The Austrian band Trachtenkapelle from Beaver Creek’s sister city, Lech, last week helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of Brian Nolan’s business endeavors in Colorado’s Vail Valley.

A big crowd gathered on Beaver Creek’s Chophouse deck on Thursday evening to revel in the fading light and bring in yet another year of Brian and company bringing food, fun and festivities to the valley’s visitors and locals.

Known as a perpetual party-thrower and family man all at once, he stands out among his peers as a guy who gets it done. In addition to maintaining a relationship with Lech, Nolan has established a student exchange program with the city dear to his heart.

Brian’s buddy Stephan Jochum from Lech shared a loving tribute to his main man with this: “When Brian was in Lech for the first time, he realized that there was much more than just a business relationship between Lech and Beaver Creek. When the Lech Band first came and played music in the Vilar Center there were only about 50 listeners. Now when we walk through Beaver Creek or Vail people recognize us. We have many friends here now — and this is a great thing.”

After two months of deliberation the Austrians chose a special gift for Brian, “one of the finest, most spectacular and exclusive cowbells,” Stephan said. “It is not easy to find you a gift because you have everything — a great wife, a great son and many restaurants. I think that there is nothing that you need.”

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“Brian has been very active on the Eagle County School District Board and the Eagle County Charter Academy Board of Directors,” Geralyn Carroll said. Between all of this, his awesome family and his restaurants, he is a busy guy.”

No doubt there was some howling going on as the near full moon rose above Beaver Creek and the late-night revelers migrated to the Coyote Cafe, where it all began about 20 years ago.

They were there to usher in another 20 years of Brian’s fine work. For more information visit http://www.beavercreekchophouse.com.