Tag: Denver

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Rare Beer Day – Last Call

Back in the heady days of the craft beer boom and the cellaring craze, the Denver Rare Beer Tasting held during the Great American Beer Festival was one of those beer bucket list items.  Early in my beer journey, I attended and was just overwhelmed.

Now after a 16 year run, the Denver Rare Beer Tasting is ending after the 2025 event at Bierstadt Lagerhaus.  The event raised funds and awareness for the Pints for Prostates campaign.

As with past years, this is an opportunity to not only taste the “whales” and limited releases but to meet the brewers behind them.  In addition, “Each attendee receives beer samples, lunch, collectible tasting glass, t-shirt and program. Attendees will get the chance to bid in an exciting online auction that includes a variety of unique beer experiences and collectibles, and participate in the Brewers Health Initiative, a free health screening.”

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Colorado Report # 3

After walking through Sloan Lake Park, I emerged in the Edgewater District and on the corner was Joyride Brewing. Opened in 2014, this local is kitty corner to the park. I went with two IPAs, a fresh hop and an experimental IPA. Their 35th one. Both tasted super fresh. 

Also near the lake is the pilot brewery of Odell Brewing. Earlier in the trip, I had the flagship IPA and the flagship 90 Shilling and neither were on the menu here. I opted for a flight.  Where I went all over the map from table beer to fruited lager to pumpkin beer.  The five beers got better as I moved along with the pumpkin, double IPA and sweet stout being the best of the bunch.

For the third point in the beer triangle, head to Toast – Wine and Spirits a truly lovely little curated neighborhood shop.  I got a sixer of Lady Justice Sandra Day IPA but man, if money and airport security were no object, I would have bought more.  Leopold Brothers and Laws Whiskey and a whole pumpkin beer section.  

In a week of ticking beer bucket list items, heading to Hops & Pie was a coupe de grace.  A real “peach” of a final hurrah as I got to taste the Peach version of Weldwerks Brewing’s Juicy Bits IPA. I did not order the hoppy fries but the pumpkin soup and roasted pear salad were great.

To conclude, a special shout out to Chip and Erika for shuttle service and helpful tips.

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Colorado Report # 2

Took a Lyft from LoDo to Novel Strand Brewing for a first visit to a truly neighborhood spot. Houses on the other three corners. Looks like a typical pub or coffee house, which it also is in the AM. Had the Ninja Shit and Green Showers on the beertenders recommendation. Both were easy drinkers. 

After a Vieux Carre cocktail night, it was time to hit a really good brewery triangle centered on Larimer Street. First point was Our Mutual Friend Brewing where I taster tray-ed a few beers from their selection that held quite a few Belgian and funky choices like their two time GABF winner Biere Ovale. Which was quite a tart burst. I also quite enjoyed the Industry Appreciation IPA. You can’t miss the space as it is brightly colored outside.

Ratio BeerWorks is the punk brewery and again, Denver surprises with an eclectic beer list including a scotch ale and multiple saisons such as the carrot and elderflower that I chose. Bigger footprint than OMF but familiar garage door, indoor-outdoor set-up just one block up from OMF.

A slightly longer walk of three blocks led me to the very large industrial space of Bierstadt Lagerhaus where I had to notch the beer bucket list item of a slow pour pils at the source. The presentation, after the requisite time had elapsed, was spot on with the fancy gold embossed glass and the little paper doily and the parfait of foam is something to see. And of course to taste.

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Colorado Report # 1

Left Burbank International Airport early in the AM and despite a little turbulence into Denver, everything went smoothly and by early afternoon, I was in Colorado Springs sipping beer at Ivywild an old school converted into food and drink with a brewery (Bristol Brewing) and distillery on site.

Over a bacon and bleu burger, I tasted four beers. A pale ale, a fresh hop IPA, a nitro IPA and for a change a pumpkin ale too. All four were above average which is not bad for a brewery that I had never researched at all. So good that I got a big ol’ bottle of their saison, which also rang true. A good start to the trip.

Next up was a drive south to the Cristo de Sangre mountain range town of Westclifffe, where the beer choices were a tad slim but luckily the stovepipe cans are around and I found a reliable Colorado choice in 90 Shilling Ale and flagship IPA from Odell Brewing and also a not so mini whiskey from Laws Whiskey House.

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GABF 2023 – Quick Recap

Here are the centered around Los Angeles winners from today’s award ceremony in Denver….

Golds

Common Space Sonrisa – American style lager

Highland Park Hand of Josh – International Pale Ale

Claremont Craft Ales Triple IPA – Imperial IPA

Highland Park DDH Pillow – Imperial Hazy

Silvers

Angel City Apple Pomace Puncheon – Experimental beer

Beachwood Hoppa Emeritus – American black ale

Bronzes

HopSaint Random Acts of Greatness – other Strong Ale

Firestone Walker Propagator Extra Pale Ale – International Pale Ale

Beachwood Glenlongbeach – Scottish-style ale

Angel City Trois Annees Cuvee – Belgian Style sour

IPA Winners

WC IPA – Westbound & Down Westbound Select

Hazy IPA – 1852 Brew Co Away Days

Best Beer Name

Ain’t Afraid of No Goats my favorite beer name – bock of course

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Denver Day – Casa Bonita

Fans of South Park know of the famous Casa Bonita.  Heaven to one Eric Cartman.  Now comes Casa Beer, created by Denver’s Ratio Beerworks, a Mexican-style lager with lime.  The very sessiony 4.8% ABV beer is available on draft at bars (yes, plural) throughout the restaurant.

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Relax, Don’t Worry. Learn About Homebrew

Some may consider having a building at a prestigious university named after them proof of a life well led. But I would argue that having brewing equipment named after you is even better.

Which leads to a fundraising campaign as brewing legend Charlie Papazian explains, “Metropolitan State University of Denver plans to name their 3 ½ barrel brewing laboratory after me. The Charlie Papazian Brewing Education Lab.

In effect they are commemorating the role that homebrewers and beer enthusiasts like you and I have played in making the world a better place for the enjoyment of beer. Who would have thought that! I enjoy being involved with initiatives that help assure great beer for the future.”