Check out the time lapse HERE
GABF Video
Here is a short clip of Sam Calagione from Dogfish head pouring beer at the GABF…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kN_OKyyvqs]
Beers I missed at GABF
Top 10 beers that I should have tried…
Ommegang – Adoration
Alpine – Willy Vanilly
Cascade – Vlad the Imp Aler
Hollister Brewing – The Pope
Oakshire – Collaborative Evil
Pizza Port /Carlsbad – 547 Haight
Short’s – Strawberry Short’s Cake
Surly – Coffee Bender
Weyerbacher – Double Simcoe IPA
Chuckanut – Vienna Lager
more? Beer Search Party GABF awards
BEST BEER outside of GABF
Fresh Hop Ale from Great Divide
Lovely hop aroma. Bold but not aggressive. Cool lacing on the glass. Nicely balanced between hops and malts. Excellent bitter taste. It slightly edges out Elysian’s Loser Pale Ale.
Where to go in Denver
While I was in Denver. I took the opportunity to visit some area beer institutions. Here are the reviews (from best to lesser best).
Great Divide – Small interior with outside seating. Great atmosphere. Good amount of taps and really friendly servers. Prices are fair for the quality. Many growlers were filled before the Rockies game.
Falling Rock – Set back from Blake Street. Tap handles and empty bottles adorn the walls and rafters. Dark inside. Nice downstairs with a snug and a pool room. Good amount of taps but no updated list. Some servers more helpful than others.
Breckenridge – Nice, large sports bar type of place. George Wendt from Cheers was here when I was sipping an Agave Wheat. Good sized selection of house beers.
Tommyknockers – Nice place on Miner Street. You could buy bottles to go or have one with dinner or at the bar. Buffalo burgers were good.
Rare Beer Event Review
24 Rare beers on the 2nd floor of the historic Wynkoop Brewing Company. Sounds like heaven to me.
Though I only had 8 of the beers. (I only have so much tolerance + that Utopia killed my taste buds), it was an awesome gathering with great people. Garrett Oliver and Sam Calagione were pouring. Carl Singmaster from Belmont Station was in attendance. And who knows who else was in the large crowd.
Here are the beers that I had…
Brooklyn Wild 1
Funky and farmhouse with interesting spice notes. Strong but sprightly.
Deschutes Black Butte XX
Oyster and coffee notes. Black in color. Smooth and tasty.
New Glarus R&D Golden
Sour right off the bat. A little bit of a fight here between flavors. Doesn’t quite work.
Harpoon Wet Hop Ale
To me, a typical East Coast IPA in that it is a really good pale ale.
Bison Reunion 09 Double Wit
The doubling sorta of pushes the wit spices away to much. A little to strong alcohol wise for a wit.
New Belgium Trip II
Another beer where the yeast overpowers the hop and tilts the balance. It is really close to being an awesome brew.
even more Beer Search Party GABF awards
BEST OF MY LIMITED FEST
This goes to Brooklyn Breweries Cuvee de Cardoz. Mostly because any beer that could put umpteen different Indian spices on top of a base wheat beer and make it come out good, has to get my vote. This is a unique beer without needing an acquired taste. It is finely balanced and complex.
GABF – Photos from the Rare Beer Event
Great American Beer Festival – Winners (part 3)
2009 GABF Top Medal Winning States
State – Number of Medals won
_______________________
Colorado 45 19% 459 14%
California 39 16% 594 18%
Oregon 22 9% 172 5%
Washington 13 5% 162 5%
Pennsylvania 12 5% 126 4%
Michigan 9 4% 138 4%
New York 8 3% 117 4%
Virginia 8 3% 58 2%
Illinois 7 3% 93 3%
Maryland 7 3% 63 2%
Buzz Breweries
There were many beers that I wanted to have while in Denver but what is also great is hearing about breweries that are popular at home and praised for great beer that are brand new to me.
Here are three breweries to watch:
