Great Divide 19th Anniversary Ale

ABV – 10.2%

The song “Minotaur” by Thee Oh Sees epitomizes the swirly sway motion of the booze bomb known as Great Divide 19th Anniversary Ale. A roasty molasses nose gives way to an almost dark rum booziness while the sweet birch syrup is complimented with a dry woody finish. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Fantastic Fruit Beer

Many people shy away from fruit beers. They just don’t think the two should ever mix, never to dance the delicate art of brewing. But, not all great beers have to be pale and bitter, and a little sweet goes a long way. With summer just around the bend, folks are eager to get out and enjoy the warm cosmic rays. And, although all of these beers (save for one) come in 22oz or larger bottles, here is a phenomenal six pack that will make you second guess what great beer can be.

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Night Shift Brewing – Ever Weisse

ABV: 5.1%

Beer should be enjoyable. That’s simple enough, right? But sometimes I feel like as beer nerds we lose track of that. I know I do. I spend way too much time rummaging through Beeradvocate[1] and ratebeer, I obsess over “white-whale” beers and it legitimately bothers me when I try a much-hyped, rare, “highly rated” beer and it just disappoints me[2].  Then I start thinking about all the time I spent checking draft lists[3] and twitter feeds and the disappointment turns into pure anger, mostly directed at myself. I won’t even go into how frustrated I get at beer distribution[4] and beer laws because I am sure anyone reading this already feels my pain there. But here’s the good news: it does not have to be this way. Assuming you live close to a city, I can almost guarantee that you have phenomenal beer in your backyard[5] and you should be drinking and enjoying it. Not because it’s easy[6], but because it’s delicious and worth knowing about. Night Shift’s Ever Weisse, a superbly funky, sinfully red sour Berliner Weisse beer is the perfect example of the beers we should all be spending more of our time on. Read More

Crafting a Nation Private Screening Recap

UPDATE: Crafting a Nation will celebrate it’s Coloardo premieres THIS Thursday, May 16 in Denver and Friday, May 17 in Boulder as part of American Craft Beer Week.   Denver’s screening will take place at the Alamo Drafthouse in Littleton, appropriately home to 32 taps of craft deliciousness.  For tickets visit Alamo Drafthouse’s page.  Boulder’s Premiere will take place in Upslope Brewing’s new location.  Below is our write up of Crafting a Nation during their private screening last month.

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River Horse-Tripel Horse

ABV: 10%

Okay, so to get a proper feel for the River Horse-Tripel Horse you are going to need a particular soundtrack. Remember Salt ‘n Pepa’s ‘Shoop’? Remember the breakdown where it’s all, “Oooh ooh ooh, I like whatcha do, when ya do, whatcha do . . .”? Got the tune in your head? That is your soundtrack for this beer. Read More

American Craft Beer Week in Colorado

Today starts the 8th annual American Craft Beer Week which runs from May 13 to May 19th. Put on by the Brewers Association, the week long national celebration is meant … Read More

Craft Breweries come out for American Beer Classic

If Beer Heaven exists it might have been in Chicago on Saturday May 11th when 100 breweries lined up on Soldier Field to offer their finest brews. The inaugural American Beer Classic (ABC) put on display craft breweries from all over the country and the thousands of patrons who roamed the field with their shot-glass sampler could not have been disappointed.

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River Runners Pale Ale

Eddyline Brewery and Restaurant – River Runners Pale Ale

ABV: 6%

IBU: 50

Eddyline Brewery and Restaurant’s River Runners Pale Ale is yet another example of the  awesomesauce that can come out of both 16-ounce cans and the frequently neglected beer region of Southern Colorado. Read More

Anderson Valley Brewing Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout

ABV: 6.9%

IBU: 14

I grew up on a farm in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Every day to and from school, we would pass one of Anderson County’s two distilleries. The smell of mash in the morning still brings back a flood of childhood memories. So when I heard that Anderson Valley produced a beer aged in an Anderson County batch of Bourbon barrels, I was naturally rather intrigued. I am a serious Bourbon drinker and, quite honestly, know more about Bourbon than I do beer. You grow up with it, you tend to learn a few things.

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Bells Brewery Hopslam

Bell’s Brewery- Hopslam

ABV: 10%

IBU: 90

When considering the progress India Pale Ales have made in the American beer drinking culture while also crediting the rise … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Summer Movie Beer Pairings

As we inch into the sunny days of May, the impending summer vacation for teachers beams like a beacon of hope, eclipsing the flickering fluorescent lights and mounting stacks of ungraded papers. As teachers, my wife (Sarah) and I use the summer months as we did as children – as a time for relaxation and recreation (albeit with supplemental jobs and some mandatory professional development trainings scattered about). But we travel, stay up a little later, work in our garden, and try to cram everything into that brief span when students aren’t around. Read More

Dry Dock Brewery Hop Abomination

Hop Abomination

Dry Dock Brewery

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 70

Typically, when it comes to drinking beer, my rule is the more IBU’s the better. IBUs represent bitterness. Bitterness represents hops. … Read More

Chicago Gears Up For Inaugural American Beer Classic

Chicago’s Soldier Field has hosted a lot of events since it opened in 1924. Besides the Bears, it has hosted college football, ice hockey, World Cup soccer and even the Rolling Stones. But May 11^th will be a first for the stadium when the inaugural American Beer Classic takes center stage.

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Iron Throne Blonde Ale – Ommegang Brewery

ABV: 6.5%
IBU: N/A

I’m conflicted; after months of anticipation and searching high & low to find it, I paid the iron price for what was almost assuredly going to be one of my new favorite drinks. But after tracking for Ommegang’s Game of Thrones partnership Iron Throne Blonde Ale, I felt a little let down.

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Cult Beers Part 2

A few months ago we brought you part one of cult beers.  In today’s installment we touch on Dogfish Head, Yuengling, and a couple sours that’ll make you beer drool while packing a pucker.

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New Belgium Brewing Company – Blue Paddle

Blue Paddle – New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO

ABV: 4.6%

IBU: 33

Available: WA, OR, CA, NV, ID, MT, WY, AZ, CO, NM, TX, KS, NE, SD, ND, … Read More

What to Wear to the Kentucky Derby

Dressing for the Kentucky Derby is arguably one of the trickiest fashion endeavors of the year. For ladies on Halloween, if the packaging said ‘sexy’ and it was totally inappropriate … Read More

Aviator Brewing Company – Hogwild India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.7%

IBU: a lot (per their website)

Last weekend I went home and, because my parents were in Denver (jealous!), the fridge was pretty empty food wise. Lucky for me there was plenty of beer though! There was the usual Yuengling, some Great Lakes, and then I saw it: Aviator Brewing Company’s Devils Tramping Ground Tripel. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’m reviewing tonight. However, I am showcasing another Aviator beer, their Hogwild India Pale Ale. Read More

Hombrewing – Green Bullet Saison Part 2

As the weather has gotten warmer I have been craving a light tart saison. Currently I have brewed three of them that are aging away. Recently, I bottled one that was exclusively hopped with Green Bullet hops. I wanted to sit down and post a tasting of this beer.

This beer was brewed back in early January. Here you can see my recipe and brew day notes. The beer is a straightforward take on saison with a base of pilsner malt and some Vienna and wheat to add a bit of complexity. I chose the Green Bullet hops as they are a dual purpose hop that provide ample bittering and aroma. This beer was the first beer that I have gotten a chance to use my new floor corker. Overall I was impressed with the look and the feel of the caged and corked bottles. I do think I added a little too much sugar at bottling as the bottle gushed a bit as I opened it.

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Great American Beer Festival Ticket Sales Announced

The 2013-2014 year is going to be HUGE for craft beer in the state of Colorado.  This year Denver will play host to the Craft Brewer’s Conference, the World Beer … Read More