Although in its fourth year, the Craft Lager Fest is a festival I have not had the opportunity to attend. But I like the idea of it, being another niche festival that highlights a particular style of beer, in this case lagers broadly. But since the majority of craft beer is undoubtedly ales, shining a spotlight on lager styles is a great idea.

The Craft Lager Festival takes place in a small town in Colorado, Manitou Springs, which is near Pikes Peak. This year they got 30 breweries from Hawaii to Boston participating. The winning breweries are listed below.
 

2006 Winners List

Best of Show: Edge City Pilsener (Bristol Brewing)

PILSENER

1. Edge City Pilsner (Bristol Brewing)
2. Skinny Dip (New Belgium)
3. Polestar (Lefthand Brewing)

EXPORT/HELLES:

1. Engineer Light Lager
2. Longboard Island Lager (Kona Brewing)
3. Edge City Pale Bock (Bristol Brewing)

BOCK:

1. Sam Adams Double Bock (Boston Beer Co.)
2. Black Bull Bock (Rock Bottom)
3. Butthead Bock (Tommyknockers)

STRONG LAGER:

1. No 1st Place Awarded
2. Dutch (Rockyard American Grill & Brewery)
3. Pre-Prohibition Pilsner (Phantom Brewing)

OKTOBERFEST/VIENNA/MARZEN:

1. Damn Straight Lager (Dillon Dam)
2. Lewis & Clark Lager (Lewis & Clark Brewing)
3. Steam Engine Lager (Steamworks Brewing)

OTHER SPECIALTY LAGER:

1. Dunkelstilsken (CB Potts)
2. Z Lager (Fort Collins Brewing)
3. Founders (Carvers Brewing)

SUMMER SPECIALTY ALE:

1. East meets Wheat (Phantom Canyon Brewing)
2. Raspberry Wheat (Il Vicino)
3. Wildcat White Ale (Rockyard American Grill & Brewery)