Always wanted to be an A student? Fort Collins beer fest has the class for you

Thousands of beer lovers will flock to Fort Collins, Colo., June 27 and 28 for the Colorado Brewers Festival. And if anybody asks, just tell them you’re going to school. You won’t be lying. Plus studying for the exam is really fun.

The festival will be at two parks in downtown Fort Collins, a city that’s become well-known for breweries big and small.

You can choose from among 60 beers from 40 Colorado breweries. Some of the beers are being crafted exclusively for the festival.

Colorado does love its beer. It drinks 33.2 gallons per person of the stuff per year, according to BeerInfo. That puts it behind, say, Nevada, which swills 44 gallons per person a year but well ahead of California, which is 26 gallons per person.

Admission to the fest is free, but tasting ticket packages cost $30. Tickets are required to purchase food and beverages. A 16-ounce, shatterproof souvenir glass is included in the package.

The event is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Live bands will perform.

Those who want to do more than drink can attend Beer School. Experts including Pat Fahey of Chicago’s Cicerone beer education program and Jamie Bogner of Craft Beer & Brewing magazine will be among the beer professors.

Fort Collins is the ideal place for such a festival. It and nearby communities are home to 24 small breweries.

The giant Anheuser-Busch has also been making Budweiser in Fort Collins since 1988 and offers tours of its brewery.

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