Monday, November 03, 2014
Five Things I Learned from the All Colorado Beer Festival
With 67 breweries and nearly 200 beers on hand, Colorado Springs' biggest annual beer event once again was a great way to get a snapshot of the state scene. And between tasting at the festival and participating as a celebrity judge, there are a few things one couldn't help but notice.
1) Pikes Peak Brewing is reaching new heights.
The best beer at the festival - and the one that seemed to generate the most conversation - was a Whiskey Barrel-Aged Stout from the Monument brewery that somehow took on sour characteristics. Both the complexity of the beer - it maintained a dark, sweet body even as it took on sour overtones - and the fact that brewery owner Chris Wright decided to run with an experiment gone differently than he expected shows just how mature this 3-1/2-year-old brewery is getting. And its Penrose Private Reserve, a Belgian golden ale aged in red-wine barrels, wasn't too shabby either.
2) The next big Fort Collins brewery? How about Horse and Dragon?
The hall at the All Colorado Beer Festival often features a lot of newer beer makers looking to make their name. And it reinforced a thought that others have said for several months now - that Horse and Dragon, which opened in May, is worthy of grabbing attention even in one of the state's best beer towns. Particularly interesting was its Sad Panda Coffee Stout, a beer that wasn't just heavy on coffee but on creamy vanilla and caramel flavors, putting a new spin on the style.
3) It's time for more chai beers.
Yak and Yeti has earned well-deserved national accolades for its Chai Milk Stout, but for some reason other breweries have seemed slow to pick up on this interesting flavor profile. Avery's typically taproom-only Chai Brown, which was hidden back in the VIP tent, was every bit as good, though, cushioning the extra spice with a solid brown body that complimented it well. The only question: When will more breweries jump on this emerging bandwagon?
4) Biggest surprise: Shamrock Brewing
I got to judge the specialty category with two others this year, and it was only later that we discovered the highly flavorful, well-balanced winner we chose was Shamrock's Death by Coconut Chocolate Porter. But the Pueblo brewery, once an afterthought in southern Colorado's beer scene, also brought along a Big Papa double IPA that was simultaneously smooth and huge in flavor.
5) Colorado Springs' newest breweries are producing decidedly mixed results.
As a former Springs resident, I've been pleased to see the explosion of breweries down there over the past two years - but not all new breweries are equal. Iron Bird Brewing rolled out a crisp, well-made IPA. but Fieldhouse Brewing's watery Cranberry Saison and Nano 108's overly malted and oddly bitter Imperial IPA show there is certainly some work still to be done. That's not saying these breweries won't grow into great representatives of the local scene; they're just not all there yet.
With 67 breweries and nearly 200 beers on hand, Colorado Springs' biggest annual beer event once again was a great way to get a snapshot of the state scene. And between tasting at the festival and participating as a celebrity judge, there are a few things one couldn't help but notice.
1) Pikes Peak Brewing is reaching new heights.
The best beer at the festival - and the one that seemed to generate the most conversation - was a Whiskey Barrel-Aged Stout from the Monument brewery that somehow took on sour characteristics. Both the complexity of the beer - it maintained a dark, sweet body even as it took on sour overtones - and the fact that brewery owner Chris Wright decided to run with an experiment gone differently than he expected shows just how mature this 3-1/2-year-old brewery is getting. And its Penrose Private Reserve, a Belgian golden ale aged in red-wine barrels, wasn't too shabby either.
2) The next big Fort Collins brewery? How about Horse and Dragon?
The hall at the All Colorado Beer Festival often features a lot of newer beer makers looking to make their name. And it reinforced a thought that others have said for several months now - that Horse and Dragon, which opened in May, is worthy of grabbing attention even in one of the state's best beer towns. Particularly interesting was its Sad Panda Coffee Stout, a beer that wasn't just heavy on coffee but on creamy vanilla and caramel flavors, putting a new spin on the style.
3) It's time for more chai beers.
Yak and Yeti has earned well-deserved national accolades for its Chai Milk Stout, but for some reason other breweries have seemed slow to pick up on this interesting flavor profile. Avery's typically taproom-only Chai Brown, which was hidden back in the VIP tent, was every bit as good, though, cushioning the extra spice with a solid brown body that complimented it well. The only question: When will more breweries jump on this emerging bandwagon?
4) Biggest surprise: Shamrock Brewing
I got to judge the specialty category with two others this year, and it was only later that we discovered the highly flavorful, well-balanced winner we chose was Shamrock's Death by Coconut Chocolate Porter. But the Pueblo brewery, once an afterthought in southern Colorado's beer scene, also brought along a Big Papa double IPA that was simultaneously smooth and huge in flavor.
5) Colorado Springs' newest breweries are producing decidedly mixed results.
As a former Springs resident, I've been pleased to see the explosion of breweries down there over the past two years - but not all new breweries are equal. Iron Bird Brewing rolled out a crisp, well-made IPA. but Fieldhouse Brewing's watery Cranberry Saison and Nano 108's overly malted and oddly bitter Imperial IPA show there is certainly some work still to be done. That's not saying these breweries won't grow into great representatives of the local scene; they're just not all there yet.
Labels: All Colorado Beer Festival, Avery Brewing, Fieldhouse Brewing, Horse and Dragon Brewing, Iron Bird Brewing, Nano 108 Brewery, Pikes Peak Brewing, Shamrock Brewing
Friday, September 30, 2011
GABF, Day One: The Colorado BreweriesWhen a company selling a retail product tells you that it's about to release a "game changer," you should be skeptical. Yet, just a couple of sips into Left Hand's bottled Nitro Milk Stout last night, and I knew they were not exaggerating the importance of this beer.
The Longmont brewery has found a way to smooth out the best milk stout in America without the gadgetry that is normally required to be in a nitrogen-aided can. It brings out the subtle sweetness of the dark brew without pushing that attribute too hard for people who might not like it. As odd as this may sound, it makes a great beer better.
So, why is this important? Because an American product, which the brewery ships to stores today, is about to give Guinness a run for its money. I confess I've never been a Guinness drinker because I find it a little dull. This beer offers the smoothness that stout drinkers with less envelope-pushing palates than mine will appreciate, as well as the added kick of flavor that will grab the attention of someone who might normally go for a big IPA. It has the chance, I believe, to be the biggest thing to emanate from Colorado since Fat Tire.
Yet, Left Hand's big announcement was just one of the things that jumped out at the first night of the Great American Beer Festival, which I spend mostly talking with Colorado brewers and trying to find the next great thing coming out of the state. Here's what is there:
*If you haven't been to Lao Wang Noodle House in Denver, you haven't tried anything from the three-month-old Caution: Brewing Company, as that is the location of its only account. Go. Brewer Danny Wang's Lao Wang Lager, brought to life with a proprietary mix of Asian spices in the brewing, jumps across your taste buds more noticeably than many of the finest ginger beers in the country. You'll want to pair this with food.
*In the discussion of the state's best IPA, Avery's Dugana IPA is often overlooked. It shouldn't be. It has a larger pop of ass-kicking grassy hops than many, and it may be the best thing the Boulder beermeisters are serving at their booth this year.
*Want to play a fun game? Go to Shamrock Brewing's booth, try the Poacher's Pale Ale and try to identify what kind of hops are in there. Brewer Jason Buehler picks them from his favorite mountain biking trail - hence, the name - and the mystery hops give an interesting but slightly indiscernible taste to this subtle but enjoyable beer.
*In a world of wheat experimentation, Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino has found a good niche. Buddy Schmalz's Summer Ale is sopped in chamomile with an orange backtaste. It's worth a try.
Labels: Avery Brewing, Caution Brewing, Dostal Alley Brewpub, Great American Beer Festival, Left Hand Brewing, Shamrock Brewing
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
This Week in Colorado BeerFirst, I want to apologize to anyone who may have come here over the past 3-1/2 weeks looking for what's going on in Colorado brewing. It's been a tumultuous time for me, what with my newspaper closing and me having to find a new job. I've been drinking a lot of beer, but not all of it necessarily was in conjunction with tasting it for reviews.
That said, my new reporting position with the Denver Business Journal actually includes the brewing industry as part of my beat, so I should not only be able to litter this site with my opinions about beer from now on but with news as well. And with that said . . .
Brewing news
Beer drinkers seemed to come down all over the spectrum on a bill that would have allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer. That measure died, due in large part to efforts of craft brewers against it. Here's the story: http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/03/09/daily55.html
St. Patrick's DayYour favorite brewpub will be serving drinks. And there will be a whole bunch of amateur drunks there, swearing at the bartender because he can't just pour them a Bud Light. But there are some good reasons to go out today as well:
*Shamrock Brewing opens the day with a 7 a.m. Irish breakfast. If you're in Pueblo and you're reading this, stop and go there now.
*CB & Potts, at its five Colorado locations, is one of two places advertising itself as making a beer specifically for the occasion. Ole St. Nick's Dry Stout has been on tap for almost two weeks, but today seems the perfect day to try it.
*The other? Wynkoop Brewing broke out its Irish Milk Stout over the weekend.
New Tappings
*I'm a few days late on this, but Rock Bottom Brewery in downtown Denver cracked open an Uberwit last Thursday.
*Dry Dock Brewing, meanwhile, will tap its Paragon Apricot Blonde on Monday at 3 p.m. First round is on the Aurora brewery. No kidding.
Beer to Go
*Those of you who have been to Trinity Brewing before and, like me, been told that you couldn't buy a growler on a particular day because the brewery didn't have the proper license can go in there again without fear of further frustration. The Colorado Springs brewery is filling them seven days a week now.
Labels: CB Potts, Dry Dock Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery, Shamrock Brewing, Trinity Brewing, Wynkoop Brewery
