Sanitas Fest is back for another round of music, beer

By Tom Wilmes

Chris Coyne, Michael Memsic and Zach Nichols co-founded Sanitas Brewing Co. in 2013 based on a mutual love for craft beer and a desire to make more of it. They also share a mutual love for music, and though they didn’t decide to found a band, they did decide to host a music festival and invite the local community.

More than 1,000 people turned out for the inaugural Sanitas Fest, held in early summer last year, for a full day of live music, food, games, good beer and good times. Event organizers are planning for even more people at the second Sanitas Fest, scheduled for 1:30-10 p.m. Saturday at the brewery.

“We noticed a gap in the summer music festival schedule in Boulder at the time and a lack of venues,” Nichols said. “A lot of our friends would head to Mishawaka, Red Rocks, Summit County or Denver for one festival or another, but there weren’t a lot of good spaces to host a festival here.

“We’re fortunate to have basically a giant backyard behind the brewery to host the event.”

General admission is $8 plus fees in advance or $10 at the gate. Price includes live music and access to the grounds, with a variety of Sanitas beer and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase, as well as food from several food trucks, including McDevitt Taco Supply, The Rolling Tomato and more.

The music lineup also is stacked, featuring sets from headliner Euforquestra in the early evening, as well as from The Hop Pickers, Groundscore, Coral Creek featuring Luke Bulla, Nate Hrivnak and the Jaden Carlson Band earlier in the day. A set from DJ Dug-E will end the night.

A VIP ticket option — $45 in advance plus fees or $55 at the gate — includes access to the Sanitas taproom, which will have several special beers on tap; an outdoor viewing area from the Sanitas deck, as well as five beer or food tickets and a souvenir aluminum pint glass.

Early bird pricing for both options, available through the event’s website, ends tonight. All ages are welcome, although patrons wishing to drink beer must have a valid ID.

Speaking of beer, in addition to its core lineup of Sanitas Saison, Sanitas Black IPA and Sanitas IPA, the brewery plans to break out a few limited-release offerings such as a Cherry Saison and its Ceres Belgian Double IPA. Sanitas brewers have also made a beer especially for the festival, a version of its IPA aged in Breckenridge Bourbon barrels, which they’ll release at the event.

“It all stems from a desire to bring the community together,” Nichols said. “Our taproom and patio have become a great gathering space and a hub for the area, and this is a big celebration to help kick off summer.”

Tom Wilmes: boulderbeerguy@gmail.com