Good River Beer Launches “2 Percent To Rivers” Non-Profit

In a fast-moving stream of craft breweries in Colorado, Good River Beer (GRB) always seems to be swimming upstream. When the brewery launched in the Denver market in April 2015, it jumped in feet-first by focusing on a keg-only distribution model—a novel approach at a time when many breweries were scaling back distribution to focus on taproom sales. Instead of taking on outside investors, founders Eric Zarkovich, Adam Odoski, and Preston Hartman self-funded their dream, combining their award-winning home-brewing skills (Hartman won the 2014 Front Range Home Brewer of the Year award as well as two medals for “Pro-Am” (professional-amateur) beer entries at the Great American Beer Festival). and business savvy to get their project off the ground. And while most new breweries on the scene were hoarding their earnings to curb debt, Good River Beer made a commitment to donate two percent of its gross profits to river conservation efforts. Last month, the brewery officially launched its own non-profit, called “2% to Rivers,” to do just that.

“I believe that every for-profit should be involved in some sort of conservation effort—some sort of movement that they really believe in,” says Odoski, who was inspired to create Good River Beer after meeting Hartman on a nine-day river trip in Utah. A passion for whitewater kayaking, craft beer, and do-goodery is at the core of the trios’ business.

While committing a portion of its profits to benefit organizations like American Whitewater and the Colorado Water Trust comes with challenges, the team at Good River Beer vows to stay the course.“The meaning behind what we’re doing far outweighs the challenges,” Odoski notes. While GRB currently relies on contract breweries like Denver’s Sleeping Giant to brew its bold Class V Colorado Style IPA and Gunny German Black Lager, Odoski and his team have plans to open a tasting room in the near future.

Supporting Good River Beer’s conservation efforts is easy. Coloradans can pick up 12-ounce six-pack cans of the brewery’s American Authentic Pilsner and Class V Colorado IPA and 750 ml bottles of Fu Fighter—a 8.9 percent ABV Belgian Golden Ale—at nearly 400 accounts throughout the Denver metro area.

Bonus: To boost fundraising efforts, the brewery also throws a handful of events each month, including educational opportunities, pint nights, and beer dinners. Check out Good River Beer’s Facebook page for info on upcoming happenings.

Rare Fish / Rare Beer Project Pairs Conservation and Craft Brews

Raise a glass to help protect Colorado’s freshwater ecosystems.

Colorado is an angler’s paradise, and not just because the state boasts 6,000 miles of streams and more than 2,000 lakes and reservoirs. There are also roughly 35 species of fish to be found in Centennial state waters. Some—such as the rainbow trout—are well known and widespread. Others, however, are more rare. Running Rivers, a Denver-based non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to connect and educate people about freshwater ecosystems, is teaming up with local breweries to bring awareness to some of the Centennial State’s rarest types of fish.

The “Rare Fish / Rare Beer Project” was inspired by Running Rivers successful Flyathalon fundraisers, which combine fly fishing, running, and, of course, craft beer. Most of that beer came in the form of donations from the fishing enthusiasts behind Del Norte’s Three Barrel Brewing Company. That relationship eventually inspired the brewery to collaborate with Running Rivers on the “Rare Fish / Rare Beer” project.

In August, Three Barrel released the project’s first collaboration beer, the Trucha Grande (which translates to big trout). This limited-release strong ale—a blend of the brewery’s coconut brown lager and chocolate-vanilla porter aged in Laws Whiskey House barrels—touts important information about the Rio Grande cutthrout trout on its label. It’s available at select liquor stores throughout Colorado, and a portion of its proceeds will benefit Running Rivers’ Rio Grande cutthroat trout conservation projects.

The project’s second collaboration beer was released earlier this month. Bring the Greenback—a Berliner-Weisse brewed by Denver-based Baere Brewing Company—aims to bring attention to the greenback cutthroat trout. Despite being Colorado’s state fish, the greenback cutthroat trout is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The only known genetically pure population is located in the Bear Creek Watershed near Colorado Springs, and the brew is made with spruce tips harvested from along the creek bed. The limited-run beer is being sold at liquor stores around the state and in Baere’s taproom. As with the Trucha Grande, the beer’s label highlights conservation information about the fish and encourages drinkers to tip a glass to the state’s diverse—and sometimes compromised— freshwater ecosystems.

5 Biggest Trends of the 2017 Great American Beer Festival

The 36th annual sudsy celebration had a new look and feel this year.

The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), aka Denver’s sudsiest weekend, has come and gone, leaving attendees with multi-day hangovers and (hopefully) plenty of great memories. Now in its 36th year, the festival displayed a different look, focusing on a more efficient layout designed to create more elbow room in the Colorado Convention Center for the thousands of festival-goers. But looks aside, this year’s GABF had an altogether different vibe, with less shenanigans, plenty of emerging stars, and new beer styles to fawn over. Here are the top five trends we noticed at 2017’s fest.

Less Drama: In place of breweries pushing the boundaries of the festival’s restrictions on booth height and incorporating over-the-top design elements, this year’s GABF had a scaled-back look that seemed to mimic an overall trend taking place in the industry as whole. Breweries eschewed the extravagant antics and distracting decorations in favor of emphasizing their beer offerings.

Earthy Flavors: The craft beer industry has seen a lot of trends come and go in the past decade. The super hopped-up IPA phase transitioned into a sour beer movement, which then evolved into a session IPA fixation that saw breweries trying to outdo each other’s full-flavored, low ABV beers. At this year’s fest, it was clear that a new trend is on its way in: earthy beers. These brews are often created through spontaneous fermentation and adjuncts (i.e. wild yeast, fruit, and herbs like lavender, rose hips, and juniper berries), and it seemed like almost every booth this year had one. Denver’s own Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales beer was highly sought after, and the brewery ran out of beer early on in each session. Black Project’s Roswell: Grudge, a Lambic-inspired brew with fresh raspberries, took home the silver medal in the Experimental Beer category.

Beercations: This year’s fest had a brand-new section, and it was a popular one. The beer travel area was made up of several conventions and visitors’ bureaus in beer-loving cities across the country, and they were working hard to showcase their areas’ unique craft beer scenes. Festival-goers were loving it, gobbling up pamphlets and kitschy souvenirs from each destination, including Denver; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Santa Rosa, California; and Memphis, Tennessee.

Big, Bold and Barrel-Aged: Attendees searching for big flavors were in luck at this year’s GABF. Brews such as Tampa-based Cigar City Brewing Company’s Marshal Zhukov’s Penultimate Push—an 11.5 percent ABV whooper of an imperial stout brewed with coffee beans and vanilla—were everywhere. (Bonus: The brewery recently launched distribution in Colorado, which means this robust beer is likely available at a liquor store near you.)
Another winner in this category included Loveland Aleworks’ bold-but-balanced Fifth Anniversary Tequila Sour, which earned a bronze medal in the Wood-and-Barrel-Aged Sour Beer category. Costume-clad attendees also waited in long lines to snag tastes of Oskar Blues Brewery’s iconic and oh-so-boozy barrel-aged Death by Coconut porter and City Star Brewing’s Scoundrel, a deliciously sour brown ale aged in oak Cabernet barrels.

Colorado Winners: With roughly 334 breweries operating in Colorado (ranked second in number only to the much-larger state of California) Colorado breweries typically have a good showing at the annual GABF awards ceremony. But this year, breweries in the Centennial State cleaned up. Thirty-eight medals were handed out to Colorado breweries, including a silver medal in the Munich-Style Dunkel or European-Style Dark Lager category to first-time winner, Wibby Brewing. Co-founder Ryan Wibby stole the show when he dropped to one knee to propose to his longtime girlfriend while accepting his medal for the Moondoor Dunkel. (She said yes!) Other local winners include Denver Beer Company, Dry Dock Brewing, Cellar West Artisan Ales, Wiley Roots, and Launch Pad Brewery.

12 Alternatives to the Great American Beer Festival

Once again, GABF tickets sold out in less than a day. But never fear—Colorado is still rich with opportunity for ticketless beer lovers to get their hops on.

Are you missing the Great American Beer Festival this year? You’re not alone. For the sixth consecutive time, GABF tickets sold out in a matter of hours. Thankfully, events that keep the beer flowing are just a stone’s throw away in Denver. Here are some of our top picks:

Beer School Sensory Training
GABF attendee or not, it’s always nice to know what you’re doing when beer sippin’ and samplin’. Start your week off with this all-about-beer training session at the Bierstadt Lagerhaus to learn how to sip the right way. The class is taught by Melissa Antone, a certified cicerone and Beer Judge Certification Program recognized judge, and self-proclaimed “ambassador for quality beer.” In other words, you’ll be in good hands. October 2, 7-9 p.m., Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake St.; $25

2017 Beers Made By Walking
Enjoy more than 30 nature-inspired beers at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s seventh annual Beers Made By Walking festival. More than 20 of the featured ales were made specifically for the event, including one by Spice Trade Brewing that was made in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens. All proceeds will benefit the Museum. October 3, 6-9 p.m.; Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.; $40

Blue Moon Festival of Friends
Be a part of Blue Moon’s inaugural RiNo beer festival, where you can take advantage of unlimited beer samples from seven local brewing companies, including Blue Moon, the Sandlot Brewery, and Terrapin Beer Co. Blue Moon will also be serving up some light appetizers. October 5, 12–5 p.m.; Blue Moon Brewing Company, 3750 Chestnut Place; $10

Epic Brewing’s 5th Annual Fifty Firkin Fiasco: 
Epic Brewing Company throws one heck of a party for GABF week every year, during which they break out 50 unique firkins from which attendees can enjoy unlimited sampling. October 5, 7-11:45 p.m.; Epic Brewing Company, 3001 Walnut St.; $45

Beer Hall Brawl
Head to the Bierstadt Lagerhaus Thursday for a night of beer and beat-downs, courtesy of Rocky Mountain Pro and special guest, WWE star Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Bierstadt will provide the lager and Melvin Brewing will provide the hops. Tickets include your first beer and the mug you drink it in. October 5, 10 p.m.-12 a.m.; Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake St; $25

Silent Disco Garden
RiNo’s Black Shirt Brewing Company is converting their beer garden into a silent disco, so you can dance your GABF FOMO woes away. The dance party will feature three local DJs – DJ Ephemyral, DJ Ricky and BSB’s resident DJ, Details. Tickets include one free drink. October 6, 8-11 p.m.; Black Shirt Brewing Co. 3719 Walnut St.; $15

GABF Casey Jester King Side Project
You’ll want to check out this epic beer and food pairing featuring a meat and cheese board, entree, and treat from the kitchen at Goed Zuur paired with four different pours from Casey Brewing & Blending, Jester King Brewery and Side Project Beer Company. October 6, first seating at 5 p.m.; Goed Zuur, 2801 Welton St.; $60

GABF Brewers Breakfast: Burritos and Barleywines
The good folks at Denver Beer Co. know that GABF week can be hard, so they’re bringing you a little hair of the dog and a tasty breakfast burrito to get you back on track after a hard night exploring all of the amazing beers available around town. October 7, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; Denver Beer Company, 1695 Platte St.; $15 early bird, $18 day-of

Hard Cider Tasting at Lakewood Cider Days
Perfect for those who prefer sweeter suds, the Rocky Mountain Cider Association will present Colorado’s largest hard cider tasting event at the annual Lakewood Cider Days festival. Tickets include a commemorative tasting glass, unlimited access to more than 50 hard cider samples and admission to the Cider Days festival. October 7–8, 12 p.m.; Lakewood Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St. Lakewood, CO; $28 in advance, $30 day-of

Golden Hayride Beer Tour
What better way to welcome the fall than with a hayride and beer? Enjoy the cooler temperatures on this tour of Golden’s Micro Brews and Pubs. The tour includes eight brewery stops and a cupcake from Gold Mine Cupcakes. Space is limited so it’s first come first served— groups up to 20 are welcomed. Oct 7-8 and Oct 14–15, 5–7:30 p.m.; meet at the Miners Saloon parking lot, 1109 Miners Alley, Golden, CO; $30

Post-GABF Hangover Brunch
Treat your hops hangover at the Lone Tree Brewing post-GABF brunch event on Sunday with Mama Said Eat breakfast and, of course, a Lone Tree breakfast beer. Tickets include brunch and first beverage (hair of the dog for the imbibing over-21 crowd and soda or juice for the kiddos). October 8, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; Lone Tree Brewing Company, 8200 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, CO; $10-$15

Local(ish) Market GABF Week
The new quick bite and beer market that opened behind Union Station this summer is celebrating GABF with a week of their favorite brews on tap. Starting Tuesday, Local(ish) will hold daily sessions (See below) highlighting five beers from different breweries and special eats to go along with them. 1803 Sixteenth Street
Oct 3: New Terrain Brewing, 3-5 p.m., GABF tap takeover (cult-fave new brewery in Golden)
Oct 4: Two Roads Brewing, 3-5 p.m., GABF tap takeover (new to CO, led by legendary Phil Markowski)
Oct 5: The Post Brewing, noon-2:30 PM, fried chicken and beer pairing (GABF-medal-winning and chicken-frying local hero)
Oct 5: Crooked Stave, 3-5 p.m., GABF  tap takeover (experts in sour/wild beers and new non-wild wonders, led by mighty Chad Yakobson)
Oct 6: Schmaltz Brewing, 3-5 p.m., GABF tap takeover (kings of Jewish beer schtick, fronted by the ever-witty Jeremy Cowan)
Oct 7: Zombie Crawl beers and Living Dead red mimosas, all day, with special guest beers (including Lone Tree’s Hop Zombie on tap)

The Insider’s Guide to the Great American Beer Festival

Tips and tricks for making the most of 2017’s brew-fueled party.

The Brewers Association’s annual Great American Beer Festival (October 5 – 7) is as synonymous with fall in Colorado as the changing of the leaves and the dearth of pumpkin beers hitting brewery and shop shelves at this time of year. And if you’re one of the lucky drinkers who snagged a ticket to the epic three-day event, a little strategy and insight will go a long way toward making the most of your experience. After all, there will be more than 800 breweries serving samples of over 3,800 beers, so you’ve gotta have a plan. Here’s our insiders guide to this year’s GABF:

• Get there early. If you think showing up as the doors open is the fast-track to getting inside, you’re sorely mistaken. Not only does a very, very long line form outside of the Colorado Convention Center, but if you find yourself at the back of that long line, you’ll most likely also encounter even worse waits inside. The early bird gets the brew at this beer fest. So, arrive at least an hour before the doors open. You can spend your time waiting outside by making a list of the beers you absolutely must try. Once you’re in, make a beeline for those breweries to ensure that you’ll get to taste your favorite bucket list beers.

• Dress to impress. Whether you choose to be a drunken dinosaur, the lederhosen-clad life of the party, or (Where’s) Waldo for the fifth year in a row, break out your favorite costume duds and join thousands of others embracing the funky, fun spirit of this festival. Who knows, go all out and your photo might even end up in our post-festival photo gallery…

• Meet the producers behind your favorite brews. If you really geek out on beer, be sure to visit the Brewers Studio Pavilion to shake hands and chat with the artisans who make it. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet some of the biggest celebrities in the craft beer world, you’ll also have the chance to listen to them speak about everything from beer trends to barrel-aging techniques to colorful stories on how they got into the business. Sessions start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

• There’s free food at the Beer and Food Pavilion. Yep, you read that right. Free food and beer pairings do exist at GABF, and they’re a great way to refuel while picking up tips for your own home pairings from the experts who know best. An ice cream social, charcuterie, cheese, a tea party, and a palate trip with Julia Herz, Craft Beer Program Director at the Brewers Association, are all on the menu this year. Keep a schedule handy for these delicious demos and tastings, which run all three days of the festival, and be sure to get to each event early. A seat, and more importantly, expertly paired treats, are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Learn to homebrew. While the unparalleled line-up of beers poured at GABF vaults this festival into its own category, so too does the fest’s commitment to education. There are myriad opportunities to learn a thing or two about beers you can buy, but if learning how to make the popular beverage yourself is of interest, head to the American Homebrewers Association booth. There, avid homebrewers can pose questions about the brewing process and garner techniques from some of the most accomplished and dedicated homebrewers in the country.

• Cast your vote in this year’s “Hop The Vote” competition. Back for a third year, the Colorado Brewers Guild’s popular contest—which pits a collaboration brew by 4 Noses Brewing and members of the Colorado State House of Representatives against a collaboration brew from Renegade Brewing Company and members of the Colorado State Senate—will once again play out at the CBG’s booth in the Protect Craft Guilds Pavilion. Both beers will be available to sample at the booth during the first three sessions of the festival. Attendees can vote for their favorite, and the winning brew will be announced on October 7.

• Enjoy rare brews (and shorter lines) in the Protect Craft Guild Pavilion. Whether you check out the CBG booth collaboration contest (above) or not, a stop at this laid-back section of the festival should be on your list. Here you’ll find 19 state brewery guilds serving up 178 different member beers, and most importantly, shorter lines equates to more drinking.

• Taste award-winning beers at the Heavy Medal Booth. Decorated beers tend to be some of the most popular to sample at the GABF, which is why this year, festival-goers can find them all in one place. The Heavy Medal Booth will be stacked with the beers that have earned coveted hardware at the GABF competition or the World Beer Cup.

• Don’t miss the cheese. A sprawling spread of dairy delights in the middle of the largest craft beer festival in the country? Yes, please! That said, this table tends to empty out quickly. If you’re looking for a free snack to pair with the many samples you’ll be enjoying, then pay a visit to this table early on.

Didn’t get tickets? (Then why are you reading this?) It’s okay. Deep breaths. If you had your heart set on attending the festival this year, we suggest you spend the next week stalking the Facebook pages of your favorite breweries and beer bars for chances to win a pair of tickets. If that fails, check back in soon for our roundup of stellar non-tickets GABF events around town. We got you.

Where to Eat in Downtown Crested Butte

Headed to the mountain town to catch the fall colors? Here’s where to grab a bite.

From the golden aspen trees currently lining Kebler Pass to the soon-to-be-blanketed-in-snow ski slopes, Crested Butte is a year-round slice of heaven for outdoor enthusiasts in the state of Colorado. And while the recreational opportunities alone draw plenty of visitors to this small mountain town, the laid-back vibe, aprés lifestyle, and vibrant, worldly dining scene don’t hurt, either. CB’s downtown hub is filled with bustling, inviting establishments that will satisfy a variety of cravings. Here are our top 10 picks for eating like a local.

Ginger Cafe

Why the locals love it: Healthy and flavor-packed dishes in cozy environs

Located in a historic house at the beginning of Elk Avenue, Crested Butte’s main drag, is Ginger Cafe, a small restaurant brimming with hungry patrons who can’t get enough of the deliciously spicy Indian and Thai cuisine. Whether you opt for a heaping plate of traditional Indian-style chicken curry or the creamy lamb korma (made with Colorado lamb), visit once and you’ll want to return—again and again. 425 Elk Ave., 970-349-7291

Niky’s Mini Donuts

Why the locals love it: Made-each-day mini donuts topped with decadent treats like fruity pebbles and cotton candy

Niky’s Mini Donuts is one of the busiest eateries in town. Kids and adults love the huge selection of fun-size mini donuts that come in a variety of tasty flavors such as maple bacon, s’mores, and cinnamon roll. Donuts are sold in two-packs, four-packs, six-packs and 12-packs, and you’ll also find coffee and soft serve ice cream on Niky’s menu. 327 Elk Avenue, 970-363-6688

Brick Oven Pizzeria & Pub

Why the locals love it: A huge selection of craft beer and tasty pies

While “the Brick” is known for its relaxed vibe and filling, medium-crusted pizzas, it’s recognized throughout the state of Colorado for its massive craft beer selection. It serves 30 brews on tap, and craft beer fans will find some of the most popular options from across the state of Colorado and the rest of the country. Bonus: Enjoy special releases of limited and rare beers that this drinking institution keeps in its  impressive beer cellar. 223 Elk Avenue, 970-349-5044

The Sunflower Deli

Why the locals love it: Farm-to-table dishes that highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients

The Sunflower Deli boasts an inviting, communal atmosphere, which is why the busy joint stays pretty full of hungry diners for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cuisine at this small downtown dining establishment is thoughtful and artistic, with an ever-changing menu that includes options such as duck fat potatoes and perfectly cooked locally raised beef. 214 Elk Avenue, 970-349-6866

Montanya Distillers

Why the locals love it: Refreshing cocktails, great outdoor seating, and tasty small plates

It might be surprising to find a killer Old Fashioned at a distillery that produces only rum, but Montanya Distillers delivers. With an arsenal of easy-drinking alcoholic beverages, it’s a good thing that Montanya also serves a variety of flavorful small plates, like a charcuterie plate with fried pork belly, and a soul-warming pho that hits the spot on chilly mountain evenings. 212 Elk Avenue, 970-799-3206

The Last Steep Bar & Grill

Why the locals love it: Late night shenanigans and excellent burgers

Named after one of Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s ski runs, the Last Steep Bar & Grill doubles is a fun, family-friendly restaurant and one of the most popular late-night watering holes in town. The menu at this local joint is all over the place, with favorite dishes running the gamut from internationally-inspired fare like a jerk chicken quesadilla to hearty homestyle dishes like a 10-ounce sirloin steak and black bean casserole. It’s the juicy burgers, however, that keep people coming back for more. 208 Elk Ave, 970-349-7007

Bonez

Why the locals love it: Great atmosphere and a long happy hour that runs from noon to 6 p.m. every day throughout the summer, and from 4 to 6 p.m. in the winter

Whether you’re looking to grab a margarita and a snack at the spacious bar or post up with the entire family for a nice meal, Bonez is a great pick. The tequila bar and grill features classic Mexican dishes with a modern twist. Fajita plates, filling enchiladas, and tacos on tacos on tacos—you’ll find them at Bonez. Balance out those spicy dishes with one of the restaurant’s many margaritas offerings—like a ruby-red Beet Margarita—which, despite being made with one of the least-appreciated vegetables out there, is absolutely delicious. 130 Elk Avenue, 970-349-5118

Soupçon

Why the locals love it: An exceptional menu that changes with the season

With only two seating times per day (6 and 8:30 p.m.), it can be difficult to score a table at Soupçon—but it’s worth the effort. You’ll find mouthwatering dishes featuring Colorado-grown ingredients, like the slow braised beef short rib served with garlic and truffle and bacon mashed potatoes, at this French-American bistro. Regardless of what the menu holds for the evening, you can bet it’ll be one of best meals in town. 127 Elk Avenue, 970-349-5448

Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle

Why the locals love it: The enveloping smell of simmering, garlicky tomato sauces—and the dishes created with them

What better way to carb up for a day exploring Crested Butte’s trails then a delicious Italian meal from a family-owned restaurant? With Marchitelli’s hearty menu of authentic Italian dishes like eggplant Parmesan, veal Marsala, and traditional lasagna—along with some not-so-authentic Italian dishes, like elk scaloppine—it’s long been a CB favorite. 411 3rd Street, 970-349-7401

The Dogwood

Why the locals love it: Handcrafted cocktails and martinis that are $4 off during happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday

Housed in a former miners cabin, the Dogwood makes a cozy place to start—or end—your evening. The bar’s unique cocktails, like the Romeo Y Julieta made with tobacco, hibiscus, and mint, taste that much better in the authentic setting. To go with the lengthy list of cocktails, the Dogwood also offers a small selection of fun snacks, like salty bourbon caramel corn, a soft pretzel served with beer cheese and stone ground mustard, and house-pickled veggies. 309 3rd Street, 970-349-6338

Left Hand Brewing Company Releases Popular Milk Stout Nitro in Cans

You can now enjoy the smooth, creamy brew in a more adventure-friendly format.

Longmont’s Left Hand Brewing Company just made it that much easier to get your Milk Stout Nitro fix: For the first time in the beer’s 16-year history, it is now available in canned form.

“Putting our Milk Stout Nitro in a can was a natural move,” says Left Hand co-founder and owner, Eric Wallace. The brewery gained notoriety as a pioneer of the nitro movement in 2011 when it launched Milk Stout Nitro in bottles—the first-ever portable version of a nitrogenated craft beer. The balanced brew is now Left Hand’s top selling beer—the combined sales from the C02 version of the beer and the nitrogenated version make up more than fifty percent of the brewery’s overall sales.

The cans feature a new, unique widget engineered by Ball Corporation. (The widget wasn’t specifically designed for Left Hand’s use, but the Longmont brewery was involved in the design process and is one of the first breweries to use it.) It’s charged with nitrogenated gas which is released into the can when it’s cracked open, similar to a Guinness. The nitro gas imparts the signature smooth and creamy mouthfeel to the beer, and the can makes for a more portable, adventure-ready format.

The limited test run of the canned Milk Stout Nitro will be sold throughout the state of Colorado in four packs. “We’re still in the roll-out phase,” says Wallace. “Once we have everything dialed in and a few months under our belts, we’ll start pushing it out to the rest of the country.”

Try Gov. John Hickenlooper’s Collaboration Beer at Brews & Bites

The brewer-turned-politician teamed up with Denver's Strange Craft Brewing Company to make this locally sourced lager.

Gov. John Hickenlooper is no stranger to Colorado’s craft beer community. The co-founder and former brewer of Wynkoop Brewing Company has remained close to his roots, often participating in industry events, and even occasionally stepping back into the brewhouse to collaborate with local brewers on unique beers.

His latest creation, the Uncommonly Colorado amber lager, was made with all-Centennial State ingredients in collaboration with Denver’s own Strange Craft Beer Company. At 4.5 percent ABV, the smooth, easy-drinking beer is made with specialty malt from Alamosa’s Colorado Malting Company, Chinook hops from Paonia’s High Wire Hops, and lager yeast from Denver’s Inland Island Yeast Company.

The limited release will exclusively be available on Thursday, August 17, at Brews & Bites, a food- and drink-focused event held at the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Guests can sample the special one-off beer (which is paired with the Kitchen Denver’s Gruyère fondue), while VIP attendees will take home a specialty bottle signed by Hickenlooper himself.

But don’t just go for this collaboration brew. Brews & Bites will feature more than 15 food and beer pairings from restaurants such as Euclid Hall and Blue Agave Grill, and Colorado Brewers Guild members such as Telluride Brewing Co. and Baere Brewing Company. Enjoy live music from Grass It Up and take a tour of the mansion and residence grounds. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund.

If you go: Brews & Bites, August 17, 6–8:30 p.m.; Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, 400 E. Eighth Ave.; tickets start at $75

Montanya Distillers Goes Big

The sustainability minded Crested Butte rum producer has its sights set on Europe.

When Montanya Distillers, a 100 percent wind-powdered, rum-only distillery, first opened in the tiny mountain town of Silverton in 2008, it was one of only five craft distilleries in Colorado, and rum was one of the most under-appreciated spirits in the craft beverage market. Fast forward nearly a decade and a move to Crested Butte later, and Montanya rum is one of Western Colorado’s most popular craft spirits—it’s even starting to gain traction overseas. The fast-growing distillery picked up the USA Rum of the Year award at the Berlin International Spirits Competition in May for its Montanya Oro light rum. Now, with the help of an overseas distribution partner, it’s currently sending its mountain-inspired rum to seven countries in Europe, in addition to 42 states in the U.S.

“I have been a rum fan for 28 years,” co-owner Karen Hoskin says (she operates the distillery with her husband Brice). She was first introduced to the idea of mountain-made rum—and the benefits of aging rum at higher elevations—while traveling in Guatemala. After tasting the clean, crisp flavor of a rum that was made with mountain spring water and aged above 7,000 feet, Karen decided to bring the concept back home with her to Colorado.

As it turns out, Europeans are particularly drawn to Montanya’s rum, which is “drier and more bitter” than the better-known, sweeter Caribbean rums. That, plus the big win at the Berlin International Spirits Competition, has sparked a huge increase in sales to Europe. “We’re on pace to sell more rum in Europe than in the U.S. in 2018,” Hoskin says. As Montanya expands overseas, it hasn’t lost sight of its commitment to sustainability. Its bottles are made in Europe, and to eliminate a step in the shipping process, Montanya is now bottling its European product in Spain.

Back home, the beloved mountain-town distillery recently revamped and relaunched its Rum Bar. The tasting room features 38 different craft cocktails including an Old Fashioned made with Montanya’s Oro rum (which is barrel aged in whiskey barrels with a touch of honey); the refreshing Salty Dog, which is made with the distillery’s Platino light rum (which is filtered through a coconut husk charcoal filter for a smooth texture and complex flavor); and the Ti’ Exclusiva—a simple daiquiri made with fresh lime, simple syrup, and Montaya’s top shelf Exclusiva rum (which is aged in an American White Oak barrel for two years, then transferred to a French Oak barrel for an additional six months).

Can’t make it to Crested Butte? Pick up a bottle at retail shops along the Front Range such as Argonaut Wine & Liquor in Denver or Liquor Mart in Boulder.

212 Elk Ave., Crested Butte, 970-799-3206

10 Can’t-Miss Summer Festivals for Foodies

From epic burger battles to scenic mountain beer fests, these are the top food and booze events of the season.

Summer is almost here again, and with it comes a moveable feast of food-centric festivals. There are so many events vying for space on our calendars, in fact, that we created this guide to the season’s tastiest. Consider this list your 10 must-attend food and booze festivals from now until Labor Day.

Burning Can Beer Fest
June 3

Burning Can isn’t your typical beer festival. Spawned from the eccentric minds behind Oskar Blues Brewery, and in conjunction with Lyons Outdoor Games, this event is part beer tasting, part outdoors summit. In addition to the 50-plus national breweries pouring tasters of canned beers (participants include Florida-based Cigar City Brewing and California’s 21st Amendment Brewery), Burning Can also features live music, camping, and adventure in the form of a trail running relay, kayaking, mountain biking, dog-friendly events, BMX dirt jumps, slacklining, goat yoga (yes, we said goat yoga), and much more.
Tickets: $45 general admission, $65 for VIP (includes early entry and VIP amenities)
Bohn Park, 199 Second Ave., Lyons

Lyons’ Burning Can festival. Photo courtesy of Burning Can

Wings and Whiskey 2017
June 11

Denver’s top chefs will once again compete for the title of Denver’s Wing King (or Queen) at this year’s fourth Annual Wings & Whiskey. Ticket holders will enjoy unlimited wings tastes prepared by eight Denver wing masters, including Ryan Gorby of Cho77, Jamey Fader of the Big Red F Restaurant Group, and Mimi Banis of Osage Café, casting their votes for the people’s choice along the way. And did we mention the whiskey? Plenty of boozy cocktails will be flowing from Ace’s rollicking bar.
Tickets: $50 General Admission (includes three drink tickets), $70 VIP (includes an open whiskey bar and early admission)
Ace Eat Serve, 501 E. 17th Ave.

Denver Taco Festival
June 24–25

An entire weekend devoted to tacos and tequila? Count us in! But there’s more to this funky festival than just food and booze. As you nosh on $2 tacos from local restaurants and taste tequilas in the “Mexico in a Bottle” section of the event, you can also enjoy live music, lucha libre wrestling, chihuahua racing, game shows, and more.
Tickets: $5 pre-sale festival one-day entry, $20 “Mexico in a Bottle” tequila tastings, $60 VIP (four taco coupons, three drink tickets, VIP amenities)
The Compound, 725 W. 39th Ave.

Mac & Cheese Fest
June 29–30

Ever tasted a $1,000 bowl of mac & cheese? No? Then it might be time to add Copper Mountain’s third Annual Mac & Cheese Festival to your summer calendar. There, you may sample the best mac and cheese from Summit County restaurants like Endos Adenaline Grill, Incline Bar and Grill, Eagle BBQ, JJ’s Tavern, and Casa Sanchez. One chef will walk away with a $1,000 prize and the coveted title of “Best Mac & Cheese in Summit County.” In addition to tasting all of that cheesy, gooey goodness, ticket holders can test their stomachs in a mac and cheese eating contest, enjoy adult beverages, and dance the afternoon away to live tunes.
Tickets: $1 per mac and cheese taster for kids, $3 to $5 per mac and cheese taster for adults. (Prices vary by restaurant booth.) Taster tickets can be purchased in advance. General admission and parking is free.
Copper Mountain Resort, 209 Ten Mile Circle, Copper

The Big Eat
July 13

Each year, the Big Eat brings together 70 of the area’s best independent restaurants for the city’s ultimate food festival. Participants include Blackbelly Market, Snooze, El Five, soon-to-open Tavernetta, and many more. As an added bonus, the festival layout organizes restaurants by neighborhood, making it akin to a mini tour of all of Denver’s best eats in one convenient place. The Big Eat also features live music and marks the kickoff of Slow Food Nations weekend.
Tickets: $65 general admission
The Galleria, Denver Center for Performing Arts, 1400 Curtis Street

Ace’s Wings & Whiskey festival. Photo courtesy of Ace Eat Serve

Slow Food Nations
July 14–16

Learn (and taste!) what the Slow Food movement is all about at the first-ever U.S. festival, Slow Food Nations. This sustainable-food-focused event is an opportunity for diners to “explore a world of good, clean, and fair food.” Over the course of the weekend, foodies can attend a wide array of interactive educational workshops and talks, tastings, and local tours. The mix of paid and free events includes everything from a Burgers, Brews, and Bluegrass Block Party, which will feature a variety of patties and local brews from the Post Brewing Company ($69 per person), to free discussions about topics such as the history of agriculture in the U.S.
Tickets: Prices vary by event. See a full list of events for more info.
Locations vary, but most events take place at Larimer Square and Union Station

BrüFrou Fest
July 16

Craft beer and delicious bites take center stage at one of Denver’s largest dining festivals. 130 chefs, brewers, and mixologists will once again team up to create inspired parings that showcase Colorado’s tight-knit food and beverage community. You can expect plenty of tasty innovation from duos such as Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen and Cafe with Little Machine Beer and Fresh Thymes Eatery with Holidaily Brewing Company. Enjoy while boogieing down to the sounds of the Mowgli’s, Zach Deputy, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, and more.
Tickets: $35 general admission festival entry plus eight food tokens, $40 general admission festival entry plus eight full pairing tokens, $95 VIP ticket with all-you-can-enjoy food, $125 VIP ticket with all-you-can-enjoy full pairings
Tivoli Quad, 1363 E. 9th Ave.

Denver Burger Battle
August 3

If you’re a burger aficionado, then this is the event for you. Taste samples from 15 Denver restaurants, all of whom are competing for bragging rights. Judges (including Cattivella’s Elise Wiggins and Steuben’s, Ace Eat Serve, and Vesta’s Josh Wolkon) will determine the winner as ticket-holders dine on burgers from iconic restaurants like the Cherry Cricket, My Brother’s Bar, Highland Tap & Burger, and many more. Bonus: 100 percent of the proceeds go to local charities.
Tickets: $69.99 general admission, $124.99 VIP (includes limited tastes plus beer, wine, and early entry)
Tivoli Quad, 1363 E. 9th Ave.

Feast on fruit at the Palisade Peach Festival. Lauren Brown / Flickr via Creative Commons

Palisade Peach Festival
August 17–20

While summer is an excellent season for visiting the adorable town of Palisade, located roughly four hours from Denver along Colorado’s scenic Western Slope, you should really wait to go during August’s Palisade peach festival. Spend the weekend feasting on the namesake fruit, touring orchards, and watching the biggest peach contest. Or just go straight for the peach-filled dishes and cooking demonstrations from Colorado chefs such as Palisade’s own Stacy Hinkle from the Wine Country Inn and Michael Aschmann from Grand Junction’s No Coast Sushi.
Tickets: $7 single day adult, $5 single day senior, $3 single day children; $10 weekend rate adult, $8 weekend rate senior, $5 weekend rate children, $25 special weekend family pack
Palisade

Colorado Cider & Beer Circus
August 25–26

Why choose between beer or cider when you can have both at this scenic fest? Sip on 75 craft cider and beer offerings from Colorado and beyond, including purveyors like Wild Cider, Big B’s, Stem Ciders, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, and Pikes Peak Brewing Company. Along with the gorgeous mountain views, festival attendees will also be treated to live tunes and other forms of entertainment throughout the day.
Tickets: $45 early bird first pour (sales start on June 6), $30 grand tasting (sales start on June 6), $50 first pour (sales start July 25), $35 grand tasting (sales start July 25)
Copper Mountain Resort, 209 Ten Mile Circle, Copper

Sips: Caution Brewing Company’s the Earl

The Lakewood brewery’s popular English mild ale is brewed with Earl Grey tea.

Colorado’s craft breweries have been experimenting with infusing coffee into beer for years, but one Lakewood brewery is creating a tasty concoction that features another popular breakfast beverage: tea. Earlier this year, Caution Brewing Companyreleased the Earl—an English mild ale brewed with Earl Grey tea—in six-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Since opening a tasting room in Lakewood in 2012, owner and founder Danny Wang and his small-but-mighty team have garnered a big reputation for their spice-forward beers and tongue-in-cheek humor. The brewery’s first beer, Lao Wang Lager, was created with a secret blend of Asian spices and initially brewed to pair with the cuisine at the Lao Wang Noodle House in southwest Denver, which is owned and operated by Wang’s family.

Wang and his team began developing the Earl two years ago. They tested adding tea at different stages of the brew, eventually settling on a dry-hop method of adding 24 pounds of tea leaves (which Caution sources from the Tea Spot in Boulder) at the end of the process. The result? A balanced beer with a nice floral bergamot aftertaste and only 4.5 percent ABV.

Caution’s playful take on brewing has lead to steady growth. The brewery has nearly doubled its annual barrels produced from 2015 to 2016, added an in-house canning line, and started experimenting with barrel aging and sour styles. Be on the lookout, as Caution’s latest creation, a wine barrel-aged Belgian citric sour ale, will be released to area liquor stores this summer.

1057 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Ste. 60, Lakewood, 970-315-2739

Oskar Blues Heads to Boulder

One of Colorado’s biggest craft brewers is bringing a taproom concept to the Pearl Street Mall.

It’s been five years since plans to open an Oskar Blues Brewery concept in Boulder’s historic railroad depot fell through, and now the Longmont-based brewery once again has Boulder in its sights. Last week, the brewery confirmed that it’s working on a taproom and live music venue at 921 Pearl Street—right in the heart of the city’s bustling Pearl Street Mall. The 3,825-square-foot space was most recently inhabited by Florida-based craft tavern chain, World of Beer, which was evicted from the property in late 2016 over $116,163.66 in unpaid rent.

Oskar Blues’ spokesperson, Chad Melis, says that the brewery, which is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary at its original location in Lyons this year, has always seen Boulder as a natural fit. “Coming from Boulder County, Boulder has always been a place that we have a lot of great relationships—whether it’s with the University of Colorado, the Bolder Boulder, or Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance, it’s our home.”

The brewery’s new location will feature 20-plus taps filled with a variety of Oskar Blues brews, from year-round offerings to seasonal releases to limited and barrel-aged specialty beers. In addition to the brewery’s own products, the new outpost will also feature beer from Michigan’s Perrin Brewing Company and Florida-based Cigar City Brewing—both of which were acquired by Oskar Blues in recent years.

When it opens this summer, Oskar Blues’ Boulder taproom will offer pared down versions of classic Oskar Blues restaurant dishes and will allow consumers to purchase the suds—including rare, limited-release and specialty brews—to take home. And Oskar Blues isn’t done yet—the fast-growing company has begun distribution overseas and is also currently working on opening additional locations in Denver and Colorado Springs later this year.

Black Shirt Brewing Company Adds a Kitchen

The RiNo brewer is serving brick-oven pizzas and house-made salads.

Since Black Shirt Brewing Company’s inception in 1999, its been operating under the mantra that “good things take time.” For the co-founders and owners—Chad Miller, his wife Carissa, and his brother Branden—creating their dream brewery was a manifestation of time and sacrifice, which is why the trio didn’t officially open the doors to its production facility and taproom in RiNo until 2012. On Wednesday, April 19, Black Shirt opened the doors to a brand new venture that has been a long time in the making: a full-service restaurant.

In fact, the brewery’s floor plans included a kitchen from the beginning. “We always said that once we got the brewery completely dialed in, we’d expand,” Chad says. Black Shirt tapped chef Matthew Kender, formerly of Pizzicato in Portland, Oregon, to lead the kitchen. Kender’s scratch-made menu incorporates beer right into the recipes. Kender even dries and mills spent grain from the brewery for use in his signature pizza dough, giving the crust deep, rich flavor.

Black Shirt’s kitchen debuted with six menu items, and will add more dishes down the road. Diners can dig into fresh, entrée-size salads such as the Line, a hearty mix of chimichurri flank steak, charred corn, roasted red onions, romaine lettuce, and house-made pickles flavored with the brewery’s IPA. Three pizzas will come from the kitchen’s 600-degree brick oven. Our favorite is the Cash—a pie featuring barbecue sauce (made with the brewery’s IPA, of course), roasted chicken, Taleggio, mango, caramelized sweet onions, and peppery arugula. Pair it with the Timekeeper rye pale ale—the tropical and citrus notes in that balanced brew are a nice complement the pizza’s sweet-and-savory flavors.

3719 Walnut St., Denver, 303-993-2799

Opening Alert: Bootstrap Brewing Company

The Niwot-based brewer responds to demand with a new taproom in Longmont.

While Longmont has no shortage of craft breweries (ahem, Oskar Blues and Left Hand), its suds scene just got even better with last month’s addition of Bootstrap Brewing Company’s new production brewery and taproom. This is the second Bootstrap location; owners Steve and Leslie Kaczeus launched the first in 2012 in a tiny building in nearby Niwot. The Longmont outpost adds 15,000 additional square feet to the Kaczeus’ operations, and the opening coincides with their recent signing of a distribution contract with Denver-based Coors Distributing Company.

The new location at 142 Pratt Street, affectionately referred to as “Big Strap,” is located within walking distance of Longmont’s charming downtown in an industrial building that was formerly used as a warehouse for the Times-Call, the city’s primary newspaper. The building now boasts—surprisingly—a tiki bar theme, large windows dividing the tasting room and the brewery, and 16 taps. Grab a pint of the easy-drinking Sticks pale ale—which took home the coveted gold medal in the American-Style Pale Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival in 2016—or try one of the seasonal brews. Bootstrap also just unveiled Cabana Boy, a light and slightly sweet lager, to commemorate the opening of the new location.

While Bootstrap gets settled into its new digs, the taproom will be open on Fridays from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 pm, and Sundays from noon to 6 pm. Check out the website for a calendar of food trucks and live music.

143 Pratt St., Longmont, 303-652-4186

Opening Alert: Wild Cider and Decadent Saint Winery

The cidery and the winemaker have joined forces at their lively north Boulder tasting room.

A small business district in north Boulder is quickly becoming one of the best blocks in town for craft booze lovers. On March 27, Decadent Saint Winery reopened with a new look and a new roommate: Wild Cider. Four-year-old Decadent Saint—which shares a parking lot with neighbors like Upslope Brewing Company, Settembre Cellars, and Bookcliff Vineyards—recently relocated its production operations to a Louisville facility, freeing up an enticing piece of real estate in the back of its north Boulder building. Firestone-based, four-year-old Wild Cider happily moved in.

The revamped tasting room is large and open, accented by vibrant colors, and features community-style seating and a bar adorned with cider taps and rows of wine bottles and cider cans. A stationary, vintage RV-turned-pizza truck called Hot Tin Roof Pizza—the brainchild of Wild Cider co-owner Adam Gorove—is parked inside. Gorove initially launched the pizza business in order to provide food at the cidery’s original outdoor tasting room. Now, the truck is dishing up health-conscious pies for the Boulder crowd, including a tasty gluten-free option.

Wild Cider’s picturesque Firestone orchard. Photo courtesy of Wild Cider

The Decadent Saint Winery and Wild Cider joint tasting room features a large selection of both brands’ products. Wild Cider is pouring year-round and seasonal offerings (including the most popular flavors, apple, pear, and apple pie) from eight rotating taps, and four-packs and mixed eight-packs of its cider are also available for purchase. From the same bar, guests can try a variety of Decadent Saint Winery’s award-winning sangrias (which customers can also purchase in concentrated 750 milliliter bottles) as well as vinos from the winery’s reserve collection.

1501 Lee Hill, Unit 14, Boulder

Three Beers to Try at Collaboration Fest

Colorado’s team-oriented beer festival returns to Denver on Saturday, March 25.

The spirit of collaboration defines the craft beer community, and it will once again take center stage at the Colorado Brewers Guild’s fourth-annual Collaboration Beer Fest when it returns to Denver this weekend.

On Saturday, March 25, 188 breweries will pour more than 100 collaboration brews for festivalgoers at the National Western Stock Show Complex. Participation rules are simple: Colorado breweries can collaborate with any brewery—even out-of-staters—to make any type of beer they want, as long as the final product is a cooperative effort. The result? Unique beers, all of which are available to Colorado craft beer fans for the first time this weekend. Here’s a sneak peek at three collaborations to be on the lookout for at this year’s fest.

New Belgium Brewing Company and Odell Brewing Company: Experimental Pale Ale

A conversation about experimental hops between the brewing teams at New Belgium and Odell spawned this pale ale—a hop-forward mind-meld from the longtime Fort Collins breweries. Both are currently sponsoring unique, secret hops at the Hop Breeding Company in Yakima, Washington, which will be featured in this handcrafted brew. Want to know what the next “it” hop is? You’ll have to sample this one at the festival to find out.

Ska Brewing and Boulder Beer Company: Coconut Curry Hefeweizen

This year, the brewers at Ska Brewing Co. and Boulder Beer Company are literally taking a page from the book of Charlie Papazian (the founder of the Brewers Association and the Great American Beer Festival). Papazian published a recipe for a coconut curry hefeweizen in his 2003 The Home Brewer’s Companion, and Ska and Boulder Beer’s brewers teamed up to create a modern version. “It’s a little bit out there,” Kurt Randall, Ska’s head brewer, says, “but it’s so good.”

Epic Brewing Company and Telluride Brewing Company: Blizzard Conditions New England-Style IPA

Epic Brewing and Telluride Brewing got together to create this experimental brew, which is a style new to both breweries. Blizzard Conditions is a New England-style IPA, cloudy and slightly creamy. The Cashmere hop gives the brew a tropical flavor, but the 7.2 percent ABV might sneak up on you.

Tickets for the 4th Annual Collaboration Beer Festival start at $60 per person and can be purchased at collaborationfest.com.

Opening Alert: Cellar West Brewery

Sanitas Brewing Company co-founder strikes out on his own with a Boulder venture dedicated to barrel-aged farmhouse-style beers.

Cellar West Artisan Ales, Boulder’s latest beer producer, isn’t your typical craft brewery. Owner and head brewer Zach Nichols—whose resume includes a stint at Redstone Meadery and credit as a co-founder of Sanitas Brewing Company—was ready for something different. “I really wanted to focus on aging beer in oak, and more of the farmhouse styles,” said Nichols, who officially started brewing under the Cellar West name in April 2016.

Belgian farmhouse-style ales are yeast-forward beers that were originally brewed by farmers looking for a refreshing drink to hydrate their workers during long days in the fields; the brews were aged, too, for a longer shelf life. In recent years, farmhouse-style ales have surged in popularity with many breweries now offering a saison, the most well-known of the farmhouse-style beers. But only a handful of brewers have opted to design their entire operation around this style. When Cellar West opened its doors to the public in Boulder’s Lee Hill neighborhood on December 31 of last year, it became the first brewery in Boulder to do just that.

Nichols chose the out-of-the-way north Boulder location intentionally: “We’re part of a funky little neighborhood of makers, and that was one of the things that drew me here,” he says. Inside the brewery’s unusual digs, you won’t find heaps of stainless steel or a tangled web of draft lines. Instead, the open room, which includes a small tasting area and cellar, is lined with thirteen oak barrels—a combination of red and white wine barrels. As a small start-up, Nichols contracts out time to brew his beers across town at Wild Woods Brewery. Once his brews are complete, he transfers the beers into UV-sheilding plastic tote tanks and brings them back to Cellar West, where they’re placed in designated oak barrels to ferment with wild yeast and various other spices, fruits, and hops. After that, the beers are blended in the brewery’s lone steel tank before being bottle-conditioned with Champagne yeast for an additional month.

The final result? Drinkable beers with a lot of character. Cellar West’s current line-up features a slightly funky, oak-fermented saison and a God’s Eye wild porter, which is a roasty beer that tastes of chocolate and blackberries; twenty-five pounds of the latter are added to each red wine oak barrel as the porter ferments. In addition, Nichols is currently working on a spiced pale ale that’s dry-hopped with Citra hops, as well as a black saison.

Although Nichols has plans to distribute his brews at a handful of liquor stores, restaurants, and bars along the Front Range, for now, Cellar West beers are only available for purchase in 500 ml bottles at the north Boulder tasting room.

Cellar West is open every Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.

1001 Lee Hill Drive #10, Boulder, 262-719-8795

Our Five Favorites From the 2017 Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines Festival

Don't wait until next year's fest to sample these exceptional Colorado brews.

On the cold and snowy afternoon of January 5, the 16th annual Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines festival kicked off slope-side at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge. While the well-respected Summit County event (formerly held in Vail) may not have the notoriety of the Great American Beer Festival, it’s widely considered to be one of Colorado’s best beer fests by industry folks. This year, 130 breweries from around the world gathered to showcase their Belgian-style, experimental, and high-alcohol brews in tastings, educational seminars, and food pairings. Amidst the global showcase of talent, Colorado breweries’ offerings shone bright. Check out our five favorite local brews here, and be sure to mark your calendars for next January’s Big Beers fest so you don’t miss out.

Drama Queen

Denver Beer Company

A gold medal winner in the Wood and Barrel Aged category at the 2016 GABF, Denver Beer Company’s Drama Queen was once again a standout. This saison’s complex-yet-synchronized combination of fruity and oaky flavors comes from aging in 16 different types of oak wine barrels (including Malbec, Merlot, and French Cabernet). 1695 Platte St., Denver, 303-433-2739

Jolly Russian Imperial Stout

Odell Brewing Company

If you’re going to drink one hearty, high-alcohol beer from Colorado this winter, make it Odell’s Jolly Russian imperial stout. Weighing in at a hefty 13.3-percent ABV, this roasty, rich beer is aged in rum barrels and tastes like a symphony of coffee, cocoa, vanilla, molasses, and dried fruit—perfect for those chilly winter nights. 800 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins, 970-498-9070

Ska Face Barleywine

Ska Brewing Company

Barleywines are strong aled with high ABV and intense flavors; Ska Brewing’s 11.5 percent ABV Ska Face is an exemplary example of the style. The complex, fragrant brew offers sweet caramel notes thanks to three years of aging in Peach Street Distiller’s Colorado straight bourbon barrels. 225 Girard St., Durango, 970-247-5792

Dry Hopped Nectarine Farmhouse Ale

Casey Brewing & Blending

Although Glenwood Springs-based Casey Brewing & Blending is a relatively new addition to the Colorado craft beer scene, its reputation for producing unusual, well-balanced beers using Old World techniques has already generated a buzz. After sampling the brewery’s dry-hopped nectarine farmhouse ale, it’s easy to see why Casey’s pouring table attracted such a steady stream of beer drinkers at the festival. Aged with Emeraude nectarines and dry hopped with Motueka hops from New Zealand, this brew is funky, rich, and bursting with sweet nectarine flavor. 3421 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, 970-230-9691

American Sour Ale with Raspberries

Loveland Aleworks

Sour ales are still white hot in the craft beer industry, and Loveland Aleworks’ American sour ale with raspberries was one of our favorite showings at Big Beers. Thirteen pounds of raspberries are added to this brew during the aging process, giving a nice sweetness to balanceout the tang of the wild yeasts. 118 W 4th St., Loveland, 970-619-8726

5 Colorado Beers For Your Holiday Table

Steve Kurowski, operations manager of the Colorado Brewers Guild, shares his favorite local brews for holiday sipping.

’Tis the season to gather around the table and celebrate with delicious food—and more importantly—great libations. In the sudsy state of Colorado, craft beer is already a holiday menu staple, but with approximately 300 local craft breweries making exceptional beers, how do you choose which ones to serve? We caught up with Colorado Brewers Guild operations manager and craft beer expert Steve Kurowski for his top picks.

Featherweight Pale Ale

Cannonball Creek Brewing Company

“No, this is not a holiday beer, or even a seasonal beer. It’s a clean, balanced craft beer with a low ABV percentage, and it just might be my favorite beer to drink all day long—which is something that happens around the holidays. You can’t buy it in a liquor store, though; you have to visit the Cannonball Creek tap-room in Golden and fill your growlers, each and every one of them.” 393 N. Washington Ave., Golden, 303-278-0111

Dunwich Robust Porter

Trve Brewing Co.

“Trve is known for brewing super creative and damn tasty beers using mixed cultures, farm-sourced fruit, and using wooden barrels to ferment a handful of beers. Each year around this time, they tap this beauty, one of the smoothest, easiest drinking porters I’ve ever had. Again, the only place to get it is at Trve’s Broadway tasting room, so don’t forget your growler.” 227 Broadway, #101, 303-351-1021

Hibernation English-Style Old Ale

Great Divide Brewing Company

“This beer has been around for as long as I can remember and has been winning medals since the ‘90s. Yes, I said the ‘90s. And every single year, this beer is reliably delicious. Great Divide has darn near perfected the dry-hopped, English-style, old ale over the years.” 2201 Arapahoe St.; 1812 35th St., 303-296-9460

Motif

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

“Motif is a take on a Belgian Dark Strong (nine percent ABV), fermented with the brewery’s mixed culture of wild yeast and bacteria in large oak foeders (barrels). This complex beer will pair well with any holiday meal. Motif is also perfect for aging, and will make a great addition to your beer cellar as well as the holiday table. You can buy the 2015 version of this beer at the Crooked Stave Tasting Room at the Source.” 3350 Brighton Blvd., 720-550-8860

Isolation Ale

Odell Brewing Company

“If there was such a thing as a “comfort beer,” this classic would be it for me. Isolation warms me with roasted malty flavors and has a beautiful mahogany color that makes it look as beautiful as it tastes. One of Doug Odell’s earliest seasonal recipes, this beer has become a staple for many Colorado craft beer lovers.” 800 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins, 970-478-9070

First Bite, Boulder County’s Restaurant Week, Starts Today

Since this week-long event is all about exploration, we compiled five outside-of-Boulder restaurants to visit.

First Bite—Boulder County’s annual restaurant week—provides a wonderful excuse for you to break out of your dining rituals and explore the diverse local food and beverage scene that the community has to offer. Starting today and running through November 19, the annual event returns to the city of Boulder and its surrounding municipalities, with restaurants offering three-course prix-fixe dinners for just $29 per person. While most of the participating restaurants are within Boulder city limits, there are a handful of restaurants outside the city that may not be on your radar—but they should be.

Here are five Boulder County restaurants that are well worth the drive.

740 Front

Despite being a relative newcomer to the Louisville dining scene, 740 Front is in fact one of the state’s oldest bars. Built in the late 1800s, this American dining saloon has an open and inviting dining room serving hearty dishes that pay homage to the town’s old West cowboy days. While the First Bite menu is dominated by meaty options (think Flatiron steak), it also offers chicken and sweet corn pasta, a hot cheese dip with spinach, and a variety of other comfort food fare. 740 Front St., Louisville, 720-519-1972

Colterra Food & Wine

In the quaint town of Niwot, Colterra is a fine dining gem. With chef Bradford Heap of Salt the Bistro and Wild Standard at the helm, you can expect local, sustainably sourced ingredients to shine in dishes inspired by both southern France and northern Italy. This week, you can build your three-course menu from a choice of 13 different dishes, including house-made charcuterie, a tian of autumn vegetables, and local pumpkin spice cake. 210 Franklin St., Niwot, 303-652-0777

Samples World Bistro

Thanks to its wide selection of craft beers and weekly live music, Samples has become a Longmont community favorite. The First Bite menu begins with steak tartare, moves on to pillowy ricotta gnudi with butternut squash and brown butter, and ends with a sinful s’mores pot de crème, a delightful combination of crushed graham cracker, chocolate mousse, and marshmallow crème. 370 Main St., Longmont, 303-327-9318

Lyons Fork

It may be small in size, but Lyons Fork has been serving up big flavors—as well as specialty cocktails and brews—since 2010. Head to this charming spot on Lyons’ main drag for pan-seared salmon with grilled apple farro, melted leeks, toasted hazelnuts, and ginger cream. The special menu also features marinated buffalo tenderloin with house-made pappardelle and Duck Mac Nuggets—a playful dish composed of duck confit, Irish cheddar cream sauce, and pasta. 450 Main St., Lyons, 303-823-5014

Zucca Italian Ristorante

A member of Three Leafs Concepts (the group behind the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, Chautauqua Dining Hall, Aji Latin American Restaurant, Leaf, and Three Leaf Farm), Zucca offers a menu of classic dishes from the southern regions of Italy, served up in a warm atmosphere. Seared scallops, slow-braised pork osso bucco, and shrimp and herb cannelloni are just a few of the dishes available. Be sure to save room for dessert, which will be your choice of fried Nutella panzotti (similar to calzones) or a limoncello-infused Italian petit four cake. 808 Main St., Louisville, 303-666-6499