyll, Hyde, or Einstein today, this brew has you covered

WeldWerks Brewing Company, Full Frame Beer, and Our Mutual Friend Brewing

Beer name: Noche, Mi Amigo

Beer style: Barrel Aged Imperial Pastry Stout

Beer story: Born from a shared love of innovation and pushing the boundaries of beer, Noche, Mi Amigo is an Imperial Stout aged in a blend of Weller, Stagg Jr., Old Fitzgerald and Willett bourbon barrels, then finished on toasted coconut flakes, unsweetened raw coconut chips, toasted hazelnuts, black sesame, caramel and sea salt. There is only one keg in existence and it's available exclusively at Collab Fest!

WeldWerks Brewing Company and Inland Island Yeast

Beer name: Smells Like Steam Spirit

Beer style: California Common

Beer story: A nod to West Coast brewing heritage, Smells Like Steam Spirit is a California Common Ale brewed with Inland Island Yeast’s Steamer Lager strain. This beer honors the tradition of warm-fermented lager yeast that defines the style

WestFax Brewing Company and Our Mutual Friend Brewing

Beer name: Le Matts Bleu

Beer style: Canadian Pilsner

Beer story: Le Matts Bleu stems from a long time friendship and collaboration between friends and breweries. Both breweries have stellar people named Matt (who have been friends for a bit), and the owners of both WestFax and OMF are from Upstate New York...hence the Canadian Lager theme