Beer Me: July 12, 2016 – July 18, 2016
Camping this past weekend, I was struck by how much trash is generated when drinking beer in the great outdoors. While Coloradans are better than many when it comes to packing it in and out, you can still see beer cans, bottle caps, pull tabs, and bits of labels littering campsites across the state. And – even though you can now purchase pretty much any style of beer in a can – you’d think people went camping just to smash bottles judging by the shards of glass strewn everywhere.
Is it somewhat annoying to haul your empty cans/bottles out of the woods? Do the last few drops of skunky beer always manage to get your gear sticky and smelly? Yes and yes, but there’s still no excuse for leaving evidence of your wilderness imbibing.
If you’re interested in exploring a post-can world, there are several options out there that will allow you to drink craft beer outside. The Hydroflask – available at many fine breweries around Denver – will keep your beer fresh + cold for up to 24 hours and comes in 32 and 64 ounce versions.
Need more than 64 ounces of beer? Try the ManCan, a personal keg system that can keep up to one gallon of beer “fresh, carbonated and delicious”. You can also find certain beers in multi-liter mini-keg form. Some varieties are better than others.
Or, you could go all out and try brewing your own beer with the Portable Beverage Carbonator from Pat’s Backcountry Beverages. (Basically a fancy Nalgene that turns a pre-made concentrate into beer with the help of citric acid and potassium carbonate.) While the final product might not be on par with what you’d get at your local brewery, you’ll certainly capture the attention of the 14er-summit crowd…
Now, events!
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 @ noon – 8pm: Tap-It Tuesday – Sourless IPA at Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Crooked Stave – known for their wild ales – taps the cheekily named Sourless IPA as part of their regular Tuesday release series. The 6% ABV American-style IPA is brewed for summer and hopped with Azacca, Galaxy, Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, and Comet hops.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 @ 7pm: First Summer BBQ Party at Dunbar Kitchen & Tap House
Dunbar is throwing a summer BBQ series, featuring a new brewery each Wednesday. They kick things off this week with Dad & Dude’s Breweria and their Dank IPA; Pineapple Express, a honey blonde brewed with pineapple puree; and Peachy Keen, a Peach Berliner Weisse that “screams summer”. $20 gets you a plate of homemade BBQ and two drafts of the featured beers.
Thursday, July 14, 2016 @ 3 – 10pm: The Carriage House Series Bottle Release at Call to Arms Brewing Company
A carriage house is an off-shoot of a main house just as the “The Carriage House Series” is an off-shoot of Call to Arms’ regular slate of releases, unveiled as a precursor to the brewery’s Super Awesome Anniversary FunFest this Saturday. The series will give light to wild, sour, and barrel-aged beers. The first, Yu Zu Yu, is a wild saison blended with yuzu – an Asian citrus fruit believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda (knowledge is power!) – and raspberries then aged in Chardonnay barrels. It’s hopped with Bravo, Hull Melon, and Nelson Sauvin and the malt bill features Pilsner, White Wheat, and Acidulated grains. Packaged in 375mL bottles, there are only 50 available. Limit 2 per customer and a finite amount will be available on draft.
Friday, July 15, 2016 @ noon – 10pm: Gold Fest Bottle Release at Tivoli Brewing Co.
Gold was discovered in Colorado back in 1850, prompting many a prospector to cut short their California-bound wagons and set up shop in the then unorganized territory. The original Tivoli brewery was built not much later in 1864. The newly revived Tivoli Brewing Co. is celebrating the discovery of gold in them thar hills with the release of a bottled version of their 5.1% ABV Tivoli Helles. Come enjoy some live music, historic brews, patio games, and enter to win Tivoli beer for life. $10 general entry.
Saturday, July 16, 2016 @ 11am – 11pm: 2nd Anniversary Street Party at Joyride Brewing Company
Edgewater’s premier brewery, Joyride, is celebrating its second anniversary with a full-on block party. There will be live music from FU^k, K-Law, Johnny Tarr, Muriel and the Deano’s, and Whillis. Special releases and tappings include 2015 Boxer Saison, 2015 Belgian Strong Dark…Side of the Moon with tart cherries, 2015 Wolf Wrestler Wee Heavy, and the 2016 Bourbon Barrel Aged Tour Time Barleywine. Additional activities include dunk-the-brewer, bouncy castles, face painting, and food trucks. No cover.
Saturday, July 16, 2016 @ noon: Coffee Pale Ale Release and Keep the Mug Brunch at Alpine Dog Brewing Company
Get an early start on the beer-drinking day with Alpine Dog and Spudz food truck. The former will be releasing Java McHoppy Face, a coffee pale ale, and the latter will be serving up breakfast poutine. And for an extra buck, the first 100 peeps who buy a java brew can walk out with an Alpine Dog-branded coffee mug.
Sunday, July 17, 2016 @ 11am – 2pm: Open House at Laws Whiskey House
Take an informational tour of Laws Whiskey House and hang with the people behind the booze. They’ll be serving $5 bourbon cocktails, $5 whiskey pours, and a $10 flight that includes 4 Grain Bourbon, Farmer’s Select Single Barrel and a surprise rye whiskey. $2.50 tacos from True West will also be 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” and Certified Beer Server, 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.