St. Patrick's Day

Once again it is that time of year where the luck of the Irish is upon us, and it is St. Patrick’s Day weekend. This year we are especially lucky with the holiday landing on a Sunday giving beer fans everywhere three days to celebrate their inner Irish with multiple beer, food, and entertainment offerings. On top of that living in the best craft beer state only adds to the options that are in front of us, so here are some options to spend your St. Patrick’s Day weekend with craft beer, not green beer throughout the state.

On Friday, March 15 there is no better way to start the weekend than with a beer anyway, but what about with a pre St. Patrick’s Day party featuring not only a new beer, but some great food in the process? If that sounds good then head down to Copper Kettle Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado to enjoy the return of their dry Irish stout on nitro tap. As if a stout isn’t enough there will also be Irish music as well as Eighty Eight food truck serving Irish food that has been braised in the same stout that will be hitting the tap lines that day. This will be the second year Copper Kettle is having a St. Patrick’s Day celebration and if 2012 was any indication then this year’s will be a great time with a fantastic beer, and the friendly staff that this brewery is known for.

Also going on Friday night, but also on Saturday in Aurora, Colorado Dry Dock Brewing will be having their own festivities to celebrate the Irish in everyone. Instead of a stout their beer of choice is their delicious Irish Red which will be hitting the tap lines Friday afternoon but will keep flowing through the entire weekend. There will not be any food options at the tap room this weekend but the entertainment will make up for that with Irish Step Dancers keeping the party alive both Friday and Saturday evening. As if that is not enough on Saturday afternoon the Colorado Youth Pipe Band will be playing a show at the tap room. Irish red, dancers, bagpipes? Sounds like a great way to celebrate this holiday, and keep the celebration going this weekend.

If you’re not going to be in the Denver/Aurora area on Saturday but further south in Parker then be sure to swing by Elk Mountain Brewing Company for their new beer and food on this holiday. There won’t be a stout, or a red but instead a rum barrel aged Amber Ale. In addition there will be the traditional Irish food including corn beef and cabbage, plus a variety of Irish breads all made with beer from this small brewery. Although it is a little out of the way from most breweries this beer and food combo is definitely something worth checking out this weekend.  

Now living in Denver one of the fun aspects of St. Patrick’s Day is the annual parade in the LoDo area which will be going on Saturday the 16^th. Afterwards there are plenty of breweries in the area to check out and continue celebrating with. The first visit should be River North Brewing which is specially opening at 9:00 in the morning to pour all their offerings. While the beers are not Irish make sure to have a pint of Avarice, a Belgian style Imperial Stout. No special offerings directly from the brewery, just early hours to accommodate the masses post parade. While those are just a few of the options going on in the Denver area on the most Irish holiday of the year there will be other breweries having specials and events to celebrate. But with plenty of options to choose from it can be hard to choose just one, or more likely which one to do first.

Is there a brewery you want us to visit, or a special beer you would like us to try? Let us know at: https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews