Beer Me: March 22, 2016 – March 28, 2016

On the craft beer calendar, there are a couple of occasions where the sheer number of events surrounding a larger event will test your malt beverage moxie.  

Obviously, the events that accompany the Great American Beer Festival are enjoyed in a Lost Weekend-esque bender of two-ounce pours and rare beer tappings, while American Craft Beer Week (May 16 – 22, 2016) offers another extended moment to hoard libations as if a permanent last call is about to go into effect.

One happening that colors your liver with Centennial State pride is Colorado Craft Beer Week (CCBW), happening now through Sunday, March 27, 2016. Fittingly, our “beer week” is actually 9 days long…

Under the guidance of the Colorado Brewers Guild, the holiday celebrates the state’s craft brewers, pubs, and restaurants and features a staggering array of opportunities to indulge in quality craft beer.

The most inclusive event on the calendar is Colorado Pint Day, happening on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Visit any of the over 30 participating breweries across the state, order a beer, and keep the commemorative glass. $1 from each pint will to toward the Colorado Brewers Guild. Check out the full list of participating breweries here.

For more craft celebrations, view the full rundown of CCBW events here. And, throughout CCBW, show your Drizly app at participating breweries to get special offers and/or add a Colorado craft beer to your Drizly order and get FREE delivery #nopantsparty

Tuesday, March 22, 2016: CCBW Tappings + Events at various locations

Halfpenny Brewing Co. will tap Delta One Bravo IPA in their Centennial taproom. Delta One is the sixth and final version of their Standard Beer Series, clocking in at 6.1% ABV and 70 IBUs. Upslope Brewing Co. will tap a Hefeweizen at their Flatiron Park taproom and Launch Pad Brewery in Aurora will tap their Souyuz Russian Imperial Stout aged in an A.D. Laws Four Grain Bourbon barrel. Lone Tree Brewing Co. will host a Meet the Brewers event and tap their Confusion Belgian Abby Ale at 4pm. In Denver, Fiction Beer Co. will tap a Sour Pale Ale and Star Bar will host Collaboration Karaoke at 8pm, featuring collaborative brews from Ratio Beerworks, New Belgium Brewing, Avery Brewing Co., and Call to Arms. No cover; fortune favors the bold.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 @ noon: Colorado Craft Firkin with Celestial Seasonings at Dry Dock Brewing Co. – South Dock

All week, Dry Dock is celebrating CCBW with firkins that highlight ingredients from Colorado companies. Today’s not-so-secret ingredient is Celestial Seasonings out of Boulder. Thursday’s firkin will feature Coda Coffee and Friday’s The Real Dill. (View more featured firkin here.)

Thursday, March 24, 2016 @ 2pm: Barrel-Aged UberMountain SMaSH Barleyshine Release at Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery

For Collaboration Fest, Jagged Mountain teamed up with Überbrew from Billings, MT to create a barley wine aged in Roughstock Distillery rye and single malt barrels and Breckenridge Distillery bourbon barrels. Oh, and they also dry hopped it with Saaz #boom

Thursday, March 24, 2016 @ 7pm: New Kids on the Block Festival at The Lobby

Unless your FTE is drinking 40 hours a week, you probably have a hard time keeping up with all of the new brewery openings. Thankfully, Two Parts, PorchDrinking.com, and The Lobby bring the new beer to you during the fourth edition of this festival that features Colorado breweries that are two-years old or younger. The event will include unlimited beer tastings, 80’s tunes, and a costume contest. GA tickets are $30 or you could spring for the three-course VIP beer dinner beginning at 5:30pm for $45. (The boozy menu includes hop-cured confit pork belly steamer buns paired with Imperial Baltic Porter, honey chipotle-glazed game hen over crispy fried polenta paired with Vienna Lager, and citrus mint rum colada sorbet paired with Freedom Fries French Saison.)

Friday, March 25, 2016 @ 5:30pm: Night of the Barrels at Falling Rock Tap House

Falling Rock is observing CCBW with three special tapping events – The Darks, The Barrels, and The Bugs (aka sours). Friday’s “Barrels” event will feature barrel-aged beers from multiple breweries. Offerings will run the gamut from light to dark and wine to whiskey barrels. No cover.

Saturday, March 26, 2016 @ 4pm: The Mighty Beer Run: Platt Park at Declaration Brewing Co.

Pick up the pace of your beer crawl (or don’t, beer drinking is anything but competitive) during the Platt Park edition of the Mighty Beer Run. The start/finish is at Declaration and the route stumbles through Grandma’s House, Platt Park Brewing, and Former Future Brewing Co. Along the way, hit each brewery’s “dehydration station” for a cold one before venturing on to the next stop. The $40 registration gets you a beer koozie, beer samples at each brewery, and access to the after-party (View additional participating neighborhoods here.)

Saturday, March 26, 2016 @ 6pm: Mocha Imperial Stout Release at Alpine Dog Brewing Co.

By this point in CCBW you might need a little pick-me up. Head to Alpine Dog where they’ve aged some of their 10% ABV Dyatlov Pass Incident Russian Imperial Stout on Coda Coffee Co. beans and cacao nibs. El Toro The Tot will be on-site to help soak up the goodness.

Sunday, March 27, 2016 @ 2pm: First Bomber Release at Black Sky Brewery

Black Sky is releasing their first bottled bomber and it looks to be worth the wait. Imperial Petal to the Metal is an imperial version of their rose petal and hibiscus-infused ale aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Limited quantities available.

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.