While some of the attention in Colorado this week will be focused on the Great American Beer Festival the faithful, curious, and philanthropic will be at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting 16.
The event is bucket-list worthy and is one of our favorite events each year. This is also being touted as the “Last Call” for the festival.
DRBT is hosted by Pints for Prostates a “grassroots campaign designed to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection in fighting the disease.” All About Beer is once again honored to be the media sponsor of the event.
“The Denver Rare Beer Tasting brings together some of the country’s best craft breweries pouring some of their hardest to find beers to fight prostate cancer,” said Rick Lyke, founder of Pints for Prostates. “The craft beer community has made this Pints for Prostates fundraiser a tradition during the Great American Beer Festival weekend. We’re looking forward to an incredible afternoon of beer passion as a fitting ‘last call’ for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting.”
The October 9, 2025 event is sold out. The lucky ticket holders are in for an afternoon of exceptional and truly rare beer.
Check out the full list here.
As we’ve noted previously: every year the DRBT has a collection of some of the best beer in the country all under one roof.
The rare part is emphasized. Samuel Adams brings special batches of its already special Utopias. The Lost Abbey picks great vintages of its beers to pour. Sierra Nevada always goes deep into the cellar for something unique.
More than 50 breweries from around the country will be pouring, with many of the brewers present to pour. This event, which also features a complimentary (and optional) health screening before the event begins is chock full of exciting, flavorful beers.
Here are 10 beers (as described by the breweries) our editor John Holl is excited to have in his glass.
Spruceplosion Alaska Spruce Tip Hazy IPA
49th State Brewing, Anchorage, AK
After a jockey box snafu in 2024, Spruceplosion is back at DRBT! Brewed with hand-harvested Alaska Sitka spruce tips and dry-hopped with mosaic and Citra hops. Only available in Alaska. ABV: 6.8%
Double Realm
Amalgam Brewing Denver, CO
A blend of Imperial Stouts aged in Bernheim Wheat and Weller barrels for 24 months before being finished in an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof store pick from Mile High Wine & Spirits for an additional 12 months. Amalgam Underground Member exclusive. ABV: 14.9%
2020 BFL
Bierstadt Lagerhaus Denver, CO
Brewed in 2020, it’s essentially a quad decocted marzen recipe brewed to punch you in the mouth. ABV: 12%
Funksloth Foeder-aged Farmhouse Ale
Bow and Arrow Brewing Albuquerque, NM
A rustic farmhouse ale fermented over a year in a foeder that emits an ultra Southwest vibe with all regionally-sourced barley, hops, AZ Sonoran white wheat, and wild-captured house mixed culture of yeast and bacteria. Tart with flavors and aromas of apricot and peach skins, hints of hay and pops with funk. Funksloth, it takes time! ABV: 6.3%
2022 Gilded Lily Trufpel
Carton Brewery, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Belgian Tripel “dry truffled” with 3 kilos of Alban white truffles. Gilded Lily takes the beauty of a classic lacing truffle’s earthy, luxurious, primal, leather to a Tripel’s gorgeous silk. ABV: 10.6%
Gathering of the Imps
Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE
Crafted in collaboration with Allagash Brewing. A blend of Allagash Gatherwell Bourbon barrel-aged stout, and a DFH-brewed, Sagamore Rye barrel-aged imperial porter aged on spices. Only 100 gallons were produced. ABV: 11.8%
Onyx of High Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Brazilian Vanilla and Candy Cap Mushrooms
Half Acre Beer, Chicago, IL
A collaboration with Troon Brewing. For Onyx of High, the brewery worked with a two new ingredients. Candy Cap mushrooms, which are rare mushrooms foraged on the west coast that exude the wonderful qualities of maple syrup. And they scored some Brazilian vanilla, which brings huge intensity. Both work in tandem with some of the brewery’s biggest stout stock blended and layered to support these unique raw materials. ABV: 14.1%
Ode Voyager
NoDa Brewing, Charlotte, NC
Our limited English Barleywine that was aged for 12 months in Old Forester barrels and then aged additionally for four years. The beer was reconditioned on cherries, orange peel, cocoa nibs and vanilla. This beer is only available at the DRBT and in our taproom in very limited quantities. The base beer is named Old Voyager but this version is an Ode to the Denver Rare Beer Tasting and to Rick Lyke himself, without either our Head Brewer wouldn’t be in the industry today. ABV: 10%
Oppositic
Sacred Vice Brewing, Philadelphia, PA
Grisette brewed with Sacred Vice house farmhouse blend, hopped with Huell Melon aged 5 years, then dry hopped with Barbe Rouge. ABV: 4.5%
Bubble Wrap
WeldWerks Brewing, Greeley, CO
Bubble Wrap is a four-brewery collaboration with WeldWerks, The Veil, Other Half and Side Project, blending barrel-aged stouts aged 12–37 months. Using unique methods and premium barrels like Weller, Blanton’s, Old Fitzgerald and Rittenhouse Rye, this is a rare treat. ABV: 10.4%
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John Holl is the editor of All About Beer Magazine.
JohnHoll@allaboutbeer.com