CENTRAL CITY - Main Street was alive with beer, bands, and even a little hail this past Saturday, August 23, during the 13th annual Great Central City Beer Festival. 

From 1 to 6 p.m., festivalgoers wandered between tents with tasting cups in hand. VIPs had already been sipping since noon, enjoying early entry, full-sized pours, and a private lounge stocked with trail mix, sandwiches, veggies, and other snacks.

All passes included a tasting cup and access to unlimited samples.

Live music all day

Music was a major part of the day. Aoxomoxoa, a Grateful Dead cover band, kicked things off at noon with a set that had people swaying to the "Sunshine Daydream."

By mid-afternoon, Jewel and the Rough kept the street moving with a lively 3:30 performance that drew dancers into the street.

In the VIP area, the afternoon carried a special weight. The Jimmy Lewis Tribute Band with Robby Wicks played throughout, honoring Lewis, who passed away earlier this year. 

His son Grady, along with longtime bandmates Joe Romer and Jamie Polisher, carried on the songs he created as a summer tradition in Central City. 

Wicks, who had often performed with Lewis in the past, stepped in to front the band and is helping Grady carry the music forward.

Beer tents and a NA option

The beer side of the festival had plenty of variety, from Central City’s own Dostal Alley to other local favorites like Very Nice Brewing Company out of Nederland and Gilpin. 

Regional breweries included Cannonball Creek, Ratio Beerworks, New Terrain, Our Mutual Friend, Barrels and Bottles, and Comrade Brewing, as well as others.

Tommyknocker Brewery from Idaho Springs poured a diverse selection, including seasonal specialties like a peach sour and a pumpkin harvest ale. (Be on the lookout for their super-secret, small-batch “Grape Ape” ale, only available at the brewery).

At their booth, Tommyknocker brewer Lance Erickson laid out malted barley samples, some pale, some roasted dark, encouraging people to bite into them and taste the difference. 

He pointed out how lighter grains carried nutty or bready flavors, while darker malts leaned toward coffee and chocolate. 

Different types of hops sat side by side for guests to rub and smell, comparing the oils to the aromas in their cups. The demo gave participants a taste of how the raw ingredients shaped the beer they were sampling.

Fun fact learned from Erickson: Tommyknocker Brewery has a tap room in Finland!

For those skipping alcohol, Ceria Brewing ran a craft non-alcoholic tent with beers that looked and tasted like the real thing. 

Their lineup included a Belgian-style white ale and an IPA-inspired “Indy Wave.” Unlike many NA beers, these were brewed with a patented process that removed all alcohol, leaving them truly alcohol-free.

A long-time brewer reflects on the fest

One of the longest-running connections to the festival came from Dave Thomas, who helped bring many of the brewers to Central City over the years. 

After five decades in the business, he reflected on how the event was never just about beer, but about friendships. 

He had taken over coordinating brewery invitations years ago and estimated that more than 200 breweries had been welcomed into the town since the fest began in 2012. 

For him, the best part has always been bringing his friends together, sharing good beer, and showcasing Central City to visitors who might not otherwise make the trip up the hill.

Thomas told The Mountain-Ear that this year's fest will be his last. Farewell, Dave, and thanks for introducing Central to all your friends!

Rain and hail, but no dampened spirits

True to mountain form, the weather didn’t hold back. A heavy rain shower and even a round of hail blew through in the afternoon. 

Instead of clearing out the crowd, it just sent people under the tents, drinking from their little cups while waiting for the skies to settle. Spirits stayed high, and once the rain passed, the party picked right back up.

By the end of the day, the storm clouds had cleared, the last notes of music drifted down Main Street, and festivalgoers left with smiles (and some with a slight stagger). 

The 2025 Beer Fest poured more than just ales; it poured the opportunity to connect with friends, new and old.

And for Central City locals, it was another reminder of why they love this festival so much: good music, good company, and above all, good beer.