Maibock | The Official Beer for Life After Quarantine

Maibock, also known as Helles Bock, might be the perfect representation of a beer for life after quarantine. This medium-bodied pale lager is conditioned over the winter then released in the spring, specifically May (Mai). That long lagering time makes for a clean flavor and smooth mouthfeel.

Similar to German Oktoberfest beers, Maibock is brewed to celebrate the end of a long, cold hibernation. As the world thaws, coming to life again, this strong but welcoming style is there waiting to be enjoyed. In many ways, this quarantine feels like a long hibernation. While “stay in place” orders aren’t exactly lagering, we can all appreciate the idea of getting back to enjoying life after patiently waiting for quite some time. Fortunately for folks in Colorado, we have a handful of great Maibocks right in our own backyard. 

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Beerology | A Little History Behind Mexican Lagers

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Though you might be celebrating a little differently than usual this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few Mexican-inspired craft beers. Plus, consider the positives: No dealing with blackouts in a crowded bar spilling their margaritas on your lap while you impatiently wait for chips and salsa on the establishment’s busiest day of the year. For some of you, a crowded bar seems like a wistful dream, something you might be longing for after six weeks of solitude, or perhaps you just miss being on the blackout end of the spectrum so you can forget about this nightmare. Regardless, if you’ve ever wondered where Mexican Lagers come from, here’s a little beerology to pair with your Cinco de Mayo crushers.

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Copper Kettle Brewing Co. | Milk Stout

Copper Kettle suggests pairing their Milk Stout with snow-shoveling, snowboarding and bull-riding. At a reasonable 5.6% ABV, it’s probably a safe bet with the first two activities, but maybe not a good idea with the third—at least, if you’re the rider. On the other hand, I’d thoroughly enjoy knocking back a few while watching somebody else ride the bull. Read More

3 Freaks Brewery | Lloyd Christmas Porter

Like an adult candy cane, Lloyd Christmas Peppermint Chocolate Porter from 3 Freaks Brewery in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, offers a minty, tasty holiday treat that captures the spirit of the season. Each year the brewery tweaks the recipe to explore new flavor profiles; the 2019 version seems more mint-centric and somewhat lighter on the chocolate than previous incarnations.

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3 Freaks Brewery | Adam’s F%&#in’ Turkey Beer

Always one for brewing with unusual ingredients like squash or ginger, 3 Freaks Brewery delivers another unique brew just in time for Thanksgiving. Adam’s F%&#in’ Turkey Beer brings intense spice flavors and a hearty body to capture Thanksgiving in a glass.

3 Freaks, located near Denver in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, adds five boxes of Stove Top Turkey Stuffing to each 2.5 barrel batch to achieve the savory holiday flavors. Additions of sage, rosemary and thyme round out the herb profile. Read More

Event Preview | Wiley Roots Vanilla Anonym Release and MORE!

There’s been a lot of hype around Wiley Roots Brewing Co.‘s upcoming beer releases. The brewery is releasing not one, but SIX beers tomorrow, September 6, 2019. “It is our belief that beer embodies a sense of place and time, reflecting both where we are at any moment as well as where we have been,” shares the brewing company on their Facebook page, “When we release a new Slush variant, we believe those beers represent the summer months, easy drinking, refreshing, fruit forward, and most important of all – FUN.”

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Intersect Brewing | Blackberry Hollywood Bungalow

We’re in the dog days of summer, and while the season of stouts and brown ales is quickly approaching, the Colorado beer community is going to latch onto the warm weather and refreshing beers that accompany it for as long as possible. Intersect Brewing, the rock-’n-roll inspired, vinyl-fueled brewery on Fort Collins’ west side, is home to a variety of beers with names inspired by classic American songs. “Tramps Like Us” East Coast IPA and the “In Thru the Out Door” Berliner Weiss are just a few brews that take their names from classic rock records, but one stands out above the rest as the ideal summer porch slammer.

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Event Recap | Odell Small Batch Fest Delivers Big

I blame it on my brain. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in Fort Collins, Colorado, as I headed into Odell Brewing Co.’s Small Batch Fest on the brewery’s spacious campus May 25. The 15+ bike racks that quickly filled up should have been one clue; the list of more than 40 beers that were being poured should have been another. Yet, as I handed over my ticket and received my globe tasting glass (no shot glasses here) and tokens, part of me was still expecting a “small” festival.

Nope. Small Batch is not small festival. The party was in full swing by 1:30 p.m. with live music alternating on two stages and six different locations pouring Odell’s stellar brews. From year-round favorites like 90 Shilling and Easy Street to limited releases like the Hammer Chain (a fresh grind Double IPA to pilot beers and even retired brews like the Green Coyote, a tomatillo sour ale, it was a festival for the senses. The hardest part? Deciding where to start.

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FlyteCo Brewing | RWY 5 Pale Ale

FlyteCo Brewing is a new aviation-themed brewery located in the Berkeley neighborhood of Denver and their reputation is taking off. Although they only opened their doors on March 9, their tasting room has been consistently packed with happy beer drinkers. It’s no surprise why they’re so popular: Every beer has been delicious, the space is unique with plenty of seating and it’s staffed with knowledgeable beertenders.

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New Belgium La Folie Grand Reserve: PX Just Changed the Sour Game

For the past two decades, La Folie has transformed the country’s understanding of American Sour beers and inspired innumerable breweries to embark on their own quest for acidity. But like all truly great innovators, the best are not satisfied resting on their laurels. Two years ago, New Belgium introduced the next extension of La Folie with the use of Geisha coffee. And now, we have it’s latest entry, La Folie Grand Reserve: PX, available beginning February 9th.

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Colorado Brut IPAs to Help Ring in the New Year

2018 has been a beer-y great year in the craft beer world, with countless new releases, the emergence of more beers brewed with lactose, new beer categories added to Great American Beer Festival’s style categories and so much more. With that being said, 2018 is coming to an end. While many people cheers to the new year with champagne or other types of bubbles, as a beer lover, we have the chance to toast 2019 with a newly created beer style: brut IPAs! I don’t know about you, but I know that’s how I’ll be ringing in the new year. While I am still mulling over which one in particular, here are a few ideas of what to fill your glass with.

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