Great American Beer Festival will have free men’s health screenings this year via Pints for Prostates

Besides sampling some of America’s best craft beers, men in Denver during this year’s Great American Beer Festival can take an important step to protect their health.

Sponsored by Pints for Prostates, the fourth annual Brewers Health Initiative will take place from Sept. 19-21 at three different beer-centric locations around Denver, offering brewers, craft beer fans and Denver residents a free men’s health screening. The Brewers Health Initiative is designed to reach men through the universal language of beer, giving them a quick and easy way to know some important health related numbers via a simple blood test.

Pints for Prostates is collaborating with Colorado-based Prostate Conditions Education Council on the Brewers Health Initiative.

“Hundreds of men have taken part in the Brewers Health Initiative free health screenings the last four years during the GABF,” said Rick Lyke, founder of Pints for Prostates. “Men tend to avoid doctor visits for routine checkups. This effort brings important health screening tests right to the guys in an easy-to-access environment.”

Brewers Health Initiative locations and times are as follows, with the screenings open to the public and no purchase necessary to take part:

• Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 3-6 p.m. at the Great Divide Barrel Bar, 1812 35th St.
• Thursday, Sept. 20 from 3-6 p.m. at the Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake St.
• Friday, Sept. 21 from 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. at the 10th anniversary Denver Rare Beer Tasting at the McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax.

As part of the program, a team of healthcare professionals from the Prostate Conditions Education Council will administer a simple blood test taking less than 10 minutes to screen for prostate specific antigen, glucose, lipids and testosterone levels. Participants will receive a confidential report sent directly to them after the event that they can review with their doctor. The free blood tests being administered have a value of $700 and scan for several important male health issues.

“We urge all 40-plus year-old guys in Denver for GABF to take advantage of this awesome opportunity for a free men’s health screening. This is a chance to be proactive about your health, and it only takes 10 minutes,” said Renee Savickas, vice president and director of Early Detection and Awareness Programs at the Prostate Conditions Education Council. “The reports men receive from the blood test are a snapshot of some key health indicators and can help guys spot potential issues.”

Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity and all net proceeds from Denver Rare Beer Tasting go towards the group’s awareness mission and help to fund the education and support programs of the Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network and free prostates cancer screening programs provided by the Prostate Conditions Education Council.