Bright, neon beer lights illuminated Mile High Station. Loud, but mellow music and laughter filled the rooms, as people danced and enjoyed good relaxation.

More than 1,100 beer connoisseurs and casual drinkers convened Jan. 22 at this year’s Denver Winter Brew Fest to experience some exceptional craft beers.

Don Tushinski of Stone Brewing Co. pours a beer from a keg for attendees of the 2010 Denver Winter Brew Fest on Jan. 22. Photo courtesy of RightOn Productions.

Attendees were given a souvenir beer glass to use at the festival when they first entered the event.

The festival featured more than 22 microbreweries and 75 brews. Some of the most popular brews were Blue Moon, Breckenridge, Boulder Beer, Flying Dog and Upslope. Other lesser known beers, such as Asia Pacific, Mendocino, Del Norte and Left Hand also impressed attendees.

Joseph Wickman was a first-time attendee of the festival, and said it was a good way to try some of Colorado’s finest beers and socialize in a fun, relaxing environment.

“It’s a good place for local micro breweries to spread word about their product,” Wickman said. “If I made beer, I would partake.”

Vendors, such as Chris Lemmert from Left Hand Brewery, wanted to join Brew Fest for the same reason—the Longmont-based company wanted to show off their Sawtooth Ale.

This winter’s Brew Fest featured music from Jubal and the Rude Boys, a trio ensemble and local band who have a style that combined reggae, folk, blues and funk.

“We produce everything with logos, banners, t-shirts, hats, clothing, stuff like that,” David Weingarden said.

Swallow Hill music and production company has provided music for the festival for three years and has served as a resource for teaching presentation and preservation of roots, folk and acoustic music.

There, they were giving away small bags for the glasses, hats, shirts and stickers and asked for a small donation.

Another attraction at the Winter Brew Fest was the Photo Martini Club. If you haven’t already heard of it, they were sponsored by Breckenridge Brewery to join the Brew Fest and promote their club. They took free photographs for attendees in front of a Brew Fest logo that could be downloaded the next day online.

The Photo Martini Club also has their own magazine called Shot! featuring the images that are taken by members of the club, professional photographers for Rolling Stone and their newest amateur photographers.

“People who are into photography miss the challenge of getting an assignment because you’re not necessarily in school anymore and have like-minded interest, that’s what this club is about. It goes from professionals to amateurs,” said Alec Romero, the club creator.

The Fest also had a silent auction where attendees could bid on items such as artwork, guitars, Winter Park vacation packages, cheese packages and Comedy Works tickets and Denver Nuggets tickets.

In addition, they also had a beer and cheese station provided by Chabot Vermont Cheese and accompanied by Sierra Nevada Beer.

Each year, the Summer and Winter Brew Fests sell out and continuesto promote some of the finest local beers around Colorado.

Attendees can experience a fun night of local music, food and good beer. If you couldn’t make it this time, the next Brew Fest is only a few months away.