Casey Brewing | BA Never Say Never Barleywine

Some breweries become known for a certain style of beer and then struggle to expand beyond that, trapped in the successes of their past. While it is never a bad thing to have notoriety for a particular style, it can leave a brewery in a difficult spot as they seek to diversify their lineup and adapt to the everchanging beer landscape. Casey Brewing is known for their incredible sour beer program, churning out highly sought-after Saisons and Wild Ales since 2013. Finding themselves with some extra tanks and a desire to open a new taproom, Casey made the decision to venture into non-sour beer, doing something brewery founder Troy Casey said would never happen. A prophetic cliché that morphed into an incredible barrel aged Barleywine, Casey BA Never Say Never Barleywine exemplifies the non-sour quality of the brewery’s side dabbles. 

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River North Brewery | Anniversary 11 Quadruple Barrel Aged Stout

River North Brewery has gained a reputation for pushing the envelope when it comes to ABV, and for their 11th anniversary they have turned the dial all the way to 11. Or perhaps that is all the way to 23, matching the monstrous alcohol percentage of Anniversary 11, a quadruple barrel aged Stout that pushes ABV boundaries. River North is ringing in Year 11 with an emphatic statement of a beer that deserves to be talked about.

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New Image Brewing | Estufa (Barleywine)

In a hypercompetitive craft beer market that is ever trending towards (but not quite reaching) that mythical saturation point, breweries can find it difficult to differentiate themselves. Whether it be a new style (that’s probably a rebranded old style), new hop varieties, clever marketing or some combination of these and other “innovative” elements, breweries have to try to rise above the pack and distinguish their product from what the upstart down the street is doing. New Image Brewing is no stranger to innovation with their lineup of various Barrel Aged Beers, their heavy use of Phantasm powder and the impending opening of their own meadery brand Post Future. Estufa is perhaps their most ambitious project yet. Estufa is the first release and the genesis of New Image’s forthcoming macro-oxidized solera Barleywine program. That is a lot of beer related words not often (if ever) stringed together, so follow along as we explore what New Image is currently doing and where they are looking to take this program.

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2022 Colorado New Year’s Eve Brewery Events

2022 is almost in the books, meaning it’s time to celebrate the year that was and look forward to what 2023 will bring us. While some may be content to spend New Year’s Eve huddled amongst freezing masses for hours on end or in a crowded club struggling to reach the bar, the discerning Coloradan will wisely seek out a local brewery for a more relaxed and enjoyable vibe. Many breweries throughout the state have events planned in the hours leading up to New Year’s, so we have assembled a list of those here. Whether you want to catch some live music, eat a multiple course beer dinner or try some special beers, there is something here for every beer lover. As always, be safe and responsible in your New Year’s Eve drinking activities – let’s end this year and start the next in a great way!

If we missed any Colorado NYE Brewery events be sure to shoot us a message and we would love to add your event to our round-up.

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Our Mutual Friend | Boundary Beyond Imperial Coffee Stout

As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, a warming brew is often needed to stave off the crushing chill of both arctic gales and seasonal affective disorder. Why not combine two types of brew in a single, satisfying beverage to perk up the soul and power through the winter months? Beer and coffee are obvious companions for this invigorating task, and Our Mutual Friend Brewing (OMF) and Color Drop Coffee are the obvious collaborators to make a coffee beer in the Denver scene. Combining their beer and coffee brewing knowledge, OMF has released Boundary Beyond, a 13.5% Imperial Coffee Stout using Color Drop’s coffee.

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Event Preview | Denver Rare Beer Tasting Announces Full Pour List

This year on the Friday of GABF week, Denver Rare Beer Tasting will celebrate its 13th anniversary with 60 breweries pouring some of their rarest and most sought-after beers. The event taking place, Friday, October 7 from 12-4pm once again benefits Pints for Prostates, a grassroots organization with the aim to raise awareness among men about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection in fighting the disease. This event “gives us the opportunity to reach men through the universal language of beer with an important health message,” said Rick Lyke, founder of Pints for Prostates. As always free men’s health screenings will be offered at the event, and all proceeds will be used to provide screenings for thousands of men, giving them important health data and early warnings about potential prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other common male health issues. 

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First Look | FlyteCo Tower Lifts Off at Iconic Aviation Landmark

Today is National Aviation Day, and let us honor the spirit of Orville Wright by checking out the newly opened FlyteCo Tower, a brewery and location that both pay homage to aviation’s history. Located inside the former air traffic control tower of the shuttered Stapleton International Airport, FlyteCo Tower is a sprawling 25,000 sq ft facility consisting of a taproom with multiple bars and full liquor service, a 2.5 bbl pilot brewery, a full kitchen, 6 bowling lanes, an 18 hole mini golf course, a full arcade, and space to host rotating exhibits from the local Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. 

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The Empourium Brewing Co. | Atari’s Lantern Jasmine Rice Lager

After earning a Bronze medal at this year’s World Beer Cup, Atari’s Lantern, a Jasmine Rice Lager, is back on tap at Denver’s The Empourium Brewing Co. First released in January 2022, The name Atari’s Lantern is a reference to Wes Anderson’s film, Isle Of Dogs. The name also serves as a nod to the taproom’s dog-friendly environment.

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After 28 Years Tommyknocker Brewery Undergoes Complete Overhaul

After 28 years as a pioneer in the Colorado craft beer scene, Tommyknocker Brewery located in the mountain town of Idaho Springs, CO, is undergoing an extensive overhaul. With the introduction of a branding refresh, new core beer offerings and a $100,000 remodel of their brewpub, Tommyknocker is looking to reinvent itself in today’s competitive craft beer market. 

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Wild Blue Yonder | Cellar Reserve: Tropical Storm

When is a Pastry Stout not a Pastry Stout? At what point does a barrel-aged 11.2% beer become refreshing to drink? These were questions I pondered while drinking Wild Blue Yonder Cellar Reserve – Tropical Storm, a rum barrel aged Imperial Stout with bananas, toasted coconut and macadamia nut. Expectations were exceeded and stereotypes were broken with this unique concoction brewed in Castle Rock, Colorado.

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Event Recap | Vail Craft Beer Classic 2022

A beer fest set in the middle of the Rocky Mountains is bound to be beautiful, and the Vail Craft Beer Classic did not disappoint in that regard. Along with the wondrous mountain scenery is a laid back mountain vibe enjoyed by patrons and vendors alike. No long lines, no crowded bottlenecks, and plenty of time and space to casually have a conversation with a brewery worker or a random attendee, the Vail Craft Beer Classic is ideally set up for enjoying a couple hours worth of various brews.

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Wah Gwaan 1 Year Anniversary and Juneteenth Celebration

How does a simple party become a full blown shindig? Make it an all weekend party celebrating two huge occasions! Wah Gwaan Brewing is turning one this weekend, an anniversary that coincidentally coincides with Juneteenth. Being a Black-owned brewery, Juneteenth is a perfect time for Wah Gwaan to celebrate, and celebrate they will.

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Westbound & Down | Chicago Peaks Kolsch

As the weather has transitioned to long, warm, pleasant days, one’s choice in beer necessarily becomes something that can be drunk for longer periods of time. No longer just getting it in while you can, this is the season for drinking sessions that extend for the duration of several beers, necessitating a beverage that is both refreshing and of moderate ABV so as to leave you in decent shape. This is the season for a beer like Westbound & Down Chicago Peaks Kolsch. Light and drinkable yet still packing serious flavor, this beer was made for warm weather get-togethers.

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Wah Gwaan Brewing | Blacker the Cherry

Working together and collaborating is a core tenet of the craft beer industry, and Wah Gwaan Brewing Blacker the Cherry is a great example of what can happen when like minds devise a new beer recipe. Brewed in honor of Black History Month, Blacker the Cherry is a Black IPA brewed with cherries and vanilla created by Wah Gwaan, The Pint Exchange and Crafty Brothas. 

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Cerebral Brewing | Elegant Solution: Foeder Cold IPA

Cold IPAs and clean foeder-aged beers are two styles that have recently grown in popularity. The former offering a cleaner crisper take on American IPAs and the latter imparting a slightly woody and light vanilla characteristic to Lagers, these are exciting takes on well established styles. While no natural overlap between these is apparent, Cerebral Brewing thought otherwise and created a new style, Foeder Cold IPA, an innovation first expressed by Elegant Solution.

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Grand Opening | New Image Opens in Wheat Ridge

Another Denver area brewery will be expanding their local footprint when New Image Brewing opens their Wheat Ridge taproom. The grand opening celebration will occur this Saturday, March 19 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Expect an impressive draft list and delicious Neapolitan pizza from this six-year-old brewery opening a second taproom in their existing production facility.

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New Image Brewing | Noema Blend No. 2

Aging beer in spirits barrels is nothing new in the world of beer, but some breweries are placing an increased emphasis on this style, creating dedicated series of beers that solely focus on barrel aging in its various forms. New Image is one of those breweries taking their barrel aging game to the next level with the creation of the Anaphora and Noema (pronounced No – Emma) series of Stouts. While Anaphora will focus on massaging the utmost flavor out of barrels without the use of adjuncts, Noema seeks to enhance the natural flavors of barrels by working with additives. New Image Brewing Noema Blend 2 is a showcase example of New Image’s vision and flawless execution. 

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Backacre Beermakers Moves to Denver

There’s a new brewery coming to Denver that will challenge the very concepts of “new” and “brewery.” Backacre Beermakers is moving their operations from Vermont to Denver and bringing along the only beer they produce, Backacre Sour Golden Ale. 

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Cerebral Brewing | Mysterious Forces Blend 02

Occasionally there comes along a complex brew that simultaneously highlights all its components while cohesively combining them in a masterful amalgamation. Cerebral Brewing Mysterious Forces Blend 02 is just such a beer. 

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Cohesion Brewing | Cohesion 10° Wet Hop

Wet hop season is a magical time of year when freshly harvested hops elevate beers to delectable levels incapable of being reached during growing months. While most wet hop beers are different versions of IPAs, Cohesion Brewing is taking an innovative approach with Cohesion 10° Wet Hop by applying the resinous fresh cones to their Czech Pale Lager, blending a traditional old world style with new age hopping techniques and creating a wholly unique experience in the process.

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