Craft Beer of Colorado
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Life and Beer in Colorado
I know, I know, I have been gone for far too long. Unfortunately, life sometimes gets in the way of things, even beer. But I hope to be writing more now that the holidays have come and gone.
Today was a beautiful day and luckily, I got to spend it outside brewing a batch of homebrew. Somewhere between mashing in and lautering, I starting thinking about how wonderful it is to live in a place like Colorado. It is amazing to think of all the breweries that we as Coloradans have available to us. Actually it is a very daunting task to try to keep up with it all, not to mention the impossible task of trying to taste each beer that comes available. Now days we are not the only "mecca of beer" out there. More and more states have embraced the Craft Beer culture and this is wonderful news for all of us. As Coloradans, we truly have much to be proud of, as we have influenced many other areas though out the United States and have even lead the way in many instances.
I think it is important to consider each brewery and how they have put their blood sweat and tears into each beer (hopefully not literally, yuck). So I wanted to take a moment to thank all of the beer pioneers out there, as well as the new brewers who are popping up all of the time. I can't think of a place where I would rather live than here, surrounded by brewers and beer enthusiasts, as well as the Brewers Association and American Homebrewers Association. In the center of a movement that is not only delicious but spiritual in its own right. Keep on brewing!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Denver Brew at the Zoo
This evening marks the 14th annual Denver Brew at the Zoo. Proceeds of the event benefit the Denver Zoo’s Red Apple Fund for Lifelong Learning which focuses on animal conservation and education.
$70 Individual Ticket
$65 Member Ticket
$30 Designated Driver
Event Preview
$100 Preview Ticket
Want to avoid the crowds and be one of the first to taste the region’s best brews? Purchase an exclusive preview ticket which includes early admission to the event at 6 p.m.
Preview tickets are limited.
No guests under 21 years of age will be admitted
(including infants).
Ticket Price Includes:Souvenir Tasting Mug
Complimentary appetizers from some of Denver's best pubs.
Unlimited four-ounce beer samples from more than 40 of the region's top breweries.
Information provided by http://www.denverzoo.org/brew/default.htm
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Renegade Brewing Company - Grand Opening Party!
- Gift Certificate to Frills Bakery
- Gift Certificate to Interstate Kitchen and Bar
- 2 tickets for the Denver Brews Cruise
- A Renegade Brewing Company Tap Handle
- 2 prizes for free growler refills for a entire year
- Renegade Merchandise
- ...and the Grand Prize of two tickets to the the Friday Night Session of the Great American Beer Fest (GABF).
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Homebrew Competitions – Go Big or Go Home!
With all of that said, I feel that there is a major flaw in the system. This is a flaw that lies more with human nature than with the BJCP, AHA or any individual competition coordinators. The problem with competitions is that the winning beers are often not based on the style guidelines for the category they are designed to be. In fact, competitions have become a very strategic pass-time. As brewers chart out which categories and styles will give them the best chance of winning a gold.
In the culture of craft beer and homebrew, we have continued to push the limits of what is possible in regard to flavor. Although this is wonderful and the benefits of such creativity are staggering. Have we forgotten the subtle beauty of a well balanced, well crafted beer? It often seems that we have replaced them with the biggest baddest Barley Wines, and mouth numbing DIPA's. Even with a category as familiar and old as a Dry Stout, we continually find new ways to make them bigger and more unusual. Don't get me wrong, this in itself is not a bad thing. The real problem comes into play when a beer that is submitted to a competition and is made perfectly for its style, is over shadowed by larger more flavorful beers that are not necessarily appropriate for the style.
The BJCP guideline are created to show us the distinctions and definitions of a particular style of beer as well as to draw a line in the sand between categories. But I feel that we may be moving too far away from what was intended.There is a certain amount of art that goes into the creation of each beer. That being said, I fear that we may be losing touch with the “classic” subtle flavors that made craft beer amazing in the first place. In no way am I suggesting that we stop moving forward in the creation of new imaginative beers. In fact I love nothing better than a big hopped up beer or basically anything oaked in a bourbon barrel. I just feel that we need to re-examine our palates and begin judging beers as they were intended to be, instead of how out of the box one can get. I fear the day we start to see Imperial Pilsner submitted to competitions.
Understand that when I discuss this as an ongoing issue, I am in no way referring to any of my personal beers, as I have not even come close to perfecting a style. But I will keep trying.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Buddha Nuvo - A Colorado Collaboration Beer
The idea for Buddha Nuvo came about as all ideas should...over a beer. Jim Stinson of the Rockyard and Jason Yester of Trinity Brewing were enjoying a couple of pints, when they decided that they should get together to do a collaboration Saison beer. As they discussed it further and began to get excited, they decided to call on some of their friends and fellow brewers to help create the beer . They all agreed to brew at the Rockyard as well as use this as an opportunity to raise some money for the Colorado Brewers Guild.
Buddha Nuvo is a Saison that comes in at 12% ABV, but it is unlike any Saison that I have ever seen, or better yet tasted. The grain bill includes Weyerman Pilsen, Vienna, Rye, as well as Spelt which is a species of wheat. Pumpkin is then added to the boil as are a mixture of Peppercorns to add a distinct spice flavor. The beer uses 6 different strains of yeast as well as 5 strains of brettanomyces for a sour tartness. The beer was then aged in Oak Chardonnay Barrels where they added the addition of Buddha Hand which is a rare citrus fruit originally grown in India.
When poured, Buddha Nuvo is a cloudy orange amber color with a nice white head. The aroma gives off a strong citrus orange nose with a wonderful tartness from the brett. When you first taste it, Buddha has the flavor of bitter orange with the spice of the peppercorns. On the back-end, you can taste the Oaked Chardonnay from the barrels that gives an almost champagne type quality. The beer is very complex and yet simple at the same time. The flavors seem to continually change in your mouth as you drink.
Overall Buddha Nuvo it is a truly remarkable beer that is dangerously easy to drink and unlike anything that I have had before. I am so happy that I live in state with brewers who are so willing to work together to create something so special. Even more so, I am so happy that I put my cheapness aside (if even for a little while), so that I could experience this amazing beer. To answer your next question, yes, it is worth the money although I do wish it was a bit cheaper so I could have even more. Word on the street is that we may get to see Buddha Nuvo again next year, lets keep our fingers crossed.
Buddha Nuvo was brewed by the following breweries:
Rockyard Brewing
Trinity Brewing
AC Golden
Crooked Stave
Funkwerks
Rock Bottom Brewery
Strange Brewing
Ska Brewing
Black Fox Brewing
Del Norte Brewing
Tommyknocker Brewery
Dry Dock Brewery
Shamrock Brewing
Colorado Mountain Brewery
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
August Beer Festival Calendar
Saturday August, 13th
- Winter Park Beer Festival 12 - 5pm, Winter Park, CO
- Ed Fest 2011 1 - 5pm, Edwards, CO
- The Craft Lager & Small Batch Festival 1 - 6pm, Manitou Springs, CO
Sunday August, 14th
- The Craft Lager & Small Batch Festival 1 - 6pm, Manitou Springs, CO
Friday August, 19th
- Art & Ale Brew Festival 6 - 10pm, Parker, CO
Saturday August, 20th
- Stapleton Beer Festival 4 - 8:30pm, Denver, CO
Saturday August, 27th
- Foam Fest 2011 6 - 10pm, Pueblo, CO
- 13th Annual San Juan Brewfest 1 - 5pm, Durango, CO
- Shoes and Brews 4 - 8pm, Denver, CO
Please let me know if there are any that I missed.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hops for Habitat Brewfest
Plains Conservation Center 7th Annual Hops for Habitat Brewfest
Friday, July 29th, 2011 5-9 pm
Join dozens of Colorado brewers and hundreds of fellow beer aficionados for an evening of fun, music, and best of all Beer! Taste Colorado beer from across the state and meet the brewers and reps all while surrounded by the summer beauty of the Plains Conservation Center. Take a wagon ride into the natural area (don’t forget your brew!) and get up close and personal with all the critters that call the PCC home. Live music, campfire with s’mores, root beer floats, snacks, food (for purchase), games, and this year, introducing Prairie Pong! Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your neighbors, but leave the kids, over 21 only, please!
Plains Conservation Center:
21901 E. Hampden Avenue
Aurora CO 80013
(303) 693-3621
www.plainscenter.org
Admission: $30 per person/$15 designated drivers
(includes commemorative pint glass)
Need more Info?
Info@plainscenter.org, or call Sara (303) 693-3621
Information taken from http://www.plainsconservationcenter.org/pdfs/Hops_eblast_members_2011.pdf