Collaborating for a Cause | Bear: Stay Strong Alex

The Stay Strong Alex initiative continues this week with a special iteration of Esker Hart Artisan Ale’s Bear series. With his first full-production location slated to open in early 2024, Bob D’Angelo started his brewing journey nine years ago. Early support from Alex served as a huge kick start to what has now become Esker Hart, and in the wake of his unanticipated cancer diagnosis, Bob knew that he wanted to honor and dedicate this second Blend of Bear to him in support of the long road ahead. We had a chance to talk with Bob and learn more about his history with Alex as well as the beer itself and the special raffle that was set up to help raise money for the Kidd family.
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Collaborating for a Cause | 2 Live Gran Kidd

In a continually impressive showing of togetherness for a shared cause, Stay Strong Alex and similar initiatives have been raising an incredible amount of money to support Alex Kidd and his family as they navigate the road ahead following his Stage IV cancer diagnosis. This week we look to Pennsylvania and Voodoo Brewing Company. Having just celebrated the 10th anniversary of its original Arch Street Brew Pub last year, these guys are no strangers to the industry. The devastating diagnosis of the satirical beer icon resonated heavily with the team in Meadville, and we had the opportunity to speak briefly with Voodoo CMO Tom Guzick to gain some insight about the most recent release in their famous Barrel Room Collection series dedicated to Alex Kidd.

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Collaborating for a Cause | For The Kidd’s

The high-production powerhouses of the industry have been far from the only ones showing support towards Alex Kidd and his family during his continuing fight with Stage IV cancer. A collaborative effort out of New Jersey, For The Kidd’s is the next feature in a growing series highlighting the incredible support provided by the craft beer community for a craft beer icon. Chris with Shore Side Brewing allowed us the opportunity to sit down and discuss a beer that he felt was more than fitting to be released for Don’t Drink Beer.

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Copper Kettle Brewing Announces Rebranded, Greener Cans

In what’s hopefully the start of a trend for small craft breweries, Denver’s Copper Kettle Brewing announced a switch to environmentally friendly printed cans for its flagship beers. Earlier this year we talked with head brewer Greg Moore about barriers to greener packaging. Since then, Copper Kettle has worked diligently to find a option that’s easily recyclable, cost-effective and actually easier on the production line. Read More

Collaborating for a Cause | Kidd Beer

Alex Kidd and his family have been incredibly humbled by the support they continue to receive from the Beer Community. With this installment, Collaborating for a Cause is highlighting HOMES Brewery, a small but progressive program out of Ann Arbor, MI. Maybe most famously known in recent years for Smooj, their line of all natural fruited seltzers, they also boast a varied and impressive portfolio of uniquely nuanced traditional beer styles. For their ode to Alex Kidd in support of his fight with cancer, they knew they had to go big. We had the chance to chat briefly with Nick Panchamé, Head Brewer at HOMES, about this recent charitable effort and how Alex was able to inspire the amazing gesture. Enter KIDD BEER.

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Collaborating for a Cause | Ancient Otter Treats

The continued outpouring of support for Alex Kidd and his family in the wake of his devastating Stage IV cancer diagnosis has been nothing short of incredible. Breweries nationwide and beyond have pledged support, and limited releases of special beers dedicated to Alex have slowly been surfacing. This series began with Horus Aged Ale’s Stay Strong Alex collaboration, and is continuing this week with Forager Brewery’s special release of Ancient Otter Treats in support of the man behind Don’t Drink Beer.

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Collaborating for a Cause | Stay Strong Alex

By now, nearly everybody remotely involved in craft beer has heard the news about Alex Kidd, aka DontDrinkBeers. For those unaware, Alex has been the satirical voice of craft beer for years, a passionate beer enthusiast who, in addition to running a very successful podcast about the current events and trends in the industry, is also a highly respected attorney, loving husband, and father to a two-year old son and soon-to-be daughter expected in September.

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Dos Luces Announces Closure

Dos Luces Brewery in Denver has just announced that its fifth anniversary will be its last. In the face of inflation and changing consumer tastes, owner Judd Belstock was contemplating the future of the brewery when a truck plowed through its front doors last February. For Belstock, that was the tipping point. Read More

Craft Beer Recycling Guide

It’s no secret that getting fresh, tasty brews to craft beer lovers takes a lot of packaging and there are various opinions on what is and isn’t recyclable. Our craft beer recycling guide takes the guesswork out of the process so that we can all make our empties more useful. Read More

2023 Colorado Pint Day Locations Includes Over 200 Participating Breweries

Colorado Pint Day returns for its eighth anniversary next week on April 12, 2023, and this year’s event will feature a record number of participating breweries. Hosted by the Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG), the statewide event gives craft beer lovers yet another reason to head to their favorite brewery to enjoy a beer and take home acommemorative glass.

Participating breweries will be selling 2023 commemorative pint glasses and with $1 from every glass benefitting the not for profit Colorado Brewers Guild. The event helps further the guild’s mission to support and strengthen craft beer in Colorado. Read More

New Terrain & Fritz Family Brewers Team Up for Collab Fest

Preparations for Collaboration Fest 2023 are well underway at breweries around Colorado. Last week, New Terrain Brewing hosted Cory Buenning of Fritz Family Brewers for a collaboration brew day. The two breweries are making an Italian Pilsner that combines Fritz’s knowledge of old-world lagers with New Terrain’s love of stylistic experimentation.
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Ultimate 6er: AFC and NFC Championship Weekend Pairings

It’s here! Well, almost here. With only two more games to play before the Big Game, this weekend’s AFC and NFC Championship matchups will finish setting the stage for Super Bowl LVII. To honor the remaining teams, we’ve dedicated an entire beer style to each of the final four Quarterbacks. Oh — and to make it a true #Ultimate6er — we’ve added two bonus quarterbacks who definitely know their way around an AFC/NFC championship weekend. Read More

The TTB Wants Your Feedback About Unfair Trade Practices

Back in July of 2021, the Biden Administration issued Executive Order 14036, addressing competition in the beer, wine and spirits industry. The goal of the executive order is to uncover the challenges that suppliers face in entering the industry. After an extensive request for information (RFI) period open to the general public and industry members alike, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Federal Trade Commission, Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General of the United States determined that unlawful trade practices need to be a more prominent focus for lawmakers if they want to level the playing field for new and existing beverage brands.

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Colorado Springs Beer Community Fundraises for Club-Q Shooting Survivors

Last week a shooter opened fire at Club Q, an LGBTQ bar in Colorado Springs killing five people. Richard Fierro, an Army combat veteran and co-owner of Atrevida Beer Co., was one of the two men who subdued the shooter, preventing further casualties.

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FIRST LOOK | Public Offering Brewing Opening on South Broadway

As a resident of West Wash Park for the past 16 years, Cody Higginbottom feels a deep kinship with his neighborhood. But that communal bond will be further deepened today when he officially opens Public Offering Brewing at 1736 South Broadway.

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BREAKING | New Laws Bring Relief to California Breweries

The end of September brought great news out of Sacramento, California, as Governor Newsom signed the final bills of the ’21-’22 congressional session. Among the various bills signed were AB 2301 and 2307, which have removed several hurdles for the ever-expanding brewery industry in California. The first added some nuance to the three-tiered system to allow breweries some self-governance, and the second allowed breweries to continue to expand the communities they serve.

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The Craft Beer Industry Has A Labor Problem

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Mark Twain

For most craft beer industry workers, this couldn’t ring more true. The idea of turning a homebrewing hobby or a passion for craft beer into a flourishing career seems like a dream scenario. The way other people’s eyes light up when someone mentions they work in craft beer is priceless. Feeling like you have a job that others outside of the industry can only wildly dream about makes beer folks feel as though they have something really special, but are things really that great, or is the beer labor force being gaslit by the false pretense of job satisfaction, security and just plain fun? As the industry matures and evolves, being one of the “cool kids” in the beer industry isn’t all backslaps and beer shots, it’s become more about workers’ rights, workplace safety, and earning a living wage.

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California Craft Beer Week Returns This July

California craft beer week returns! Craft beer guilds across the state have come together to bring California Craft Beer Week (CCBW) to fruition. Read More

College Names Brewing Lab To Honor Charlie Papazian

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) will soon begin construction of the Charlie Papazian Brewing Education Lab. The lab is named in honor of Charlie Papazian, the retired founder of the American Homebrewers Association, the Great American Beer Festival and the Brewers Association. Papazian is recognized as the Godfather of homebrewing and the resulting craft beer industry. Read More

Dry Dock Brewing Expands to Kansas

After 16 years of exponential growth, first in the Denver area and later across Colorado, Dry Dock Brewing of Aurora, CO, is sharing the love with its eastern neighbors. Kansas craft beer lovers can now find Dry Dock beer at retailers, restaurants, and bars. Read More