SERVING UP THE COLORADO LIFESTYLE
Vol. 1, No. 4
Summer 2016
LET’S GET CRAZY EXTREME SUMMER FUN
HIKING & BIKING CRAFTING THE PERFECT ADVENTURES
RARE AIR
7 GREAT ROOFTOPS TO ENJOY LIBATIONS
6
BREWERS’ FAVORITES
&
LIBATIONS BEYOND
ADVISORY BOARD John Carlson Executive Director, Colorado Brewers Guild
Kimberly Naslund Owner, Dancing Pines Distillery
Jean Ditslear Owner, 300 Suns Brewing
Brooke Salazar, Vice President, Marketing Breckenridge-Wynkoop LLC
Bess Dougherty Lead Brewer, Wynkoop Brewing Co. Alan Laws Owner, Laws Whiskey House
Charlie Sturdavant Owner, Golden City Brewery Terri Viezbicke Owner, Boulder Distillery
Crafting a Colorado Summer
Publisher Paul Johnson paul@thirstcolorado.com
With summer surrounding us, outdoor activities are in high gear. Whether you engage in water sports, mountain sports or simply relax next to a fire pit admiring the stars, summer in Colorado truly encompasses it all. You can brave the rapids on a multitude of rivers in the state. From Clear Creek on the Front Range, to the Animas in the Four Corners area, there is a river for every skill level. Dry land more your druthers? Set off on one of the thousands of trails the state offers. Whether afoot, on two wheels, or astride a four-legged friend, opportunities to explore our state’s beauty are countless. Up for a bigger conquest? Then think about tackling one or more of the 54 fourteeners crowning our mountain ranges. Perhaps you are seeking a more tranquil trek into the high country. Popping a tent and enjoying a finely crafted beverage with friends around the campfire is quintessential Colorado living. No matter what undertakings flame your passions, you can be certain to quench your thirst at the end of the day with a beverage fashioned by a local brewer or distiller. With flasks, metal growlers and cans, the opportunity to consume your favorite libation in the backcountry has never been more abundant. We’ve assembled a bountiful list of activities in this issue to provide inspiration on your pursuit of crafting a perfect Colorado summer. As always, Thirst responsibly!
Associate Publisher & Editor Joe Ross joe@thirstcolorado.com
Paul Johnson Publisher & Tasting Guru
Advertising Sales Tod Cavey, Neill Pieper, Jane Howard Design & Layout Michele Garner, Stacey Krull, Sandy Birkey President & Founder Wilbur E. Flachman Contributors Shawn Beltran, Jerrod Cotosman, Holly Gerard, Steve Graham, Dylan Hochstedler, Torie Jochims, Paul Kelly, Kyle Kirves, Alicyn Lane, Scott Rappold, Jose Rodriguez, Angie Wright For advertising and editorial information, please contact Joe Ross at 303.428.9529 Ext. 227 or email joe@thirstcolorado.com Proud member of the Colorado Brewers Guild Thirst Colorado is produced by The Publishing House, a division of Colorado Word Works, Inc. The Publishing House also produces Colorado’s Performing Arts Publications, serving arts venues along the Front Range. 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, Colorado 80030 303.428.9529
Drink up life in large amounts, but restrict your alcohol consumption. We do not endorse or support excessive drinking. Thirst Colorado is published four times a year by The Publishing House, 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO 80030. © The Publishing House, 2016. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
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Except where noted, the content of Thirst Colorado is the property of the magazine and should only be reprinted with permission. Thirst Colorado is not responsible for false or misleading claims made in advertising or editorial materials published herein.
Booze, Brews & Mountain Views 3 CAN’T MISS EVENTS IN BRECKENRIDGE
Beerfest Beerfest Beer rfest An afternoon of craft beer, great food and live music.
Oktoberfest Largest Oktoberfest Street Party in the rocky mountains!
Grand tasting, food pairings, plus guided hikes and bike excursions.
Breckenridge, CO
BeaverRun.com | 800.288.1282
THIRST COLORADO | Summer 2016
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INTERSECTIONS
8 Art of Brewing 12 Strange Brews 14 Prime Pairings 32 Brewers’ Favorites 34 Untapped 44 Brewery Spotlight
Stories worth the telling at Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Brewing like a kid in a candy store
Go for the salad or head directly to dessert Brewers from across the state talk about favorite beers We’ve compiled a great list of festivals
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Something’s up in Brighton and an opening nears in Jefferson Park
49 Tales from the Lying Log Charitably Crafted 50 52 Elevated Liquid 56 Characters of the Craft From way up in the hills, tales are told
The Fort Collins Habitat works with brewers to help others Experience the best local cocktails this summer
59 Brewery, Cidery & Distillery Guide
Discover the interesting folks who make the scene
ADVENTURES
Cover photo: Hiking the Colorado Rockies. © Krzysztof Wiktor / Adobe Stock
We’ll help you locate a new place to find the best drinks
10 Kyle’s Brew Fest 16 From Grain to Glass
Creative fun jammin’ and brewin’
28 Up on the Roof
Jump on your bike and discover your beer’s roots
20 Let’s Get Crazy 22 Rise Above 24 Work Release
38 Do you cellar?
Jump in the deep end this summer
42
Designs on Award Winners
47
Elevated Libations
Get out and bag a 14er with friends
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Leave the day behind and hit the trail
Great views and booze from around Colorado If so, here are some tips for your favorite brews Graphic designer Brandon Proff is expanding his skills Finely crafted experiences in Aspen and Vail
ART OF BREWING
STORIES WORTH THE TELLING
THE ARTWORK OF GRIMM BROTHERS BREWING By Kyle Kirves
S
tories well-told mesmerize us like the fires they’re frequently told around. We crave stories that entertain and enlighten, that amuse and scare, or that are parables we can learn from. But most of all, we tell and listen to stories to become part of something larger than ourselves – part of a clan or tribe or extended family. In many ways, storytelling is what separates
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us from the animals. Storytelling makes us human. At Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, stories and storytelling, as it turns out, are at the heart of the choices they’ve made with their artwork. It’s a natural fit when you take your name from the most widely read literary siblings this side of the Brontë sisters. “There are ways of telling stories,”
Russell Fruits, vice president of marketing for Grimm Brothers, said. “As brewers, we want to be able to tell the story of beer to people. You start talking IBUs and specific gravity and you lose people. You start talking Little Red Riding Hood, a story most folks know – or think they know – and there’s immediate context.” Enter Grimm Brother’s Little Red Cap Altbier – a Great American Beer Festival
Gold medal winner. As the name would suggest, it’s reddish in color, but it’s also hoppier than their other offerings, and slightly edgier. When branding it, Grimm Brothers turned to Loveland-based designer Josh Emrich (of Emrich Office) to help them tell a story in a single image. “In the original story, Little Red Cap becomes a victim of the wolf,” says Fruits. “We chose to rewrite that story and make our version a heroine. That’s why she has that axe behind her back.” Emrich expands on the story. “And the finger to her lips,” he adds. “She doesn’t want you to give her away to the wolf. In our version, Little Red Cap is turning the tables. And you’re in on the joke.” It’s a theme recurrent throughout the Grimm Brothers line. All of the beers – from the flagships to the seasonal offerings – have a corresponding story from the Grimm’s Fairy Tales canon. And make no mistake, these are not the Disney-fied versions of these classic characters. Indeed, they are more in keeping with the darker and dreamlike nature of the source material. Snow Drop Kottbusser, for example, is a fine take on the mythical Snow White. Yes, she’s in a two-tone, white-and-yellow dress and holding a golden apple, but a pathway made of skulls leads to the dark towers of a castle that loom behind her. Grimm enough for you? Still others take the original tale and give it a distinctive spin: it’s a she-devil on the European-style Pilsner Three Golden Hairs, not the traditional cloven-hoof and pitchfork variety. The label has a slightly suggestive quality…in a B-17-noseart, or hula-girl-on-the-dashboard sort of way. Emrich refers to the beer label bombshells as “empowered pin-ups.” Racy, sure. But not too racy. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Fruits says, before adding, “I can tell you the art’s inspired a fair share of tattoos.” As for the beer itself, Grimm Brothers has evolved from humble homebrewing roots. Co-founders Aaron Heaton and Don Chapman were homebrewers first whose palates gravitated to German-
style beers, brewing techniques, and traditions. They are recreating many German beer styles whose recipes were nearly lost to time, heirloom craft beers that few – if any – domestic brewers produce. Yet Grimm Brothers doesn’t limit themselves to Germanic beers when it comes to styles. They currently have an IPA on tap (their third version) as part of a larger experimental series and a porter – though a decidedly German take on that English favorite. The results have been well-received and well-awarded, and bring a little Black Forest to the Front Range. We’re always cautioned not to judge a book by its cover, but when taken as a whole, the beer and the label artwork of
Grimm Brothers brewing come together the way all good stories do. These are beers that aren’t for just “once upon a time,” but rather time and time again. Enjoy one of Grimm Brothers beers the next time your friends gather ‘round, and see where your story takes you. Kyle Kirves is a solid dude who believes drinking beer should be a “five senses” experience.
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For Kyle Hollingsworth, are one and the same
By Torie Jochims utdoor concerts? Colorado’s got ’em. Amazing local music scene? Check, got that too. Outof-this-world craft beers? Absolutely. So when String Cheese Incident’s Kyle Hollingsworth had the idea of combining his love of home brewing with his passion for music, it was an undeniable recipe for success – and charity. The resulting Kyle’s Brew Fests support Conscious Alliance, a Boulder anti-hunger program that sponsors food drives. As Hollingsworth gears up for the next Kyle’s Brew Fest on July 14, he said he’s excited to see the event so well received by Coloradans. “You know, it works. And it’s been really cool to see so many people coming out to support this thing that is, at its core, classic Colorado. If I can get people out there to get introduced to some really great beer, have a good time, and support a cause, I’m proud of that,” Hollingsworth said. Though he’s best known for his music and as a member of String Cheese Incident, a Colorado local music staple, Hollingsworth said his passion for good beer is almost unmatched. He’s been home-brewing since he was 18, and frequently does collaborations with big
brewers all over the nation. “The attraction to brewing is all about the creativity and the latitude you have with it. You can really get crazy and try different things. It’s a lot like the creativity I have in my music,” he said. Conscious Alliance executive director Justin Levy said the partnership has been a perfect fit over the years. “It kind of all started in 2002 when we did a food drive with String Cheese Incident and evolved from there. We’ve been working with String Cheese Incident and Kyle for over a decade, so Kyle’s Brew Fests just kind of clicked into place,” Levy said.
BREWING & JAMMING
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“The attraction to brewing is all about the creativity and the latitude you have with it.” Levy said he’s been most impressed with how the events connect fans with wonderful music and fit in so naturally with Colorado’s beer scene. “In the past we’ve invited up to 30 breweries and had 60 beers available for people to try, so it’s a great opportunity to connect in that way. The event itself has
continued to grow, and the crowds keep growing,” Levy said. Hollingsworth said it’s been a privilege to work with Conscious Alliance and use Kyle’s Brew Fests to raise awareness of hunger in the area, and he looks forward to continuing to bring high-quality beer and a good cause to the community. “The music part of it is really cool, but it’s secondary to me for this. When someone comes up to me at the Brew Fests and says they were inspired to start a career in brewing. I’m just so excited about that,” Hollingsworth said. “So to be able to bring that to people in a way that also supports Conscious Alliance, which is a cause I really care about, it’s awesome.” Torie Jochims is an over-caffeinated wordsmith who is passionate about people, hiking, mountain climbing, running, makeup, craft beer and good desserts.
SURE, BURGERS MADE A GOOD NAME FOR THEMSELVES. BUT OUR DRINKS GIVE THEM A GOOD RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. BURGERS WITH A BEVERAGE. BIT OF A GIVEN HERE. 2641 E 2nd Ave, Denver CO | Open Daily at 11am | Daily Happy Hour 3 - 6pm
STRANGE BREWS
BREWING LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE By Steve Graham
B
ess Dougherty didn’t travel far for a new and creative ingredient to enhance a recent creation. “I picked Swedish Fish because they have always been one of my favorite candies and they have such a unique flavor,” she said. “It also helps that they are readily available at the 7-Eleven up the street from the brewery.” Dougherty added the iconic gummy candy to a firkin of Uber Lager, the lightest beer at the Wynkoop Brewing Co., where she has brewed since 2012. “It is the closest beer we have to a blank slate,” she said. She mixed some candy with boiling water to add into the firkin, then added a small dose of fresh fermenting wort and filled the rest of the firkin with conditioning Uber. About a month later, she had a lightly flavored beer with an unmistakable Swedish Fish scent and slight pink tint.
“It wasn’t sweet and you could definitely still taste the beer,” she said. “The candy was far from overpowering.” Dougherty said many customers were curious but suspicious, starting with tasters and ending up with pints. She said others in the Swedish Fish “cult” were “super excited” about the brew. No stranger to candied beer experiments, Dougherty has also made a Lemonheads cider and a blue gummy bear lager in honor of Denver’s iconic Big Blue Bear. She said with the brewery’s recent remodel she is focused on getting back online with the Mile High Pale Ale, Rail Yard Amber Ale and other Wynkoop mainstays. For now, if you need to infuse beer with candy, you might need to dunk your own. Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beer.
Photo: Angie Wright
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Y L NT
D E P P O H A G A V A R T X E
t We pu
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Prime Pairings Chocolate Yeti Cake with Coffee Ganache Many chocolate cakes simply aren’t chocolaty enough. The dark richness of quality chocolate is often drowned out by overwhelming sweetness. A classic chocolate stout cake, however, will set the world right. The stout – in this case, Great Divide Brewing Co.’s iconic Yeti Imperial – offers just enough bitterness to offset what seems like an extreme quantity of sugar. The natural chocolate notes in Yeti make it an ideal partner for this cake, both to make it and to drink with it. This recipe is loosely adapted from Great Barrington Brewery via Bon Appétit and Deb Perelman. It fits perfectly in a Bundt pan and the original icing is replaced with a simple coffee ganache.
Ingredients For cake 1 cup Yeti Imperial Stout 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter plus additional melted butter for greasing pan 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups granulated sugar 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
For cake
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a Bundt pan well. It is essential to get in all of the nooks and crannies so the cake releases easily. Dust the well-buttered pan with additional cocoa powder. Bring stout and butter to a gentle simmer in large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
3/4 tsp. salt 2 large eggs 2/3 cup sour cream
For ganache 6 oz. good-quality semisweet chocolate chips 6 tbsp. heavy cream 3/4 tsp. instant coffee granules
Pair with Yeti Imperial Stout After a generous pour of the Yeti into your cake recipe, seal your fate by finishing off the Yeti stout. Roasted malts, caramel and toffee flavors will jolt you back to life from your chocolate coma.
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Directions
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In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In another large bowl, beat eggs and sour cream together using electric mixer. Add stout-cocoa mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine; add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter together until completely combined; do not overmix. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Transfer cake to wire rack and let cool completely in pan. Turn cake out onto rack for drizzling with ganache.
For ganache Combine chocolate, cream and coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth, warm and melted, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Recipe: Chef Elizabeth Buckingham
Photo: Nick Nick Photography
Grilled Vegetable Salad Outdoor grilling is the best way to enjoy summer meals, and simple tricks will help guarantee success. •H ave your ingredients prepped on a baking pan so you don’t spend your time rushing in and out of the house. nderstand your grill and how to control your heat. •U Create at least two heat zones for maximum control. Know the difference between direct and indirect heat and how to use each to its best advantage. •G rill grates should always be very clean and very well-oiled. Use tongs and an old kitchen towel to oil the grates. • A cast-iron skillet is terrific for grilling small or delicate items that might otherwise fall through. se heavy-duty aluminum foil to create durable •U packets for steaming vegetables or fish, or little boats for fragile items like bananas. igh-sugar sauces and marinades will burn quickly, so •H apply these during the last few minutes of cooking or when you’ve taken an item off the heat to rest. • I f making kebabs or skewers, be careful to choose items of a similar size that will cook at a similar rate. Harder vegetables, like potatoes or beets, should be pre-cooked first.
Pair with
Ingredients
Renegade’s 5:00 Afternoon Ale
Grilled Vegetable Salad with Lime and Cotija
Light, crisp and sessionable, 5:00 will complement the zesty Southwest flavors while keeping you refreshed under the summer sun.
4 ears corn, husked 1 large shallot, sliced into thin rings ½ small red chile, sliced into thin rings
Directions
¼ cup fresh lime juice
Preheat grill. Slice kernels from one ear of corn and toss with shallot, chile and lime juice in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Brush remaining 3 ears of corn with oil and grill, turning occasionally, until charred and tender, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
Vegetable or olive oil, as needed 1 large zucchini, thickly sliced 1 red pepper, cut into four large pieces 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped 2 oz. cotija, crumbled Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper Chile powder, for garnish
Toss zucchini slices and pepper pieces with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until softened and charred, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool, then cut into ½-inch pieces. Slice kernels from grilled cobs and add to reserved corn salad with zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and cilantro. Toss to combine, add cotija and taste again for seasoning. Sprinkle with chile powder and serve at room temperature.
Recipe: Chef Elizabeth Buckingham Photo: Nick Nick Photograph Summer 2016
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Bike tour rolls through the story of Fort Collins craft beer By Steve Graham
©Istvan Hajas / Adobe Stock
B
ob Williams likes taking long bike rides and telling stories over beers. This summer, he will use a bike ride to tell the story of the beer. Williams is the founder and owner of Beer & Bike Tours, a Fort Collins company that runs bike excursions around the world, each ending at a craft brewery. One of his newest adventures is the Grain to Glass tour, which cruises along the Poudre River and includes stops at barley and hop farms, a malting business and a locally focused brewer. The idea is to talk to farmers and to see and feel every ingredient — including water, hops, barley and malts — in that tasty Fort Collins beer. Williams said the 15-mile tour is flat, slow and relaxed, accommodating riders of all skill levels. “It’s not rushed because the whole idea is to get a feel for the area,” he said. Williams said a professional malt-maker and a brewer ride along to help educate riders about the entire brewing process. The tour began last summer and runs at least six times in June and July this year, at peak barley season just before the harvest. “I just thought it was fantastic that we can ride to see where the malt is grown and where the barley is grown,” said Carol Cochran of a tour last summer. “The barley was beautiful.”
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Cochran is the co-owner of Horse and Dragon Brewing Company in Fort Collins. She went on several Grain to Glass tours last year, then hosted her fellow riders at the brewery for beers made with local hops and malts.
“The raw materials are the soul of any craft product. Craft is all about creating something truly unique and special.” Christopher Schooley, owner, Troubadour Maltings
She was also excited to use the same batch of “beautiful” barley later last fall in a Horse and Dragon beer. The barley was malted at Troubadour Maltings, which provides malts for many other breweries throughout the region, including 1933 Brewing Company, Equinox Brewing, Odell Brewing Co., Snowbank Brewing, Rally King Brewing and Funkwerks. Christopher Schooley is the owner of Troubadour, where every Grain to Glass tour begins with a one-hour introduction to malting. “The raw materials are the soul of any craft product. Craft is all about creating something truly unique and special,” Schooley said. And Williams wants to highlight
Schooley’s malts as the soul of many local craft beers. Williams loves his hoppy brews, but thinks the value of good malt is often overlooked. Schooley also wants to use the tour to attach names, faces and stories to the terms “craft” and “local.” “That’s why we picked the name Troubadour because it’s a storytelling tradition,” he said. “Every one of the grains and every one of the malts has a story to tell.” He said he visits local farms regularly, so it’s fun to share that connection with other local brewers and drinkers. Last year’s tour was popular with brewmasters and other industry insiders, and Williams said they are welcome to tag along for free. Cochran said even serious beer geeks learn something from the tour. “Even for people who brewed before, it’s just great to be able to see the ingredients in the process and tie it all back to the land and how it all starts,” she said. Williams ends the tour at a brewery currently using Troubadour malts, or at the Mayor of Old Town, a Fort Collins beer mecca that always has some Troubadourcentric beers among its 100 taps. “It’s neat for people to see that this was in the ground and now it’s in my glass,” Williams said. Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beer.
©Kotkoa / Adobe Stock
PEDALING FROM GRAIN TO GLASS
Photos: Beer & Bike Tours
©Kotkoa / Adobe Stock
HOW TO BIKE TO YOUR BEER Colorado loves biking almost as much as drinking craft beer. And there are plenty of great ways to combine both pastimes. In addition to the Grain to Glass tour, Beer & Bike Tours offers several other Colorado adventures, including day tours around Boulder, Fort Collins, Denver or Glenwood Springs, and rides through Rocky Mountain National Park (you’ll earn a beer in Estes Park on those climbs). But owner Bob Williams said his favorite is the weeklong San Juan Skyway trip through Durango, Telluride, Ouray and Silverton. beerandbiketours.com
•
• Mile High Bike Tours offers a threehour Denver cycling tour that ends with
stops at several RiNo district breweries. milehighbiketours.com At Your Pace Cycling Adventures offers guided daylong bike and brews tours of Summit County, Glenwood Springs and Boulder, as well as a selfguided day tour of the Colorado wine country. atyourpacebiking.com To split the cycling duties with 15 other drinkers, try out My HandleBar, an open-air, pedal-powered party bus that books chaperoned pub crawls with a designated driver through Fort Collins and Boulder. myhandlebar.com A couple of bike bars also cruise around the Denver area.
• • •
HOW TO ENJOY A DAY OF BIKING AND BEERS Bob Williams has four tips for a successful day of biking and drinking. 1. Stay hydrated. Drink a bottle of water for every pint of beer. 2. Wear plenty of sunscreen. 3. Keep an open mind. “Try a style of beer you have never liked. If the brew master explains the beer to you, you might still not like it, but you’ll at least understand it.” 4. Don’t be afraid to ask brewers dumb questions. “Their whole goal is to teach you about beer and take you further. It’s beer. Be stupid. It’s OK.” Summer 2016
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Learn more and register on our website: www.whistlinghare.com
7655 W 108th Ave Westminster, CO 80021
VISIT TH AT T H E S E B E E R G A R D E E CI N
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Lakewood.org/CommunityEvents for event tickets and details.
Congratulations, you showed up early and
scored a spot in the front row. You’re in for
a long night, but with the new Drumroll APA, you’ve got a bold, citrus-inspired bassline to help you outlast the second encore.
It’s the go-to that goes with.
Please Drink Responsibly © 2016 Odell Brewing Co.
SCREW IT
JUMP IN THE DEEP END THIS SUMMER
By Jerrod Cotosman
Colorado offers a smorgasbord of opportunities for those seeking thrills or extreme adventure. Whether you are interested in going to the mountains or staying on the Front Range, there is no shortage of activities, some of which are actually dangerous. So in the spirit of the classic film Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, we offer a few examples of extreme activities to fill your summer.
D IVE WITH THE SHARKS Sharks tend to have a bad reputation for eating people, but if you are a big fan of the movie Jaws, this activity is for you. Even though Colorado is land-locked, the Downtown Aquarium has all manner of denizens of the deep. For under $200, you can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience among the tiger sharks, barracudas and sawfish. Just remember, you won’t have one of those fancy shark cages to hide in. divedowntown.com
WHITE WATER RAFTING
Photo: Arkansas River Tours
Our state is blessed with hundreds of miles of rivers and many support whitewater rafting. Whether you want to have a nice, quiet paddle downstream with the family or challenge yourself with Class 5 rapids, there is a tour out there for you. Denver residents may enjoy the convenience of rafting on nearby Clear Creek and for those who want to push the limits, the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers offer the thrill of coursing along numerous canyons and ravines. These are only a sample of what is available and you can find good rafting in any corner of the state at colorado.com/ articles/complete-guide-whitewater-rafting-colorado.
LEADVILLE 100 Who wants to run a hundred miles? No, it isn’t science fiction, but something people have been doing competitively in the nation’s highest city since 1983. One hundred miles is one thing, but running it over mountainous terrain at elevations maxing out at more than 12,000 feet is another. It’s the ultimate test of endurance for a runner and something that is not for the faint of heart or the casual athlete. If you dare, you can register at leadvilleraceseries.com Photo: Glen Delman for Leadville Race Series
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TRIPLE BYPASS
Photo: Jay Youn
GATOR WRESTLING
It isn’t heart surgery, but you may need it after attempting one of Colorado’s premier bike tours. The Triple Bypass takes riders from Evergreen to Avon, crossing three mountain passes (Vail, Loveland and Juniper) along its 120mile path. The elevation gain is intense and is something participants should train for, as you can’t just fall out of bed and pedal over 11,000 feet on a bike. More information is available at triplebypass.org
If anyone tells you that you can’t wrassle ’gators in Colorado, they are sadly mistaken. You can head to Mosca and test your mettle against reptiles from two to eight feet long. Yes, this is real, as the pictures on the website of bloody faces and bandaged fingers can attest. But why let the swamp folk have all the fun? Go to coloradogators.com and make a reservation. It could be the best (or last) $100 you ever spend.
YOUR FAVORITE BEER ON DRAFT. AT HOME.
Tap Into the Colorado Craft SYNEK.BEER Photo: Peter Reuben Morales
Photo: Eve Nagode
ROYAL GORGE ZIP RIDER The Royal Gorge is more than 1,200 feet deep, so why not spend some time hovering over it? The Zip Rider is a zip line that carries you over the gorge and the Arkansas River below. It’s available for those aged 10 and up, for an extra charge over park admission. For more information, visit royalgorgebridge.com That’s just a sample of the crazy and extreme things that are available to do in our great state. While we all love craft beer, it’s probably best to refrain from imbibing until after doing any of the above. As a final caveat, please remember that Thirst Colorado is not responsible for any injuries, dislocations, or dismemberment incurred while doing any of the above activities. Jerrod Cotosman is a Denver-area accountant, author and beer drinker who spends an unwholesome amount of time watching televised sports. Summer 2016
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FIVE 14ers
and the Perfect Libations Story and Photo By R. Scott Rappold
Climbers take in the view atop Mount Democrat in the Mosquito Range.
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F
or those who have never been, allow me to describe what it’s like to climb a 14,000-foot mountain. Your heart races and blood thins for lack of oxygen. You gasp for air but can never seem to get a lungful. You know there’s a top to this mountain, but it always seems to be just past the next rise. Dizziness, nausea, a splitting headache; all are side effects of the altitude sickness that strikes many climbers. A little beer goes a long way up here. When you’ve plopped down amongst the rocks and boulders at the top of the world, pop open a cold craft beer. What better way to celebrate the accomplishment? Colorado has more peaks above 14,000 feet than any other state. So when you get out and about in Colorado this summer, give one a try. Here are some of the best summits attainable with just a pair of boots, with long views perfect for enjoying with a can of suds or a stiff drink. Note: Even “easy” 14ers claim lives each summer, so visit 14ers.com for detailed trail information and safety advice.
QUANDARY PEAK
It’s one of the most-climbed 14ers, and for good reason. The trailhead is right off a paved highway in tourist haven Summit County, and the route is a simple ridge walk. Enjoy views of the Sawatch Mountains and the Arkansas River valley while sipping on a 471 Small Batch IPA from Breckenridge Brewery.
MOUNT DEMOCRAT
Most people climb this as the first of a three-in-a-day-hike above Kite Lake, where you can drive to 12,000 feet in a passenger car.
But it’s a worthy summit all its own. Pack a red, white and blue tallboy of Dale’s Pale Ale.
LA PLATA PEAK
Another trail reachable by a paved road, this peak is tougher and steeper than the previous two, but located almost in the geographical heart of Colorado between Aspen and Twin Lakes. You won’t find a better spot to stand in awe of the immensity of the Rockies. Enjoy a Crank Yanker IPA in a tall can from nearby Eddyline Brewery.
HUMBOLDT PEAK
The Sangre de Cristo range of southern Colorado is home to some of the most forbidding 14ers, but this slag heap is a mere walkup, with stunning views of the jagged Crestone twin peaks and the immense San Luis Valley beyond. Nearby Westcliffe has no brewery, so stop in Sangre Distilleries for award-winning spiced rum. Just remember, liquor hits you a lot harder at 14,000 feet, so take it easy for Pete’s sake.
MOUNT EVANS
If you are not quite in 14er shape, you can drive the stunning Mount Evans Scenic Byway, North America’s highest paved road. The road goes nearly to the top in summer. It’s but a short walk to the summit, where the rugged peaks of the Front Range stand in stark contrast to the smog of Denver in the distance. Hit Tommyknocker Brewery for a Butt Head Bock Lager for this one. R. Scott Rappold is the former outdoor recreation reporter for The Colorado Springs Gazette and a full-time ski and mountain bum who writes when he needs money for skiing or beer.
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FOUR AFTERWORK TRAILS
and Post-Hike Suggestions By Alicyn Lane
A
fter a long day at work everyone can use a little time to decompress and unwind. What better way to get away from it all than to head into the mountains? Most of us know by now that simply getting outside can have immense benefits on our minds and our bodies. Even just an hour out in nature is enough to reset. Instead of heading home and succumbing to that very appealing couch, get outside and pack in a micro adventure. Better yet, celebrate your hard work and dedication both in and out of the workplace by having a brew or two. Here are some day hikes with craft breweries nearby to help you get out there.
MOUNT GALBRAITH LOOP TRAIL
Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Denver is Mount Galbraith Park. It sits in the Front Range near Golden, and is easily accessible during the spring, summer and fall seasons. This moderate hike is a 4.9 mile lollipop loop trail. The trail is perfect for experienced hikers and beginners. It starts with a moderate push uphill before it levels out, making it challenging, yet easy going. The out-andback portion of the hike begins with the Cedar Gulch Trail, which meanders along a stream before beginning the steady climb. After you’ve hiked just over one mile, you will intersect the lollipop portion of the trail. The trail leads up and over to the south side of Mount Galbraith, where you will get amazing views of Golden to the east and Lookout Mountain
to the south. The trail takes you around the backside of the mountain before it leads you to the previous intersection of trails, and down to the parking lot below. Check out Cannonball Creek Brewing Company in Golden after you have made your way back toward town. This brewery has between six and 12 rotating beers on tap at all times. Their space has an easygoing atmosphere with spacious indoor seating, as well as an outdoor patio. The brewery also has a rotating food truck schedule for you to refuel.
PARMALEE GULCH TRAIL
Mount Falcon Park is just a short drive up U.S. Hwy. 285 toward Evergreen. This popular park offers a multitude of trails. Hike to a lookout tower, or to the remains of an old homestead. Catch views of Denver and Red Rocks, or stroll through a beautiful meadow. A popular choice is the Parmalee Gulch Trail. This is a fairly easy 3.9 mile loop hike that leads down the south side of the park and then up and around, finally intersecting with the Meadow Trail, which will lead you back to the parking lot. This trail will give you beautiful views of the mountains to the south and west. Along the trail, wood carved benches mark great places to stop and soak up the views. After you’ve taken in that fresh mountain air, head to Evergreen and hit up the Lariat Lodge Brewing Company. If you worked up an appetite hiking, this is the place to go. They have a great menu and list rotating beers both continued on page 26
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PANORAMA POINT TRAIL
Corwina Park is just minutes from the town of Kittredge and close to downtown Evergreen. The park has some great trails to satisfy every kind of hiker. Corwina connects to Lair O’ the Bear park via Bear Creek trail. However, the Panorama Point trail is an easy and shorter walk along a seasonal stream and back through some wooded areas
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before it takes a sharp turn. From there, it zigzags through a series of moderately inclined switch backs. At the top, enjoy sweeping views of the Continental Divide and the town of Kittredge. Afterwards, make a short jaunt to Revival Brews in Evergreen. Hang with the locals in an historic building while enjoying a solid gastropub menu. While they don’t brew their own beers, they do concentrate solely on Colorado crafts. This is great place to hang out and enjoy their summertime patio vibes. Another option would be to head
back down toward Denver and stop in at Joyride Brewery in Edgewater. Joyride has a great space, with an indooroutdoor layout provided by big open windows that look out onto Sloan’s Lake and the Denver skyline. The laid-back atmosphere and spacious barroom makes Joyride a great place to go posthike. Hang out, relax, grab a beer and maybe some food from one of their rotating food trucks. This is the spot to just kick back and enjoy the ride.
MAYHEM GULCH TRAIL
Centennial Cone is a favorite park for a quick afternoon hike. Its milder grades, wildlife and iconic mountain scenery make it the quintessential microadventure. The drive is full of twists and turns up the canyon and behind each turn is yet another beautiful setting. Once on the trail, the lollipop loop hike starts out mild and increases in grade as the trail turns into a series of switchbacks and rises up above Clear Creek Canyon below. This section of the hike climbs quickly. After 1.5 miles, the trail will intersect the Juniper trail. At this point you can opt to hike left or right. The Juniper trail will meander across the backside of the mountain and into an open meadow, which is a great place to spot wildlife. Shortly after that point, the trail will again intersect and lead you back the way you came. Head to Barrels and Bottles Brewery in Golden. With a solid menu of beers on tap, this brewpub is a great place to stop after a hike if you want to grab a drink and maybe a small bite to eat on your way home. The environment is casual, and so is the vibe. Their beer list offers great options for rotating and seasonal brews, as well as a handful of guest beers on tap. If beer is not your thing, head to State 38 Distilling in Golden. The distillery’s tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday, 4 to 6 pm. They offer tours of the facility where they craft 100 percent handmade, small batch, organic spirits. Alicyn Lane is a freelance writer and photographer from Ohio who now calls Denver home. When she’s not working her day job or cooking vegetarian dishes, she is actively searching for adventure in Colorado’s vast playground.
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Summer 2016
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SEVEN
GREAT ROOFTOPS
GETTING YOUR CRAFT ON IN THE RAREST OF AIRS
By Torie Jochims
Summertime in Colorado is exceptionally good for two things: great craft beer and spending time outdoors. As a group, many of us clever, spoiled Coloradans have come to demand both whenever possible. So, to help you make the most of both the warmer temps and delicious craft brews of which there are plenty this time of year, we’ve compiled seven great rooftop bars in the state to help you make the most of your summer.
K.J. WOODS DISTILLERY 929 Main St. Ouray
K.J. Woods Distillery is recognized for their Jinn Gin, but its rooftop bar will also garner attention this summer. With its wraparound deck, K.J. Woods’ combo distillery/gastropub allows you to sit at the foot of the San Juan Mountains and take in the view. Grab a cocktail in their Ouray tasting room and take a stroll around the deck to glimpse a bit of this southwest Colorado paradise.
OURAY BREWING COMPANY 607 Main St. Ouray
Tucked in a box canyon in the San Juan’s, Ouray has some pretty sweet mountain views from any point in town. But few spots can top the stand-in-awe-with-a-pintin-hand combo of the deck at Ouray Brewing Company. Hosting a whole lineup of their own brews as well as a number of other Colorado drafts and bottles, you can keep ’em coming well past happy hour and watch the sun set over the “Switzerland of America.” It’s just like living in a craft brew-themed postcard.
ILLEGAL PETE’S 320 Walnut St. Fort Collins
TAP 14
1920 Blake St. Denver
Sometimes, what you really want to complement your great view is an even greater selection. That’s where Tap 14 comes in. Another Denver favorite, Tap 14 serves 70 Colorado craft beers on tap and has more than 100 Colorado spirits as well. Just ½ a block from Coors Field makes this rooftop bar your new Rockies’ game go-to.
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A Colorado music and Mexican food staple, Illegal Pete’s has locations all over the state, but the one boasting the best rooftop bar is the Fort Collins location. Grub on some famously delicious burritos, chips and guac while throwing back pints of Colorado craft favorites like Oksar Blues, Breckenridge, New Belgium, Great Divide, Upslope, Odell, Wynkoop, Tommyknocker, Avery, Black Bottle and more. You’ll find a lot of local FoCo brewery love at the Old Town location, but they aren’t afraid to spread the wealth, either.
ALE HOUSE AT AMATO’S 2501 16th St. Denver
The best rooftop bars offer one of two view types: breathtaking mountain scenery or a stunning city skyline. Ale House serves up the latter nestled in Denver’s Highland neighborhood alongside an impressive 31 Colorado brews on tap from 17 Colorado breweries. One of the Ale House’s best features lies in its expansive offering of not one, but two excellent decks. The rooftop deck features a cozy, beautiful fireplace for when those Rocky Mountain evening temperatures roll in before you’re ready to call it quits. continued on page 30
GREAT ROOF TOPS Y DA
passion (noun):
CONTINUED...
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an enthusiasm for something yours - crafting great beers & spirits
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EN
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Day Larsen Pedersen Insurance
EVERGREEN TAP HOUSE 2962 Evergreen Pkwy. Evergreen
When you want a mountain getaway but can’t quite swing the longer treks to Ouray or Colorado Springs, the Evergreen Tap House has your back with gorgeous lake and mountain views within a day-trip’s distance. They’ve got 12 Colorado brews on tap, including lesser known gems like Pug Ryan’s Wheat, as well as seven of their own house-made brews to round out the lineup.
Scott Hughes, CIC
Insurance Broker – DLP Insurance scott@dlpins.com
3030 W. 81st (Federal Blvd & 81st Ave) Westminster, CO 80031 303-429-3527 www.dlpins.com Twitter: @BreweryInsure Westminster Chamber of Commerce Member Accredited BBB Member with A+ rating
PHANTOM CANYON
2 East Pikes Peak Ave. Colorado Springs
When a brewery boasts “a tap selection as expansive as the canyon itself,” you know you’re in for a real treat, and Phantom Canyon in Colorado Springs offers just that. Their patio offers great views of the city and mountains, intermingling to create that quintessential Colorado backdrop. Pair the views with their award-winning brews and food and you’ve got yourself a great place to spend an afternoon/ evening/weekend post-Garden of the Gods hike. One of Phantom Canyon’s biggest strengths? They have your basic range from sessions to imperials, but the brewers here are no stranger to experimentation, resulting in beautifully unique pours like The 300 Dollar Elvis, a peanut butter and banana stout. Creativity and beer, a beautiful combo. No matter what part of the state you’re adventuring in this summer, there are rooftop bars and perfectly placed patios to melt happy hours into nightcaps. Now that’s Colorado living. Torie Jochims is an over-caffeinated wordsmith who is passionate about people, hiking, mountain climbing, running, makeup, craft beer and good desserts.
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You should probably share this one in person.
Summer patios have a way of bringing friends and neighbors together. Of course, serving an impressive list of Colorado craft brews and interesting food items doesn’t hurt either. # WeKn owOu rCr a f t 2531 N 12th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501 | 970.242.7253 AleHouseGJ.com | Open daily at 11am
GRAND JUNCTION, CO Summer 2016
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BREWERS’ FAVORITES
WHERE INSIDERS SHARE THEIR OPINIONS
1
Neuevienna Lager, 5.1% ABV, Zwei Brewing
Zwei Brewing in Fort Collins is hands down the best new brewery in the area. Fort Collins is running out of niches and new ideas, and this worries me about all the new breweries. We can’t ride on coattails anymore. People need to think outside the box; which does not mean radical beers. It can mean simple beers or really good lagers, and Zwei does just that. I call Kirk Lombardi, head brewer over there, the Lager King. It is not easy to do a bunch of lagers, especially being a small-scale brewery. Ales are a lot easier to brew and the turn around is a lot quicker, but these dudes don’t care, and I love that about them. My favorite beers from them besides the collabs we have done together are Neuevienna Lager and Helles Lager. I hope you people out there try them if you have not yet.
2
Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV, Telluride Brewing Co.
I am a fan of balanced American-style pale ales, and Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale from Telluride Brewing Co. is right up my alley. While serious hop heads might long for more bitterness, the malt character provides a good backbone. The rye adds a peppery spice element that interplays with the hops. And at 5.5% ABV, this beer is sessionable for the style, making it a great summer camping beer. All in all, one of my favorite beers from one of my favorite breweries. Kris Oyler, Co-Founder/CEO, Steamworks Brewing Co.
3
Saison, 6.8% ABV, Funkwerks
We are fortunate in Colorado to have access to so many amazing saisons, and one of my all-time favorites is Funkwerks Saison. Truth be told, every beer from Funkwerks is worldclass, as are the people. But their flagship Saison continues to be my go-to when I’m looking for a great beer to pair with food, enjoy with friends, or simply to drink for the sake of enjoyment. The yeast complexity and balance is a thing of beauty, with the esters coming through as melon, banana, and tropical fruit, which are perfectly complemented by the pepper and ginger phenolics. And the yeast complexity is allowed to shine thanks to a well-crafted base beer consisting of delicate malt sweetness with enough hops to balance. Perfection in a glass! Neil Fisher, Owner/Head Brewer, Weldwerks Brewing Co.
Sean Nook, Owner/Head Brewer, Black Bottle Brewery
5
Mexican Logger, 5.2% ABV, Ska Brewing
Diebolt Greenback Session IPA: A solid IPA with a pungent blend of citrus and floral hops. At 4.9% ABV, it’s something you can sip on all day. Bonus: it’s canned, so you can take it anywhere.
When I’m drinking summery beer, my mind always goes to my happy place: hanging out on the beach with my beautiful wife. She is catching rays, I’m drinking Mexican beer, and we are both enjoying ourselves. I’m really not that picky when it comes to what kind of Mexican beer I’m drinking. However if we’re focusing on Colorado beers of this style, then the conversation begins with Ska’s Mexican Logger. Ever since I’ve been old enough to know better, I’ve said that I want to be like Ska Brewing President Dave Thibodeau when I grow up, and this beer is one of the reasons.
I’d recommend Patty’s Chile Beer, Wynkoop Brewing, developed by brew master and humble beer genius Andy Brown. It’s a balanced and well-designed summer beer that goes well with many summer foods. The roasted chiles are “dry hopped,” instead of being tossed in the boil, as many other chile beers are made.
Patrick Annesty, Sales and Marketing Director, River North Brewery
Matt Hughes, Head Brewer, Goldspot Brewing Co.
Wade Maslen, Head Brewer, Ironworks Brewery and Pub
4
Greenback Session IPA, 4.9% ABV, Diebolt Brewing Co.
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6
Patty’s Chile Beer, 4.2% ABV, Wynkoop Brewing Co.
- Compiled by Dylan Hochstedler
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UNTAP
WINTER PARK BEER FESTIVAL AUGUST 6 Winter Park
This seventh annual event at Hideaway Park will feature more than 35 breweries, as well as great views and live music. With unlimited tastings from 12-5 p.m., this is a can’t-miss for any beer geek, music lover or festival fanatic. winterparkbeerfestival.com
KEYSTONE BLUEGRASS & BEER FESTIVAL AUGUST 6-7 Keystone
This two-day event will feature 13 bluegrass acts from across the country. There will also be more than 30 craft breweries in attendance. keystonefestivals.com
BLUES & BBQ FOR BETTER HOUSING AUGUST 13 Edgewater Photo: Denver Brew Fest
DENVER BREW FEST @ MILE HIGH STATION JULY 22-23 DENVER
The Dog Days of Summer are a great time to
JULY
COLORADO BREWERS RENDEZVOUS JULY 9 Salida
Venture to Salida for this one-day Brewers Rendezvous. Sample brews from across the state while taking in the incredible vendors, food and music. salidachamber.org
BRECKENRIDGE SUMMER BEER FESTIVAL JULY 9 Breckenridge
Get ready for some brews, views and great live music at the 11th annual Breckenridge Summer Beer Fest. There will be more than 50 breweries from every corner of the world. breckenridgebeerfestival.com
HOOTENANNY 26 JULY 9 Littleton
Big Head Todd is headlining this extravaganza. The event is held at Breckenridge Brewery’s new 12-acre campus. The cost of the ticket includes food, live music and, of course, unlimited beer tastings. breckbrew.com
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get together with friends for tasty food, live music and great craft beer. Proceeds from the festival go to Swallow Hill Music.
The 19th annual Blues and BBQ for Better Housing Festival has moved to Edgewater and will feature local blues and local brews. Proceeds from the music festival go to Denver’s Habitat for Humanity. bluesnbbq.com
denverbrewfest.com
DENVER BREW FEST @ MILE HIGH STATION JULY 22-23 Denver
This summer brew fest honors Colorado craft beverages, and will also feature live music, local food and other vendors. Proceeds from this event will go to Swallow Hill Music. denverbrewfest.com
ARVADA ON TAP - A CRAFT BEER & BBQ FEST JULY 23 Arvada
The first Arvada on Tap beer and BBQ fest was held just last year and they plan on going even bigger this year. There will be more than 25 breweries, live music and world-class BBQ. visitarvada.org
AUGUST 2016 DENVER BEER OLYMPICS & BEER FEST AUGUST 6 Denver
This hilarious classic beer games competition at Civic Center Park will feature flip cup, beer pong, a beer relay and many more. Put on by a non-profit that raises money for blood cancer, there will also be food, vendors and live music. denverbeerolympics.org
WINTER PARK BEER FESTIVAL AUGUST 6 WINTER PARK
Head to the high country for a day of fun at Hideaway Park where more than 35 breweries
APPED WESTY CRAFT BREW FEST AUGUST 13 Westminster
Come to the Christopher Fields Softball Complex, where more than 35 regional craft breweries will offer beverages. Enjoy live music and delicious food. westybrewfest.com
2ND COLORADO CIDER CIRCUS AUGUST 26-27 Copper Mountain Resort
So you think you’re not a fan of cider? Well, there will be a plethora of ciders on tap to wet your whistle and possibly change your mind at Copper Mountain Resort for the Cider Circus. There will also be a solid lineup of craft beer. cidercircus.com
SAN JUAN BREW FEST AUGUST 27 Durango
The 18th annual San Juan Brew Fest takes place in Historic Downtown Durango. Last years’ event had more than 2,300 attendees and 53 breweries, but they plan on going even bigger this year. Proceeds from this event will go to United Way of Southwest Colorado. sanjuanbrewfest.com
will offer their best work. Admission includes five hours of tasting, along with great live jams.
winterparkbeerfestival.com
Photo: Paul Johnson
GABF OCTOBER 6-8 DENVER
Beer lovers from around the world will be in Denver for the Great American Beer Festival,
SEPTEMBER BRECKENRIDGE OKTOBERFEST SEPTEMBER 9-11 Breckenridge
greatamericanbeerfestival.com
TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS SEPTEMBER 16-18 Telluride
The 22nd annual Breckenridge Oktoberfest is where Munich meets the Rocky Mountains. Historic Main Street will be packed with Paulaner Bier, Oompah Dancers, schnitzel and traditional polka music. gobreck.com
Blues and Brews is a three-day celebration of blues, funk, jam bands and other performances that will be accompanied by some of the most popular microbreweries in the country. Expect a wide variety of vendors, children’s activities and late night shows at the local bars and restaurants. tellurideblues.com
CRAFT BREW RACES SEPTEMBER 10 Boulder
DSTILL SEPTEMBER 21-24 Denver
This year Boulder is one of the eight stops for the National Craft Brew Races. It’ll start with a 5k run/walk, and is followed by a three-hour beer fest at the Boulder Reservoir. All participants receive a Craft Brew Races medal at the finish line that also doubles as a bottle opener. craftbrewraces.com
OKTOBERWEST SEPTEMBER 16-17 Steamboat Springs
The eighth annual Steamboat Oktoberwest beer festival will be held in downtown Steamboat. steamboatchamber.com
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Seven great rooftops to hit this summer, Page 28 Photo: Winter Park Beer Festival
which features more beers than anyone could ever attempt to try - but don’t let that stop you. Tickets go on sale August 3.
- Compiled by Dylan Hochstedler
For the fourth year, DSTILL brings together craft spirit lovers, artisan distillers, master barmen and women and other craft spirit professionals for a multi-day celebration of the American craft spirit. dstill.co
OCTOBER GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL OCTOBER 6-8 Denver
Every year, the GABF represents the largest collection of craft beer served plus a beer tasting competition. This event should be on the bucket list for any beer aficionado, as there is no place on Earth to find more beers on tap. greatamericanbeerfestival.com Summer 2016
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Photo: Red Leaf Solutions
E
CELLARING WITH PATIENCE REAPS REWARDS By Steve Graham
levation Beer Company’s Andy Astor likes serving a two-yearold barleywine in his Chaffee County taproom, but admits aging beer in a home cellar can be hazardous. “We always say ‘age at your own risk,’” he said. “Beer is best consumed fresh.” Cellaring beer at home takes a measure of patience and a tolerance for risk. While any beer might go skunky sitting in your cellar, cellaring the right beer for the right amount of time may open delicious new worlds of flavor and aroma, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “Every beer will peak and then deteriorate,” said Jason Yester. “There will be a day when the lactobacillus, pedio, brett, and oak are all in harmony, but up until that day the beer was never as good. When you open a bottle like this, all you can do is say ‘wow.’” Yester is president of Trinity Brewing Company in Colorado Springs. “Our entire program was designed for beers that age well and ship well,” he said. “It’s not only our job to bring in a harvest, but it’s also our job to make sure the harvest stores well.” Yester also stocks two home cellars with
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beers dating back to 1994. One focuses on the dawn of American imperial beers early this century, and the other includes mostly American Brett and sour beers. Yester notes that fermentation was originally designed to increase the shelf life of foods and drinks before the advent of refrigerators, and “increased deliciousness was a bonus.” Finding the right beer and cellaring period is an art involving plenty of trial and error, but there are a few basic guidelines. Astor is the brand ambassador and former taproom manager at Elevation Beer Company in Poncha Springs. The brewery outside Salida crafts barrel-aged beers, as well as “more drinkable beers for the rancher crowd,” he said. He said those lighter beers are not likely to age well. On the other hand, some strong and complex beers can develop even more diverse and interesting flavors over time. “A lot of the higher-gravity, higheralcohol Belgian styles can do a little better,” Astor said. Patrick Dawson, a former Denver resident who wrote the book “Vintage Beer,” said a wide range of beers can be cellared — with care. continued on page 40
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Summer 2016
“Any beer that is either strong, sour, or smoked meets the prerequisite to be cellar-worthy,” he said. “However, just because a beer falls into this style category does not mean it will age well. There are a bevy of other aspects that needs to be considered to determine if it’s worthwhile to age a beer.” Dawson warns against aging most beers. “It’s only a tiny fraction that will develop in a positive manner if aged for a year or more, and even among that portion it’s only a very select few that are worth aging for more than three years,” he said. On the other hand, he has tasted beers with far older vintages. “The oldest beer I’ve ever had was a bottle of Bass Ratcliff Ale from 1869, and it was a wonderful experience,” Dawson said. Dawson’s favorite Colorado beer to age is Great Divide’s Hibernation Ale, a winter seasonal. “I buy a six-pack every year and hold onto it until the next year,” he said. “A year really mellows the booziness out and allows some pleasant notes of stewed plums and sherry to emerge. It’s a great wintertime sipper.” He also said New Belgium’s La Folie sour brown ale ages well, along with several offerings from Casey Brewing and Crooked Stave. Yester’s local favorites for aging include Bristol’s Skull n’ Bones Cuvee, New Belgium’s Eric’s Ale, and Rockyard’s Buddha Nuvo. Astor said Elevation’s Oil Man Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout shifts its flavors with age, as the whiskey, oak and chocolate notes give way. “Over time the umami, black licorice, leather and tobacco flavors and aromas become more prevalent,” he said. Similarly, the False Summit BarrelAged Quadruple gets less potent and more sweet as it ages. “Fresh, it drinks like a nice sticky, boozy, tawny port wine and over time the booziness mellows with golden raisin, plum, and cola notes,” he said. “The Trappist yeast spice holds up really well over time.”
In general, many strong beers that age well are likely to lose bitterness and gain sweet, toffee-like aromas and flavors. “There are a whole host of flavors that you’d never taste in a normal beer: port, figs, bread pudding, candied pineapple,” Dawson said. “These aren’t adjectives you normally use when describing your average pint.” If you want to build a walk-in stainless steel beer refrigerator for cellaring, many options are available. Very basic cellaring requires nothing more than a cool, dark space with consistent temperatures of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, “too cold and the beer will age at a crawl, too warm and the beer will age too fast and create off flavors,” Dawson said.
Some beers cellar better than others.
The process is really something of an experiment in flavor, so Astor recommends tasting at least one new bottle before storing. “Drink one fresh,” he said. “That’s how the brewers want it.” Then, assuming you have enough patience, open one every few months and take notes. “A large part of the fun of cellaring is aging several bottles of the same beer and exploring their passage through different points in time,” Yester said. There is some debate regarding vertical or horizontal storage of beer, but our experts lean toward leaving the bottles upright. Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beer.
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QA and
Crafting the Perfect Designs
Graphic designer Brandon Proff is a managing partner at Our Mutual Friend Brewing in Denver with friends Bryan Leavelle and Andrew Strasburg Photos and Q&A by Holly Gerard
Q
So you’re a graphic designer by day and brewery owner by night (and also by day). How did design lead you to beer?
A
I originally started doing graphic design because I was playing drums in bands around Denver and realized that if I wanted to
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have cool t-shirts, album art and show posters, I was going to have to find money to pay someone to design things or learn to design myself. I found I had a knack for it pretty quickly, and ended up deciding that I wanted to have a career in design and communication arts (even though I have a history degree). After years of working primarily in the music
and software industries, my journey into craft beer started because my friends asked me to help them design a logo for a brewery they eventually planned to open. Three years later, I am the managing partner. It’s been quite the roller coaster ride.
Q A
How does design still play a role for you in the day-to-day of running a brewery?
I have a really great group of employees that have made Our Mutual Friend their own. Having them handling all the various areas of the brewery has allowed me to continue focusing on the identity and vision of who OMF is and what I want it to be. Day to day, that equates to designing all of our beer “label” art, packaging design, curating our Keep the Glass program, and our social media and marketing strategies for how we connect with the people who are interested in what we are doing.
Q
I suspect Our Mutual Friend is one of the few breweries in town with its own “in house design department.” Is doing that work yourself something you still enjoy?
A
Are we?! It really is my favorite thing to do. I can’t imagine how we would have anything interesting going on if our creative identity and actual business weren’t as interconnected as it is. Having the ability to be agile with our creativity has led to some really awesome things, like the Thanatoid Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout packaging and glass release that we did. It was all brainstormed, hashed out, and designed in a matter of a day with our head brewer and the others working together.
Q A
What is your favorite design so far for OMF?
The Thanatoid Barrel-Aged RIS packaging and glass was probably my favorite thing to design because of how cohesive it all is. The snifter glass with mirror chrome logo matched the silver metallic labeling and the silver dipped wax bottle. All of it worked together to enhance the experience of drinking that specific beer. I wanted to create something that we could really build a presence with to keep
people wanting to come back for more. I think it worked.
Q
Tell me more about your recent tap-handle design adventure. When can we expect to see those bad boys?
A
My friend Justin Pervorse designed our logo, and suggested the idea of doing a kind of “totem” as a tap handle instead of the traditional-looking pub-style handles a lot of breweries go with. I wanted to try and make something ourselves, which ended up being a very involved task. Basically, we did a four-sided design and then masked these walnut rectangle handles off to have a friend laser the design into them. Then we would peel the design off, paint them, then peel the inverse tape off to reveal the painted design. It turned out to take around three hours total per handle from taping to finished product. I had something like 100 handles made for us to go through the whole process. I have no idea when they will really make it out into the world because every time we think we are going to start doing keg accounts we run out of beer. Hopefully we will find some money to buy 15 barrel fermenters and then we will put our kegs out into the world – fingers crossed.
Q
You won your first GABF medal in 2015 for your 24 Frames Per Second Golden Sour Ale. Has that changed things for the brewery? What’s next?
A
We have a lot more interest in what we are doing. Winning a medal only goes so far in legitimizing a brewery and we really hope that we can keep making and bottling interesting barrel fermented sours that people love. Having the ability to send them out into the world is a big goal. We can’t wait.
Holly Gerard is a Front Range photographer and journalist about town.
Summer 2016
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BREWERY SPOTLIGHT
Photo: Shawn Beltran
Brewers and founders: Brian Castillo, David Allegrezza and Dustin Christopher Somethingbrewery.com | 720-639-7505 117 N. Main St., Unit A, Brighton
The Brighton Tea Party is Under Way A fine cup of iced tea can turn an unbearable summer day into a suitable one. A mouthwatering pint of tea-infused beer can turn a suitable day into a spectacular one. Brian Castillo, Dave Allegrezza and Dustin Christopher opened the doors of Something Brewery in December 2015, and have been working at full capacity ever since. Although the Brighton brewery market is not quite as saturated as some cities along the Front Range, the three owners knew they would have to add pizzazz to their brewery, and they did so with infusions of tea. Something offers a well-rounded lineup of beers, which includes a sweet hazelnut coffee milk stout, a vanilla coconut porter, an American wheat beer, a vanilla bourbon IPA, a white IPA and many more. But the suds that really put this place on the map are the famous tea-infused beers. Their “Something Fresh Tea Death” is an Arnold Palmer blond ale, made with a mix of American hops and three different types of teas. Another tea-infused beer is called “Something Reddy,” which is a to-diefor orange blood red ale including apple malts, orange peel, rose hips, hibiscus, safflowers and honey. With around 2,000 new homes planned in the next few months, the Brighton housing market is booming, and Something Brewery is poised for success with a location right on Main Street. Something is also planning a stellar lineup of summer-inspired beers. The beer is definitely worth the trek to Brighton. You’ll get Something special every time.
Construction nearing completion at Briar Common Brewery & Eatery
Photo: Dylan Hochstedler
Head of Operations: Kent Dawson Head Brewer: Greg Dawson Co-owner: Travis Dawson Briarcommon.com 2298 Clay St., Denver
- Spotlights by Dylan Hochstedler
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Brothers Greg, Kent and Travis Dawson grew up just outside of Portland. The craft-beer scene in Oregon is arguably just as strong as in Colorado, and the brothers’ infatuation with craft beer dates back to the early 1990s. Kent made his first home brew in 1993, but he had no idea he was planting the seed for the about-to-open Briar Common Brewery + Eatery in Denver, where he is head of operations. Greg, Briar Common’s head brewer, started his home-brewing adventure in the early 2000s. He lived in South Korea, where beer ingredients were scarce, so Kent sent him “care packages” that included grain, hops and other necessary ingredients. Kent and Greg eventually landed in Denver in 2013 and began to make their dream of running a superior brewpub a reality. Although Travis lives and works on the West Coast, he offers any needed support. Briar Common is located in Denver’s historic Jefferson Park in a building jam-packed with more than 100 years of history. The lease was finalized in 2013, but it has taken more than two years to re-zone the property and completely renovate the whole building, including a new second story and two outdoor patios – one at street level and the other on the rooftop. The brothers also put significant effort into hiring a chef, as they want the food to reflect the same degree of attention as the beer. All menu items are tested to ensure compatibility with the exquisite beer lineup. Expect fresh ingredients and seasonal menu changes.
COLORADO SPRINGS WITH SO MANY CRAFT BREWERIES, ADVENTURE IS ALWAYS ON TAP. FEATURING MORE THAN 20 CRAFT BREWERIES
VISITCOS.COM/CRAFTBREW @VISITCOS
1919 Blake St. Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-8338 frth.com Summer 2016
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Never keep something this good on the sidelines.
2220 Blake St Denver, CO 80205
BreckOnBlake.com Open daily at 11am
Call it a team thing. The moment you sip our handcrafted Colorado brews, you know the best play is to share something this good among friends. Of course, enjoying this with ancho-apricot wings, BBQ wings or nachos is never a bad call either.
AN EXPERIENCE CRAFTED IN THE HIGH COUNTRY By The Thirst Colorado Team
Y
ou’ve banged around in the backcountry with a tent, drinking water through a filtering straw and pondering whether trees make a sound when they drop in the forest when nobody is around. Enough! It’s time to clean up. It’s time to ponder something different, like the incredible tastes that sneak to the back of your tongue when whiskey, vodka, liqueur and beer is hand-crafted with Rocky Mountain water and locally sourced ingredients. Welcome to the high-country minivacation that people all over the world would love to experience. It’s called Elevated Libations and yes, this type of peak experience is all about luxury. Pick your pleasure: Stay at the Aspen Gant and explore the fine craft food and drinks down the Roaring Fork Valley or choose the Manor Vail Lodge and find craft nirvana nearby. You’ll find no rocks or roots jabbing you in the back overnight. And your itinerary is practically set up when you arrive. Don’t think of it as a vacation schedule, but more like a map of pleasure. The lodges have teamed up with area breweries and distilleries to offer discounts on tastings and drinks for participants who book individually or as a group until Oct. 31. Three-night packages start at $495 during the low season and $945 in the high season. For an extra fee, Colorado Mountain Express will serve as the designated driver and shuttle you to and from each location. THE ASPEN GANT PACKAGE INCLUDES: • Aspen Brewing Company • Woody Creek Distillers | Basalt • Marble Distilling Company | Carbondale • Roaring Fork Brewery | Carbondale The Aspen package includes a complimentary upgrade based on availability, two Gant pint glasses, a growler from Aspen Brewing Co. and
a $100 food and beverage credit at Pepperjack’s Cafe. “I see this being a great package for a group of friends, couples, bachelorette and bachelor parties, and really anyone that is a beverage and outdoor enthusiast,” according to Meredith Maaske, group sales manager at The Aspen Gant. “It’s a great value with a 25 percent discount off accommodations at The Gant.” THE MANOR VAIL LODGE PACKAGE INCLUDES: • Stoneyard Distillery | Dotsero • Bonfire Brewing Company | Eagle • Crazy Mountain Brewery | Edwards • Vail Brewing Company | Avon • 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirit Company | Vail When staying at Vail, a free upgrade is offered based on availability. Guests also receive two Crazy Mountain Brewery goblets, a Vail Brewing Company growler and a $100 food and beverage credit at The Fitz Bar & Restaurant. “We launched the package in the late spring and plan to continue it through the fall,” said Jill Anderson, director of sales and marketing. “The discounts at the different locations are only available through travel with our Elevated Libations map. For instance, you will receive two-for-one drinks, discounts and other fun gifts.” To gather more information, visit gantaspen.com or manorvail.com Note from the editor: Thirst Colorado staff members experienced the high-country pampering first hand in order to write about the experience. I know, rough gig!
Photos from Top: Woody Creek Distillers, Victoria’s Espresso Wine Bar & Gourmet Grazing in Aspen, 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits Co., and Bonfire Brewing Co.
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www.tapfourteen.com
TRUE TALES FROM THE LYING LOG By Bufford T. Clapsaddle
Everyone who has swung a leg across a saddle is well aware that a bond between horse and human has the potential to become eternal. The following is excerpted from a eulogy prepared by Clapsaddle upon the death of the Rev. Mark Olson, a Lutheran pastor, theologian and author (and a truly gentle giant). Cancer in his early 50s foreclosed on his fertile, creative, wordsmithing mind, his affection for Elijah, the Colorado high country and sharing a timely cold beer with horse packing companions.
E
lijah lazily nuzzled the flop-eared, trademark fishing hat worn by his dismounted rider. The big fellow rose from the welcomed break and returned the affection with a tranquil stroke and thoughtful word of praise and appreciation. Soon, the Knight Riders were back on the trail again, bound for another rejuvenating Colorado wilderness horseback retreat. Like his mounted friend, “Eli” had been there many times previously. They both subscribed to the routine. Seven miles and 3,000 feet higher, the group would establish camp at an isolated lake in the Flattops Wilderness. The Appaloosa was proud and inspired to be transporting this gigantic sponge of love to his final high-altitude adventure. (After all, Elijah was known in the Old Testament as a prophet.) Before long, the tents were up, the stove in place, a camp fire crackling, fried peppers and bison steak, being prepared. “Eli” joined Navajo and Smoky and the rest of the herd, lifting their grazing heads to observe the momentary personal heaven of Pastor Mark and the rest of us. Entrusted more than a dozen pack trips ago to be official proprietor of the spirits and camp rules by trail boss Clapsaddle, it finally became time for the warden to break out and disperse the traditionally prescribed, warming bottle of Jägermeister. The celebration was complete and fulfilled, yet not finished, to be continued certainly another time, perhaps another place. The campfire flames faded into coals, and the Big Fellow rose from the lying log and walked to the tether line. He ran his powerful hands along the neck and across the withers of his four-legged traveling partner giving thanks for the day, the night, the ride, the Knight Riders, his precious family and a multitude of other bounties. Elijah opened his resting eyes and whinnied softly in reply. He, too, had a little prayer in his huge equine heart.“Thank you for this generous and faithful, caring companion. We are most grateful, Lord, that whatever your plans, today’s ride will never end.” Bufford T. Clapsaddle (aka Wilbur Flachman) is a retired newspaper and magazine publisher who has guided hundreds of horse pack trips into the Rocky Mountains for family, friends and business associates during the past 45 years. The majority of his tales are revealed only at timberline.
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CHARITABLY CRAFTED
THE BEERS THAT BUILD
Breweries building a Habitat home, sparking a national movement By Steve Graham Photos provided by Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity
J
oe McClellan helps craft caskconditioned beers, but soon will return to his background in crafting homes — at least for a few hours. McClellan works at one of 12 breweries providing funding and volunteer hours for the House That Beer Built II (HTBBII), a Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity homebuilding project. Local breweries already helped build one area home, and have inspired breweries around the country to sponsor similar projects. “I’ve been a builder since I was in my teens,” said McClellan. “I worked on a Habitat for Humanity house before and I just love the whole concept. It’s awesome.” McClellan tends bar at McClellan’s Brewing, a family pub owned by his son
The Andrasik Family
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Joey. It is one of the newest breweries in Fort Collins, and one of the newest partners in the HTBB project. In 2013, eight area breweries worked together to help rebuild a Rist Canyon house that had been destroyed by the High Park fire in 2012. That project meant the Andrasik family, a single mother and her three kids, had a home once again. Karla Baise, community outreach coordinator at Odell Brewing, planted
“What better way to say ‘thank you’ to the communities that give us, at the very least, a chance at success...” the first seed for HTBB, and invited other brewers to join the effort. “Karla said ‘we wanted to do something but let’s get all the breweries together before we decide what to do and when,’” said Kristin Candella, executive director of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. Candella organized a meeting with the brewers and the Andrasik family. “This particular family telling their story was really compelling and impactful,” she said. Baise said the breweries see the project as a way to give back to a supportive community. “What better way to say ‘thank you’ to the communities that give us, at the
very least, a chance at success, than to build something tangible and narrow our gratitude into a home for a wonderful family,” she said. Three years later, four more breweries and several other local businesses are on board for a second project. They plan to raise $100,000 to build a home in partnership with the Beavers family. The two parents and two kids have moved four times in the last five years, struggling to find affordable housing. Like all Habitat families, the Beavers put in hundreds of hours to help build the home. They also pay closing costs and make zero-interest mortgage payments, which help fund future Habitat projects. The Beavers family owns a small tie-dye business and travels to area festivals with local brewers, so they were excited to work together on the Habitat home. The breweries are also enthusiastic about the project. “They are really invested in their community,” said Raquel Martinez of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. “It’s encouraging to see small business owners really put their actions behind what they want in their community.” Odell hosted a small batch festival in May, and Mishawaka Amphitheatre donated money from each ticket sale in June. The fundraising effort ramps up in earnest in July, with special tappings and other events at each brewery. Work also begins on the home this summer,
THE HABITAT 12-PACK
with volunteer hours provided by brewery staff and customers alike. “They invite their fans to give along with them and work along with them,” said Candella, who added that 300 to 400 volunteers work on each Habitat home. Candella said she was inspired by the collaborative nature of all the local breweries. “They really believe in working together,” she said. After the Beavers project, Candella expects the project to expand into the Block That Beer Built, a small housing development in Fort Collins that recently received city planning approval. Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beer.
Kristin Candella, executive director of the Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, refers to the local beer-making partners in the project as her “brewery 12-pack.”
Black Bottle Brewery Coopersmith’s Pub and Brewing Fort Collins Brewery Funkwerks Horse and Dragon Brewery Company Jessup Farm Barrel House McClellans Brewing New Belgium Brewing Company Odell Brewing Company Old Colorado Brewing Company
Pateros Creek Brewing Three Four Beer Company OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR HTBBII: Brewers Olympics Jax Fish House Mishawaka Amphitheatre The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm The Moot House Townsquare Media Wilburs Total Beverage
The Fort Collins project has inspired other House That Beer Built programs across Colorado and around the country. Grossen Bart, Industrial Revolution, Left Hand, Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse, Oskar Blues, Shoes & Brews, SKEYE, Wibby and 300 Suns are currently building a home in Longmont. The Teller County chapter is also raising money for a project near Colorado Springs. Outside Colorado, breweries in Bend, Ore., Asheville, N.C., and Austin are all working on HTBB projects.
TELLURIDE COLORADO THE FESTIVAL CAPITAL OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
MOUNTAIN LODGE TELLURIDE Telluride’s premier condo lodging property and your home in the mountains
Outdoor heated pool and hot tubs Daily Maid service Adjacent to the free gondola Fitness Center with Steam Room The View Bar & Grill
970.369.5000 | MountainLodgeTelluride.com Summer 2016
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ELEVATED LIQUID This summer, try these cocktails made with spirits from Colorado companies.
SUERTE PALOMA 2 ounces Suerte Blanco 3/4 ounce elderflower liqueur 11/2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice Large pinch of salt Shake ingredients and strain into a collins glass with ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with an edible flower and a long grapefruit peel. Compliments of Suerte Tequila
BLACKBERRY SOUR
10TH MOUNTAIN SPIRIT
2 ounces Woody Creek Straight Rye Whiskey Egg white 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1 ounce blackberry simple syrup 3-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters
2 ounces 10th Mountain whiskey 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice 11/2 ounces rosemary sage simple syrup
Add egg white to shaker; dry shake. Add remainder of ingredients with ice; shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Add Angostura Bitters on top of foam.
Pour all ingredients over ice, shake vigorously, pour into a collins glass with a rosemaryinfused ice cube. Compliments of The Fitz Bar & Restaurant at the Manor Vail Lodge
Compliments of Woody Creek Distillers
AMERICAN PIKA 11/2 ounces Whistling Hare vodka 1 slice jalapeno 2 slices of orange 1 ounce of honey simple syrup 1 ounce of fresh lime juice 1 can ginger beer Combine ingredients over ice and top off with your choice of ginger beer. Garnish with jalapeno and orange slice. Compliments of Whistling Hare Distillery
ROCKY MOJITO 5 fresh mint leaves 11/2 ounces Stoneyard rum 1/2 fresh lime 1 can Barritt’s ginger beer Add mint and ice to glass, muddle until ice is well crushed. Finish with a squeeze of lime, rum and top off with Barritt’s ginger beer. Compliments of Stoneyard Distillery
POPULIST OLD FASHIONED VARIATION 2 ounces white whiskey 1/2 ounce sweet corn and Almond grappa cordial 3-4 dashes of Strongwater Golden Ichor bitters 1 lemon twist Add whiskey, sweet corn/almond grappa cordial and 3-4 dashes of Strongwater bitters to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir. Cut a long strip of lemon rind and squeeze over the top. Compliments of The Populist and Strongwater Spirits
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and
PRESENT
THE 19TH ANNUAL
BLUES & BBQ For Better Housing Festival
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• Odyssey Beerwerks • Westfax Brewing Co. NINE L LOCA S! D N A B
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 11am-8pm
bluesnbbq.com
• Denver Beer Co. • Upslope Brewing Co.
NEW LOCATION!
Citizen’s Park in Edgewater Sorry, no pets!
Purchase tickets online or pay cash at the gate
y Fre ned b Desig
LOCAL BLUES, LOCAL BREWS
epik
Proceeds Benefit Habitat for Humanity
RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE NEWS BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG C MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE NEWS BREWS SPIRITSM STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG CASK MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBO RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE NEWS BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG C MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE N BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG CASK MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Zeal Optics Brewers Glasses
Klean Kanteen
The Klean Growler keeps beer, kombucha or cold-brewed coffee at its original temperature for days. Due to the electropolished interior, there is no flavor retention, making it hassle-free to rinse out and change hydrating fluids at any time of day. All Klean Kanteen products are shatterproof, making them ideal for any outdoor activity. kleankanteen.com
The engineers who constructed these flashy shades had two things in mind – a low environmental impact and a high profile. The frames and lenses are both constructed from plant-based materials rather than crude oil or petroleum-based bonders. This pair of polarized sunglasses is sure to turn heads and collect compliments. zealoptics.com
Beer Cap Maps
Ideal for any beer connoisseur, Beer Cap Maps allows you to celebrate your favorite craft beers, as well as challenge you to try new craft beers from around the state and country. With all 50 states and 10 countries to choose from, you’ll be able to find the perfect map to match your roots and heritage. beercapmaps.com
RMU Dry Pak 30
Whether your morning commute involves a stream crossing on a bicycle or your everyday workout routine consists of an hour or two on standup paddle board, Rocky Mountain Underground has developed an all-encompassing solution: the completely waterproof Dry Pak 30. Excellently suitable for any activity that demands a certain level of respect for the unpredictability of our adventure-based lifestyles. rmuoutdoors.com
ColoradoCarved Synek Beer Dispenser
Thanks to Synek, you can now pour fresh draft beer from the comfort of your own home. The Synek Beer Dispenser is a standalone kitchen appliance that refrigerates and pressurizes the beer inside. synek.beer
These fully customizable, 100% handmade wall pieces come in several different styles. Whether you are looking for a fully colored Colorado flag, grayscale or a rustic look, they all demonstrate life in Colorado, simplicity and natural beauty. ColoradoCarved products make a great centerpiece for any living room, dining room, bar, office or brewpub. etsy.com/shop/ColoradoCarved
- Compiled by Dylan Hochstedler Do you have products you can’t live without? Send suggestions to: joe@thirstcolorado.com
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EG CASK INE LINE WBOARD EG CASK If you’re a brewer, you NE NEWS understand the importance RD RUN of a glass. The right glass helps form a full-bodied head, enhance the bouquet, and display clarity or cloudiness. The same can be said about insurance for your brewery. The right insurance policy has enhancements for tank leakage, loss of processing water, and contract cancellation. Call us to review your current insurance. No strings attached. Chris Hardin - 303.534.2133
Lagers pair well with grilled pork, spicy food and shellfish. Our cannabis pairs well with … just about everything.
Enjoy responsibly.
14 Locations and Growing | Exclusive deal for Thirst readers at LivWell.com/Thirst Denver | Garden City | Lakewood | Colorado Springs | Trinidad | Cortez | Mancos
© 2016 LivWell Enlightened Health. All Rights Reserved. Medical locations for registered Colorado medical marijuana patients only.
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CHARACTERS OF THE CRAFT
Alisha Lubben Maxline Brewing
JP Krause Squeal Rum
One of the state’s newest breweries wants to make sure that the community – inside and outside of Maxline Brewing – is as healthy as can be. Alisha Lubben, Maxline’s director of culture, was hired to help make sure it happens. The Johnstown native is currently studying to become a certified Cicerone as she works to enhance the culture at the brewery, 2701 S. College Ave., in Fort Collins. One of her goals is to “inspire a culture that supports a community-first mindset and healthy work/life balance,” she says. “The Maxline brewing family is dedicated to donating 30 hours per month of our time and talents to local non-profits and sustainable farms.” Healthy employees are important too, she points out. “Each member of our team is scheduled with three days off in a row to enjoy friends, family, exploring the mountains, and of course, beer.”
JP Krause is more than willing to talk about his award-winning Squeal Rum that is made in Denver. But he and his wife Monika have a lot more to think about than rum, such as their two children, trips to the Denver Zoo, traveling, and being a “ballet dad,” says JP, a member of the Colorado Chef’s Association. “My wife and I are big on family and we run the business together.” With a background in hospitality and as a chef at a local hospital, “you taste things differently than if you were a bartender,” he says. “I thought it would be fun to create a brand that brings balanced culinary flavors to a spirit in a fun way.” As busy as life is, JP still has hopes to steal a few minutes to squeeze in a vacation. You might see the Krauses boarding a jet for Poland, where they have family, or Cuba, “before commercial hotel chains take over.”
Mitchell Nichols Front Range Brewing Company
Whitney Ariss The Preservery
Mitchell Nichols was born and raised in Boulder, where he started home brewing the summer after he graduated high school. His first two go-rounds turned out to be busts, but he struck gold on the third batch he crafted, which was a recipe for a stout that he created himself. Nichols then went on to attend two different schools in the automotive mechanic industry, and struck a job as a transmission tech in his hometown. During his three-year stint as a mechanic, he met the owners of Front Range Brewing Company. At 21 years old, Nichols started as a volunteer at FRBC, and was offered the Head Brewer position seven months later. Nichols describes it as “a dream come true” to be perhaps the youngest head brewer in Colorado.
Whitney Ariss’ passion for food began when she was a child. Her family grew an array of fruits and veggies in their home garden, which they used for meals and snacks. After being talked out of going to culinary school by her family, Ariss decided to study music, another important part of her life. As she got closer to obtaining her music degree, she decided it was not what she saw herself doing long term, so she withdrew. After that adventure, she worked her way up the totem pole at Whole Foods and then at Marczyk Fine Foods, gaining experience in the food industry. Once she and her husband Obe realized they wanted to start a business, she unleashed her creativity as the culinary director of The Preservery, a seasonal bakery, eatery and marketplace that opened in RiNo this spring. Judging by its early success, all signs indicate she has found her calling.
56 ThirstColorado.com
Summer 2016
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BREWERY & DISTILLERY GUIDE
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COLORADO BRE ● – Serves Food ● – Food Truck ● – Live Music
ARVADA Grand Lake Brewing Tavern ● ● grandlakebrewing.com New Image Brewing nibrewing.com Odyssey Beerwerks ● ● odysseybeerwerks.com Yak and Yeti ● theyakandyeti.com
AURORA BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com Casita Brewing Company casitabrewing.com Dads and Dudes Breweria ● breweria.com Dry Dock Brewing Co ● ● drydockbrewing.com Launch Pad Brewery ● launchpadbrewery.com Mu Brewery brewbymu.com
Twisted Pine ● ● twistedpinebrewing.com
Two22 Brew ● two22brew.com
Gravity Brewing ● ● thegravitybrewing.com
Ursula Brewing Co facebook.com/ursulabrewery
Industrial Revolution Brewing Co theirbc.com
BOULDER AREA
J Wells Brewery jwellsbrewery.com
Asher Brewing asherbrewing.com
Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co ● ● liquidmechanicsbrewing.com
Avery ● averybrewing.com
Mountain Sun ● mountainsunpub.com
BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com
New Planet Beer newplanetbeer.com
Black Sheep Brewery blacksheepbrewery.com
Odd 13 Brewing Inc ● ● odd13brewing.com
Bootstrap Brewing ● ● bootstrapbrewing.com
Oskar Blues ● ● oskarblues.com
Boulder Beer ● ● boulderbeer.com
The Post Brewing Co ● ● postbrewing.com
BRU Handbuilt Ales ● bruboulder.com
Powder Keg Brewing Co ● ● powderkegbrewingcompany.com
Crystal Springs Brewing Co crystalspringsbrewing.com
Sanitas Brewing Co ● ● sanitasbrewing.com
Fate Brewing Co ● fatebrewingcompany.com
Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place ● ● shineboulder.com
Finkel & Garf Brewing Co finkelandgarf.com
Southern Sun ● mountainsunpub.com
Front Range Brewing Co ● ● frontrangebrewingcompany.com
12Degree Brewing ● 12degree.com
Upslope Brewing Co ● ● upslopebrewing.com 303.396.1898 1898 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder
Very Nice Brewing ● verynicebrewing.com Vindication Brewing Co vindicationbrewing.com Vision Quest Brewing Co visionquestbrewing.com Walnut Brewery ● walnutbrewery.com West Flanders Brewing Co ● wfbrews.com Wild Mountain ● ● wildmountainsb.com Wild Woods Brewery wildwoodsbrewery.com
BRIGHTON/FREDERICK Echo Brewing echobrewing.com Floodstage Ale Works ● facebook.com/floodstagealeworks2013 Something Brewery somethingbrewery.com
LOVELAND BREW TOUR 2
1
Eisenhower Blvd.
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Summer 2016
Jump into this space. 303.428.9529 sales@thirstcolorado.com
I-25
970.624.6045 grimmbrosbrewhouse.com 623 Denver Ave., Loveland
1
3
1st St.
Denver Ave.
4
Hwy 287
Taft Ave.
3
2 Cleveland Ave.
970.619.8138 www.lovelandbrewery.com 114 E 15th St., Loveland
970.619.8590 www.crowhopbrewing.com 217 E 3rd St., Loveland
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REWERY LINEUP BROOMFIELD/WESTMINSTER 4 Noses Brewing ● 4nosesbrewing.com Big Choice bigchoicebrewing.com BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com C.B. & Potts Broomfield ● cbpotts.com C.B. & Potts Westminster ● cbpotts.com Gemini Beer Co geminibeer.com Gordon Biersch ● gordonbiersch.com Kokopelli Beer Co ● ● kokopellibeer.com Nighthawk Brewery ● nighthawkbrewery.com Rock Bottom Orchard Town Center ● rockbottom.com Rock Bottom Westminster Promenade ● rockbottom.com Westminster Brewing Co ● ● westminsterbrewingco.com Wonderland Brewing ● ● wonderlandbrewing.com
CASTLE ROCK 105 West Brewing Co ● 105westbrewing.com Castle Rock Beer Company castlerockbeerco.com Rockyard Brewing Co ● rockyard.com
Cerberus Brewing Company facebook.com/cerberusbrewingco Classic Brewing Company classicbrewingco.com Cogstone Brewing Co ● cogstonebrewing.com Colorado Mountain Brewery ● cmbrew.com Fieldhouse Brewing Co ● facebook.com/fieldhousebrewingcompany Fossil Brewing Co ● fossilbrewing.com Gold Camp Brewing Co goldcampbrewing.com Great Storm Brewing ● greatstormbrewing.com Iron Bird Brewery ironbirdbrewing.com JAKs Brewing Co jaksbrewing.com Local Relic localrelic.com Lofty Brewing Co loftybrewingcompany.wordpress.com Manitou Brewing Co ● manitou-brewing.com Nano 108 nano108brewing.com The Occasional Brew theoccasionalbrew.com Paradox Beer Co paradoxbeercompany.com Phantom Canyon ● ● phantomcanyon.com Peaks N Pines Brewing Company peaksnpinesbrewery.com
CENTENNIAL/LONE TREE/ HIGHLANDS RANCH
Pikes Peak Brewing Co ● ● pikespeakbrewing.com
3 Freaks Brewery ● 3freaksbrewery.com
Red Leg Brewing redlegbrewing.com
Blue Spruce Brewing Co ● ● bluesprucebrewing.com
Rock Bottom Colorado Springs ● rockbottom.com
C.B. & Potts Highlands Ranch ● cbpotts.com
Rocky Mountain Brewery therockymountainbrewery.com
Grist Brewing Co ● gristbrewingcompany.com
Royal Gorge Brewing Co royalgorgebrewpub.com
Halfpenny Brewing Co halfpennybrewing.com
Smiling Toad Brewery smilingtoadbrewery.com
Lone Tree Brewing Co lonetreebrewingco.com
Storybook Brewing storybookbrewing.com
Rock Bottom Park Meadows ● rockbottom.com
Trinity Brewing ● trinitybrew.com
COLORADO SPRINGS AREA
Triple S Brewing Co ● triplesbrewing.com
BierWerks Brewery ● ● bierwerks.com
Ute Pass Brewing Co ● utepassbrewingcompany.com
Bristol Brewing ● bristolbrewing.com
Whistle Pig Brewing Company whistlepigbrewing.com
DENVER
BAKER/SOUTH BROADWAY Baere Brewing Co baerebrewing.com Former Future Brewing Co ● ● embracegoodtaste.com Grandma’s House grandmasbeer.co Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen ● lowdownbrewery.com TRVE trvebrewing.com
CAPITOL HILL/E COLFAX/PARK HILL Alpine Dog Brewery alpinedogbrewery.com Banded Oak Brewing facebook.com/bandedoak Cerebral Brewing cerebralbrewing.com CO-Brew cobrewdenver.com Deep Draft Brewery deepdraftbrewery.com Fiction Beer Co ● fictionbeer.com Lost Highway Brewing Co losthighwaybrewing.com Pints Pub ● pintspub.com Station 26 Brewing Co station26brewing.co Vine Street Pub & Brewery ● mountainsunpub.com
FIVE POINTS Spangalang Brewery spangalangbrewery.com
LODO Breckenridge Colorado Craft ● breckbrew.com Denver Chophouse ● chophouse.com Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery ● jaggedmountainbrewery.com Rock Bottom Denver ● rockbottom.com Sandlot Brewery bluemoonbrewingcompany.com Wynkoop Brewing Co ● wynkoop.com
NORTHEAST DENVER Bruz Beers bruzbeers.com CAUTION: Brewing Co cautionbrewingco.com
Creede Brewing Co ● creedebeer.com River North Brewing rivernorthbrewery.com
NORTHWEST DENVER Briar Common Brewery & Eatery briarcommon.com Call to Arms Brewing Co ● calltoarmsbrewing.com De Steeg Brewing desteegbrewing.com Denver Beer Co ● ● denverbeerco.com Diebolt Brewing Co ● ● dieboltbrewing.com Factotum Brewhouse factotumbrewhouse.com Goldspot Brewing Co ● ● goldspotbrewing.com Hogshead Brewery ● hogsheadbrewery.com Little Machine Brew House ● littlemachinebeer.com Prost Brewing Co ● prostbrewing.com Seedstock Brewery seedstockbrewery.com Tivoli Brewing Co tivolibrewingco.com
RINO Beryl’s Beer Co ● ● berylsbeerco.com Black Shirt Brewing Co ● ● blackshirtbrewingco.com Bierstadt Lagerhaus facebook.com/Bierstadt-Lagerhaus Crooked Stave crookedstave.com Epic Brewing Co ● epicbrewing.com Great Divide Brewing Co ● ● greatdivide.com Mockery Brewing ● mockerybrewing.com Our Mutual Friend omfbeer.com Ratio Beerworks ● ● ratiobeerworks.com Zephyr Brewing Co ● zephyrbrewingco.com
SOUTHEAST DENVER Bull and Bush ● ● bullandbush.com Comrade Brewing ● comradebrewing.com
Summer 2016
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COLORADO BRE Copper Kettle Brewing Co ● copperkettledenver.com
WHEAT RIDGE/EDGEWATER/ LAKEWOOD
BREW Pub & Kitchen ● brewpubkitchen.com
Vail Brewing Company ● ● vailbrewingco.com
Fermaentra ● Fermaentra.com
Brewery Rickoli ● breweryrickoli.com
Carver Brewing ● carverbrewing.com
ENGLEWOOD AREA
SOUTHWEST DENVER
CAUTION: Brewing Co cautionbrewingco.com
Dolores River Brewery ● ● doloresriverbrewery.com
The Brew on Broadway ● ● thebrewonbroadway.com
Black Sky Brewery ● ● blackskybrewing.com
Colorado Plus Brewpub ● ● coloradoplus.net
Durango Brewing Co ● durangobrewing.com
C.B. & Potts Denver Tech ● cbpotts.com
Chain Reaction Brewing ● chainreactionbrewingco.com
Great Frontier Brewing Co greatfrontierbeer.com
J. Fargos ● jfargos.com
Dead Hippie Brewing deadhippiebrewing.com
Crazy Mountain Brewing Co crazymountainbrewery.com
Green Mountain Beer Co facebook.com/ greenmountainbrewingcompany
Main Street Brewery & Restaurant ● mainstreetbrewerycortez.com
ESTES PARK
Mancos Brewing Co ● mancosbrewingcompany.com
Estes Park Brewery ● epbrewery.com
Ska Brewing ● ● skabrewing.com
Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co lumpyridgebrewing.com
Steamworks Brewing Co ● steamworksbrewing.com
Rock Cut Brewing Co rockcutbrewing.com
EAGLE COUNTY
The Rock Inn ● ● rockinnestes.com
7 Hermits Brewing Company 7hermitsbrewing.com
FAIRPLAY
Bonfire Brewing ● bonfirebrewing.com
South Park Brewing Co ● southparkbrewingcolorado.com
Crazy Mountain Brewing Company crazymountainbrewery.com
FORT COLLINS AREA
Gore Range Brewery ● gorerangebrewery.com
1933 Brewing Co ● 1933brewing.com
Declaration Brewing Co ● declarationbrewing.com
Ironworks Brewery & Pub ● ironworkspub.com
Platt Park Brewing Co ● plattparkbrewing.com
Joyride Brewing Co ● joyridebrewing.com 720.432.7560
Renegade Brewing renegadebrewing.com
2501 Sheridan Blvd, Edgewater
Sleeping Giant Brewing sleepinggiantbrewing.com
Westfax Brewing Company westfaxbrewingcompany.com
Strange Craft Brewing ● strangecraft.com
DURANGO AREA
Wit’s End Brewing Co witsendbrewing.com
Animas Brewing Co ● animasbrewing.com Bottom Shelf Brewery ● bottomshelfbrewery.com
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EWERY LINEUP Old Colorado Brewing Co oldcoloradobrewing.com
Ironbird Brewing ironbirdbrewing.com
Kannah Creek Brewing Co ● kannahcreekbrewingco.com
Black Bottle Brewery ● blackbottlebrewery.com
Pateros Creek Brewing Co ● ● pateroscreekbrewing.com
New Terrain Brewing Co. newterrainbrew.com
Palisade Brewing Co ● ● palisadebrewingcompany.com
C.B. & Potts ● cbpotts.com
Pitchers Brewery ● pitchersbrewery.com
Roaring Fork Beer Co roaringforkbeerco.com
Revolution Brewing ● ● revolution-brewing.com
Coopersmiths ● coopersmithspub.com
Rally King Brewing rallykingbrewing.com
GOLDEN
Rockslide Brew Pub ● rockslidebrewpub.com
Equinox Brewing ● equinoxbrewing.com
Snowbank Brewing snowbank.beer
Barrels and Bottles Brewery ● barrelsbottles.com
Suds Brothers Brewery ● ● sudsbrothers2fruita.com
Fort Collins Brewery ● ● fortcollinsbrewery.com
Soul Squared Brewing Co soulsquaredbrewing.com
Cannonball Creek Brewing Co cannonballcreekbrewing.com
GREELEY
Funkwerks funkwerks.com
Three Four Beer Co ● threefourbeerco.com
Golden City Brewery ● gcbrewery.com
Brix Taphouse and Brewery ● ● brixtaphouseandbrewery.com
High Hops Brewery ● ● highhopsbrewery.com
Zwei Brewing Co ● ● zweibrewing.com
Holidaily Brewing Co holidailybrewing.com
Broken Plow Brewery ● brokenplowbrewery.com
Jessup Farm Barrel House ● jessupfarmbarrelhouse.com Hardihood Brewing hardihoodbrewing.com New Belgium newbelgium.com Odell Brewing Co ● ● odellbrewing.com
Aspen Brewing Co ● aspenbrewingcompany.com Casey Brewing and Blending caseybrewing.com Carbondale Beer Works ● carbondalebeerworks.com Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co ● glenwoodcanyonbrewpub.com
GRAND JUNCTION AREA 4 B’s Brewery ● ● 4bsbrewery.com Copper Club Brewing Co ● copperclubbrew.com Edgewater Brewery ● kannahcreekbrewingco.com/ edgewater-brewery
Crabtree Brewing ● ● crabtreebrewing.com 970.356.0516 2961 W 29th St., Greeley
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Mountain Toad Brewing ● mountaintoadbrewing.com
C
E ING
Intersect Brewing intersectbrewing.com
GLENWOOD SPRINGS/ CARBONDALE/ASPEN
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Horse & Dragon Brewing Co horseanddragonbrewing.com
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BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com
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Grand Lake Brewing Tavern grandlakebrewing.com WeldWerks Brewing Co weldwerksbrewing.com Wiley Roots Brewing Co ● wileyrootsbrewing.com
Summer 2016
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COLORADO BRE IDAHO SPRINGS/EVERGREEN/ CENTRAL CITY
St. Patricks Brewing Co saintpatricksbrewing.com
Big Thompson Brewery lovelandbrewery.com
Riff Raff Brewing ● ● riffraffbrewing.com
Dostal Alley Saloon & Gambling Emporium ● dostalalley.com
LONGMONT
Buckhorn Brewers facebook.com/buckhornbrewers
San Luis Valley Brewing ● slvbrewco.com
City Star Brewing ● citystarbrewing.com
Three Barrel Brewing Co ● threebarrelbrew.com
Crow Hop Brewing crowhopbrewing.com
Wolfe Brewing Co ● ● wolfebrewingco.com
Grimm Brothers grimmbrosbrewhouse.com
PARKER
Laughing Leprechaun Meadery facebook.com/laughingleprechaunmeadery
Barnett and Son Brewing Co ● ● barnettandsonbrewing.com
Loveland Aleworks lovelandaleworks.com
Elk Mountain Brewing Inc ● elkmountainbrewing.com
Rock Bottom ● rockbottom.com
Hall Brewing ● ● ● hallbrewingco.com
Verboten Brewing Co. verbotenbrewing.com
PUEBLO AREA
NORTHGLENN
Brues Alehouse Brewing Co ● ● bruesalehouse.com
Beer by Design Brewery ● beerbydesign.com
Shamrock Brewing ● shamrockbrewing.com
El Rancho Brewing Company ● elranchobrewing.com Lariat Lodge Brewing Co ● ● lariatlodgebrewing.com Tommy Knocker Brewery & Pub ● tommyknocker.com Westbound & Down Brewing Company ● westboundanddown.com
LITTLETON AREA
300 Suns ● 300sunsbrewing.com 720.442.8292
335 1st Ave., Unit C, Longmont
Grossen Bart Brewery ● ● grossenbart.com Left Hand Brewing Co ● lefthandbrewing.com Oskar Blues ● oskarblues.com Pumphouse Brewery ● pumphousebrewery.com
38 State Brewing ● ● 38statebrew.com
Shoes and Brews shoesbrews.com
Boggy Draw Brewery boggydrawbrewing.com
Skeye Brewing ● skeyebrewing.com
Breckenridge Brewery ● breckbrew.com Living the Dream Brewing Co livingthedreambrewing.com Locavore Beer Works locavorebeerworks.com
Wibby Brewing wibbybrewing.com
LOVELAND/BERTHOUD Berthoud Brewing Co berthoudbrewing.com
Resolute Brewing Company resolutebrewingco.com
Big Beaver Brewing Co ● bigbeaverbrew.com
Walter’s Brewing Co waltersbeer.com
PAGOSA SPRINGS/DEL NORTE/ ALAMOSA Pagosa Brewing Co ● pagosabrewing.com
NORTHWEST DENVER BREW TOUR N
2
1
Hwy 720.441.4735 www.factotumbrewhouse.com 3845 Lipan St, Denver
720.328.8258 www.calltoarmsbrewing.com 4526 Tennyson St, Denver
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4
3
I-25
Summer 2016
25th Ave.
44th Ave.
38th Ave.
29th Ave. 20th Ave.
2 Pecos St.
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303.495.3105 www.hogsheadbrewery.com 4460 West 29th Ave, Denver
46th Ave.
Federal Blvd.
303.477.7000 www.hopsandpie.com 3920 Tennyson St, Denver
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5 Lowell Blvd.
4
Tennyson St.
6
Sheridan Blvd.
5
720.432.7560 www.joyridebrewing.com 2501 Sheridan Blvd, Edgewater
I-70
1 Wadsworth Blvd.
303.955.5657 www.goldspotbrewing.com 4970 Lowell Blvd, Denver
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REWERY LINEUP SALIDA/BUENA VISTA/GUNNISON/ CRESTED BUTTE
Ouray Brewery ● ouraybrewery.com
Broken Compass Brewing brokencompassbrewing.com
Colorado Cider Company, Denver coloradocider.com
Amica’s ● amicassalida.com
Ourayle House Brewery ouraylehouse.com
Dillon Dam Brewery ● ● dambrewery.com
Compass Cider, Fort Collins compasscider.com
Eddyline Brewing ● eddylinebrewing.com
Smuggler’s Brew Pub ● smugglersbrewpub.com
Pug Ryan’s ● pugryans.com
Old Mine Cidery & Brewpub, Erie theoldmine.com
Eldo Brewery ● ● eldobrewpub.com
Telluride Brewing Co telluridebrewingco.com
TRINIDAD
Scrumpy’s Hard Cider, Fort Collins scrumpys.net
Elevation Beer Co ● elevationbeerco.com
Two Rascals Brewing tworascalsbrewing.com
Dodgeton Creek Brewing Co dodgetoncreek.com
Stem Ciders, Denver ● ● stemciders.com
High Alpine Brewing Co ● highalpinebrewingcompany.com
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
WINTERPARK AREA
Talisman Farm Cidery, Hygiene talisman.com
Moonlight Pizza ● moonlightpizza.biz
Butcherknife Brewing Co butcherknifebrewing.com
Hideaway Park Brewery hideawayparkbrewery.com
Wild Cider, Firestone wildcider.com
SOUTHWEST COLORADO
Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill ● mahoganyridgesteamboat.com
Moffat Station ● winterparkhotel.com/moffat-station
Avalanche Brewing Company ● avalanchebrewing.com
Storm Peak Brewing Co. stormpeakbrewing.com
CIDER
Colorado Boy Pizzeria ● coloradoboy.com/montrose
Yampa Valley Brewing Co ● yampavalleybrew.com
Big B’s Hard Cider, Hotchkiss bigbjuices.com
Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery ● coloradoboy.com/ridgeway
SUMMIT COUNTY
Blossomwood Cidery, Cedaredge blossomwoodcidery.com
● – Serves Food
Florence Brewing Co. florencebrewing.com
Backcountry Brewery ● backcountrybrewery.com
Branch Out Cider, Fort Collins branchoutcider.com
● – Live Music
Golden Block Brewery ● goldenblockbrewery.com
The Baker’s Brewery ● thebakersbrewery.com
C Squared Ciders ● csquaredciders.com
Horsefly Brewing Company ● ● horseflybrewing.com
Breckenridge Brewery & Pub ● breckbrew.com
Climb Hard Cider Company, Loveland climbhardcider.com
● – Food Truck
If your favorite brewery is not listed, please let us know. joe@thirstcolorado.com Elan Smader Livne
COLORADO EVENT DESIGN PRESENTS 2016 SUMMER SERIES
FINE ART & MUSIC FESTIVALS NAT’L JURIED ARTISTS . LIVE MUSIC STAGES Creative Station For All Ages . Face Painting . Delicious Foods
June 11-12
Denver Berkeley Park Art & Music Festival
July 2-4
Pikes Peak Art & Music Festival Colo. Springs
July 16-17
Salida Riverside Fine Arts Festival - in Salida
Aug 13-14
Denver Sloan’s Lake Fine Arts & Music Festival
Sep 24-25 Parker Fine Arts & Music Festival at O’Brien Park Presented by Parker Lifestyle Magazine
www.ColoradoEventsAndFestivals.com Summer 2016
ThirstColorado.com
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COLORADO DISTILLERY LINEUP DENVER/BOULDER
Rising Sun Distillery - Southwest Denver risingsundistillery.com
Anders’ Vodka - Parker andersvodka.com Altitude Spirits, Inc. - Boulder altitudespirits.com Arta Tequila - Englewood www.artatequila.com Bear Creek Distillery - Denver bearcreekdistillery.com Blank & Booth Distilling - Central Denver blankandbooth.com Boulder Distillery and Clear Spirit Company, Inc. - Boulder 303vodka.com/boulderdistillery Colorado Sun ‘Shine - Englewood cosunshine.com Devil’s Head Distillery - Englewood devilsheaddistillery.com/dhd.html Downslope Distilling - Englewood downslopedistilling.com Geek Spirits - Boulder geekspiritsdistillery.com Golden Moon Distillery - Golden goldenmoondistillery.com J & L Distilling Co - Boulder jldistilling.com Laws Whiskey House - Denver lawswhiskeyhouse.com Leopold Bros - Northeast Denver leopoldbros.com Mad Rabbit Distillery - Westminster madrabbitdistillery.com Mile High Spirits - Lodo milehighspiritsllc.com
Spirit Hound Distillers - Lyons spirithounds.com Squeal Rum - Aurora squealrum.com State 38 Distilling - Golden State-38.com Stranahan’s - South Denver stranahans.com StrongWater Spirits & Botanicals - Denver sipstrongwater.com Vapor Distillery - Boulder vapordistillery.com Whistling Hare whistlinghare.com 720.335.6009
7655 W 108th Ave., Westminster
Still Cellars - Longmont stillcellars.com Spring 44 Distilling - Loveland spring44.com Syntax Spirits - Greeley syntaxspirits.com Tesouro Distillery - Longmont tesourodistillery.com
SOUTHERN COLORADO 3 Hundred Days of Shine - Monument 3hundreddays.com Axe and the Oak Distillery - Colo. Springs axeandtheoak.com Black Bear Distillery - Green Mountain Falls blackbeardistillery.com Boathouse Distillery - Salida boathousedistillery.com
NORTHERN COLORADO
Deerhammer Distilling Co - Buena Vista deerhammer.com
Anvil Distillery - Longmont anvildistillery.com
Distillery 291 - Colo. Springs distillery291.com
Black Canyon Distilling - Longmont blackcanyondistillery.com
Lee Spirits - Colo. Springs leespirits.com
Coppermuse Distillery - Fort Collins coppermuse.com
Mystic Mountain Distillery - Larkspur mmdistillery.com
Dancing Pines Distillery - Loveland dancingpinesdistillery.com
Sangre Distilleries - Westcliffe sangredistilleries.com
Elevation 5003 Distillery - Fort Collins elevation5003.com
Wood’s High Mountain Distillery - Salida woodsdistillery.com
Feisty Spirits - Fort Collins feistyspirits.com
WESTERN SLOPE
KJ Wood Distillers - Ouray kjwooddistillers.com
Rado Distilling - Arvada radodistilling.com
Old Town Distilling - Fort Collins
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit CO - Vail 10thwhiskey.com
808 Distillery - Eagle 808distill.com Breckenridge Distillery - Breckenridge breckenridgedistillery.com Colorado Gold - Cedaredge coloradogolddistillers.com Honey House Distillery - Durango honeyhousedistillery.com Mancos Valley Distillery - Mancos mancosvalleydistillery.com Marble Distilling Co - Carbondale marbledistilling.com Montanya Distillers - Crested Butte montanyarum.com Peachstreet Distillers - Palisade peachstreetdistillers.com Peak Spirits - Hotchkiss peakspirits.com Stoneyard Distillery - Dotsero stoneyarddistillery.com Telluride Distillery - Mountain Village telluridedistilling.com Woodshed Distilling - Pagosa Springs woodsheddistilling.com Woody Creek Distillers - Basalt woodycreekdistillers.com
If your favorite distillery is not listed, please let us know. joe@thirstcolorado.com
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Summer 2016
Photo: Angie Wright
Don’t miss out on the music, festivals and fun surrounding the craft beer, spirits and food scene!
URBAN & MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS Koelbel Urban Homes Koelbel and Company
Tap into a Great Lifestyle
Finely Crafted Homes Near Great Craft Beers URBAN LIVING BY KOELBEL URBAN HOMES Boulevard One at Lowry—kuhatboulevardone.com or 303.300.8789
Nearby Brews: The Lowry Beer Garden, Fiction Beer Co., Copper Kettle Brewing Co., Comrade Brewing Co.
5390’ in the Berkeley area—5390byKUH.com
Nearby Brews: Goldspot Brewing Co., Call to Arms Brewing Co., De Steeg Brewing
TrailCrossing at Lee Hill—trailcrossingboulder.com or 720.839.1038
Nearby Brews: Upslope Brewing Co., Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, Walnut Brewery
MOUNTAIN LIVING BY KOELBEL AND COMPANY Rendezvous Colorado in Winter Park—rendezvouscolorado.com or 970.726.5177 Nearby Brews: Hideaway Park Brewery, Moffat Station—Winter Park Mountain Lodge
Grand Elk Golf Community in Granby—koelbelatgrandelk.com or 970.726.5177
Nearby Brews: Grand Lake Brewing
Coming in 2016
Vine in Cheeseman Park—VinebyKUH.com
Nearby Brews: Vine Street Pub & Brewery, Alpine Dog Brewing Co., Lost Highway Brewing Co.
For more information, email or visit us online at info@koelbelco.com koelbelurbanhomes.com rendezvouscolorado.com
− 3 00 DAY S OF −
SUNSHINE
− SHOU LD NOT BE −
TAKEN LIGHTLY
Anyone who frequents our sun-soaked outdoor patios would be inclined to agree. Especially with one of our refreshing craft cocktails on hand—literally. #WeKn owOu rCr a f t AT 2501 16th St, Denver, CO 80211 - AleHouseDenver.com Open daily at 11am | 303.433.9734
DE NV ER