A popular Denver beer festival walked back on plans to host a 2021 event this week, offering a somber signal of how the ongoing pandemic could impact fall events.
The Denver Rare Beer Tasting, slated for Sept. 9, has been canceled due to the resurgence in cases of COVID-19, organizers announced Monday.
“Back in June when we decided to move forward with the event, rates of new cases were dropping and vaccination rates were moving forward. We were optimistic that we had turned a corner and by September we could take precautions to safely host the event,” said Rick Lyke, founder of event co-host Pints for Prostates, in a statement. “However, the latest information on the Delta variant, along with the upward trend of new cases, gave us pause.”
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have risen in recent weeks, as statewide vaccination rates have also slowed. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 5,583 new cases in the week ending Sunday, which was the highest total since mid-May. Just over 70% of eligible Coloradans are vaccinated, according to Gov. Jared Polis.
The Rare Beer Tasting was supposed to be the only piece of Denver’s revered Great American Beer Festival to take place in 2021 after . Ticket-holders will receive a full refund, according to the organizers.
