Blues, Brew and Barbecue returns to Beaver Creek May 25-28

Barbecue and microbrew lovers know that Beaver Creek Resort is the place to be every Memorial Day weekend for the ninth annual Blues, Brew and Barbecue Festival May 25-28.

As the unofficial lunch of summertime in the mountains, top barbecue chefs from around the country join local chefs in serving up mouth-watering barbecue complemented by thirst-quenching microbrews at the largest Colorado Microbrewery beer tasting. To make the most of the holiday weekend, organizers have added three new components: a Friday night welcome reception, a judged barbecue competition featuring $10,000 in prizes, and a Monday golf event.

In addition, top blues performers, The Delta Sonics, Rory Block and Clay McClintonwill perform live at scheduled times during the weekend. For the first time in Beaver Creek, barbecue masters will be competing for bragging rights and $10,000 in cash prizes. On Saturday a panel of professional judges will rate pork dishes according to appearance, taste and tenderness. On Sunday, event attendees will determine the People's Choice winners. Selected winners will be crowned Saturday and Sunday at 4:10 p.m. on the main stage in Beaver Creek Plaza.

Kid Zones will be open from 12-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday providing activities and arts and crafts designed for kids 12 and under. Beaver Creek's signature Culinary Demonstration Series kick off for the summer season, providing complimentary barbecue demonstrations from guest and local chefs, accompanied by paired beverages.

The Blues, Brews and Barbecue event offers free admission to the plaza events and food and beverage are available for purchase. Ticketed events include the following.

New Welcome Reception
On Friday, May 25 celebrate the holiday weekend at the new Welcome Reception, which will be held at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek from 5-6 p.m. Join visiting and local chefs participating in the event and talk brews with representatives from participating microbreweries. Tickets are $25 per person.

Microbrew Festival
The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek hosts the largest exclusively Colorado Microbrewery Beer Tasting in the state from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 26. Featuring more than 80 special concoctions from 35 Colorado-based breweries, participants also receive a commemorative tasting mug. Advance tickets are $35 per person and will be $40 per person at the door. The event also will be held outdoors this year on the back lawn, near the top of Beaver Creek's Grand Staircase above the ice rink.

New Cut and Slice Golf Event
New this year, the Cut and Slice Golf Event takes place on Monday, May 28 at the Beaver Creek Golf Club from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A shotgun start opens the day and golfers also will enjoy barbecue and craft beers around the course. Tickets are $90 per person which includes greens fee, golf cart, practice balls, tee gift and barbecue and beer on the course. Early birds who register by May 18th also receive a festival beer mug and $10 in food and beverage tickets, valid at the festival. Reservations can be made by calling the Beaver Creek Golf Club at (970) 754-6212, emailing dlopez@vailresorts.com or purchase tickets online at www.beavercreek.com.

Lodging
Book two nights of lodging May 25-28, 2012 at participating properties and receive two custom Beaver Creek beer mugs, $20 worth of “Beaver Bucks” coupons valid toward food and beverage at the event, and a 10 percent discount on event tickets. Book online at www.beavercreek.com or call 877.204.7883.

For more information about Blues, Brews and Barbecue and Beaver Creek's complete summer event lineup, visit www.beavercreek.com.