Beer Me: October 4, 2016 – October 10, 2016

This week, all eyes are on Denver and the Great American Beer Festival. The list of breweries pouring at this year’s fest currently features 776 breweries from all over the country.

Well, everywhere except West Virginia. Colorado, not surprisingly, sends the most breweries with 152. Thirty-six of those have Denver addresses. Check out a full city/state breakdown here.

Though tickets sold out in just over an hour, you don’t need to be inside the Convention Center to take advantage of the craft beer deluge flooding Denver. Simply stop by your local bottle shop or craft beer bar and they’ll most likely have something on the shelves or on tap you won’t get at any other time. Likewise, with local breweries. Just because they’re pouring at GABF doesn’t mean they won’t be rolling out some specialty kegs to mark the occasion. It’s a wonderful time to be alive.

Since this week’s slate of events is packed, the listings below are all business (mostly), no filler.

Good luck and Godspeed! And, if you feel like you need to burn off some beer after it’s all over, check out the bRUNch Run on Sunday where you can detox before indulging once again. And and, if you can’t get out of the house this week but still want to feel festive, check out the paired dinner options from SupperBell, Drizly, and Great Divide.

[Editor’s note: I did not include the events that were sold-out at the time of posting because who needs more FOMO in their lives???]

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 3pm: Rye Barrel-Aged Rye Imperial Stout Release at Launch Pad Brewery

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 3 – 6pm: Rye-Teo Ol’ Chap Release at Wynkoop Brewing Co.

Rye Stout aged in Laws Whiskey House ‘Secale’ Rye Whiskey barrels. 9.8% ABV.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 4:20 – 6pm: Pints, Pipes & Pils at Cheba Hut (Downtown)

Try Ska Brewing’s newest release, Pils World Craft Lager, which is their twist on a classic German Pilsner.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 5 – 10pm: Odd13 Brewing Showcase at First Draft Taproom & Kitchen

Lineup includes Codename Superduper Fan, Hawaiian Bartender, The Economist, Codename Superfan, Boulder Brett, and Chainsaw the Princess of Karate.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 5:30 – 8:30pm: Beers Made By Walking at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Beers inspired by plants discovered on nature hikes. “Each beer is a unique, drinkable portrait of the landscape.” Participating breweries include Baere, Black Project, Bonfire, Burial (NC), Cerebral, Crazy Mountain, Crooked Stave, Dry Dock, Elevation, Fiction, Fieldhouse, Fonta Flora (NC), Great Divide , Happy Leaf Kombucha, Hopworks (OR), Horse and Dragon, Living The Dream, Mockery, Odd 13, Odell, Our Mutual Friend, Paradox, Ratio, Riff Raff, Scratch (IL), Spangalang, Stem Cider, Strange Craft, TRiNiTY, TRVE, andGoldspot + The Grateful Gnome collaboration. Tickets are $35 with only 14 remaining at the time of posting!

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 5:30 – 10pm: GABF Gems of CSA Distributing at Barrels and Bottles Brewery

Golden’s Barrels and Bottles will be showcasing beers from Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Melvin Brewing, Almanac Beer Co, Fremont Brewing, Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery, Bell’s Brewery, and Jester King Brewery. View confirmed line-up here.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 6 – 10pm: Boulder Beer GABF Pre-Party at World of Beers – Belmar

Lineup includes Killer Penguin Barleywine (2015, 2014, and 2013), Dragonhosen Imperial Oktoberfest, Good Trip Tripel, Manguila (Mango IPA aged in Tequila barrels), Shake Chocolate Porter on Nitro, and GABF 35th Anniversary IPL. Party starts at 6pm and rumor has it a flip cup tournament will take place.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 6 – 11pm: GABF Gems of CSA Distributing at The Crafty Fox

Another showcase of Crooked Stave Artisans Distributing. The Crafty Fox will be tapping “fun rare beers” from the following breweries: Lawsons, Bell’s, Half Acre, Two Roads, Council, Perennial, Fremont, Jack’s Abby, Boneyard, Gigantic, Blackberry Farms, Stillwater, Off Color, La Cumbre, Greenbench, Almanac, Ecliptic, Crux, Cascade, AleSong, Jolly Pumpkin, Against the Grain, and Lord Hobo.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 7pm – midnight: Local Showcase Tuesday at Freshcraft

Lineup includes TRVE Brewing Currant Mouth, Horse & Dragon Brewing Company Rum Barrel Aged Coconut Porter, Ratio Beerworks New Wave, Comrade Brewing Company Super Power, WeldWerks Brewing Company Juicy Bits, Lost Highway Brewing Company Golden Ghost, Cerebral Brewing Rare Trait, and City Star Brewing Imperial Saison.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 @ 7pm – midnight: Burial Beer Takeover at TRVE Brewing

A few of TRVE’s taps will be pouring beer from Asheville’s Burial Beer Co. Lineup includes Massacre of the Innocents IPA, Triumph of Death Sumac Saison, Griddle Espresso Stout, and Scythe Rye IPA.

Wednesday, October 5 – Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 3 – 5pm & 10pm – midnight: Beerliner & Chill | Brewers Health Initiative at 14th and Stout

The Great American Beer Festival hosts over 60,000 craft beer lovers and industry leaders, over 65% are male. Beerliner & Chill | Brewer’s Health Initiative will be serving up great Texas craft beer in addition to FREE men’s health screenings. It’s only $10 to try all the beers you want each day or just $30 for four days of tasting!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 11:30am – 10pm: CSA Portfolio Tasting at Hops & Pie

Lineup includes 3 Floyds – Alpha King, Beachwood Brewing & BBQ – TBD , Perennial – Savant Blanc, Creature Comforts – TBD, Stillwater – GGW Tijuana, Melvin – TBD, Boneyard – Diablo Rojo, Scratch – Basil IPA, Blackberry Farms – Fall, Fremont – BA Abominable, Almanac – Farmer’s Raspberry, La Cumbre – BA La Negra, Green Bench – TBD, OffColor – Yuzu Fierce, Ale Song – Gin Hop Farm, Two Roads – Roadsmary’s Baby, Half Acre – Tuna & Benthic BA Stout, Jester King – La Vie en Rose, Montmorency vs. Balaton & Fen Tao, Fonta Flore – Carolina Custard, and Lawson’s – Sip Of Sunshine.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ noon – 9pm: Party at the Moon Tower Tapping & Bottle Release at Mockery Brewing

A Bourbon Barrel-aged Vanilla Imperial Porter.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 2 – 10pm: HitchHiker IPA Release Lost Highway Brewing Co.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 2 – 10pm: Pale Dry-Hopped Sour Release at WestFax Brewing Co.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 3 – 10pm: Merit Badge Beer and Bottle Release at Ursula Brewing

A Coconut Chocolate Imperial Porter.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 4pm: Barrel-Aged Nightmare Fuel at River North Brewery

A “super Stout” aged in whiskey barrels with copious amounts of dark roast coffee. Available on tap and in bottles.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 4pm: The Local Conspiracy at Lucky Pie LoDo

River North and Funkwerks team up. Lineup includes River North – Saison Conspiracy Noir (dark Saison with Syrah must aged in red wine barrels), White, Avarice, and Funkwerks – Saison Conspiracy Blanc (pale Saison with white wine grapes aged in white wine barrels), Raspberry Provincial, and Cascade.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 4pm: 2015 Biere de Triomphe Tapping at Diebolt Brewing Co.

Diebolt will be tapping the 2015 Cabernet-aged Biere de Triomphe (Biere de Garde) and also this year’s version of the same beer.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 6 – 9pm: Happy Hour with Odell Brewing at Avanti F&B

Lineup includes Le Chêne (collaboration with Stem Ciders), Dr. Rich’s Mahogany Ale, Brombeere Blackberry Gose, Crossover Sour Blonde (aged in white wine barrels), Jolly Russian Imperial Stout (bottles), Drumroll APA, and Loose Leaf Session Ale.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ noon: Tears of Our Enemies Release at WestFax Brewing Co.  

A 7% Scottish Ale.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ noon: Brandy Barrel-Aged Mo’ Honey Mo’ Problems Tapping at Mockery Brewing

A Brandy Barrel-aged Pear Braggot.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 1 – 5pm: Wicked Weed Brewery at The Crafty Fox

This Globeville tap house/pizzeria will be tapping over 20 rare beers from Wicked Weed.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 2pm: Fourth Estate Chocolate Stout Returns at Lost Highway Brewing Co.

A 6.5% ABV Belgian Chocolate Stout.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 2 – 6pm: Production Facility Tours at Renegade Brewing Co.

Tour Renegade’s production facility at The Yard on Santa Fe. Just eight blocks south of Renegade’s original brew space and taproom, you will find a beautiful production facility with a 30-barrel brew system, large stainless steel fermenters, and a Wild Goose packaging line. Learn about the brewing process while sipping beers. The tour is FREE and beer is available for purchase.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 3 – 10pm: The Catalina Wine Mixer at Call to Arms Brewing Co.

Call to Arms will be pouring five wine barrel-aged beers. Lineup includes Yu Zu Yu, Frightened Baby Chipmunk, Deinde Repedo, Sneakin’ Lindsey Through the Alley, and Tim Blackbarry.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 3 – 10pm: Basic B!t@h Bottle Release at Something Brewery

A Pumpkin Spice Chai Vanilla Porter.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 4 – 6pm: Crafty Ladies’ Collaboration Coffee Cream Ale Release at Highland Tap & Burger

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 4 – 9pm: Saison Conspiracy Noir Bottle Release at River North Brewing Co.

Dark Saison with Syrah must aged in red wine barrels. Bottle limits TBD.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 4 – 11pm: A Sour Celebration at Jake’s Brew Bar

Lineup includes Gueuzerie Tilquin; Casey Brewing and Blending – Cherry CFP Attika, Cherry CFP Utah Giant, Cherry CFP Stella, The Cut: Apricot; Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales – Sage Dreamland, Ejector; Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project – Nightmare on Brett w/Blueberry, L’Brett d’Apricot, and Surette Reserva Prusus Persica.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 4 – 11pm: Mint Chocolate Stout Release at Grist Brewing Co.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 5 – 11pm: 3 Floyds Night at LowDown Brewery

Come enjoy four offerings from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 10pm – midnight: Alaskan Brewing Co. at Falling Rock Tap House

Drink Alaskan brews and meet with founders, Marcy and Geoff Larson.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 10pm – midnight: 120 Minute Happy Hour with Sam Calagione at Avanti F&B

Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Beer will be in the house along with flights of 120 Minute IPA from 2007, 2009, and 2011.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 10pm – 1:30am: Ska x Telluride Spirit Animal Night at Freshcraft

Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their spirit animal(s). Lineup includes Ska – Autumnal Molé Stout, Pils World, Euphoria; Ska/Telluride/Freshcraft – Sea Kitten; Telluride Fishwater DIPA, Barrel-Aged Facedown Brown, and Russell Kelly.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 10pm – 2am: GABF After Party at Star Bar

The legendary after-party for the first GABF session continues! Lineup from New Belgium includes Whiskey Barrel-Aged Fat Tire, NBB Love Blackberry Oscar, NBB Love Apple Felix, Peach Wheat Wine, Tart Lychee, and RockStar.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 11:30am – 11pm: Casey Brewing & Blending and Cascade Brewing at Hops & Pie

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ noon: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Belgian Tripel Release at Launch Pad Brewery

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ noon: Return of Barrel Aged Death Star  at WestFax Brewing Co.

A Bourbon Barrel-aged Belgian Dubbel.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ noon: Limited Release and Preview of Generation Boomerang at Mockery Brewing

A Wild Wine Barrel-Aged Belgian Quad.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ noon – 5pm: Kenny Lagers at Star Bar

Wear your best yacht attire and enjoy some easy-drinking beers before the Friday GABF session.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 1pm: Barrel-Aged Liquid PJ’s Release at Lost Highway Brewing Co.

A barrel-aged winter seasonal.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 1pm: Stuck at the Tunnel Release at Grist Brewing Co.

An American Barleywine.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 2 – 6pm: Production Facility Tours at Renegade Brewing Co.

Tour Renegade’s production facility at The Yard on Santa Fe. Just eight blocks south of Renegade’s original brew space and taproom, you will find a beautiful production facility with a 30-barrel brew system, large stainless steel fermenters, and a Wild Goose packaging line. Learn about the brewing process while sipping beers. The tour is FREE and beer is available for purchase.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 3 – 5pm: Avery Special at Yard House

Lineup includes Avery Certatio Equestris, the mint julep of beers; Pump[KY]n, a 15% ABV Imperial Pumpkin Porter aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels; and Callipygian, a 17.1% ABV bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout with coffee, cocoa, cacao nibs, and vanilla beans.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 3 – 9pm: 2016 GABF Collaboration Celebration at Denver Beer Co.

DBC will premiere six collaboration beers brewed with Saranac Brewery, Base Camp Brewing Co., Mother Road Beer, Destihl Brewery, Draught Works Brewery, and Rhingeist. There will also be live music, food trucks, games, photo booth, and more. Entrance is FREE or you can opt for a $25 ticket to receive a 2016 Collaboration Celebration commemorative glass, an 8 oz. pour of each of the six Collaboration Celebration beers, and a charitable donation.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 4 – 7pm: Odell x Wicked Weed at Freshcraft

Lineup includes Odell – Hand Picked (Fresh Hop), Jolly Russian, Crossover Sour Blonde, and Barrel Aged Lugene plus  Wicked Weed – Juiceless IPA, Barrel Aged Xibalba, Oblivion, and Montmarreto.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 4 – 11pm: Bellingham Beer, Melvin and Crooked Stave at The Crafty Fox

Lineup includes Melvin Brewing – Cha Cha Cherry Bomb, Couchlock, Ruckus, Hubert; Crooked Stave – Batch #200, Sourless, Petite Sour Passionfruit; Kulshan Brewing Company – Bastard Kat IPA, Russian Imperial Stout; Wander Brewing – Global Mutt, Black Currant Millie Sour; Aslan Brewing Company – Batch 15, Disco Lemonade; Boundary Bay Brewery – Best Bitter ESB, Imperial Oatmeal Stout; Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen – Dunkel, and Pilsner.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 6 – 9pm: New Image Brewing Tap Takeover at Ale House at Amato’s

Brandon Capps, owner and head brewer, of New Image Brewing will be on site hand tapping a freshly brewed, small batch release Firkin (cask-conditioning wooden keg) on the rooftop.  Brandon will tap the keg, talk about New Image Brewing’s story and beer, and be around to answer any of your beery questions. Tickets are FREE and include a 10 oz. firkin and a specially paired dessert. To keep things intimate, tickets will be limited.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 7 – 10pm: Left Hand Warrior Firkin Tapping at Freshcraft

A Fresh Hop IPA.

Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 10pm: Fruit Brews Luau at Illegal Pete’s – Colfax

New Belgium and Ratio are coming together with Illegal Pete’s for a fun night of fruit beers, Hawaiian shirts, coconut bras, and grass skirts! The Parlor Pickers will be on hand to throw in some fun for the luau themed night. Lineup includes Fruit Fly, Tart Lychee, Peach Wheat Wine, and their Ratio collab beer.

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 9:30am – noon: Brewers Breakfast at Denver Beer Co.

Tickets are $12 gets you a smothered breakfast burrito (veggie option available) and glass of barleywine.

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 10am – 2pm: Special GABF Bottle Release at Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales

Black Project is clearing out their cellar. View the lineup here.

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 2 – 5pm: Production Facility Tours at Renegade Brewing Co.

Tour Renegade’s production facility at The Yard on Santa Fe. Just eight blocks south of Renegade’s original brew space and taproom, you will find a beautiful production facility with a 30-barrel brew system, large stainless steel fermenters, and a Wild Goose packaging line. Learn about the brewing process while sipping beers. The tour is FREE and beer is available for purchase.

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 4 – 10pm: Bottlefest 2016 by Tavour at First Draft Taproom & Kitchen

Sample some of the tastiest brews ever put into a bottle! Lineup includes Casey Brewing & Blending, Cantillon, Jester King, Avery, Tilquin, Drie Fonteinen, Hill Farmstead, Paradox Beer Co, The Bruery, Lawson’s, Westbrook. Tickets are $10 and come with six beer tokens. [Editor’s note: And if you have not tried Tavour yet, I would highly recommend it…especially all you beer geeks.]

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 7pm – 1:30am: Surly Brewing at Freshcraft

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 9pm – midnight: 2nd Annual Ratio Karaoke GABF After Party at Ratio Beerworks

Everyone is welcome to join the party, but if you bring your brewer’s badge and sign-up to sing a song, your first beer is FREE. Expect some specialty tappings as well.

Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 10pm – 2am: GABF Final Party at Falling Rock Tap House

Finish your GABF weekend with some rare New Belgium brews. Lineup includes Felix, Peach Wheat Wine, Whiskey Barrel-Aged Fat Tire, NBB Love Apple Felix, Abruzzi Rye Porter, and Rockstar.

Sunday, October 9, 2016 @ 11am – 4pm: October Bluegrass Brunch at Station 26 Brewing Co.

Wrap up GABF weekend in style with beer, live music from Burn it Blue, donuts from Glazed and Confuzed, and barbecue from Turn-In BBQ. No cover.

Sunday, October 9, 2016 @ noon 9pm: Vanilla Bean Mexican Chocolate Stout Tap and Bomber Release at Copper Kettle Brewing Co.

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

—

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.