In case you haven't noticed, there's a lot of beer being made in Colorado, and it has a major economic impact - in jobs, product sales, taxes, payroll spending. A study released December 22 by the Regional Economics Institute at Colorado State University reports on the Economic Impacts of Breweries on Larimer County, and concludes: Beer is Big. Real Big.
With twelve brewing operations, from industry giant Anheuser Busch to small-batch brewer Big Beaver, Larimer County has a tremendous concentration of brewery workers - 38 times the national average and "an important part of the region's competitive economic base". The study was authored by Michael Marturana, Research Economist and Professor Martin Shields of the CSU Beverage Business Institute.
- Local brewery employment grew by 22.1% from 2000 to 2010. Other Larimer County employment grew by only 6.3% during the same time.
- Larimer County breweries support $309.9 million in total output dollars and 2488 total direct and indirect jobs, adding $141.9 million to local payrolls.
- Economic effects are widespread: "From the local home brewers club - i.e., Liquid Poets - to the plethora of industrial breweries with national supply chains, many aspects of the Larimer County culture are tied to the brewing industry."
The CSU study included six operations - mega brewer A/B, startup Equinox Brewing, and locals Fort Collins Brewery, Funkwerks, New Belgium and Odell Brewing Co. - who collectively employed 938 people in 2010. Significantly eight others that didn't fit as "breweries" per US Census NAICS classification were left out of the calulations. Rock Bottom in Loveland, Estes Park Brewing and the other six brewing operations employ 80+ more employees. We'd suppose the data is a bit on the conservative side.
More importantly, since 2010 - the last year included in the study - brewers included in the report have all added significant capacity and increased sales. Funkwerks has more than doubled staff to keep up with demand. Beer is booming, and the numbers will grow when calculated anew for 2012. Larimer, Jefferson and Denver Counties are home to the top three beer economies in Colorado. Colorado Brewers Guild is working on a statewide economic study that's due out soon, and we'll pass on the news when it's fit to post. In the meantime, the CSU report says it loud and clear:
In our ongoing attempt to keep our readers apprised of all the brewery happenings in our fine state, here are the newest to join the fold:
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Carbondale Beer Works Ale House & Wienery Opens Today, Dec 22
Carbondale Beer Works will be opening their doors today at 4:00pm. The newest brewery to open to date, they will have Langer Irish Stout served on Nitro, and hopefully their BoneDog Amber. They will also have Strongbow Cider on tap, and their Guest Beer is Ebeneezer Ale from Bridgeport Brewing in Oregon. The full Dog menu will be available as well. Tonight will be CASH only, so go prepared. More information can be found on their facebook page. We'll let you know more soon.
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Funkwerks Is Open in Fort Collins
In case you haven't heard about them by now, Funkwerks is the newest brewery to open in Fort Collins.
They describe themselves as a Package Brewery, focused on Saisons, all organic. Owned and operated by co-owners Brad Lincoln and Gordon Schuck, Funkwerks is located at 1900-B E. Lincoln Ave., in the old space vacated by Fort Collins Brewery when they expanded to a bigger location.
They opened December 9 at 11:00 am, and received a warm response by the community. They have a taproom where they started out serving their Saison, their White Saison, and a brew they call Casper, which is a very light saison. By January they plan to have several more brews on tap. Their hours are: Sunday - noon to 6pm, Mon- Wed noon to 8pm, Th-Sat noon to 10pm. For more info, see their website.
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Bonfire Brewing in Eagle
Bonfire Brewing opened their doors on November 16th in Eagle, CO. Started up by two roommates, Homebrewer Matt Wirtz and Andy Jensen, they originally just wanted to make extra money to help pay the rent. Matt is not only an avid brewer, but something of an inventor/engineer as well. He modified old wine tanks, created stainless steel chillers, and basically hand-built his 3 bbl system.
Their beer has been well-received, and long-term plans may include bigger production. Right now, says co-owner Andy Jensen, "We just want to make enough beer to keep the people of Eagle happy". Those lucky people. Bonfire Brewing is located at 127 Second St. in Eagle. Check out their website for hours, http://www.bonfirebrewing.com.
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Crystal Springs Brewing in Boulder
Crystal Springs Brewing Company is named after the original Crystal Springs Brewing and Ice Company, founded in 1875 in Boulder, Colorado. They opened in May, 2010, and they are definitely one of the smallest breweries in the state, brewing on a 2/3 bbl system.
Crystal Springs Brewing is the brainchild of Tom Horst, a long-time homebrewer who made his dream come true by opening his brewery. He does not have a taproom, and currently sells his bottled beer at several liquor stores in the Boulder area. You can also try Crystal Springs at the popular restaurant, The Kitchen, in Boulder. So all you Boulderites, look for Crystal Springs and support your newest brewery! To find out more, go to http://www.crystalspringsbrewing.com.
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Three Daughters Beer
One of Denver's newest and smallest craft breweries is Three Daughters Beer. They are located at 3100 Blake Street in Denver. They currently have 4 beers available: Independence Hefeweizen, Hard Times Stout, Double Header American Bock, and Rebellion Amber.
Three Daughters Beer is manufactured and distributed by the Leieritz Brewing Company. Look for their tasting room to be open soon. Their beer is being sold at liquor stores in and around the Denver area, as well as Eagle, Frisco, Glenwood Springs, and Cabondale. Find out more on their facebook page.
Tim Tebow Inspires A Beer?
12.15.11
The name Tim Tebow seems to bring up all kinds of emotions in people. Since the young quarterback was put in the starting position for the Denver Broncos, hardly a day goes by when you don't hear or see something reported about him - now on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
He has inspired folks to "Tebow"( A sort of genuflection, with elbow on bent knee, fist to forehead), and to make Bronco fans wonder with both delight and trepidation what to expect every time we watch them play.
Now Tim Tebow has inspired a beer brewed in his honor. Bonfire Brewing in Eagle has brewed up a barley wine and called it Tebrew: A Sunday Sipper. Not something that Tebow would necessarily endorse, not being a drinker himself, but we can raise one in his honor, now can't we? Besides, it might calm those 4th quarter Sunday nerves. However, you'll have to visit the brewery in Eagle for a taste, or wait to taste it at Vail's Big Beer, Belgians, and Barleywines festival in January.
As reported by Jeremy Meyer, in the Denver Post blog First Drafts, the beer was meant as a tribute to Tebow. "It was never intended to go into distribution," said Andy Jessen, who works at the brewery. "It's really more about the uniqueness of the year and the time of year to celebrate football. And we all love the Broncos up here." And since the story was reported, Jessen said his brewery has been fielding calls from as far away as Florida about the beer.
The Springs Brew Tour Debuts Dec.18th
12.12.11
The people who have brought you the Colorado Springs Food Tours, those cool walking tours that lead you to different eateries in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Old Colorado City, are now launching The Springs Brew Tour in Colorado Springs. They are starting with a holiday tour scheduled for Sunday, December 18th, and will drive you to 3 great breweries in Colorado Springs: Bristol Brewing, Trinity Brewing, and Colorado Mountain Brewing.
This tour will feature:
- Multiple, generous beer tastings from Bristol Brewing Company,
Trinity Brewing Company, and Colorado Mountain Brewery.
- Food and beer pairing lessons from two destinations.
- Private, informative, behind-the-scenes tours of each brewery.
- The accompaniment of a knowledgeable tour guide.
- Safe and private transportation between destinations.
Not only will this tour introduce you to some of the best craft brews of our city, it will also get you behind the scenes where they're made. Hear straight from trained brewers, and experience tasty food and beer pairings.
Tickets are $79 per person, and include all beer, food, and transportation.
Click here to book your tour!
McClellan's Grill and Brewing Company Closed
12.06.10
McClellan's Grill and Brewing Company has closed their doors. They left a heartfelt message on their facebook page, thanking everyone for their patronage.
Aspen Brewing's New Digs
12.03.10
Aspen Brewing Company has moved their tasting room from their original location at 557 N. Mill St. to 304 E. Hopkins in Aspen. Brad Veltman, one of the owners of Aspen Brewery says "It's working out great. The new location for our tasting room is more on the main drag. We get a lot more foot traffic now." The old location on N. Mill St. is where they will continue to brew for now. The plan is to move into a large warehouse spacee at the ABC, Airport Business Center, in Aspen. This will enable them to ramp up production, and begin canning their beer. They are shooting for March 2011 for that space to be ready.
So, if you're up on the slopes in Aspen this winter, be sure to check out the brewery in their new space, and try the seasonal they've got out now, a Scotch Ale.
Breckenridge, Wynkoop Plan Joint Venture
12.01.10
Breckenridge Holding Company and Wynkoop Holdings, Inc. have announced plans to enter into a 50/50 joint venture, according to a press release from Breckenridge Brewing. Wynkoop Holdings is the Denver-based owner of seven brewpubs and restaurants based in Denver and Colorado Springs. Breckenridge Holding operates seven wholly and partially owned businesses which are all located in Colorado, including its original Breckenridge Brewery located in Breckenridge.
What does this mean for 2 iconic Colorado craft breweries? According to the statement released, Ed Cerkovnik, President of Breckenridge Holding Company states, "Both Breckenridge and Wynkoop companies have rich Colorado histories with similar, yet distinct, cultures. This joint venture captures the synergies of these two successful Denver-based companies. Combining 14 wholly and partially owned subsidiaries under one umbrella gives us the leverage to build a stronger, more diverse, company." Cerkovnik added that "the combined company provides us with the platform through which we can more effectively pursue growth and expansion of our respective brands and restaurant concepts."
For Wynkoop, it will enable them to increase their canning capacity without having to build a new brewery. Currently, the Breckenridge Brewery at 471 Kalamath St. is capable of canning or bottling 60,000 barrels a year, and only now producing app. 30,000. As Lee Driscoll, CEO of Wynkoop Holdings said, "On the brewing side it means we can quickly grow our canning and self-distribution effort, with help from experienced craft beer veterans. We can get Wynkoop beer to more people without the time and expense of building a new brewery. This also adds a quartet of devoutly beer-minded establishments to our family, and provides a quick dose of depth and shared talent to our beer and food culture."
"Plus," Driscoll adds, "it puts two like-minded craft beer pioneers of our state on the same team. Together, our potential for adding to Colorado's beer culture is very big."
Marty Jones, spokesman for Wynkoop, explains further. "Right now, we can do about 4000 barrels there (Wynkoop brewpub). This year we'll do about 3500, up from 2800."
"Will we still be brewing at Wynkoop? -- Heck yeah, we'll be brewing like crazy there. The freed-up tank space (now used for Rail Yard and Silverback) will be used for additional conditioning of our current beers, and production of some new and experimental beers. And more barrel-aged treats."
"Are there plans to distribute outside of Colorado? -- Yes, eventually, to nearby states for starters. But first we'll increase our reach in the Denver area and then around the home state.
Overall this move helps us make more and better beer and make more people happy with it,
while securing our futures and honest livings in the beer and restaurant trades we love. Good stuff all around."
Indeed Marty. We'll all be waiting with open minds and empty glasses to see how this partnership unfolds. It sounds like more of a good thing. Breckenridge and Wynkoop expect the joint venture to be finalized in January 2011.
The Denver Bicycle Cafe
11.22.11
The Denver Bicycle Cafe opened today in the City Park West neighborhood of Denver. The cafe brings together local craft beer, locally roasted coffee, and bike service. Co-owners Peter Roper and Jessica Caouette hope to make it a place for cyclists and non-cyclists alike.
The beers they have on tap right now:
Hibernation Ale - Great Divide Brewing Co.
Bavarian Helles - Copper Kettle Brewing Company
Ryeteous IPA - Renegade Brewing Company
Coffee Stout - Denver Beer Co
Cherry Bomb Stout - Strange Brewing Company
Urca Vanilla Porter - Dry Dock Brewing Company
They are located at 1308 E. 17th Ave Denver, CO 80218
303-578-9506
Hours are Sun-Wed 6am-8pm and Thurs-Sat 6am-9pm.
Check out their website or their Facebook for updates and more information.
Fort Collins Brewery Helps The Homeless
11.22.10
Help Fort Collins Brewery feed the hungry! Starting now and lasting through December, $1 from the sale of every reusable 6-pack tote sold at the brewery will be donated to a homeless shelter in Fort Collins. You're also welcome to bring food donations, they will be making drops at the shelter weekly.
Dad & Dudes is Brewing
11.19.10
The Dad & Dudes Breweria in Aurora is brewing beer. They opened just a few weeks ago, with guest beers on tap, and will soon be adding their own.
The Breweria is a combination pizzeria and brewery, owned and operated by the father/son team of Mason and Tom Hembree.
They have an interesting concept for their brewing operation. Mason and Tom are both home brewers. They held a contest, a tasting, of beer from different home brewers, and from there selected their brewing team.
Bard Nielsen is the head brewer.He has been a home brewer for 8 years and is now dong it as a full-time job, "and loving it" as he says. The assistant brewer is Aaron Bush. They are brewing on a very small system, 13 gallons at a time. In about a week they will be ready to serve their Red Ale, called Inaugurale, and their Rye Ale, called Lowryeder. Then in the near future the Pale Ale will be released, called The Liquid Resume. According to Bard, it was his resume. So check out the latest brewery, or "breweria" in Aurora.
Rock Bottom and Gordon Biersch Combine To form CraftWorks
11.18.10
On Monday, November 15, the Rock Bottom Restaurants group and Gordon Biersch Restaurants were acquired by Centerbridge Capital Partners of New York, a private equity firm. The newly formed corporation is called CraftWorks Restaurants and Breweries Inc., and will have nearly 200 owned and franchised restaurants around the country.
Rock Bottom has operated the Rock Bottom Breweries, Old Chicago and the ChopHouse restaurants. Frank Day, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Rock Bottom, will be Chairman of the Board of the new company CraftWorks.
Allen Corey, CEO of Gordon Biersch, will be President and CEO of CraftWorks. The branding of the companies will not be affected. New plans call for expansion of company owned and franchised stores through the U.S.
A spokesperson for CraftWorks said that the formation of CraftWorks will not affect the non-profit status of the Rockbottom Foundation. The Rockbottom Foundation funnels profits into community projects, especially to aid the hungry.
Insider Apple Ale Release in Durango
11.10.10
Insider Apple Ale brewed by Durango's Bootlegger Society will be released Nov.19th in and around the Durango area. The beer is made from apples that were picked and pressed by the community at the 2010 Apple Days Festival. Proceeds from the sale of the beer will go to benefit next year's festival.
The Durango Bootlegger Society is made up of the four Durango breweries: Carver, Durango, Ska, and Steamworks. These breweries work together on different community projects throughout the year.
The beer will be released at these breweries along with different Durango liquor stores.
All Colorado Beer Festival Biggest Yet
11.08.10
With roughly 1400 thirsty beer drinkers in attendance, this years All Colorado Beer Festival, held Nov. 6 in Colorado Springs, was the biggest and best yet. With 29 brewers pouring, lots of brews were imbibed.
New breweries participating this year included AC Golden, Bier Werks, Colorado Mountain, Elk Mountain, Eddyline, and Grimm Brothers. 8 tasting/education sessions hosted by the Zymurgy Institute from CSU-Pueblo were held. Each was attended by about 25-30 guests.
Rocky Mountain won the Favorite Brewer award at each session. They were pouring their Shoup's Stout, Mountain IPA, Raspberry Cider, Eat a Peach, and Da Yoopers Cherry Pie Ale, which won Gold at the 2010 World Beer Cup.
Most importantly, higher attendance means that more money will be given away to charities, this year upwards of $15,000. These charities are The Homefront Cares, the Empty Stocking Fund, and Theatreworks.
2011 All Colorado Beer Festival
11.07.11
The 5th annual All Colorado Beer Festival was held this past weekend on Nov. 5th. 35 Colorado breweries poured beer at two sessions for about 2300 thirsty attendees. And according to festival director, Randy Dipner, this year saw record attendance.
The All Colorado Beer Festival benefits three great local organizations. Theatreworks, a local professional theatre located on the campus of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. The Empty Stocking Fund, an annual holiday fundraising campaign. And Home Front Cares, a non-profit corporation that delivers assistance to military families impacted by deployment in harm's way.
Randy said they are hoping to donate about $25,000 to these three charities this year.
This year also saw a new venue for the festival, the brand new Freedom Financial Services Expo Center. The expo center is a larger space than the previous venue, allowing for more brewers, and a larger food area. This year the Buffalo Gals brought their tasty BBQ to satisfy hungry attendees.
This year also saw the addition of a VIP area. Festival goers could pay an extra $10 to escape the crowds for a bit, and try some beers that you couldn't find out on the main floor.
Overall the All Colorado Beer Festival is a fun event. Not only do you get to sip some great beers from all over the state, but you're also helping donate money to some great organizations doing great things for the community. As soon as next years event date is announced, we'll post it in our events calendar, so check back often!
Ska Brewing Company in Durango has installed a new canning line and doubled their canning capacity. So does this mean that you will be able to find delicious Ska Beer in twice as many places? One can only hope...
Holiday Beer Homebrew Competition
10.31.11
Call to all homebrewers! Time to get busy brewing to enter the 2nd annual Holiday Cheer Christmas Beer competition hosted again by BierWerks Brewery in Woodland Park. This AHA sanctioned event will have only one category: Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer.
Submissions can be dropped off at Bierwerks Brewery or the Brewhut in Aurora or mailed between Dec. 10 to the 15th. Deadline for entries is Dec. 15th. Prizes will be awarded to brewers of the top 4 beers. For more information click here.
Dry Dock Ships Out in Bombers
10.25.10
Dry Dock Brewing, after years of exclusive tap-only sales, has jumped into the deep end and begun packaging their award-winning brews into 22oz. bombers. They just inaugurated their new system, seen at right, by bottling up Seven Seas Double IPA. This system will enable them to package at their current location in Aurora.
Says owner Kevin Delange,"This is very exciting for us. We are now interviewing distributors, and will soon be selling statewide. Until then, we will be self-distributing to liquor stores in Aurora, including Chambers Wine & Liquor, Mile High, and Wallabees". When asked if they would only be bottling bombers, Kevin said "In this facility, for the near forseeable future, only bombers. If we ever go to a large production facility, then we will be bottling 12 oz."
Here is the list of beers that you can start looking for in your favorite liquor store in a few months:
Seven Seas Double IPA
Urca Vanilla Porter
H.M.S. Bounty Old Ale
Paragon Apricot Blonde Ale
Seasonals - Including a Coffee Stout and a Farmhouse Ale.
Smooth Sailing and Good Drinking from Dry Dock.
Ritz-Carlton Spa in Denver Offers Brew-Infused Treatments
10.20.11
When you're in the mood to not only drink your beer but be cleansed with it too, check out the new suds-soaked spa treatments available at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Denver. The Mile High Malt Scrub & Microbrew Massage are offered exclusively at the spa, and suffice to say that it sounds positively delicious, in more ways than one. You will be scrubbed, soaked in, and then given that beer to sip all the while. To top it all off, you will be given the same beers to take home. To find out more, call the Ritz-Carlton at 303-312-3230.
Dad & Dudes "Breweria" Soon to Open in Aurora
10.20.10
What do you get when you combine a pizzeria and a brewery? The lucky people of Aurora are about to find out that it's called a "Breweria"!
Dad & Dudes Breweria will soon be opening in Aurora. The father and son team of Tom and Mason Hembree couldn't agree if they should have a pizzeria or a brewery, so came up with breweria. "It's a good compromise", said Tom, the dad of Dad & Dudes. "We wanted to do both, so this is what we came up with". They will be serving up pizza, as well as some other tasty - sounding house specialties. And of course, beer.
"The beer will be brewed on a very small system, basically a home - brewing system" Tom said. "And we sampled beer from a group of home brewers to decide who would take over the brewing for us. There will be 11 taps for beer, some of which will be ours, the rest guest taps. One will be for root beer."
A Pre-Opening will be Nov. 1st, with some guest beers on tap. A larger Grand Opening will be when they can sell their own beer, probably around Thanksgiving.
We will keep you informed. You can follow their progress on Facebook.
On this side of the pond its paper vs. plastic, but the war over plastic vs. glass has entered a new phase. CAMRA has pulled out of the 34th annual Bath Beer Festival because of a proposed ban on the use of glass at The Pavilion event facility.
According to the story,
"The Bath area branch of the pressure group the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) pulled out of the annual festival at the Pavilion after being told of plans to ban glasses at this year's event, with a suggestion that plastic beakers be used instead. Members said such a rule went against the whole ethos of the organisation, although yesterday the boss of the city centre venue insisted the group could have been exempted from its normal plastic-only rule.
Bath and Borders CAMRA branch pubs officer Dr Andrew Swift said: "It was felt that there would be a drop in attendance because some people would simply refuse to drink out of plastic glasses."
We urge you to read the whole story, as it seems to be a rather odd disagreement amongst many other others that Dr Swift said "was in fact the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back".
Hmm. It seems a bit silly to us - we drink from plastic cups at plenty of festivals, and nobody seems to mind much over here. But at the "pressure group" CAMRA, principles are principles, and if you're gonna draw a line in the sand at least it's glass sand.
Uptown Bros. Serves It Up, May Brew Soon
10.14.10
Uptown Brothers Brewing Company in Denver is one of the newest "beer-geek" bars in the Denver area. They opened in August, and have an amazing 32 beers on tap, not to mention another 70 beers in bottles. Reading through their menu will make your mouth water, with the likes of Fried Green Tomatoes, Po' Boy Sandwiches, Fried Oyster Cobb Salad, and "The Best Fried Chicken on Capitol Hill".
So what about the brewing part? Well, it's a long story, best explained by owner/brewer Paul Lumbye himself in his blog on their website. Suffice to say that the process has begun. The equipment has been purchased, the application process started, and soon, early 2011?, we will hopefully be able to sample the beer of Uptown Brothers.
Paul, an avid homebrewer, says "I opened this place to be able to brew beer. That's what I want to do." With his 1 barrel system he should be able to produce 4 kegs/week. "With all of our guest taps, that should work out just fine." So one more great place to sample great beer? It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. As always, we'll keep you up to date on their progress.
Big Beaver Builds Beer A New Home
10.12.10
15 years in the making, Big Beaver Brewing Company opened its doors to the public for the first time over the weekend. Owner and brewer Peter E. Villeneuve, who's also got a handy science background (PhD. in microbiology), says that the next few weeks will be part of his slow, limited, soft-opening process until Big Beaver is officially "open" early next year.
Hey, "Open" means "Open", as in "I'd like a beer, please". So Colorado's newest brewer is now serving up four new beers in limited release at Loveland's third local brewer.
Hoo-ray!!
Just don't look for it in stores any time soon. In fact, Dr. Villeneuve is rather emphatic that he is not a fan of the traditional methodology in which beer is produced and packaged for off-site consumption: ergo, cans and bottles, which are expensive, and "inherently wasteful and inefficient". Big Beaver is as much about beer as it is about the way in which it's produced and consumed:
Let's build a sustainable community supported brewery that makes great beer! This can only be achieved with the support of regular customers that purchase beer in reusable containers directly from the brewery. The customer returns the empty packaging and purchases more beer to complete the cycle.
The new brewery is located on Hwy 34 near the intersection of Wilson and Hwy 34 in Loveland:
2707 W Eisenhower Blvd Unit 9
Loveland Colorado 80537
Hours, again, are "soft" but Fridays from 3-11pm and Saturdays after 11am are likely times to try a Wonder Wiener Wheat, a Shaved Tail Ale, a Bust-A-Nut Brown or whatever else might be spilling out of the Big Beaver pond.
New Beer - Another Great Reason to Support Your Local Brewer!
Brewer's Republic Stays Local in Colorado Springs
10.01.10
Our mission at The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado is to promote the appreciation and understanding of craft beer here in Colorado. So when a place like Brewer's Republic opens, a place specializing in craft beer, wine, and coffee, we want to let people know about it.
"We're all about local" say owners Bryan Foster and Jason Curlis. The third partner is David Shaver. They are featuring local breweries on tap, such as Bristol Brewing, Black Fox, and Rocky Mountain Brewing here in Colorado Springs. "We will not go outside of Colorado for our beer", says Jason. Not that they would need to. As we all know, so much exists right here in our state. They plan to carry some Colorado wine, and when they start offering coffee, it will be from local roasters Umpire Estates, here in the Springs. "Even in our remodeling of the space, we used local suppliers" said Bryan. This included the antique doors that became part of the bar.
The idea for opening Brewer's Republic came when Jason was here from Texas visiting David. Jason and Bryan were working in banking and finance and living in the Dallas area. "Jason called me, told me about the idea for the Brewer's Republic, and I told them to give me a week", relates Bryan. Sure enough, Jason and Bryan moved up here and the three of them started working on the space.
Brewer's Republic is open every day at 3pm, until 12am(ish) Sun - Thurs, 2am on Fri, Sat. Their hours will expand when they start serving coffee and pastries. To visit their website, click here.
Crazy Mountain Taproom Opening!
09.29.10
Crazy Mountain Brewery in Edwards is finally ready to open their taproom to the public! A big Grand Opening Party is planned for Saturday, Oct 16. Starting at 11am and going on into the evening, the celebration will include a pig roast, live music and at least 7 Crazy Mountain Beers on tap.
For more details, follow Crazy Mountain on Facebook.
New Brewpub To Open Soon in La Veta
09.29.10
The La Veta Bistro & Brewery will have a pre-opening this Saturday, Oct 2, to celebrate the La Veta Oktoberfest. Says Carol Houk, co-owner of the Bistro, "We will have a large selection of domestic microbrews available...just can't sell our own yet." The brewery is still waiting for their federal licensing to go through.
Yet another brewery. Good for La Veta, good for Colorado!
Follow their progress on Facebook.
GABF Story and Photo Contest Winners
09.28.11
A special thanks to everyone who took the time to enter our GABF Story and Photo Contest. We got some awesome entries! After much consideration, we have chosen our three winners:
First Place: Ricardo Ornelas for his story "What is my favorite Colorado Beer?!"
Second Place: Pam Leibfried for her untitled photo
Third Place: Noah Curry for his poem "The Ranger found me."
Congrats to all our winners!
All the winning entries, as well as some Honorable Mentions will be posted as a feature story early next week.
Fundraiser at Left Hand for Fourmile Fire Victims
09.22.10
Tonight a fundraiser will be held at Left Hand Brewing in Longmont from 6pm-9pm for victims of the Fourmile Fire. Check their page on facebook for more details.
GABF 2010 Rocks Denver
09.20.10
The 2010 Great American Beer Festival was once again a huge success. With more people than ever before attending to taste more beers than were ever available before, this GABF was an amazing festival.
3523 beers were vying for medals, with Colorado proudly claiming 42 of those.
Blue Moon Brewing Company in Denver won Large Brewing Company of the Year, and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year. More on the 2010 GABF, with pictures, to come. Check here for the list of winners.
Freshcraft in Denver Hosts Small Brewers Showcase
09.19.11
During the weekend of 9/23-9/25 Freshcraft in Denver will be featuring great beers from some of the up and coming brewers in CO. They will start tapping these beers at 7pm on Friday 9/23 and continue tapping fresh beers through Sunday night. Throughout the weekend they will be pouring beer from these great breweries:
Every one of these breweries is independently distributed. Stop in to try some great fresh beer and support our local brewers! What a great way to start Denver Beer Fest!
Sisterhood Making Waves
09.09.10
Read about the last Sisterhood of Suds meeting from the perspective of one of our guests, Jenn from the Jenn and Beer blog. Check it out here
Asher Brewing Expands Taproom
09.03.10
Asher Brewing Company in Boulder, the only organic brewery in the state, has more than doubled the size of its original taproom.
It's been less than a month since the expansion was completed, and the result has been great, says co-owner Steve Turner. "We went from a 4-foot bar to a 16-foot bar. The room now holds 50 people easily. We have room for parties now". Check out Asher's new space and great organic beer. For more info, click here
Beers Made by Walking Tasting
09.01.11
Beers Made by Walking is an event created by Colorado Springs artist and beer blogger, Eric Steen. He describes it as "a summer long program in which a homebrewer, naturalist, and a public audience go on a local hike and identify edible and medicinal plants along the way. The homebrewer creates a recipe, and a beer is then produced based on the plants from that trail." The homebrewers brew their beers at Rocky Mountain Brewery. In photo from left: Opuntiae Deorum, Smoked Pinon Brown, Monk Choker, Lightning Strike.
On August 27th Brewer's Republic in Colorado Springs held a tasting of the first four beers created from the first four hikes. I was excited and a bit apprehensive about trying the first beers. I've attended a couple of the hikes, and while I had a blast learning about and tasting the different plants found along the trail, I was not sure how well they would translate into ingredients for beer. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised by all four beers.
Justin Carpenter was the homebrewer for the first hike held at Garden of the Gods on June 30th. Justin's beer, called Opuntiae Deorum, was an American-style wheat beer made with Prickly Pear. The first thing you notice about this beer is the color, a vibrant pink-red, similar to the color of Hawaiian Punch.
The nose had a slight grassy smell, with a bit of fruitiness. The first sip had nice fruit flavors, but not overly sweet, reminiscent of a citrus fruit, with some nice bitterness at the end. The more I drank though, the sweeter it seemed to get, and soon the taste reminded me of a Jolly Rancher. But it was still light and refreshing, with the right amount of carbonation to make me want to continue drinking it.
Although it was an American-Style Wheat the prickly pear seemed to overwhelm some of the most common flavor profiles of a wheat beer. I did not get any yeast or malt characteristics in the taste, although I did get some yeast in the mouthfeel.
Next beer up was the Smoked Pinon Brown by Grant Goodwiler. Grant created this beer following a hike in Red Rock Open Space, where they tasted pinon pine nuts. This smoked oatmeal nut brown had the pinon pine nuts added to the mash.
The nose has a strong, but not overwhelming smokiness to it. The first taste had a lot of astringency on the back of the palate, but lessened as I drank a few more sips. I also got a strong burnt malt flavor that seemed to increase as the beer warmed. Not sure if it was the Pinon Pine nuts that contributed to this, or the rauch malt Grant used. This beer would pair excellent with smoked meats and strong cheeses.
Isaac Grindeland's Monk Chocker was up next. A West-Coast style IPA fermented with Belgian yeast. The first thing I notice about this beer is it's cloudy unfiltered appearance, unfiltered to the point where I can see things floating in the beer. The Monk Chocker has a nice hoppy aroma, and the hops contribute to a strong astringency on the back of the palate. It takes a few sips for the chokecherry to show up, but when it does it lends itself to just a hint of sweetness at the front of the palate.
Finally there was Jason Miller's Lightning Strike. This to me was the most unique beer among the four, maybe because as Isaac put it "It tastes like a hiking trip." The beer, made with juniper, three leaf sumac, and Ponderosa Pine, does in fact taste like a hiking trip. You get strong characteristics of pine and juniper in both the nose and in the taste. The beer coats the tongue nicely, and at times I would get hints of nuttiness and bread. There was very little carbonation to this beer, and the more I drank it, the less balanced it seem to become, with the piney flavors overwhelming the other flavors in the beer.
There are still three hikes, which are free and open to the public, scheduled for September and October. There will also be another tasting of a new batch of beers on October 29th from 4-8pm at Brewer's Republic. Entry is $5 and you get unlimited five ounce pours of the beers. Definitely a unique experience worth checking out.
To sign up for a hike and to learn more about Beers Made by Walking check out Eric's blog
Colorado State Fair Foam Fest Winners
09.01.10
The 7th Annual Colorado State Fair Foam Fest wrapped up Saturday, August 28, celebrating the ingenuity and creativity of craft brewers and home brewers. The competition attracted over 400 entries. The winners: Light Lager 1st-BierWerks:BW-Helles 2nd-Del Norte:Cinco 3rd-Del Norte:Orale Pilsner 1-AC Golden: German Pilsner 2-Rockyard Dutch 3-Carver La Plata Pils European Amber Lager 1-Del Norte :Manana 2-Pagosa Brewing: FallFest Bier Dark Lager 1-Bierwerks:BW-Dunkel 2-SKA Brewing Co: Clancy's Black 3-AC Golden Schwarzbier Bock 1 -Bells:Consecrator 2-Shamrock Brewing Co:Instigator 3-Dry Dock: Immolater Doppelbock (Honorable Mention Rock Bottom-S.Denver: Black Bull Bock) Light Hybrid Beer 1-Amicas:Bomber Blonde Ale 2-Golden City:Clear Creek Gold 3-Bells:Bell's Oberon Amber Hybrid Beer 1-Odell:90 Shilling 2-Grimm Brothers:Little Red Cap 3-Dry Dock: Bismarck Alt English Pale Ale 1-SKA Brewing Co:Pinstripe Red Ale 2-Rock Bottom Col Spgs:Armed Forces Ale 3-Silverton Ice Pick Ave Scottish & Irish Ale 1-Dry Dock:Three Heavy wee Scottish Heavy 2-Rock Bottom Colo Springs:Class V Amber 3-BierWerks:BW - Wee Heavy Strong Scotch (Hon Mention Main Street Mesa Cerveza SlowPitch) American Ale 1-Durango Brewing:Durango Pale Ale 2 -Elk Mountain: Toast Town Brown 3-Rock Bottom -S.Denver: Old Elk Brown English Brown Ale 1-Bull And Bush: Big Ben Brown Ale (Best of Show), 2-Main Street: Mesa Cerveza Brown Ale 3-San Pedro James Brown Ale Porter 1-Twisted Pine:Northstar Imperial Porter 2-Equinox: Randy Brown Porter 3-Bells:Bell's Porter Stout 1-Golden City:Lookout Stout 2-Golden City:Imperial Stout 3-Pagosa:Soaker's Stout
(Honorable Mention Bells Kalamazoo Stout) IPA 1-Bull And Bush:Man Beer 2-Golden City:Evolution IPA 3-Odell:Odell IPA German Wheat & Rye 1-Rockyard: Wildcat White 2 -Golden City: Roggenbier 3-BierWerks: BW-Weiss Belgian & French Ale 1-Shamrock:Belgian White 2-Strange: Le Bruit de Diable 3-Twisted Pine: Le Petit Saison Sour Ale 1-Three Barrel Brewing: Penitente 2-AC Golden: Wild #1 3-Rocky Mountain:Grand Cru Begian Strong Ale 1-Rock Bottom Col Sp: Abbey Triple 2-Rockyard: No Brainer 3-Dry Dock: Dead Reckoning Dubbel Strong Ale 1-Rockyard: Old Gaffer 2-Dry Dock: HMS Bounty Old Ale 3-Bells:Third Coast Old Ale Fruit Beer 1-Pagosa: Wolf Creek Wheat Peach 2-Rocky Mountain: DA'Yoopers 3-Strange: Cherry Kriek Spice/Herb/Veg 1-Amicas: Amicas Summer Ale 2-Dry Dock: Urca Vanilla Porter Smoke/Wood Aged Beer 1- Bull And Bush:Tank Town Brown (John Hanley Memorial Award) 2-Bull And Bush:Royal Oil 3- Amicas: Smoked & Oaked Hon Mention-Dry Dock: Bligh's Old Ale Specialty Beer 1-Golden City: Javapeno Imperial Stout 2-Three Rivers:Double-Barrel Amber Ale 3-San Luis:Valle Especial (Hon Men-Pagosa:Coconut Porter) Other Mead 1-Pagosa:Honeymoon
BierWerks in Woodland Park is Open!
08.24.10
Ever hear the saying that "Good things come to those who wait?" Well, in this case the good things are glasses of beer, or should we say bier? Yes, BierWerks has finally been allowed to open their doors, and we are so happy for them. Mostly, because, when headed up the pass, we have some place to stop for a beer! And, we suggest you do the same. They have 5 beers on tap right now, 3 more by mid - Sept. All that and food too, deli - platter style.
Their hours of operation are:
M-Th, 11:00am - 10:00pm | F - S, 11:00am - 12:00am | Sun, 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Rockyard Brewing Company in Castle Rock is bottling their beer. The Double Eagle Ale, Redhawk Ale, Hopyard IPA, Oatmeal Stout, are bottled in a 12 oz. size and sold in 6 packs, according to brewmaster Jim Stinson. Look for them in a liquor store near you. Also, Jim says that in honor of the upcoming date of 10/10/10, he will do something special, maybe a belgian tripel coming in at 10%? Stay tuned to their website for details.
Cheyenne Canyon Ale Release at Bristol Brewing
08.17.10
It's time for this year's rendition of the ultra popular Cheyenne Canon Ale! Tuesday, 8/17/2010 from 5pm - 9pm. Bristol's brewers roast loads of pinon nuts to create this smooth brown ale. All of the proceeds from this beer benefit the Friends of Cheyenne Canon, so drink up for a great cause! Click here for more details.
Craft Lager and Small Batch Festival 2011
08.16.11
The Craft Lager and Small Batch Festival 2011 was held this past weekend in Manitou Springs. This was the 9th year for the Craft Lager Fest, held at a lovely park in Manitou Springs, with Pikes Peak looming nearby, and Fountain Creek rushing past. This year saw the addition of Colorado craft distilleries, and the name was changed to include them. It was a 2 day affair, Saturday August 13th and Sunday the 14th. The space was expanded this year too, incorporating the 7 Minute Spring park space across the street where the food vendors were located. In photo: Melissa Komadina-Scmaltz Brewing, Julian Heron-Festival Organizer, Joy Clauda-Elite Brands
Saturday brought a large crowd, with temperatures not too hot and a cool breeze blowing. Sunday's crowd was not as large, and endured a brief rain shower, which cooled things off and allowed people to get cozy under the tents. With over 30 breweries represented and at least 7 different distilleries, there were plenty of tastes to go around. Initially, we were concerned about throwing distilled spirits in the mix for this festival, given the summer heat and so much beer flowing already. The festival organizers pulled it off well, and there were no crazed festival goers that we saw. Overall it was a very pleasant festival, with live music that complemented the crowd.
The traditional offering of the Warning Sign brew was brought this year by Rock Bottom Brewery. Warning Sign is a collaborative brew that is made each year by a group of Colorado Brewers to benefit open space. Warning Sign has been described as an American Eis Bock, the strongest, most extreme style of lager in the world. This year head brewer Jason Leeman of Rock Bottom in Colorado Springs hosted the brewing group, and produced a delicious Warning Sign. If you didn't get to taste it at the festival, it's still on tap at Rock Bottom.
The Craft Lager Fest also holds a brewing competition each year. The results of the 2011 judging are:
Best Of Show
Coney Island Human Blockhead-Schmaltz Brewing Co. Pilsner
1-German Style Pilsener-A.C. Golden
2-Rhino Chasers Pilsner-Lost Rhino Brewing Co.
3-Blue Paddle Pilsner-New Belgium Brewing Co. Export Helles
1-No award given
2-Helles-BierWerks
3-No award given Bock
1-Luminaria-Del Norte Brewing Co.
2-X Rock Bock-Carver Brewing Co.
3-Goat Toppler-Rock Bottom Strong Lager
1-Coney Island Human Blockhead-Schmaltz Brewing Co.
2-Silver Mullet-Rock Bottom
3-Warning Sign-Rock Bottom Oktoberfest/Vienna/Marzen
1-Sam Adams Light-Boston Brewing Co.
2-Manana-Del Norte Brewing Co.
3-Coney Island Lager-Schmaltz Brewing Co. Other Specialty Lager
1-Colorado Native-A.C. Golden
2-Session Black-Full Sail Brewing Co.
3-Coney Island Sword Swallower-Schmaltz Brewing Co. Gluten Free
1-Pale Ale-New Planet Brewing Co.
2-3R Raspberry Ale-New Planet Brewing Co.
3-Redbridge-Anheuser Busch/In-Bev
Holy Cow! GABF for 2010 is SOLD OUT!
08.13.10
This just in from the Brewers Association:
"Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 3:01 PM
Subject: GABF is Sold Out!
The 2010 Great American Beer Festival is 100% Sold Out!
Breaking all its previous ticket sales records, the 2010 GABF has sold out five weeks in advance.
What makes the GABF such a phenomenon? Visit CraftBeer.com for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes feature on what makes the GABF great.
Barbara Fusco, Sales & Marketing Director
Brewers Association
www.craftbeer.com"
Did you get your ticket? If not, you can get a taste of what could have been by viewing a movie of what just was. Jay Brookston directs us to a great little news video about the recent Great British Beer Festival - sort of a smaller UK version of GABF, but in Jolly Old England instead of The Mile High City. According to one soundbite by a Brit beer scribe, American beers are a "very well kept secret" on the other side of the pond. Blimey, who'd've thunk it?
You can find this great movie about the GBBF, courtesy of MarketWatch, here. Thanks, Jay, for leading us to it.
Now, who has any extra tickets?
Space Foundation Recognizes BDG2C
08.12.10
Space Foundation recognizes The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado as a Certified Space Imagination Product. We're stoked, and you can check it out here.
Ouray Brewery is Open!
08.11.10
Count yet another Colorado brewery to open for business this summer. Ouray Brewery opened on August 9, with limited hours for now, and a partial menu. They are open 7 nights a week right now, from 5pm - 9pm, and are serving a partial menu. They will soon go to their regular hours, 11am - 9pm, with a full menu. They are pouring their IPA and Kolsch, with a Brown and a Rye Ale in the fermenter. There are 3 guest taps right now also, being supplied by Great Divide and Ska Brewing Co.
According to the restaurant manager, Kip Jenkins, they have had a great response so far. "News of our opening has just traveled by word of mouth, but every night we seem to fill up. People feel like it's good to have another brewery in town."
And we might say, it's good to have another brewery in Colorado. Good luck, Ouray Brewery! For more info, call (970) 325-7388, or check out their website.
Firestone Walker at Trinity Brewing
08.08.11
We now have more details on the Firestone Walker release party at Trinity Brewing:
The release will be on Tuesday August 16th from 6-8pm.
All the Firestone Walker beers will be on tap:
DBA
Pale 31
Union Jack
Double Jack
Solace
14th Anniversary
And if that's not enough to excite you, Firestone Walker co-owner David Walker will be on hand for a meet and greet.
Trinity Brewing
1466 Garden of the Gods Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO
Brewer's Association Shows Big Growth In Craft Beer
08.08.11
The Brewer's Association, The Brewers Association, the trade association representing the majority of U.S. brewing companies, released mid-year numbers today showing huge growth in craft beer sales so far in 2011. Dollar sales were up 15 percent in the first half of 2011, excluding brewers who left the craft segment in 2010*. Volume of craft brewed beer sold grew 14 percent for the first six months in 2011, compared to 9 percent growth in the first half of 2010.
That's a big increase, especially in this economy. The Brewer's Association attributes it to innovation and a focus on the craft of brewing beer. Paul Gatza, director of the Brewer's Association, notes"Craft brewers continue to innovate and brew beers of excellent quality. America's beer drinkers are rapidly switching to craft because of the variety of flavors they are discovering. And they are connecting with small and independent craft brewers as companies they choose to support."
The amount of breweries in the U.S. has increased by 165 since 2010, according to the Brewer's Association. The amount of breweries in planning has almost doubled since this time last year, from 389 mid-year 2010 to 725 as of 6/30/11.
Here in Colorado, The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado added 19 new brewing operations to our new 5th edition map since last summer. (One of these is a Meadery.) We have at least a dozen new brewing operations in planning that we are currently tracking.
The craft brewing industry industry in the U.S. currently provides an estimated 100,000 jobs, contributing significantly to the U.S. economy.
It's nice to know that in this tough economy we can be a force for good and support a growing industry simply by sitting back and enjoying a delicious craft beer.
*Three former craft brewing companies left the segment in the second half of 2010 when transitions led them to no longer meet the Brewers Association's definition of independence.
Grimm Brothers in Loveland Opens Their Doors
08.06.10
Don Chapman and Aaron Heaton opened Grimm Brothers Brewhouse July 26 to a huge crowd and overwhelming local support. Over 1000 people came through their doors that day. Said Heaton "It was amazing. We've gone through so much beer, ran out of growlers (which are now back in stock). It's been great."
Their hours are currently 12pm-7pm Tues - Fri, Sat 11am-7pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm, and closed on Monday. Current beers on tap are: Snowdrop- a Kottbusser style ale, Little Red Cap- an altbier, and Fearless Youth-a dunkel. A seasonal which may become permanent is their Master Thief, a German-style Porter, that comes in at 6.7% abv.
We at The Beer Drinker's Guide have tracked these guys and their progress over the past year. It's great to see these small start-ups get open and be supported by their communities. Click here for their website.
Also, stay tuned for Ouray Brewery, ready to open any day, and Bierwerks, soon to open their doors as well. Crazy Mountain and Funkwerks will be a little later. As always, we'll keep you posted.
Colorado State Fair seeks homebrew entries
08.04.10
The Colorado State Fair is coming up fast, and its "last call" for home brewers looking to participate in this year's competition.
The fair's General Entry office is seeking amateur and professional brewers to compete in the events at the fair, which runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 6 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
The homebrew competition is sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association, and features professional judges in 28 categories. Medals will be awarded for the top three places in each category, along with Best of Show and other special prizes. Winners will be honored at the Foam Fest craft beer festival on Aug. 28, which features dozens of beers from the Centennial State's finest craft breweries.
Submissions must be made by Aug. 14, and can be mailed to the Colorado State Fairgrounds, or dropped off at designated sites in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins or Denver.
For more details, call 719-248-4468, or visit the website
Twisted Pine AleHouse to Serve Food Soon
08.04.10
Twisted Pine Ale House will begin serving food alongside their brews in mid-August. Nearly every product on the menu is locally sourced and all natural, served in compostable, environmentally friendly dishes. Look for the menu soon on their website.
"The Party's Over" At Uptown Brothers
08.03.11
Uptown Brothers Brewing Co. in Denver closed it's doors for good Sunday evening, 7/31/11. Paul Lumbye, owner of Uptown, claimed that he had to sing "The Party's Over" to get everyone to clear out on Sunday night. On one of their last postings on Facebook, Lumbye wrote "Thank you all for your support & patronage; we'll miss you. We came close to making it; we were at about 80% of our break-even number, but we have no more resources to get us over the last hump. So--thanks again, all. Uptown Brothers love you!"
As reported in Westword, Last February, Lumbye finally purchased the equipment he needed(to brew beer on site) but never got to use it. That equipment, along with the business itself is now for sale, and Lumbye says he believes someone else may be able to pick up where he left off -- and just in time for the Great American Beer Festival, which runs September 29 through October 1.
So farewell to another victim of this tough economy. Who knows, maybe someone else will pick up the torch and make a go of it in this location on Capitol Hill.
Bristol Brewing's Camden, the Original Laughing Lab, 1994-2010
08.03.10
Camden, the original Laughing Lab owned by Mike and Amanda Bristol of Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs, passed away in her sleep last Wednesday. Bristol Brewing is having a wake for her this evening, starting at 5pm. $2.00 from every pint of Laughing Lab sold today goes to Safe Harbor Lab Rescue. To find out more, click here.
Hickenlooper To Toast Colorado's B-Day
08.01.11
Governor John Hickenlooper will toast the 135th birthday of Colorado this evening at the Rockies game with Pete Coors and a Colorado Native beer.
Colorado Native Lager is a beer brewed by AC Golden, a small craft brewery located inside the large MillerCoors brewery. Colorado Native is made with 99% Colorado ingredients, and is only sold in Colorado. AC Golden does not mention its parent company, MillerCoors, on its website at all.
While the governor and Pete Coors will drink a beer to toast Colorado's birthday, we can remember that there are many great beers that represent what a Colorado beer can be. For further discussion on this, see Jonathan Shike's ideas about great Colorado-inspired beers. Happy Birthday Colorado!
Buddha Nuvo In Stores Today!
07.29.11
Buddha Nuvo, the collaborative brew that stemmed from the masterminds Jim Stinson of Rockyard Brewing and Jason Yester of Trinity Brewing is being delivered to liquor stores today. It is a Belgian-style saison, that uses the bright yellow Buddha's Hand fruit, along with grains of paradise, 175 pounds of pumpkin and five strains of yeast. It was aged in French oak chardonnay barrels with brettanomyces yeast, and bottle fermented with Colorado honey. This beer was a huge collaborative process, brewed at Rockyard, and including many Colorado brewers, among them New Belgium, Ska, Funkwerks, Crooked Stave, AC Golden, Elk Mountain, Strange, Black Fox, Pumphouse Brewery and Rock Bottom. 25% of sales of this specialty brew will go to help support the Colorado Brewer's Guild, a trade organization that supports Colorado craft brewers. The bottles will sell for $40.
Find Buddha Nuvo at Rockyard, Trinity Brewing, Falling Rock, Argonaut, Mile High, Tony's Meat Market, Lukas Liquors, and Village Wines At Castle Pines.
Benefit for Injured Brewer
07.28.11
Local Colorado Springs brewer Patrick Tuffield of Bristol Brewing Company was recently injured on the job. He was badly burned with a mixture of hot liquor and concentrated caustic soda. Now the brewing community is coming together to help Patrick, and his family during this rough time.
Phantom Canyon Brewing Company will hold a fundraiser on August 6th from 1-5PM. All proceeds will go to Patrick.
The Community of Brewers benefit for Patrick Tuffield will be on the second floor of Phantom Canyon. Nine Breweries have donated beer for the event:
Trinity Brewing Company
Black Fox Brewing Company - Don't Call Me Wit
Bristol Brewing Company
Colorado Mountain Brewery
Rocky Mountain Brewery
Shamrock Brewing Company
Rock Bottom Brewery
Kevin Baity Kraft Beer (KBKB) - Bella Lavender Lager
Phantom Canyon Brewing Company - Dry-hopped 2 Moons Pale Ale
$10 gets you in and gets you three tickets each redeemable for a beer donated by the community of brewers.
Phantom Canyon is located at 2 East Pikes Peak Ave. in Colorado Springs
Upslope Brewing Co. of Boulder participates in their 1st ever off-site beer pairing dinner at A Second Cup/Another Pint in north Colorado Springs on August 1st from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Each course will be prepared by Chef Anthony Hockemeyer. They will have live acoustical music by Rick Stahl and to top it off a representative from Upslope Brewing will be there to talk about the beers!
A bonus one-off brewer's special that was prepared for this dinner will be served only at this dinner and at the Upslope Tasting Room in Boulder! Upslope is an award-winning brewery based in Boulder. Don't miss this one! Click on the link above to register, or do so in person at A Second Cup.
Expensive Beer in a Squirrel & Odell's 10,000th Batch!
07.23.10
From the UK's "Daily Record", the world's costliest beer served in a stuffed squirrel. Have your doubts? Check out the story here.
Also, Beer Advocate reports on Odell's 10,000th batch of beer. Here's to you, Doug!
Firestone Walker Comes to Colorado
07.20.11
After a slight delay, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is bringing it's beers to Colorado. They will be holding a series of release parties to celebrate. And it all starts tomorrow, July 21st!
Thursday, July 21st 5-7pm
Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake Street, Denver
Special Guest David Walker
Friday July 22nd 7pm-9pm
Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake Street, Denver
Tapping of DBA- Double Baarrel Ale
Uptown Brothers, 320 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Tapping of Solace - Summer Wheat
Cheeky Monk Belgian Cafe, 534 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Tapping of Double Jack-2IPA
Euclid Hall, 1317 14th Street, Denver
Tapping of Union Jack-IPA
Freshcraft, 1530 Blake Street, Denver
Tapping of Firestone Walker portfolio:DBA, Union Jack, Double Jack, Solace and releasing the 14th Anniversary Ale and Parabola Russian Imperial Stout
Saturday July 23rd 7-9pm
West End Tavern, 926 Pearl Street, Boulder
DBA, Union Jack, Double Jack and Summer Solace
Wednesday, July 27th 6-8pm
Choice City Butcher, 104 West Olive Street, Fort Collins
DBA, Pale 31, Union Jack, Double Jack and Summer Solace
Thursday, July 28th 6-8pm
Oskar Blues Liquids and Solids, 1555 S Hover Street, Longmont
Food pairings with DBA, Pale 31, Union Jack, Summer Solace and 14th Anniversary
There are two tentative events for Colorado Springs in August:
Monday, August 15th 6-8pm
Johnny's Navajo Hogan 2817 N. Nevada Ave.
Tuesday August 16th 6-8pm
Trinity Brewing Company 1466 Garden of the Gods Road
Brewer's Republic in Colorado Springs has started a weekly cycling club. The ride leaves from Brewer's at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays, heads to Johnny Hogan's on N. Nevada, turns around and comes back.
After the ride cyclists can enjoy happy hour prices at Johnny Hogan and $2.50 pints of Bristol beers at Brewer's Republic.
Brewer's Republic is located at 112 N Nevada Ave Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Mountain Brewery plans
07.19.10
Yet another Colorado brewery opens for business. On Tuesday, July 20, Colorado Mountain Brewery in Colorado Springs, will open their doors. This first week they will be open for dinner only, from 5pm-10pm. This is a "soft" opening for the brewery, some people may not get in. They plan to have at least 3 beers on tap. The following week, starting on the 26th of July, they will operate on a full schedule, with their Grand Opening on Friday, July 30. Their new website should be up by then, so check it for more details.
The Mayor Of Old Town Opens!
07.15.11
Fort Collins is the location of one of the most beer-laden tap houses to open in Colorado. The Mayor of Old Town is a locally owned and operated tap house that strives to bring the Fort Collins brewing and beer drinking community together over a pint of beer - any one of 100 of the best and most loved beers, from small local breweries to classics from across the seas. That's right folks, we said 100 beers available on tap!.
The name of the bar, The Mayor of Old Town, was inspired by the nickname Kevin Bolin had acquired while working in the real estate business in Fort Collins. He was in downtown so frequently that friends and acquaintances began to refer to Bolin as "the Mayor". The Mayor's mission is to bring you great beer and delicious food from a passionate and knowledgeable beer-loving staff. They open today. What are you waiting for? Check their site for location and hours of operation.
Biking For Beer
07.15.11
What goes better than biking and brewing? According to the guys from Avery Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Ska Brewing and Sierra Nevada, not much. Beginning on July 18 seventeen brewer-cyclists from the aforementioned breweries will embark on a five day, 470 mile journey known as the Tour of BoulDurango. The event, in it's third year, takes these 17 beer-lovers across six mountain passes from Boulder to Durango. Along the way they will stop at breweries and brewpubs "in an effort to bring together Colorado brewers, raise money for local charities, and encourage the spirt of collaboration and camaraderie that has taken hold in the craft beer industry."
The Oskar Blues blogspot has this to say about the event:
"The Tour of BoulDurango is the cycling incarnation of the attitude that these breweries have always taken towards the brewing business. 'Craft beer isn't about getting rich and cutthroat business practices; it's about following your passions and doing what you love, it's about being part of your local community and working with people who are just as psyched to be in the business as you are' said Adam Avery, President and Brewmaster of Avery Brewing Company. Dave Thibodeau of Ska Brewing added, 'We've had quite a few brewers from around the country express interest in this-- I think it has the potential to become huge, whether it remains a brewer's tour and another fun way to hang out with fellow brewers while trying to make a positive difference in our communities, or one day possibly opens to the public.'
Last year Oskar Blues joined Avery and Ska on the tour, sans Dale Katechis of Dale's Pale Ale fame, but this year he'll be along for the ride. Steve Grossman and others from Sierra Nevada Brewing will also be joining their Colorado brewing brethren, growing this event outside the borders of Colorado for the first time.
Each evening, after the day's riding is finished, the brewers are teaming up with other craft breweries along the course to hold fundraising parties, with profits from pint sales, raffles and auctions going to local charities. Participating breweries along the route include: Tommyknocker Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, Eddyline Brewpub, The Brick Oven Restaurant, Ouray Brewing, Colorado Boy Brewery.
The ride concludes at 2PM on 7/23 at Ska Brewing in Durango with a Finish Line/Tapping Party for Wheelsucker Wheat Ale, a collaboration beer brewed by Ska and Avery to commemorate the ride. Proceeds will go to the La Plata County Safe Roads Coalition.
High Mountain Passes Climbed:
Loveland Pass - 11,992' ~ Hoosier Pass - 11,532' ~ Cottonwood Pass - 12,126'- Red Mountain Pass - 11,00' - Molas Pass - 10,910' - Coal Bank Pass - 10,640'"
Avery is kicking things off with a release party of the Wheel Sucker Wheat on July 17th at 2:30pm. $3 from each pint will go to benefit their local bike charity Community Cycles.
Avery Brewing is located at 5757 Arapahoe Ave., Unit B-1 Boulder, CO.
Ska Brewing is located at 225 Girard St. Durango, CO
Hops Growers Gather At Oskar Blues
07.14.11
The newly formed Colorado Hop Growers Association met last weekend at the Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont. The Association was formed to both share knowledge about growing techniques and cultural practices to bring about better yields, and to encourage the relationship between craft brewers and hop farmers.
From the brewery:
Last weekend, Oskar Blues Brewery and the OB Hops and Heifers Farm (http://www.oskarblues.com/restaurant/ob-hops-heifers-farm ) hosted the first annual Colorado Hop Growers Association meeting. The inaugural event hosted 70 participants spanning five states. This group represented hop farmers managing 1/2 acre to over 1700 acres of production. The Association was designed to educate regional hop growers regarding specific cultural practices to improve plant health and yields through sustainable production techniques. The Association also aims to bridge the gap between local craft breweries and the local hop grower.
Presenters included some of the most experienced minds in hop production. Dr. Ron Godin (Agronomist) from Colorado State University Extension discussed,"Hops 202: Hop Yard Work from Spring Thaw to Fall Bedtime." Ali Hamm (Hop Specialist) from Summit Plant labs, Fort Collins, Colorado presented, "Hops Quality, Good Enough for Brewers." Dr. Fran Stonaker (Specialty Crops Coordinator), Assistant Professor Colorado State University, lectured on "Integrative Pest Management for Hops".
The key note speaker and special guest was Mr. Bruce Wolf (Owner/Grower), Willamette Valley Hops, St. Paul Oregon. He led a discussion regarding "Hop Farming in the Willamette Valley for a combined 7 generations".
The Tasty Weasel Tap Room at Oskar Blues Brewery was the lecture venue. The group later enjoyed brewery tours and a catered lunch from Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids and Solids Restaurant. For the afternoon session, the group traveled 6 miles to the new Oskar Blues Sustainable Hops and Heifers Farm. Here, the Association enjoyed craft beers from across Colorado while engaging in a question and answer session with Geoffrey Hess (OB farmer) within the OB Hops and Heifers hop yard and cattle barn.
To end a successful meeting, Chef Jason Rogers and his crew at Oskar Blues Home Made Liquid and Solids catered a dinner spread under the hop vines on the back patio of the restaurant. Colorado brews were served by participating breweries:Oskar Blues, Odell, New Belgium, Tommy Knocker, Palisade Brewing, Asher & Funkwerks.
The Colorado Hop Growers Association is grateful to all who attended and helped make this inaugural event such a success. Hop farming in Colorado is alive and well. Ali Hamm of Summit Plant Labs was quoted "It was a beautiful site to see the Colorado hop growers all under the Oskar Blues roof!"
GABF Tickets Sell Out Fast
07.12.11
Five years ago, you could think about going or not going to the Great American Beer Festival up until almost the last minute, and still have a shot at buying a session ticket.
Four years ago, you would have had to make up your mind about a week out, as all available tickets were snagged before they even started setting up the event at Denver Convention Center.
This year is a whole 'nother story. If you didn't act fast, you are officially SOL - 2011 GABF tickets are SOLD OUT, only 7 days after they first went on sale. Despite the increase in cost and selective availability of the Saturday afternoon sessions - available only to BA or AHA members - they sold out in two days!
"The brewery registrations filled up one day before the "if space is still available" deadline, and some breweries are on a waiting list in case anyone drops out. The lesson for brewers for future years is to get your registration in quickly. Once the beers arrive in the cooler/warehouse for sorting, the competition staff will ready 3,900 beers from 520 brewers for the judges."
Let the scalping begin.
Of course, it's not like there won't be anyplace else to get a beer come Sept. 29 - Denver Beer Week will just be getting good by then, and you won't need a reserved ticket for most of the events.
They're still getting their schedule together, but you can consult the Denver Beer Week website to make your plans:
http://www.denver.org/denverbeerfest
Zymurgy Institute Advanced Brewing Classes
07.12.11
Advanced brewing classes are now being offered through the Zymurgy Institute at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Gain refreshing hands-on experience in advanced brewing techniques with Colorado State University-Pueblo Continuing Education. Brew with some of the area's most successful production craft brewers on the Brew-Magic V350MS semi-automated recirculating infusion mash brewing system (RIMS) every other Saturday in the Colorado State University-Pueblo Chemistry Building, Lab 305, 2200 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, CO 81001. Tuition is $299 for each 2-month, 3-batch, 5-lab series. Space is limited so download a registration form and enroll today!
There are 2 classes planned. The first starts on August 13 and goes through Oct 8, meeting every other Saturday from 10am to 6pm. The second starts on October 8th and goes through Dec 3rd.
Since these classes are offered as advanced brewing techniques, some knowledge of brewing practices is important. It was offered as a follow-up course to the Intro to Brewing Zymurgy course held at Bristol Brewing the past 6 months. This is a very hands-on class, so get involved and start brewing!
Brewer's Rendezvous: Biggest, Baddest, & Best Yet
07.11.11
Saturday, July 9th was the 15th annual Colorado Brewer's Rendezvous, held in Salida. Festival goers were able to sample Colorado craft beer at it's finest, with over 50 Colorado craft breweries participating. The Colorado Brewer's Rendezvous is an annual event, hosted by the Colorado Brewer's Guild, a non-profit group established to promote the quality and diversity of the growing Colorado craft brewing industry. The Rendezvous is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the guild, not only providing an amazing selection of the best Colorado craft beer, but doing it in a wonderful atmosphere, alongside the rolling Arkansas river in Salida's Riverside Park.
Spirits were as high as the river's waters this year, with so much great beer to choose from. Weather threatened early on, but quickly mellowed out to provide cloud cover and slightly cooler temperatures. It was a beautiful day and a great time, a festival not to be missed.
The Brewer's Rendezvous is one of the Colorado festivals where the brewers make an effort to attend and pour their own beer, so not only do you get to taste their luscious suds, you can ask them what goes into it, and find out what makes your favorite beer so good.
So if you were able to attend, cheers to you, and if not, definitely put it on the calendar for next year, the 2nd Saturday in July.
Ouray Brewery Opening August 1st!
07.07.10
Ouray Brewery in Ouray, CO, is planning to open for business August 1, 2010. According to owner Erin Eddy, they will have a soft opening August 1, with a full menu available and at least 3 beers on tap. Brew Master Jeff Lockard (Previously of McClellans in Canon City) is busy brewing, putting the finishing touches on the brewery itself. Ouray Brewery will have 3 levels for dining, including a rooftop patio with fantastic views of the surrounding area. The hours will start from 4pm-9pm daily, expanding eventually to 11am-9pm. For more info, directions, etc. click here.
Elk Mountain Brewing Opens Their Doors!
07.02.10
Thursday, July 1st, Elk Mountain Brewing in Parker, CO, opened for business. Despite setbacks in their original schedule, Marcia and Tom Bell are happy, and relieved. The opening was "Great", said Tom. "The beer was well received."
Stop by this weekend, sample some suds, and meet Marcia and Tom, owners of the newest brewery in Colorado. They will open at noon everyday this 4th of July weekend, through Monday. For more info, and directions on how to find Elk Mountain Brewing, check out their website
Walk a Mile For Your Next Beer
07.01.11
Beer as art? Eric Steen, local beer blogger and Visual Art instructor at University of Colorado Colorado Springs thinks so, and thus with the sponsorship of the UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art and Rocky Mountain Brewing, he has created Beers Made By Walking.
The project works like this:
There will be seven hikes though out the summer in the Pikes Peak Region. On each hike there will be a naturalist and a homebrewer on hand. The naturalist will point out edible and medicinal plants during the hikes, while the homebrewer takes notes. After the hike the naturalist and homebrewer will create a beer recipe,with some of the plants identified during the hike as ingredients. Then the homebrewer will brew the beer at Rocky Mountain Brewing. At the end of the summer Brewer's Republic will put the beers on tap for some tasting events.
June 30th marked the first of the seven hikes, which are open to the public. I attended excited to see more of what the project was all about. This first hike was held in Garden of the Gods. Kimberly, the naturalist, started us off by demonstrating how to test plants for allergic reactions, reminding us that even if we think we know what the plant is, that many plants look very similar to one another, and while one can be perfectly safe, others can cause problems. She taught us to take a leaf of the plant, crush it up a bit, then rub it on the inside of your wrist or elbow. After a few minutes, if you don't have any signs of a rash, you can put a bit in your mouth for a moment, then without swallowing, spit everything out, and wait a few minutes to make sure your mouth doesn't feel itchy. If no reaction, you should be good.
As we hiked through the glory that is Garden of the Gods, we stopped about a dozen times for Kimberly to point of different plants, and explain their various medicinal and edible qualities. The president of the Friends of Garden of the Gods, John, was also along for the hike to give us some brief history lessons on the park.
The highlight for me really was learning about the medicinal and edible qualities of the various plants in our very own back yard. Some where the one's we may have heard about, Yucca flowers making a tasty snack, prickly pears and golden currants being used to make delicious jams and jellies, and some were a bit of a surprise to me, such as the Ponderosa Pine's trunk having a very noticeable sent of vanilla and butterscotch, and chewing on their needles as a way to relieve heartburn.
The homebrewer, Justin Carpenter, was taking copious notes, and pictures, and said he already had some good ideas on the beer he is going to brew.
There will be a different homebrewer in attendance for each hike, so there will be seven different beers to sample. The ingredients WILL NOT be gathered from the parks, as picking any plants from the city and state parks is prohibited and unlawful. The ingredients will be garnered from a local herb shops and with the permission of private land owners.
And as always stay tuned to The Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado for all the latest news on the happenings of Colorado Craft Beer.
BierWerks in Woodland Park Poised To Open Soon
07.01.10
The Equipment is installed, the beer is brewing, and co-owner/brewers Jeff Aragon and Brian Horton are itching to open their doors. Though not new to the process of opening a brewery,( Jeff and Brian were owner/brewers of Trinidad Brewing), their new venture has had its challenges. (Something about Teller County building codes). But regardless, they are getting through it and hope to be open by the end of July. As always, we will keep you posted. Click here for their new website.
Sisterhood, CMB Do Team Brew
06.29.11
The Sisterhood American Pale Ale has arrived! June 28 was the official release of the beer that our women's beer drinking group, the Sisterhood of the Suds, brewed with Colorado Mountain Brewery head brewer, Andy Bradley. The weeks of anticipation had been building. Would it taste good? Would other people like it? Would we like it?
But when you're under the guidance of such a masterful brewer as Andy, there really wasn't much to worry about. The beer was delicious. Well balanced, with some notes of sweet fruit up front, apricots, pears, perhaps a bit of peach, and a slightly bitter finish, with the hops hitting the back of your palate. Andy had been dry hopping the beer for us with Simcoe and Centennial hops, throughout the last few weeks, giving the beer a slightly floral nose.
Andy has given the community a rare opportunity with his weekly Brewer's Whimsy. Not only is it an amazing opportunity for local home brewers to work with Andy on his 10 gallon pilot system, it's also a treat for patrons of the brewery to try a new brew every Tuesday. There's even a set of regulars, dedicated to attending almost every week in anticipation of trying a new beer.
Carol watched anxiously as one took a sip of our creation, relieved by his positive reaction. In fact, everyone seemed to have good things to say. Even Andy seemed pleased with the outcome. Personally, I thought the beer was quite tasty. At around 5% ABV, it was very drinkable as a session beer. I was a bit surprised by the sweetness at the front, something Andy attributed to the Simcoe hops, but thought the bitterness at the end balanced it out nicely. As for the rest of the Beer Drinker's Guide crew?
Mike: "Nice head and color, with a little woodsy note on first sniff. Subtle malts and lots of carbonation that should get smoother. Develops nice nose hits of almond and apple after half a glass."
Rick: "Smooth and easy to drink. A bit too under-hopped for an American Pale Ale, but nonetheless tasty. Golden body, lots of head, and a bit cloudy. A good summer-session beer."
Carol: "The beer poured with a nice head and a decent amount of carbonation. I picked up a peachy essence with the first few sniffs. It has a pleasant mouth feel. I first detected some sweetness from the malt, then a mildly bitter quality towards the back of the throat. Overall very pleasant, medium-bodied Pale Ale, a good session beer."
The Sisterhood American Pale Ale will be on tap at Colorado Mountain Brewery until it's gone, so head on over and give it a try soon. And watch for new small batch beers every Tuesday from local home brewers.
Colorado State Fair Homebrew Competition Deadlines
06.27.11
The Colorado State Fair homebrew competition deadlines for entries are coming up in August. Entries for homebrews will begin being accepted at drop off locations from 8am August 8th - 5pm August 13th. The cost is $5.00 per entry.
The drop off locations are: The Brew Hut in Aurora Hops & Berries in Fort Collins Old West Supply in Colorado Springs
Judging will occur Friday, August 26, 2011 at 10:00am in the Special Events Tent (east end of the Colorado Pavilion) and is open to the public. Medals will be awarded during the 2011 Foam Fest on August 27.
For more information, check the website.
Sisterhood Beer Release At Colorado Mountain Brewery 6/28
06.20.11
Tuesday, 6/28/11, starting at 5pm, The Sisterhood American Pale Ale will be released at Colorado Mountain Brewery. Join the Sisterhood of the Suds as we tap and pour the beer that we brewed with Brewmaster Andy Bradley at Colorado Mountain Brewery. (See feature story above).
This American Pale Ale will be featured as Andy's Brewer's Whimsy beer that he releases on any given Tuesday. For the Brewer's Whimsy, Andy invites different groups to come out and brew with him on his pilot system. Then that 10 gallon batch is released on a Tuesday, and the brewer's get to come out and pour the beer.
So come on out to Colorado Mountain Brewery on Tuesday, 6/28, and let us pour you a beer!
Celebrate Liquid Brain Day at Bull & Bush
06.09.10
Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery won a gold medal in April at the World Beer Cup for their beer, "The Legend of the Liquid Brain". On Wednesday, June 9th, you can sample 5 different versions of this winning brew at the Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery from 6pm-8pm. The versions range from a 2003 vintage aged 2-4 years in a Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel, to a 2009 vintage not aged at all. For more information, check out their website.
Bristol Brewing releases Summer Pilsner and winner of naming contest!
06.03.10
Be at Bristol Brewing Thursday, June 3rd for the release of their summer pilsner. They will be revealing the winner of the contest to guess the name of the new pilsner. The new logo for the pils will be unveiled, and a drawing for the winner of the naming contest, who will receive a two-night stay at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder! Click here for more information.
Grand Lake Brewing Opens 2nd Location
06.01.11
Grand Lake Brewing Company will open their 2nd location in Grand Lake, the Grand Lake Brewing Taphouse, on Friday, June 3, from 4pm-9:30pm. This larger location will also feature a new expanded menu. The Grand lake Brewing Taphouse is located at 9921 US Highway 34 in Grand Lake. For more information, call 970-627-9404.
Colorado Native Wins Frontier Airlines Poll
05.16.12
Frontier Airlines ran a voting poll from April 4 through May 15 on facebook, asking passengers and fans to vote from among 4 Colorado craft beers for their favorite to be featured onboard each month as part of their rotating tap. The choices were between Dale's Pale Ale, Upslope Pale Ale, Colorado Native, or Crabtree Oatmeal Stout. Voting ended May 15 and the winning Colorado brew will be featured onboard starting June 1. The winner is Colorado Native lager, earning 44% of the votes.
Colorado Native is AC Golden Brewing Company's award-winning amber lager, brewed with 100% Colorado ingredients. The beer won silver at this month's Brewers Association World Beer Cup and also was awarded silver in the 2011 Great American Beer Festival. Both wins were in the American-style Amber Lager category. Congrats to Colorado Native!
GABF Ticket Sales Announced
05.12.12
The 2012 Great American Beer Festival, the Big 3-0, will take place on October 11, 12, and 13 in Denver at the Denver Convention Center. If you missed it last year, pay attention to this notice from the Brewer's Association:
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Members-Only ticket pre-sale begins on Tuesday, July 31 at 10:00 AM MDT (Noon EDT, 11:00 AM CDT, 9:00 AM PDT). The general public ticket sale opens on Thursday, August 2, also at 10:00 AM MDT (Noon EDT, 11:00 AM CDT, 9:00 AM PDT).
All tickets will be available via Ticketmaster.com.
Stay tuned for details about this year's festival; the GABF website will be updated for 2012 in the coming weeks.
Tickets last year sold out in less than a week, so if you want to go this year you'll need to mark your calendar twice: once to buy your tickets, and a second time to plan your assault on over 2000 beers. We'll see you there!
Colorado Winners at 2012 World Beer Cup
05.07.12
This past week craft brewers from across the nation and around the world gathered in San Diego, CA for the 29th annual Craft Brewers Conference. At the close of the conference winners of the 2012 World Beer Cup were announced. The bi-annual competition is in it's ninth year and according to the Brewers Association, who puts on the Craft Brewers Conference, this year "boasted the strongest field of entrants on record, with 799 breweries from 54 countries and 45 U.S. states entering 3,921 beers in 95 beer style categories."
Colorado took home a very respectable 27 medals 13 of which were Gold. It trailed only behind California's 55 in number of medals won per state.
One of Colorado's newer breweries, Telluride Brewing Co., took home Gold in the American-Style Brown Ale category for their Face Down Brown.
Bull & Bush Brewery in Denver was the states biggest winner, taking home 4 medals.
And Rocky Mountain Brewery nearly swept the Fruit Beer Category, winning a Gold medal for Eat a Peach, and a Silver for Da Yoopers, their cherry pie beer which won Gold in 2010 in the same category.
Here are all the Colorado Winners from the 2012 World Beer Cup. Congratulations to everyone!
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Category 3: Fruit Beer, 41 Entries
Gold: Eat A Peach, Rocky Mountain Brewery, Colorado Springs, CO
Silver: Da Yoopers, Rocky Mountain Brewery, Colorado Springs, CO
Category 4: Fruit Wheat Beer, 28 Entries
Silver: Blue Moon Vintage Blonde Ale, Blue Moon Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category 5: Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer, 19 Entries
Gold: Turnip the Beets, Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO
Category 11: Specialty Honey Beer, 23 Entries
Silver: Menage a Trois Braggot, Crabtree Brewing Co., Greeley, CO
Category 13: Other Strong Beer, 35 Entries
Bronze: Double Pilsner, Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO
Category 19: American-Style Brett Ale, 28 Entries
Silver: Peche, AC Golden Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Wild Wild Brett Rouge, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Fort Collins, CO
Category 24: Aged Beer, 20 Entries
Bronze: Release the Hounds Barley Wine Vintage 1999, Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO
Category 29: Baltic-Style Porter, 28 Entries
Gold: Baltic Gnome Porter, Rock Bottom Denver, Denver, CO
Category 36: German-Style Marzen, 39 Entries
Gold: Florhosen, The SandLot, Denver, CO
Category 38: German-Style Schwarzbier, 40 Entries
Gold: Art of Science Schwarzbier, Dillon DAM Brewery, Dillon, CO
Category 42: American-Style Cream Ale or Lager, 23 Entries
Bronze: Milwaukee's Best, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category 43: American-Style Lager or Light Lager, 39 Entries
Gold: Coors Light, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category 44: American-Style Premium Lager or Specialty Lager, 37 Entries
Gold: Steel Reserve, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Icehouse, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category 45: American-Style Amber Lager, 40 Entries
Silver: Colorado Native, AC Golden Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category 50: German-Style Sour Ale, 11 Entries
Gold: Berliner Weisse, Steamworks Brewing Co., Durango, CO
Category 68: English-Style India Pale Ale, 48 Entries
Gold: Man Beer, Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO
Category 70: Extra Special Bitter, 49 Entries
Bronze: The Tower E.S.B., Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO
Category 71: Scottish-Style Ale, 26 Entries
Silver: Redhawk Ale, Rockyard Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO
Category 73: English-Style Brown Ale, 30 Entries
Bronze: Sweet George's Brown, Dillon DAM Brewery, Dillon, CO
Category 76: Sweet Stout, 25 Entries
Gold: Steel Toe Stout, Ska Brewing Co., Durango, CO
Category 78: Scotch Ale, 51 Entries
Gold: Wee Heavy, Dry Dock Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Category 87: American-Style Strong Pale Ale, 82 Entries
Silver: Odell IPA, Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO
Category 91: Imperial Red Ale, 38 Entries
Gold: G'Knight Imperial Red Ale, Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO
Category 92: American-Style Brown Ale, 47 Entries
Gold: Face Down Brown, Telluride Brewing Co., Telluride, CO
Ska-B-Q at Ska Brewing in Durango. $2 Mexican Lagers, and $2 Tacos all day. Live music starting at 5pm.
--------- Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs releases Saison Grito, a special Mexi-Belgo beer brewed with lemon, lime, cumin, cilantro, and Big Jim peppers.
--------- Pagosa Brewing in Pagosa Springs has food specials, a Chili Verde brew, and specialty tequilas.
--------- Twisted Pine is releasing Ghost Face Killah-"the hottest beer this side of hell".
--------- Civic Center Park in Denver hosts a Cinco de Mayo party on Saturday and Sunday. Rumor has it that the Great Truck food Race on Food Network may crash this party. Great Divide Beer might be a part of this.
So get out, shake those maracas, and enjoy some beer!
American Craft Beer Week & Colorado Beer Week
05.03.12
May 14-20 is American Craft Beer Week, a national celebration created by the Brewer's Association, recognizing American craft brewers, their beer, and the American craft beer culture. Simultaneously, Colorado Beer Week will be happening here in our state, celebrating all things associated with Colorado beer.
The mission of American Craft Beer Week (May 14-20, 2012) is to encourage beer lovers everywhere to celebrate the accomplishments of America's small and independent craft brewers. There is a Declaration of Beer Independence that craft brewers are encouraged to put up and get people to sign as an example of their support of craft beer.
Colorado Beer Week was founded by Scott Kerkman, professional brewer, beer judge, educator, and marketer. Colorado Beer Week is described as "a celebration of ales and lagers in the state that has been called "The Napa Valley of Beer". It is supported by the Colorado Brewers Guild and some Colorado craft breweries, among others. The second CBW now will be held in May 12-19 at restaurants, bars, hotels and other venues throughout Colorado. Click the link for Colorado Beer Week to find all the beer-related festivities near you.
Celebrate National Homebrew Day May 5th
05.02.12
In 1988, May 7th was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) created AHA Big Brew as an annual event to celebrate National Homebrew Day around the world. AHA Big Brew is held each year on the first Saturday in May.
According to the American Homebrewer's Association, more than 1 million americans are homebrewers, and many will use this opportunity to get together with their fellow suds enthusiasts and brew up some beer. For 11 years, homebrewers worldwide have celebrated Big Brew. Last year's event saw more than 14,000 gallons of beer brewed at 308 different celebration sites, located in eight different countries. The local celebrations are tied together by shared recipes, chosen specifically for each year's celebration. This year, the AHA has selected 2 recipes to be brewed, both of them brown ales.
According to AHA director Gary Glass, "First and foremost, National Homebrew Day is a celebration, which is why Big Brew was devised to unite homebrewers around a common recipe. In fact, it's traditional for homebrewers worldwide to pause at noon CDT (USA) on Big Brew to participate in a simultaneous toast to homebrewing."
To find an event near you, click on the Big Brew link above. The 25 plus different homebrew shops in Colorado, listed on The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado, will also be holding events and will have more information.
Rockyard Celebrates 12 Years
04.25.11
Rockyard Brewing is celebrating it's 12th birthday with the release of Anniversary Ale, a Dusseldorf Altbier! Get on over to Rockyard in Castle Rock and try this crisp, copper ale.
Collaborative Brew in Fort Collins Celebrates Craft Beer Week
The breweries are CB & Potts, Coopersmith's, Crooked Stave, Equinox, Fort Collins Brewery, Funkwerks, Odell, and New Belgium. The beer was brewed at both Coopersmith's and Equinox.
The beer will be served in all 9 taprooms beginning May 16th to coincide with the beginning of American Craft Beer Week.
After the two brews ferment, they will be combined at Coopersmith's. Apparently the beer has yet to be named, but will be a light pale ale.
Asher Brewing: Mistresses of the Mash Meeting
04.21.11
Hey, ladies! Brew Betties: Mistresses of the Mash are meeting tonight at Asher Brewing. Tonight will be sampling and learning about sours. Click on the event link to learn more and join the Brew Betties; Mistresses of the Mash facebook group to be informed about future meetings and other cool beer stuff!
Crested Butte Brewing and Strange Brewing plan Openings
04.21.10
Crested Butte Brewing Company is getting ready to open its doors, hopefully by mid-May. Owner Robin Loyed says that they are very close. Three beers are finished, they are working on their fourth, and they just need a few more weeks to pull it all together. "We have had a tremendous amount of interest. We are very anxious to get the doors open." A beer tasting will be held May 7th at Maxwell's Restaurant in Crested Butte from 1-4pm. As soon as the Grand Opening date is set, we will let you know. Check out their website for updates.
Strange Brewing Company has planned its Grand Opening for May 17th, the first day of American Craft Beer Week. Their hours of operation this week will be 4-8pm, Monday - Saturday. They are located at 1330 Zuni St. in Denver. Stop in and check them out. Owners Tim Meyers and John Fletcher are excited to get things rolling. (720) 985-2337. They plan to release a different beer every day that week.Click here for their website.
Craft Beer Volume Scores Big In 2011
04.17.12
The Brewer's Association, the not-for-profit trade group that tabulates production statistics for U.S. breweries, released its annul lists today of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on 2011 beer sales volume. Of the top 50 overall brewing companies, 36 are small* and independent* craft brewing companies.
According to Paul Gatza, director of the Brewer's Association, "In the last 15 years, craft brewing has gone from one percent of the overall beer market to almost six percent in 2011. We attribute a large part of that growth to the many talented brewers who are providing beer lovers with more beer style and flavor choices than ever before."
In the list of the Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies, based on 2011 beer sales volume numbers, Colorado claimed 5 spots. 3) New Belgium Brewing
28) CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants in both Chattanooga/Louisville
29) Oskar Blues Brewery
30) Odell Brewing Co.
41) Breckenridge Brewery
49) Left Hand Brewing Co.
In the list of Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies, the top 4 spots are held by the mega- brewers, with Colorado grabbing 4 spots: 1) Anheuser-Busch Inc, headquarteres in St. Louis, MO
2) MillerCoors based in Chicago, Il
3) Pabst Brewing Co in Woodbridge Il
4) D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc in Pottsville, PA
8) New Belgium
40) CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants
41) Oskar Blues Brewery & Tasty Weasel Tap Room
42) Odell Brewing Co.
*The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 6 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. *Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.
Fort Collins Breweries To Get A Shuttle
04.12.12
A new shuttle service starts Friday, April 12, to shuttle folks between Old Town and Fort Collins breweries on weekends. As reported in the Northern Colorado Business Report, the service, called Hops & Shops, will loop between Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing, Equinox Brewing, Black Bottle Brewery, Pateros Creek Brewing Co. and New Belgium Brewing, Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins Brewery and Funkwerks. SuperShuttle will offer the service from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
This first weekend of operation, the shuttle is free. After that it will cost $10 for adults, and $5 for children under the age of 15. It will run from Town Pump at the top of hour and half past the hour, but won't be timed with breweries' tour schedules.
Starting May 4, the shuttle will add pickup and drop off at a few hotels.
Copper Kettle Brewing Ready To Boil
04.12.11
Copper Kettle Brewing Company announced plans for their Grand Opening Weekend, Friday April 22 through Sunday April 24. They are slated to be Colorados' newest brewery, though not for long. There are many new breweries dancing on their heels, trying to get their doors open.
Owners Jeremy Gobien and Kristen Kozik are just glad to see their dreams finally become reality. "It's great to see it all happen. We appreciate all the help that we've received", said Jeremy, who is owner and brewmaster.
He is brewing on a 3 barrel system, so plans for the taproom right now are mainly to keep the taps flowing. They have some great-sounding beers in their lineup, including Copper Mezzina Pale Ale (hoppy pale ale), a Dusseldorf Altbier (dry and fruity ale), Mexican Chocolate Stout (brewed with red chilis and chocolate nips), and Roggenbier (Rye ale brewed with Rye, instead of barley with a Belgian ale twist).
So get out and enjoy, and support Denver's newest brewery! For directions and hours of operation, click here.
Breckenridge Brewery Bottling Line Video
04.11.12
Breckenridge Brewery's Todd Thiebault is featured in this video on the brewery's canning line. It's a great short piece by News Channel 4 in Denver, talking about the annual Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival up in Breckenridge this weekend. For more info on the beer festival, check out our Events Page.
BDG2C on TV! CBS4 Colorado Getaways
04.11.11
TV's CBS4 Colorado Getaways featured a piece on Fort Collins Brewery on the April 9th program. At the end of the piece, producer Doug Whitehead mentioned the new 5th Edition Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado, and showed how the map can guide you to find every brewery and brewpub in the state! Check it out here.
Caution:Brewing Co. Starts Brewing
04.07.11
After several dry runs testing equipment, Caution:Brewing Co. brewed its' first beer on Sunday, April 3rd. They are brewing on Odell Brewings' original 5 barrel pilot system. Owners Betty Fey and Danny Wang are excited to finally get going.
Their emphasis will be to create beers that pair well with Asian food. Their 1st beer, Lao Wang Lager, is a light lager that will be served at Dannys' parents' restaurant, Lao Wang Noodle House in Denver.
Caution:Brewing Co. does not have a tap room at this time, but we will keep you posted on where you can try their beers.
Celebrate National Beer Day!
04.07.11
National Beer Day celebrates the end of prohibition, at least as it applied to beer. In 1933 during the prohibition era, the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on March 23rd. That law was enacted on April 7th allowing the brewing and sale of beer in the United States again as long as it was < 3.2% (4% ABV). Throngs gathered outside breweries and taverns, some waiting in line all night, in order to legally buy beer for the first time in over 13 years. As a result, April 7th is known as National Beer Day.
Listen For Colorado Craft Beer Radio
04.07.11
Colorado Craft Beer Radio, AM 760, Airs its 1st program Saturday, April 16th from 12pm-1pm. Tune in and listen to this program all about Colorado Craft Beer.
Mothership Shifts East 2 Fat New Digs
04.06.12
Allow us to decipher that headline.
Colorado brewing legend New Belgium announced yesterday that it is expanding its beer operations by building a new brewery in Asheville, NC. Their second facility - and their first in another state - is planned to be partly online in 2015, and be at full capacity of 400,000 yearly barrels by 2020.
Kim Jordan, president and co-founder of the company, says Asheville is the perfect location for their second brewery. Located in Appalachian foothills, within 50 miles from at least six National Parks, Asheville sports a culture and demographic much like Ft. Collins, where New Belgium has built a comfy and productive home for itself over the past 21 years.
"After several years of searching, we are incredibly excited to have landed in Asheville," said Jordan. "From the deep sense of community to the rich natural environment and the opportunity to revitalize a brownfield site near a vibrant downtown, Asheville has everything we've been looking for in a location for our second brewery."
New Belgium sells beer in 28 states and DC. Like many other brewers, New Belgium has had to pull out of some markets to keep customers adequately supplied. The new Asheville facility, once finished, will increase combined overall output to well over a million barrels every year.
It must be the water...
Asheville, NC is attracting more than its share of beer attention. A magnet for hop heads, the city of 100,000 supports and encourages eight local craft brewers and dozens of beer-centric bars. New Belgium (#3 craft brewer nationwide) is not the first big fish to swim up the French Broad into town, either. California-based Sierra Nevada (#2) announced in January that it is building a second operation near Asheville, with plans to roll out 300,000 barrels annually.
"Today's announcement by New Belgium will enhance the craft brewery cluster that is growing in North Carolina," said a happy Gov. Bev Perdue. "The jobs and investment the company is committing will be a major boon for the region and for the state."
New Belgium may spend as much as $175 million on the new facility, to be located near downtown on the site of the former Western Carolina Livestock Market. That's a huge investment for any company, but NB is not just any company. It has established itself as a model employer, outstanding corporate citizen and charitable local business. Some micro-minded beer snobs may say the move is a grab for profits, and point to the new Shift Pale Lager as a clear sign that New Belgium is hunting for mass-market appeal in lieu of great beers.
However, the home folks in Asheville will be looking forward to kicking back a Fat at the new facility as soon as 2014, which will include tours of the facility and a tasting room. And eventually we'll all be digging more fat wherever the Ranger may roam.
New Breweries To Watch For
04.06.10
Ah, Springtime in the Rockies. It's finally here. Time to crawl out from under your rock, stretch those limbs, and get ready to head to one of the new breweries that are getting ready to open.
Equinox Brewing up in Fort Collins has scheduled their opening date for April 30th. Owned by Shannon and Colin Westcott, it adjoins their homebrew supply store Hops and Berries. Brewmaster Colin plans to have many lovely ales lined up for their opening. Their "back to basics" philosophy will feature several "real ales", handdrawn from casks using no CO2. Lots of information about their beers will be available, including recipes broken down to a 5 gallon batch size. Click here for more info.
Norwood Brewery at Two Candles in Norwood opened last Friday, April 2nd. Not really planning to open that day, Brewmaster Brian Hoefling said that they received some paperwork that they needed, had a beer ready to go, and opened "because they could". Right now he has his American Pale Ale on tap as well as a few guest taps, including beer from Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery. Currently open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, call (970) 327-0100 for more information.
Bierwerks, the new brewery soon to open in Woodland Park, is shooting for opening on Memorial Day weekend. This new venture is the brainchild of Jeff Aragon and Brian Horton, previous brewer/owners of Trinidad Brewing. They received their federal permit last week, and if all things fall into place, Jeff thinks they can pull it off for that last weekend in May. Check out their website to keep updated.
Other breweries on the horizon include Crested Butte Brewery in Gunnison, Elk Mountain Brewing in Parker, Colorado Mountain Brewery in Colorado Springs, Ouray Brewing in Ouray, and Crazy Mountain Brewing in Avon. As always, we will keep you posted.
Sobering, and this isn't the usual spiel from the usual suspects. Bill's pretty straightforward about it:
"There is a considerable value and uniqueness small businesses bring to every community. Even when it is difficult and, maybe, doesn't even make sense, we have a duty to give them our support as a way to enrich the places where we live.
It seems incredible that government, in this case the legislature, hasn't figured this out yet."
After you're done reading that, surf over to the Colorado Brewer's Guild Advocacy page and get involved in keeping Colorado's beer culture alive and well. Local brewers and retailers need our help to keep them in business. Write a letter, and call your legislators. The beer you save could be your favorite.
Women's Only Homebrewing Competition
03.27.12
Arvada Beer Company will be hosting a women's only homebrewing competition this June. All entries will need to follow BJCP guidelines. There will be five categories:
Category 1 Light Lagers
Category 2 Pilsners
Category 6 Light Hybrids
Category 8 English Pale
Category 9 Scottish Ale: Styles A-D ( No Strong Scottish Ales)
Drop off your entries between June 1st and June 15th. 2 bottles per entry. BJCP judges will judge the beers on June 24th or June 25th and then Kelly, Cary and Dennis will judge best of show finalists. Winner gets to brew a batch of their beer. They will announce the winner on June 30th at Colorado Craft Beer Show's live broadcast at noon. Have to design and brew the recipe yourself ladies.
The coupon partner list for the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado Beer Map continues to expand. Eddyline Restaurant & Brewery, Elk Mountain Brewing, Pagosa Pub Works Brewing, and Three Barrel Brewing have partnered with the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado to offer beer and other goods to the masses. Pagosa and Elk Mountain are giving away a free beer with every coupon, and Eddyline and Three Barrel a free souvenir pint glass with the purchase of a beer.
This recent addition brings the coupon total to 24. That is, 24 coupons for free beer, food, glassware, and discounts on merchandise & homebrew supplies included with every map! A $150 value, conservatively speaking!
Challenging What Beer Is and Can Be at Twisted Pine Brewing
03.24.10
Boulder, Colorado - March 24th 2010 - Experimentation is running rampant in the craft beer industry these days. Cherry Chocolate Chili Stout, Yerba Mate Pale Ale and Pumpkin Brown Ale are just some of the latest beers now available to the everyday consumer. The craft beer industry is constantly exploring new frontiers to come up with the next biggest thing in beer. Twisted Pine continues to embrace experimentation and takes it up a notch.
Past releases have included "Poison Fish" a beer laced with ginger, wasabi, horseradish and mustard, "Port Wine Porter" an ale infused with port wine soaked oak chips and of course, there's the ever so popular "Billy's Chilies," a beer that packs the heat of 5 fresh chili peppers. "The freedom to brew whatever comes to mind is one of the privileges of working at Twisted Pine," says brewer Jeff Brumley. "If you can dream it, you can brew it."
In the works at Twisted Pine is a beer made with Ghost Chilies, also known as the hottest chilies on Earth. "The trick to these creative brews is keeping them balanced," says owner Bob Baile. "You don't want one flavor to completely overwhelm another."
"It is the unique interesting beers that really keep people coming back to our brewery, especially when there are as many great breweries as there are in Boulder," says marketing director Mike Burns. "I became familiar with the beers of Boulder a long time ago, but I always keep a look out for new releases." Upcoming releases at Twisted Pine include: Imperial Red Ale, Vanilla Espresso Stout, Sour Raspberry Brown Ale and a Vanilla Oaked Stout. At least one new beer has been tapped at Twisted Pine every week since last December.
'Save The Ales' Event At Bristol Brewing, March 23
03.22.11
Bristol Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs will host Save The Ales, an event designed to highlight the effects of State HB11-1284, and encouraging the local community to block its passage.
HB11-1284 is the bill introduced in the state legislature last week allowing full-strength beer sales in chain stores, specifically convenience stores. Bristol is hosting this gathering of local business and community leaders in an effort to explain how this bill will affect craft breweries, and in turn, the local community.
Craft breweries represent a collaborative community that benefits the local economy, in large part because - unlike other states - start-up breweries in Colorado have access to independent retailers and liquor store owners. These businesses work together to stock and promote locally-made beer. Loss of access to market will result in job loss, profits being sent out of state, and the endangerment of niche and specialty beers.
Wed., March 23, at 4:30pm, Bristol Brewing will host this event, with business and community leaders to craft beer advocates gathering in the Tasting Room for a letter-signing, asking local legislators to say "no to HB1284." For more information, go to Bristol Brewing's website.
Grimm Brothers in Loveland Start Bottling
03.21.11
Saturday March 26th 2011 will mark the first bottled release from Grimm Brothers Brewhouse of Loveland. The beer, a first in its fabled series will mark a major milestone for the brewery that opened in July of 2010. Since its opening, Grimm Brothers has expanded to over 25 restaurant and bar locations in Northern Colorado. This first bottled release is titled Hare's Bride and is considered to be a German Hefewein. It will be available at select local liquor stores and in the taproom located at 547 N Denver Avenue in Loveland starting Saturday.
Brewer's Association Releases New Data On 2010 Craft Brewer's Growth
03.21.11
The Brewer's Association, the trade association representing the majority of U.S. brewing companies, released information today on growth in the craft brewing industry for 2010. The year 2010 saw a volume increase for small and independent craft brewers of 11 percent, and their retail sales dollars increase 12 percent over 2009 figures.
This shows a growth of over 1 million barrels in one year, according to their figures.
"Beer lovers increased their appreciation for American craft brewers and their beers in 2010," said Paul Gatza, director, Brewers Association. "Craft brewers' stories resonate with Americans who are choosing small, independent companies making delicious beers in more than 100 different styles."
The number of breweries also increased in 2010, with the Brewer's Association reporting 1759 operating breweries. This puts the number of breweries in the U.S. at an all-time high in the history of this country, surpassing the number of breweries that existed before Prohibition.
"Prohibition caused a dramatic decline in the number of breweries in the United States, but the number of breweries is now at an all-time high," added Gatza. "With well over 100 new brewery openings in 2010, plus 618 breweries in planning stages, all signs point to continued growth for the industry."
Overall, U.S. beer sales were down approximately one percent, or 2 million barrels, in 2010 compared to being down 2.2 percent in 2009.
With over 600 new breweries in planning in the U.S., the industry seems to be steadily growing.
We are certainly seeing a dramatic increase in the number of Colorado breweries this year. You can see this for yourself when the 5th Edition of The Beer Drinker's Guide hits the racks later this Spring.
More breweries mean more opportunities for us to drink great beer. That's the kind of growth worth raising a glass to.
Win Opening Day Tickets At Coors Field
03.20.12
Opening day at Coors Field is only two weeks away. The brewers at AC Golden want to see some great pictures of you and your friends enjoying a Colorado Native Lager anywhere in the beautiful state of Colorado. The brewers will pick their favorites and award a pair of tickets for the game to each of the top 2 submissions! Email your pics to info@acgolden.com or post them on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoNativeLager) by Monday, April 2 for your chance to win! Winners will be announced on April 3rd.
St. Paddy's Day Beers Anyone?
03.11.11
St. Patrick's Day gets us jazzed to tip an Irish Ale. Here is a sampling of what you can find at your local brewery around the state this St. Patrick's Day:
Blarney Rock Irish Ale at Rockyard Brewing in Castle Rock Crossed Irons Irish Ale at Kannah Creek in Grand Junction
Odell's Red Ale in Fort Collins Wee Banshee Irish Heather Ale at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs
There's an Irish Red and an Irish Porter at Shamrock Brewing in Pueblo Roisin Dubh, an Irish Stout, brewed by Phantom Canyon in Colorado Springs Dry Irish Stout, Oat Malt Stout at Dry Dock in Aurora Fire-Stoned Irish Red Ale at Pagosa Brewing in Pagosa Springs
So no matter where you may reside, or find yourself this fine St. Patrick's Day, tip your hat to the Green. No, don't drink green beer, lads and lasses, but seek yourself out your local brewpub, and drink a fine Irish Ale.
Fire Chief Tapping at Rock Bottom
03.10.11
Thursday, March 10, Rock Bottom in Colorado Springs taps Fire Chief Ale. It's a Dusseldorf style Altbier - medium body, malty flavor, 26 ibu's. Bagpipes will be playing for the tapping, and free beer from 6pm-6:30pm. Part of the proceeds benefit local firefighters.
Phantom Canyon Brewmaster Alan Stiles Intros Phantom Canyon's New "Revival Series"
03.09.10
Debuting Wednesday, March 3rd is the first in a series of beers based on recipes culled from the brewing logs of British breweries, both operating and defunct, as well as modern interpretations of ancient, rare and vanishing beers from Europe. We'll be brewing one a month until we run out of recipes.
Brewer's Association Announces 2009 Craft Brewer Sales Numbers
03.08.10
The Brewer's Association today released 2009 stats on the U.S. Craft Brewing Industry. In 2009, U.S. beer sales overall were down approximately 5 million barrels or 2.2%. Imported beer sales were down 9.8% in 2009. However, the craft brewing industry saw their sales increase by 10.3% over 2008 sales.
The total number of craft brewers in the U.S. also grew, from 1485 in 2008 to 1585 that were operating for some or all of 2009. That was good news for those of us who like to drink craft beer, with an increase of 613,922 barrels.
What an exciting time to be involved in the craft brewing movement. At a time when our country is struggling to emerge from the "Great Recession", and dollars are tight for many, people still want to support small, local breweries, and sip their fine hand-crafted brew.
All The Brews Thats Fit To Print
03.05.12
Dan Frosch of The New York Times highlighted some smaller Denver breweries in a Friday piece titled Craft Brewing Finds A Welcoming Atmosphere. Check it out. They feature Strange Brewing, Denver Beer Co., and Wit's End among others. And on the wall at Strange Brewing, a beautiful shot of our map, The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado. You know they wouldn't print it if it weren't true.
Bugs, Buggers, and Brews at Fort Collins Brewery
02.24.11
Here's a cool twist on typical brewery tasting room events. Fort Collins Brewery offers Bugs, Buggers, and Brews, a fly-fishing fly-tying workshop in their tasting room every other Wednesday afternoon. Local pro fly fisherman Caleb VanWagner presides over the fly-tying. They have gotten as many as 20 people show up for this, bringing their fly-tying gear. They meet in their community room off the taproom.
So if you're a fly fisherman, or you want to learn, stop by FCB's taproom every other Wednesday, 4pm-6pm, and tie some flies. The next meeting is March 2. For more info, contact Kimberlee Ruben at Fort Collins Brewery.
Rocky Mountain Microbrew Symposium Recap
02.22.12
The 17th annual Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium on Feb 17th, 2012, was bigger and better than ever. The symposium was started by Dr. Jim Mattoon, then director of the Center for Biotechnology & Bioinformatics at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Among other things, the center performs basic research in yeast genetics and fermentation science. Dr. Mattoon sadly passed away in 2010, but the conference continues to inform and bring together brewers from around the state and beyond, for a day of presentations on various aspects of brewing, shoulder rubbing and general beer swilling.
This year attendance was up, and the event was in a larger venue on campus than in previous years. The cool thing about this symposium is that it's all about experienced members of the brewing industry sharing information and discussing methods with each other. It's yet another example of how unique the brewing industry is when it comes to sharing information for the good of all. Here is a brief overview of the highlights:
Yeast Management by Jess Caudill of Wyeast. Jess shared his experiences as a brewer harvesting and managing yeast. His practices went from, as he says "slacker to pro". He talked about different strains of yeast, how to perform cell counts, determine viability, pitching rates, and harvesting.
Multiple Knockout Brewing was the subject of Eric Baumann from Oskar Blues. This comes into play for brewers as they expand their operations, using larger fermentation vessels that take several brews to fill. Knocking out multiple batches into the same fermenter presents its own issues to make sure the beer ferments properly and tastes the way it should.
Quality Assurance In Hopping was presented by Christian Holbrook from New Belgium Brewing. He talked about sourcing hops, what to look for and how drying, kilning, and pelletizing works. You could almost smell the hop resins coming through his slides. It just made me thirsty.
Lunch is always fun at the symposium, because large tables stocked with beer are opened up to the guests. Attending brewers are all encouraged to bring their beers to share, and you often find beer you won't find elsewhere. At this time Mike Bristol of Bristol Brewing Co. was honored with the (virtual) 1st Annual Mattoon Stein, presented by the Petritz Foundation and RMMS. The goal of the award is to recognize members of the brewing community for outstanding performance in community involvement, technical expertise, and all-around excellence in the industry. While we ate we watched the movie Beer Culture, presented by Tom Kolicko, the maker of the film. It's a feature length documentary about the hardworking men and women in the Colorado craft beer industry, and followed a few breweries through some trials and tribulations.
David Edgars from Mountain West Brewery Supply started off the afternoon session with a fun, interactive beer tasting, having all of us compare different glassware, and asking if the right glass enhances the enjoyment of beer. Most of us agreed that proper glassware does make a difference. We were even happier when we realized we got to take our pretty vessels home.
Steve Breezely from Avery Brewing was up next to ask the question, Could you ever afford a centrifuge? A centrifuge is a big very expensive piece of equipment that filters like nothing else, and helps squeeze more beer out of each brew. He used his own math to show how much money could be saved from reclaiming beer that would otherwise go down the drain, as well as getting more flavor out of the dry-hopping process. All this while sipping an Avery Maharaja Imperial IPA. Ahhh..., yes, centrifuges...
Lastly, was a panel discussion about customer loyalty programs for breweries. Hosts were Tony Simmons of Pagosa Brewing, Josh Goldberg from Left Hand Brewing, and Kevin Reed from Rock Bottom Brewing. They all discussed how important customer loyalty is, and the different programs they use, such as Mug Clubs. They stressed the value of knowing your customers, what they want, and that the word-of-mouth they spread is so much more valuable than advertising. The day ended with most people heading to Trinity Brewing for awesome food and beer, and some much anticipated hang time with brewin buds. A good day, to be sure.
I Love Beer Mini Tour at Old Chicago
01.27.11
The I Love Beer Mini Tour - a favorite of Old Chicago's guests - will run through Feb. 14, and is an eight-beer tour where guests craft the Mini Tour of their choice by selecting their own beers. The tour kicked off Wednesday, Jan. 26 at all of the Old Chicago's in the restaurant chain.
Guests who visit one of Old Chicago's 26 Colorado locations will have the opportunity to try an exclusive beer - Deviant Dale's IPA from Oskar Blues Brewery, a Colorado-based local favorite - as part of their I Love Beer Mini Tour. Deviant Dale's IPA is a version of the brewery's flagship beer, Dale's Pale Ale, which is brewed with four kinds of hops and then dry-hopped with a fifth. Deviant Dale's IPA will be available only at Colorado Old Chicagos while supplies last.
Old Chicago's 1.3 million World Beer Tour members who complete the Tour by choosing their own eight beers will receive the highly coveted Mini Tour T-shirt with the classic I Love Beer design on the front. More information can be found on the Old Chicago website.
Breckenridge's Ale House At Amato's Soon To Open
01.24.11
The newest member of the Breckenridge Brewery family, Ale House at Amato's, should be opening mid-March 2011, according to Ron Piscitelli, Director of Restaurant Operations for Breckenridge Brewery. The location is the Amato of Denver building, a historic landmark in the "LoHi" (Lower Highlands) section of Denver. Amato of Denver, a family owned business established in 1947 that sells statuary and fountains, will move up the block.
The new Ale House will have two outside patios, one of them rooftop, to take advantage of the great skyline views of Denver and the surrounding mountains. Says Piscitelli" The food will be more upscale brewpub, lots of small plates. We plan to do a lot of cooking with beer, in our sauces and dishes. Much of the menu will change with the seasons."
That sounds great, but what about the beer, you ask? "We will have 40 taps, 5 of which will be breweries from out of state, the rest will be Colorado breweries. And, we want to focus on each breweries' unique beers. We don't want just a lot of IPA's on tap, for example".
They are also trying hard to work with residents in the area on issues such as parking, and looking for ways to encourage people to walk or bike to the Ale House. We'll keep you posted, and check their Facebook page for more details.
Eddyline Riding the Flow
01.21.11
Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery in Buena Vista is expanding. "We can't keep up with demand" says Ryan McFadden, one of the managers at Eddyline. The plan is to move down the street into a bigger facility that will house the brewery, a tasting room, and a restaurant.
"We need to be able to brew more beer, so we will be going up to a 13bbl system," said Ryan. "We plan to can in 16 oz cans and distribute our beer in our area". Remodeling on the new location has begun.
They plan to keep the current location, and create a different restaurant experience there. We will keep you posted as details unfold. Check their facebook page for more details.
Pagosa Beer at Wolf Creek Ski Area
01.18.11
Pagosa Brewing Company in Pagosa Springs is now selling their beer at Wolf Creek Ski Area. The selections currently offered are: Kayaker Cream Ale, Powder Day IPA, and Soaker's Stout. "Our beer has been really well received there", says Pagosa Brewing's owner and brewmmaster Tony Simmons. So now after a day on the slopes, you can settle back and enjoy a brew from Pagosa.
Shamrock Brewing and Solar Roast Coffee Collaborate on Brew
01.18.11
Shamrock Brewing Company in Pueblo has collaborated with their neighbors, Solar Roast Coffee to produce Third Street Stout, a bold stout beer brewed with Solar Roast's Organic Bolivia coffee. Both businesses are located just a few doors apart on W. Third St. in Pueblo.
Solar Roast Coffee is owned by brothers Michael and David Hartkop. "We built our first solar coffee roaster in our backyard from an old satellite dish, plastic mirrors, and a broccoli strainer", says roastmaster Michael Hartkop. They currently have 2 locations, the one on W. Third St., and another at the Pueblo Mall.
Shamrock Brewing Company is located at 108 W. Third in a renovated building that was the Irish Brewpub. According to Brewmaster Jason Buehler the Third Street Stout features locally grown and malted barley from Colorado Malting Company in Alamosa. The addition of crystal malt, oats, chocolate malt, and roasted barley adds rich chocolate and caramel flavors to the beer. Once the beer is fermented, coarse ground coffee beans are added and the flavor of the coffee is extracted and mixes with the beer. "The caramel and chocolate flavors of the stout complement the coffee flavors very well. Using the Bolivia dark Roast adds a subtle smokiness without adding additional bitterness to the beer", says Jason.
What better way to pass a cold winter afternoon or evening? Third Street Stout will be released on Thursday, January 20th at 4:00 pm at Shamrock Brewing Company.
Bristol Brewing-Buy a Lab & Help a Lab
01.14.11
Every Tuesday from January through March, buy a pint of Laughing Lab in the tasting room of Bristol Brewing between 5pm and 9 pm and $1.00 will go straight to the Humane Society. Also, On January 25th bring in a picture of your "Party Animal" to the Bristol Brewing tasting room and you are automatically entered to win one of three Bristol Brewing Company party animal prizes.
Prizes include:
1st: Bristol Gift Pack
2nd: One free Bristol growler
3rd: Two free Bristol pints
The most photogenic party animals will also be featured in future advertisements for Buy a Lab & Help a Lab events. Go to the Humane Society website for more details.
So drink a Lab or two on Tuesdays - the cats and dogs of the Pikes Peak Region will be glad you did.
Boston Mayor Slams Colorado Beer: Uck You!
01.13.12
Boston Mayor Thomas "Mumbles" Menino may be a nice guy for an Easterner and a politician, but he doesn't know squat about beer.
"He wants me to do the Tebow expression. I do that every Sunday in church," said Menino, referring to Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow's habit of taking to one knee to pray after big plays. Instead, Menino was thinking about offering a sample of local beer.
"We have the best. I mean, you know, Colorado beer? It hasn't even made it east yet. Sam Adams has made it to the west and Harpoon has made it out there, but Colorado Rocky beer? Uck," Menino said.
Uck to you, too.
See what we mean? Jeez, Mayor, that's not just wrong, that's stupid, and has riled up a lot more people than your Healthy Beverage Executive Order aimed at purging Boston city hall of sugar-loaded drinks. Mayor Hancock was quick to set the record straight, according to Jeremy Meyer and Jessica Fender of the Denver Post (be sure to check out the lively comments at the end of the story):
"First of all, we are the microbrew capital of the nation. Some of the best beer in the world is brewed here in Colorado," Hancock said. "The moment Sam Adams sells more beer than Coors, then he can come talk to me. Otherwise, he needs to stay in Boston and not talk about our beer."
Now, we wouldn't necessarily turn down a Sam Adams if somebody handed it to us for free, but I'd really like to know where to get this elusive Colorado Rocky beer. Maybe its only available in Massachusetts. Maybe the mayor knows more about beer than we give him credit for...
Naahh. No Ucking Way. The Post story continues, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a former brewery owner, said Menino may be one of the nation's best mayors, but "obviously he hasn't had enough time to learn about Colorado beer." Some of Colorado's brewers were less diplomatic.
Dave Chichura of Oskar Blues, which sells plenty of beer in Boston, talked a little trash of his own. "The (Boston mayor's) statement shows how little they know about beer out on the East Coast, given the fact they haven't really discovered hops yet," said Chichura, the head brewer.
The mayors eventually settled on a non-alcoholic wager. Menino pledged to feed Hancock a lobster dinner and to hang Tebow's #15 jersey around Paul Revere's statue after the New England defeat. Hancock promised Menino a steak dinner, and to wear a Patriots jersey to a public event in case the Broncos don't win over New England.
Update: Well guess who won? Hancock made good on his bet by wearing a Tom Brady jersey during halftime of a Jan. 16 Nuggets-Utah Jazz game in Denver. He also sent along 40 pounds of beef (beer not included) featuring Tebow Tenderloins cuts. That's a big steak dinner.
Our Governor's a Brewer -
01.12.11
and yours is not.
Well, he's had a couple of other jobs since helping to startup Denver's Wynkoop Brewery in 1988. LoDo was a scary part of town back then, but that brewpub was part of a wave of development in Lower Downtown Denver that helped put Coors Field on Blake Street, that brought along more businesses, that helped bring more brewers, that helped all of us get better, tastier beer.
John Hickenlooper, former geologist, former brewer, former Mayor of Denver, is now Governor of Colorado.
And imagine this - he was elected, and people even knew about his sordid past as a brewer. Hey, if this ain't a Great Beer State, we don't know what is.
Maybe it was partly about the election, and the choices we voters had to make. Let's see: a former brewer-turned-mayor, a former Republican-turned-against-the-party, and a former wait-where-did-this-guy-come-from. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. It used to be that bars and liquor stores were CLOSED on election day in Colorado. Thank God that's not the case anymore. In the 2010 elections, beer provided some of the only clarity to be found anywhere.
And one result of that clarity is our new Governor/Brewer, John Hickenlooper. His old brewpub worked up a new beer just for his inauguration, Inaugurale. Beer was served at the inaugural soires, and the Denver Post reports in very complete ways that a Good Time Was Had By All.
Our favorite part of his inaugural address may be your favorite part, too.
"Why Colorado more than any other place? We have one of the most highly-educated work forces in America. We have perhaps the highest percentage of any state, of people who came here not for a job or promotion, but for our quality of life. And they have kept coming even through this long, hard recession.
Plus, we have the best beer. Rest assured, we will be obsessive in spreading the word about the Colorado advantage."
So let's all raise a toast to Hick, and hope to heck he's up to task - the hard work of making this a better world.
Boulder Draft House Closes
01.11.11
We at The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado continue to track new breweries/brewpubs that are opening, as part of our goal to promote Colorado Craft Beer. It is also our job to report on those that close.
The Boulder Draft House/Colorado Brewing Company has closed its doors for business, according to Alicia Wallace of Boulder's Daily Camera. The Beer Drinker's Guide was unable to reach anyone at Boulder Draft House to comment. The Daily Camera reports that a sign was posted to the front door of 2027 13th St. indicating that the Colorado Brewing Co. LLC planned to close the Draft House on Jan. 1 for "renovation and re-invention" of the business.
However, Founder Jim Howser said the closure is final.
"We weren't able to live up to our financial obligations," he said, noting the Draft House did not make its rent payment in early December.
La Veta Bistro & Brewery Serves Their Brew
01.10.11
La Veta Bistro and Brewery opened their doors for business in October of 2010. When they opened, their license had not yet come through to allow them to sell their own beer.
In December that changed, and they are now selling their own beer on tap, as well as a selection of other bottled microbrews. Try out their Spanish Peaks Porter, Oak Street Amber, or Hit-the-Trail Pale Ale. The owner/operators are Carol Houk and Reed White. Right now their hours of operation are Friday through Monday, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Check them out next time you are down that way. For more info, check out their Facebook page.
Colorado Boy Making Pizzas
01.10.11
Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery is making pizzas now. Colorado Boy is located in Ridgway, owned and operated by Tom & Sandy Hennessy.
According to Tom "We have a new menu with artisan pizzas made from scratch. It was a squeeze, but we have done our remodel, fiddled with the oven over the holidays and are ready to make our pies everyday. Let us know what you think! "
We know that the Hennessys know pizza, or as Tom says "Beer is my hobby, but pizza is my life." For more information about Colorado Boy, check out their website or their Facebook page.
Oskar Blues Reports 40% Growth In 2011
01.04.12
Oskar Blues Brewery has reported amazing growth for 2011, according to a press release sent out today. The brewery, well known for starting the Craft Beer-In-A-Can movement nearly 10 years ago continues to be a leader in the Craft Beer industry in a variety of ways.
In addition to their beery restaurant locations, in 2011 the brewery announced the opening of their sustainable Hops & Heifers Farm, began building their own bikes with REEB Cycles (www.REEBcycles.com), rolled out their own Bonewagon Food Truck and posted a 40% increase in national beer sales in 2011. The brewery grew from 42,000 barrels in 2010 to 59,000 barrels in 2011 - the 17,000 barrel increase represents nearly the equivalent of what the brewery produced in all of 2008.
That's a lot of beer. And its all been great fun, if you ask Dale Katechis, the soul-founder of Oskar Blues who was named a 2011 ColoradoBIZ magazine CEO of the year finalist. "The farm, the bikes, the music are all an extension of what this is all about; doing what you love. It's important to stay hands-on and passionate. We just hope everyone has as much fun with it as we do."
The explosive growth moved the brewery into the top 50 American Breweries list (36th Craft Brewery) according to the Brewers Association in 2010. "We've seen a lot of growth, the crew has done a great job learning how to effectively grow" says head brewer Dave Chichura who has been with the company for nearly seven years.
Oskar Blues is well into a more than $4M dollar improvement project to start the year. The project includes two new trench drains, fourteen 200 bbl. fermenters, two 400 bbl. bright beer tanks and a new can line (KHS Filler, Angelus Seamer) that will allow the brewery to double its canning speed and introduce 16oz cans to its line-up.
Deviant Dale's IPA will be the initial offering in 16 oz. cans in March of 2012. Deviant, a restaurant favorite, won a Silver Medal in the 2011 Great American Beer Festival American-Style IPA category, the most competitive category in the history of the event with 176 entries. The brewery also took home a Silver Medal for Mama's Little Yella PILS in the Bohemian Pilsener category and a Bronze Medal with Old Chub in the Scotch Ale category.
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Wynkoop's Beer Drinker of the Year
03.03.10
At Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Company, William (Bill) Howell, a Sterling, Alaska college administrator, retired Navy officer, homebrewer, and beer educator was crowned Beer Drinker of the Year. In 2007 he created a new course for Kenai Peninsula College entitled The Art and History of Brewing, and has traveled extensively across Alaska and the West in pursuit of great beer. He also serves as an ally for various beer retailers and journalists, and blogs about his state’s rich beer culture.
One of three national finalists at Wynkoop competing for the 2010 title, Howell withstood 2 hours of difficult beer-related questions from a panel of national beer experts to win the 14th annual title.
He wins free beer for life at Wynkoop, a $250 bar tab at his favorite brewpub (Elias Brewing Company in Soldotna, AK), unmatched beer-lover glory and other prizes for winning the title. Go here for more info.
San Luis Valley Anniversary
03.03.10
San Luis Valley Brewing Company in Alamosa turns four years old on Wednesday, March 3. Scott and Angie will also be introducing a new brew called Valle Caliente, a green chili ale. Starting Saturday, and running all week, you can get a pint of this new brew, or any of the others on tap, for $2.50 a pint. Check out their website for live music and other happenings or call 719-587-BEER.
1 Down, 2 To Go - HB-1186 Defeated
02.24.10
House Bill 1186, sponsored by Republican State Representative Larry Liston of Colorado Springs, was defeated soundly by a 3-8 vote in the Colorado House Finance Committee today. Rep. Liston, disappointed with the outcome, commented that liquor stores, "will never compromise because they have a monopoly and they will keep it until hell freezes over". Additionally, Liston remarked that "the legislature kicked the can down the road again," no doubt referring to the conundrum that is 3.2 beer.
Eric Wallace of Lefthand Brewing was encouraged, but not ecstatic. Wallace's tempered response recognizes that two additional moves to alter liquor laws in Colorado, HB-1279 (the grocery-store bill) and another initiative, still exist on the horizon.
The Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado will have a story elaborating upon the downfall of HB-1186 and the other proposed measures in the coming days. Stay tuned!
Proposed Legislation to Alter
Craft Beer Landscape
02.22.10
Be an advocate for Colorado Craft Beer. The Brewers Guild is urging all Colorado Craft Beer lovers to call and email their legislators now through February 24. On that day, the Colorado Legislature House Finance Committee will hear HB 1186 which would allow convenience stores to sell full strength beer. This bill would dramatically change the Colorado beer landscape by allowing corporate store beer buyers to control the majority of shelf space decisions within these outlets. Go to www.coloradobeer.org and let your voice be heard.
New Brewery Alert!
Rifle Brewing Co. & Bierworks
02.22.10
Rifle Brewing Company, located in the restaurant Sammy's On Park Avenue started brewing beer, and had their Grand Opening in January, 2010. They are listed on The Beer Drinker's Guide To Colorado, so check there for hours of operation, etc. or go to riflebrew.com. Brewmaster Todd Malloy has lots of plans to bring more great brews to the Western Slope.
Bierwerks plans to open late Spring, early Summer in Woodland Park. Jeff Aragon and Brian Horton, previously of Trinidad Brewing Company, are teaming up again to bring some fine beers up high to Woodland Park. “We really want this to have a community feel for the people of Woodland Park, as well as a great place to stop when you're headed up or down the pass” Jeff said. They plan to serve a wide range of beers, mostly German style, with plans to bottle eventually.
As the Brewers Turn
02.22.10
There is a shift that has occurred with several brewers on the Southern Front Range, and it has nothing to do with tectonic plates. Andy Bradley has left Phantom Canyon Brewing Company to head the new Colorado Mountain Brewery on the NorthEast side of Colorado Springs. Alan Stiles moved north from Shamrock Brewing Company to fill Andy's place at Phantom Canyon. And Shamrock now has Jason Beuhler as Head Brewer, previously the assistant brewer at Rockyard Brewing Company in Castle Rock. Several other shifts are happening as well. As always, we will keep you posted.
Rockyard Soon to Bottle
02.22.10
Rockyard Brewing Company in Castle Rock is opening up a bottling facility in an existing warehouse near the brewpub. They will soon be able to bottle all their main line beers in 12 oz. bottles to sell in 6 packs. They will still bottle their specialty and seasonal beers in 22 oz. bombers. Congratulations Rockyard. We will be looking for it in our favorite liquor stores soon.
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