Beer Me: May 10, 2016 – May 16, 2016

Denver’s sunny disposition gives city denizens ample opportunities for to get out and enjoy the great outdoors with beer in hand. A new event playing up the Mile High City’s unofficial “300 days of sun” motto is the Sun Drenched Music Festival, taking place on Saturday, May 14 at Denver Beer Co. Canworks.

“We came up with the idea of hosting a music festival because, well, it sounds like a really fun way to spend a Saturday,” said DBC’s, Diana Crawford.

“What better way to spend the day than listening to an awesome lineup of live bluegrass, dancing with friends, enjoying delicious craft beer and food from local food trucks? Then we thought it would be even better if we trucked in a huge load of sand for a sand volleyball court and added things like pop-up yoga/barre and a water balloon fight. The weather is looking just perfect for Saturday and we couldn’t be more excited to share this fun-filled day with all our Denver friends.”  

While DBC hosts a diverse slate of events ranging from oyster and stout festivals to harvest parties to pickle and beer pairings throughout the year, Sun Drenched is shaping up to be the largest party they’ve thrown yet in terms of attendance and activities. If the fest is a success, they’ll plan on making it an annual affair.

The festival’s namesake brew – an easy drinking IPA/American Wheat hybrid – will be on tap along with several other DBC favorites such as Incredible Pedal (IPA), Graham Cracker Porter, and Princess Yum Yum (Kolsch). There will also be a special release of Raspberry Shandy that mixes Princess Yum Yum and Loveland Lemon-Limeade from Rocky Mountain Soda and clocks in at a very sessionable 2.4% ABV.

As far as that bluegrass music goes, the lineup features Hot Buttered Rum, Town Mountain, Rapidgrass Quintet, The Railsplitters, Bill McKay Band, and Caribou Mountain Collective.

Tickets are $40 for general admission (which includes two DBC beers) and $70 for VIP (which includes four beers and access to a private viewing lounge, bathrooms, and bar).

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 @ 11am: One Keg Wednesday at Black Shirt Brewing Co.

For the 27th installment of Black Shirt’s One Keg Wednesday series, they’ll be releasing Pistachio & Lavender Red Rye. These one-off beers are extremely limited so get it before it’s gone.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 @ 7pm: Nitro Vanilla Porter Can Debut at Bluebird Theater

Breckenridge Brewery is treating their latest canned offering – Nitro Vanilla Porter – like a rock star, throwing a party at the Bluebird with some actual rockers. They’ve teamed up with the Underground Music Showcase to feature Austin’s The Bright Light Social Hour and Denver’s Dragondeer, both of whom will be playing UMS this year. The show is FREE and includes one complimentary can per person. No glass necessary for this nitro beer.

Thursday, May 12, 2016 @ 5:30pm: Possible Worlds – A Celebration of Beer Theory at Freshcraft

Call to Arms Brewing Co., Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Ratio Beerworks, Station 26 Brewing Co., and TRVE Brewing Co. all brewed the same IPA with the only variation being the process in which each brewery utilized their allotment of Amarillo, Centennial, and Citra hops. Flights of all five beer will be available and there will be a brief discussion at 6pm. Limited seating available.

Friday,  May 13 & Saturday May 14, 2016: Queso on Colfax at Illegal Pete’s on Colfax

So not technically a beer event, but this will be the closest Illegal Pete’s outpost to my abode so it makes the events calendar. The 3,500 square foot burrito joint in the former Mama’s Cafe will feature live music, drink specials, and outdoor patio fun. On Friday, Upslope will donate a keg between 3 – 5pm; get a free pint if you buy an entree during that time. Happy Hour will be from 3 – 8pm, featuring $2.50 domestic drafts, $3.50 select craft drafts, $3 wells, $4 house margs, and $1 off house specialty cocktails. Among the 21 taps they’ll have New Belgium’s Citradelic, along with Odell IPA, TRVE’s Melissa and, obviously, Beerito from Oskar Blues, which carries an Illegal Pete’s reference on the can. View the full schedule of events here #masquesoporfavor

Saturday, May 14, 2016 @ 6 – 10pm: Discovering Colorado Breweries at Baere Brewing Co.

To help fund the Brewtography Project Kickstarter campaign, Baere is teaming up with Tony’s Market and the Real Dill for a beer, pickle, and cheese pairing. Each 10 oz. pour comes with two cheeses, two pickles, a Brewtography Project tulip glass, and an 8×10 inch signed print by Dustin Hall. Baere is also releasing two beers for the occasion: C3IPA, an American IPA, and Lens Cap, a dark sour fermented in wine barrels and barrel aged. Fund the Kickstarter campaign prior to the event and get a free 10 oz. pour of Law’s Whiskey barrel-aged Imperial Stout, F-Stops. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. This event is limited to 50 people, so don’t delay!

Sunday, May 15, 2016 @ noon – 5pm: Bitter Safe Than Sorry Release Party & Fundraiser at Boggy Draw Brewery

Boggy Draw is donating 10% of tap room sales (+ donations and all proceeds from the raffles) on Sunday to offset the cost of a bartender’s recent medical bills. They’ll release Bitter Safe Than Sorry, offer a FREE taco bar (donations accepted), $1 homemade cupcakes, and a raffle for some local brewery schwag. Drink for a good cause!

Monday, May 16, 2016 @ 7pm: New Holland Tapping at Freshcraft

Freshcraft has been stashing several versions of Michigan stalwart New Holland Brewing Co.’s bourbon barrel stout, Dragon’s Milk, including a triple mashed offering and others infused with raspberries, coffee + chocolate, and toasted chilies. They’ll also tap the brewery’s Blue Sunday Sour.

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.