No one needs an excuse to enjoy good food, sip on handcrafted cocktails or try new beers. However, eating and drinking become even more rewarding when you’re doing it for a good cause. This week’s Denver food events are all about giving back. You can find a way to do whatever you would like — from partying at a beer fest to sitting down for a gourmet dinner — in the name of supporting a charity that is making this world a better place.
Monday, July 17
Stranahan’s Cocktail Pairing
When: Monday, July 17, 5 – 8 p.m.
Where: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey — 200 S. Kalamath St., Denver
Cost: $25 — tickets here
The Lowdown: This local distillery is teaming up with A Notte Denver to serve casual whiskey and small plate pairings. For $25, you will get a taste of three Stranahan specialty cocktails each paired with a different A Notte appetizer.
Tuesday, July 18
Kindred Spirits: Mid-Century Drinks and Art
When: Tuesday, July 18, 4:30 – 8 p.m.
Where: Room & Board — 222 Detroit St., Denver
Cost: $40 — tickets here
The Lowdown: The event begins at Room & Board’s rooftop terrace with small plates and three drinks of choice — either Odell Brewing Co. beer or Green Russell cocktails. Attendees will then make their way to the Denver Botanical Gardens for a guided tour of the Calder: Monumental exhibition. The tour also includes three stops for punch and dessert made by Fortuna Chocolate with cacao grown at the Gardens.
The Preservery’s Craft Chocolate Tasting
When: Tuesday, July 18, 6 – 7 p.m.
Where: The Preservery — 3040 Blake St., #101, Denver
Cost: $25 — tickets here
The Lowdown: This educational chocolate tasting features samples of nine different chocolates, bread and butter and a lesson on all things cocoa. It will be led by Simran Sethi — author or Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love, host of The Slow Melt podcast and a former scholar at the Cocoa Research Center at the University of West Indies.
Wednesday, July 19
Summer Cheers with Beers for The Delores Project
When: Wednesday, July 19, 5 – 10 p.m.
Where: Epic Brewing Company – Denver Taproom — 3001 Walnut St., Denver
Cost: Free Admission
The Lowdown: During this month’s non-profit night at Epic Brewing Co., 20 percent of the food truck, beer and brewery tour proceeds will go to the Delores Project. This nonprofit focuses on ending homelessness and providing aid to homeless women and transgender individuals.
Thursday, July 20
Kyle’s Brew Fest
When: Thursday, July 20, 5 – 10 p.m.
Where: Great Divide RiNo — 3403 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Cost: $30 – $65 — tickets here
The Lowdown: The $30 general admission ticket includes a live performance by Kyle Hollingsworth, unlimited beer samples from over 30 breweries, tastings of exclusive Hollingsworth collaboration brews and a silent auction. For $65, the VIP experience will also let you get in early to tour the brewery and try beers with Hollingsworth himself. The brew fest benefits Conscious Alliance — a national nonprofit dedicated to hunger relief and youth empowerment.
Indulge for CASA: Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Extravaganza
When: Thursday, July 20, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Balistreri Vineyards — 1946 E. 66th Ave., Denver
Cost: $75 – $150 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Balistreri Vineyards will be hosting silent and live auctions to raise money for CASA to help abused and neglected children. While bidding, attendees can sample 15 different types of Balistreri wine, wood fire pizzas and chocolate desserts. The $150 VIP pass also includes early access to the silent auction, premium seating and parking and a celebrity meet and greet.
Friday, July 21
Summer Wine Series
When: Friday, July 21, 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Founders Fountain — 7601 E. 29th Ave., Denver
Cost: $20 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Throughout the summer, the Stapleton MCA is hosting a series of wine tastings. This installment features Grape Leaf wines and a variety of cheese samples. Tickets are only $15 for Stapleton residents.
Saturday, July 22
VegFest Colorado
When: Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 16, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Jefferson County Fairgrounds — 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden
Cost: $10
The Lowdown: Hosted by the nonprofit Animal Action Network, this animal-product free festival hosts a variety of vegan food, drink and retail vendors. A number of health and animal experts will also lead speeches and food presentations such as The Vegan Air Fryer: The Healthier Way to Enjoy Deep-Fried Flavors. Tickets can only be purchased at the door.
Community Cupping at Allegro Coffee Roasters
When: Saturday, July 22, 10 – 11 a.m.
Where: ACR Tennyson — 4040 Tennyson St., Denver
Cost: Free Admission — reserve spot here
The Lowdown: This 12-person coffee tasting and lesson will focus on African beans and blends. Allegro will especially highlight its limited release Congo Muungano coffee.
The Budlong Nashville Hot Chicken Pop-Up
When: Saturday, July 22, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: RiNo Yacht Club — 3350 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Cost: Free Admission
The Lowdown: For one afternoon only, The RiNo Yacht Club will serve dishes prepared by Jared Leonard of The Budlong Hot Chicken — a Chicago restaurant focused on Nashville hot chicken. The a la carte menu will include Nashville hot tenders, Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich and Budlong Biscuits. The menu will be available until 5 p.m or supplies run out.
Brewers Brunch with Comrade Brewing
When: Saturday, July 22, 12 – 2 p.m.
Where: The Corner Office Restaurant & Martini Bar — 1401 Curtis St., Denver
Cost: $45 — tickets here
The Lowdown: This installment of The Corner Office’s four-course brewers brunch features beers from Comrade Brewing Co. On top of a welcome beer, you will try pairings such as Superpower IPA with street tacos al pastor and Koffee Kream Extra Stout with pecan stout coffee cake. All proceeds go to CORE — a nonprofit that aids struggling children of restaurant industry employees.
Denver County Fair Beer & Wine Fest
When: Saturday, July 22, 4 – 7 p.m.
Where: Denver County Fair — 4655 Humboldt St., Denver
Cost: $20 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Once you have paid the $10 admission to the fairgrounds, you can pay an extra $10 to gain access to the Denver County Fair’s first-ever Beer and Wine Fest. At this festival within a fair, you will get unlimited samples of beers from over 30 local and regional breweries such as Cerebral Brewing, Bruz Beers and Crooked Stave.
Dining al Fresco
When: Saturday, July 22, 5 – 10 p.m.
Where: Larimer Square — 1430 Larimer St., Denver
Cost: Free Admission
The Lowdown: For this evening dining experience, the restaurants along Larimer Street will expand its patios into the square, allowing patrons to dine under a canopy of lights. You can make reservations through participating restaurants — which includes Osteria Marco, Rioja and TAG.
To the Wind Bistro Beer Dinner with Ratio Beerworks
When: Saturday, July 22, 5 – 10 p.m.
Where: To The Wind Bistro — 3333 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
Cost: $59 — reserve by calling 303-316-3333
The Lowdown: To The Wind chef Royce Oliviera and Ratio head brewer Jason zumBrunnen will be serving a five-course fine dining meal paired with different beers. This beer dinner features dishes such as Roasted Pork Belly with an American Standard Ale and Braised Goose Leg with Chocolate Rye Scotch Ale.
Sunday, July 23
Homemade Sausage Making Class
When: Sunday, July 23, 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: il porcellino salumi — 4324 W. 41st Ave., Denver
Cost: $85 — tickets here
The Lowdown: Attendees of this class will get hands on experience with grinding, mixing and stuffing sausages. They will also learn how to select ingredients and properly proportion different types of meats. At the end of the class, they will leave with the recipes and their own handmade sausages.
BBQ Classics Class at Cook Street
When: Sunday, July 23, 6 – 9:30 p.m.
Where: Cook Street School of Culinary Arts — 1937 Market St., Denver
Cost: $75 — tickets here
The Lowdown: This class covers grilling different types of vegetables and meats, smoking techniques and making homemade BBQ sauce. On top of eating what they make, participants will also choose from a selection of craft beers for their drinks.
Mark Your Calendars
Sesh Fest
When: Saturday, August 5, 3 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Highlands Masonic Temple — 3550 Federal Blvd., Denver
Cost: $30 — tickets here
The 9th Annual Cherry Creek North Food & Wine
When: Saturday, August 12, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Fillmore Plaza — Fillmore St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Cost: $45 – $105 — tickets here