DENVER — On September 23 at 8 PM, the night before the start of the 35th annual Great American Beer Festival, The Brew Night Show with Marty Jones will return.
America’s first beer-focused talk & variety show, The Brew Night Show will once again take place at Denver’s revered Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, in the historic May D&F Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets on Denver’s 16th Street pedestrian mall. The 2014 debut show sold out and was a hit with guests and attendees.
“Last year’s audience and guests,” Jones says, “were unanimous in saying they had witnessed the greatest beer-focused talk and variety show ever. I believe that will be the case again this year.”
The night is sponsored by Argonaut Wine & Liquor, Odell Brewing, Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine and Westword.
The September 23 show will once again feature the legendary Charlie Papazian, founder of the GABF, the Brewers Association and the American Homebrewers Association. Papazian will discuss the festival he created and the rise of craft beer, and weather softball questions and beery gags from Jones.
Also on the bill will be Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association and the man with the coolest number-crunching job in America. Watson will discuss the latest numbers and trends in craft beer and interpret graphs and “statistics” brought to light by The Brew Night Show researchers.
He’ll be joined by Corey Marshall, founder of the resurrected Tivoli Brewing Company, which has just opened a new brewery in the original Tivoli home in the Auraria Higher Education Center in Denver. Marshall and his team also work in conjunction with the new beer industry degree program launched by Metropolitan State University of Denver at the Auraria college campus.
To commemorate this year’s show, on September 10th Argonaut Wine & Liquor will release a special Brew Night Show mixed sixpack. The unique sixer carries six thoughtfully chosen beers from Odell Brewing (IPA and Octoberfest) and four more craft breweries — Stone Brewing (Saison), Crazy Mountain Brewery (Old Soul Belgian-style Strong Ale), Epic Brewing (Escape to Colorado IPA) and Wasatch Brewery (Nitro Polygamy Porter) – that are helping to sponsor the night.
“Ron Vaughn and the staff at Argonaut have been big supporters of myself and craft brewers for decades,” Jones says. “I’m honored to have Argonaut and these breweries help me, I just hope my face on the sixer doesn’t hurt its sales too much.”
Jones says the increasing corporate interest in craft beer has presented challenges for him over the past year. “As you might imagine,” Jones says, “the international brewing conglomerates and venture capital groups are trying to get their hands on The Brew Night Show. But my show remains an independent craft beer show.”
“I didn’t get into craft beer entertainment for the money, “Jones adds. “I’m on a mission here, and it’s all about small-batch, hand-crafted questionable beer humor.”
Marty Jones & the Brewbadors will again serve as the house band for the night. They will play beer-minded original music and provide live backing for the evening’s “brewlesque” performers including Lannie’s favorites Fannie Spankings and Lady Shanime.
Jones says he hopes to make The Brew Night Show an ongoing series throughout the coming year at venues in Colorado and beyond.
Tickets are $18 and include a complimentary issue of Craft Beer & Brewing magazine, beer samples and big fun. Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased at www.lannies.com .
“I haven’t sold out,” Jones says, “but I hope my show does.”