Beer Me: January 24, 2017 – January 30, 2017 – Top Colorado Beers, Belgian Quads, and NE IPAs
Did you make a New Year’s resolution to drink more beer in 2017? Of course, you did! But, where to start? You could consult BeerAdvocate.com list of top 100 beers in Colorado based on user reviews.
Here are the top 10 for your enjoyment:
- Ten FIDY Bourbon Barrel Aged, Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
- Tweak, Avery Brewing Company
- Callipygian, Avery
- Uncle Jacob’s Stout, Avery
- Ten FIDY (original), Oskar Blues
- Royal Oil, Bull & Bush Brewery
- The Cut: Sour Balaton Cherry, Casey Brewing & Blending
- Bligh’s Barleywine Ale, Dry Dock Brewing Co.
- Nightmare On Brett (Leopold Bros. Whiskey Barrel-Aged), Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
- Ten FIDY (Whiskey Barrel), Oskar Blues
Here’s how the top 100 breakdown by number of entries:
Crooked Stave – 20
Great Divide – 13
Avery – 12
Odell – 11
Oskar Blues and Casey – 7
Left Hand – 6
New Belgium – 4
Weldwerks, Comrade, Bull & Bush, Dry Dock, Funkwerks, and Station 26 – 2
Trinity, Finkel & Garf, Odd13, Backcountry, Mountain Sun, Copper Kettle, Elevation, and Ska – 1
Now, go forth and drink!
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 @ 6:30 – 9:30pm: Free Ukulele Lessons at Renegade Brewing Co.
Whether you’re looking to become an international music sensation or simply want a new party trick, you’ve gotta start somewhere. If it’s ukulele skillz you’re after, Renegade Brewing Co. can help. Swing by the taproom for a free lesson tonight; ukuleles can be rented for $5, first come first ukuleled.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 @ 7 – 8:30pm: NE IPA and Sausage Pairing at Odd13 Brewing
Though slightly off the beaten path, Odd13 has become a destination brewery for hazy, juicy IPAs. Four such New England-style IPAs will be paired with sausages from Suburban Weiner at the Lafayette taproom. The event includes info on how the beers are brewed and why they complement each sausage, along with a tour of the facility. $5 to RSVP and $15 payable to the taproom on the night of the event.
Thursday, January 26, 2017 @ 4 – 11pm: One Great City Returns to Ratio Beerworks
Ratio’s big Belgian Quadruple Ale, One Great City, is back on tap. The beer “in many ways, is our anthem for a new tomorrow, singing the praises of the City of Denver,” according to the brewery. One Great City is smooth and elegant, brewed with a classic Belgian Abbey Ale yeast, Chinook hops, and a unique grain bill.
Friday, January 27, 2017 @ noon – 10pm: Belgian Golden Strong Ale at Diebolt Brewing Co.
Though light in appearance, Belgian Golden Strong Ales often contain a devilishly high alcohol content. Diebolt’s take on the style clocks in at 7.7% ABV and “starts with an irresistibly aromatic bouquet of citrus, pear and spicy perfume that lures the senses and tempts the palate. The flavor is soft, clean and light bodied with subtle fruit and spice notes that levitates to a smooth, dry delicate finish,” according to the brewery.
Saturday, January 28, 2017 @ 11am – midnight: Tap Takeover Makin’ Noise. A Pussy Riot Brew at Colorado Plus
As you may have read in last week’s post, a group of local female brewers recently got together to brew a series of Imperial Saisons, showing their solidarity and their stance against hate and oppression. This Saturday, Colorado Plus will be hosting a tap takeover, featuring a specialized flight with all five of the Makin’ Noise beers. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the brewers between 3 – 8pm and Colorado Plus will donate $1 of each beer sold to ProgressNow Colorado.
Saturday, January 28, 2017 @ noon – 10pm: Wintertide Social at Spangalang Brewery
If you’re suffering through the wintertime doldrums, Spangalang can help. This Saturday, they will throw a party for old man winter complete with live music, a special bottle release, two new beer releases, and a cheese + charcuterie pairing. At noon, the brewery will release two new beers, Dr. Silly Pilz Pilsner and Hop Zwickle, an unfiltered Pale Lager with fruity, tropical hops. They will also offer a limited number of cheese and charcuterie plates meant to pair perfectly with the newly released beers. At 4pm, around 60 bottles of Big Fluffy Snowcat will be unleashed. The funky, floral beer was inoculated with Brettanomyces and aged in red wine barrels for six months and then dry-hopped. At 6:30pm, guests can enjoy live jazz from the Mike Schwartz Band. No cover.
Saturday, January 28, 2017 @ 2 – 11pm: Third Anniversary Party at Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales
The Black Project experiment started three years ago as a side project to Former Future Brewing Co. Now, it’s the main project and will commemorate three years of wild and spontaneous ales by releasing six beers every hour starting at 3pm. The first 100 people will receive a special anniversary glass. No cover.
Sunday, January 29, 2017 @ 1 – 9pm: Barrel-Aged BarleyWayne Bottle Release at Station 26 Brewing Co.
This Sunday, Station 26 will have three different versions of their Barrel-Aged BarleyWayne available in pours and bottles. The lineup includes Calvados (apple brandy), Cognac, and a Scotch/Port barrel-aged selection, plus a bourbon barrel-aged offering for pours only.
Monday, January 30, 2017 @ 4 – 6pm: Beer & Chips Pairing at 38 State Brewing Co.
What can’t you pair with beer? From coffee to cupcakes, beer’s diverse flavor profiles can complement just about any treat. 38 State is betting that our favorite fried potato product is another match. The Littleton brewery is pairing four beers with four different chips from Morgan Handmade Rations. $15 per person in the taproom.
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.