Beer Me: February 7, 2017 – February 13, 2017 – Mile High Beer Festival, Dark Star Days, and Cupcakes
The second annual Mile High Beer Festival goes down Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the EXDO Event Center, located in the craft-beer mecca of RiNo. The festival features two sessions (1 – 4pm and 7 – 10pm) and 25 breweries—4 gluten-free options—pouring more than 65 different beers.
What to expect at this festival? “Short Lines and good times,” according to events coordinator, Colin Bickford. “Mile High Beer Festival offers unlimited sampling of more than 60 Colorado beers, ciders, and meads. Our venue in RiNo is close to the RTD, so you can dance to live music, taste some beer, and enjoy the food trucks—all without worrying about how to get home.”
The festival will also feature food trucks, live music and DJs, and various non-beer vendors. Tickets are $39 or $55 for VIP, which includes an event t-shirt and early entry. [Psst! Use the code “EPIC” at check-out for 15% off tickets through midnight tomorrow!]
The event benefits We Don’t Waste, “an innovative provider of food for the hungry.” The organization collects extra food from various food purveyors and distributes it to those in need.
All breweries will also have a representative in attendance so attendees can ask anything and everything they’ve ever wanted to know about beer. Cheers to that!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 @ 3 – 9pm: Charcuterie and Beer Pairing at Mockery Brewing
Mockery has joined forces with Tonali’s Meats to bring a Niman Ranch charcuterie spread to the taproom. Here’s what the pairing looks like: uncured Genoa salami paired with Du Hast Weiss (Weiss Rauchbier), uncured pepperoni paired with Hop Blooded (Triple Rye IPA), and uncured hot soppressata paired with Silk Road (Imperial Saison with ground sumac and Szechuan peppercorn). $15 gets you three 10-ounce pours and three meats.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 @ 4 – 11pm: Dark Star Days at Station 26 Brewing Co.
Every Wednesday in February, Station 26 is pouring two sixtels of their much-lauded bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout. One will be the original Dark Star and the other will be a Dark Star variant. This week variant is Mexican Chocolate Dark Star. Olé.
Thursday, February 9, 2017 @ 6 – 10pm: Pilot Batch Release Party at Alpine Dog Brewing Company
Alpine Dog joins the New England-style IPA movement with a “hazy, dank and juicy” offering. Only a small amount will be available and the beer is expected to go fast. Legs and Breasts will be providing the victuals.
Friday, February 10, 2017 @ 2 – 11pm: Resolute Red IPA Release at Odyssey Beerwerks
“Strong-willed and laden with resinous American hops to put some pep in your step,” Odyssey has constructed an IPA built for winter. The 7.6% ABV Resolute Red IPA is loaded with Columbus and Chinook hops and features a layered caramel and roast malt bill.
Saturday, February 11, 2017 @ various times: Beer Releases
Starting at 11am, Colorado Plus in Wheat Ridge is adding some new brews to their 56-tap system, including beers from Bruz Beers, Seedstock Brewery, Jessup Farm Barrel House, Green Mountain Beer Co. and several others. At noon, Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co. will unveil an 11.2% ABV Chocolate & Peanut Butter Russian Imperial Stout. Also at noon, Ursula Brewery will tap two versions of 180 Gram Imperial Stout, the original and a tart cherry and chocolate version. The noon hour will also see Ratio Beerworks unleash their two-year anniversary beer, Continuous Thunder. The double IPA will be joined by one keg of their upcoming Dark Sour Saison release. Guests should also plan on sticking around (or coming back) for live music + a dance party, starting at 8pm. At 1pm, Odd 13 Brewing will start pouring double dry-hopped Cultural Chameleon 2.0, featuring all South African hops.
Sunday, February 12, 2017 @ 1 – 9pm: Beer and Cupcake Pairing at Fiction Beer Co.
Kick off Valentine’s Day a little early with Fiction’s second annual beer and cupcake pairing, featuring baked goods from Cake Crumbs Bakery. Enjoy such mouth-watering matches such as mocha cupcakes topped with espresso frosting and Malice and Darkness, a Russian Imperial Stout. Or, carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and Wintry Emblem, Fiction’s oak-aged winter spice ale. The rest of the pairings will be released throughout the week via the Facebook event page.
Monday, February 13, 2017 @ 4 – 10pm: Stout Month Keg of the Mondays at Diebolt Brewing Company
Diebolt is celebrating Stout Month by releasing variants of Vladislav nee The Commodore, their bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, throughout the month. This week, drown your Monday blues with a coffee version.
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.