Beer Me: December 22, 2015 – December 28, 2015

There are some advantages to being born in London and having an across-the-pond family connection: a free place to stay, understanding and embodying the British reserve, and being able to to correctly pronounce “worcestershire” sauce. Though, I’ve always been anti-queuing.

And, thanks to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), being able to find quality a bitter in pubs has never been difficult. Nowadays, however, British brewers in London, Manchester, Yorkshire, and elsewhere are producing all manner of flavorful saisons, wild ales, and non-traditional IPAs using local ingredients such as honey, thyme, rosemary, and apricot.

The best way to experience these elixirs in London is to head “south of the river” and walk the Bermondsey Beer Mile on a Saturday. Start your day with lunch at the bustling Borough Market just outside the London Bridge tube stop. I recommend Wright Brothers for fresh oysters and a solid beer list. Hop the Jubilee line and head east one stop to Bermondsey. From there, follow the train line snaking past various breweries (Fourpure, Partizan, Brew By Numbers, The Kernel, Anspach & Hobday), bottle shops, and drinking establishments (EeBria) that dot the route. Insulated with high ceilings, the train arches create natural havens for breweries.

Happy Festivus Eve! Now onto events…

Tuesday, December 22, 2015 @ 3pm: Two Barrel Tuesday at Boggy Draw Brewery

Sheridan’s favorite brewery taps a small-batch Sweet Stout to help ease the holiday stress. Big, dark and slightly roasty, it’s the perfect beverage for the year’s shortest day.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015 @ 6 – 8pm: Festivus at Call to Arms Brewing Co.

Uncalled Four and Call to Arms invite you to celebrate the Frank Costanza-created Christmas-alternative replete with the airing of grievances, feats of (tiny) strength, a Frogger tournament, a contest for the best Kramer impersonation, a bad Elaine dancing competition, and other Seinfeld-inspired festivities. It’s Festivus…for the rest of us!

Thursday, December 24, 2015 @ 3 – 11pm: Growler Fills + Free Beer at Ratio Beerworks

Stop into Ratio Beerworks on December 24th, purchase two growler fills, and the crew will give you a FREE pour while you wait.

Friday, December 25, 2015: Drink beer at Ratio Beerworks and Alpine Dog Brewing Co.

Ratio’s taproom manager, Shad, will be opening the doors on Christmas day for thirsty patrons from 5 to 10pm. Over at Alpine Dog from noon until 10pm, they’ll be releasing a one-year aged St. Bernard Avalanche Rescue Service Belgian Holiday Ale and doing vertical tastings of the 2014 and 2015 Notorious Monk Belgian Dubbel.

Saturday, December 26, 2015 @ 9pm: Comedy Night at Declaration Brewing

Steve Vanderploeg hosts a FREE comedy night at Declaration, featuring Kira MagCalen, Harry Baber, Eric Henderson, Stephen Agyei, Aaron Urist, and David Gborie.

Sunday, December 27, 2015 @ 11am – noon: Brewhouse Yoga at Factotum Brewhouse

Local instructor, Mary Susan, offers a “sweet, sweaty, and soulful flow” at Factotum. Start your Sunday with an easy, all-levels yoga routine. Just $15 for the class + a post-pose beer.

Monday, December 28, 2015 @ 6:30pm: Broncos vs. Bengals

The Bengals can clinch the AFC North with a win over the stumbling Broncos. See if the home team can avenge last week’s loss to the Steelers at Kokopelli (draft specials and discounts on growler fills), Ratio, and/or Dry Dock – South Dock.

Still thirsty? Use this handy map of Colorado breweries and other drinking establishments to plan your next adventure. Cheers.

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Matt Sandy, a self-proclaimed “Beer Gadabout,” has been enjoying beer since he was of legal drinking age. Having been born across the pond where “legal drinking age” is a relative term, let’s just say he washed down a shandy or two while still in short pants. He moved to Denver in 2007 and immediately took up residency at the Great Divide taproom. Since then, he’s enjoyed exploring all of the craft corners of this great town and in this column will highlight weekly beer-related events that you should consider drinking in.