Brews News 12-31

As the year comes to an end and a new one begins it is time to gear up for another great 12 months in craft beer around Colorado. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves and instead just take it one week at a time. There is a lot going on this week to welcome in 2014 with from New Year’s parties, to new brewery openings, to new beer releases to look forward to.

New Brewery Openings:
-After much anticipation and waiting Kokopelli Beer Company will finally open their doors in Westminster on Friday, January 3. Some people have already gotten to try their beers through various tastings and a recent collaboration beer they did with Caution in Denver but now the tap lines will be flowing to the thirsty masses. The brewpub will offer food options to guests as well as a variety of hand crafted ales on tap. They are located on 8931 Harlan St. in Westminster.

Events:
With New Years Eve there are a lot of events all around Denver this year, here are a few worth going to.
-Big Choice Brewing in Broomfield will be hosting a New Years Eve party with a decade theme where the best dressed can win free beer for a year. $55 gets you a catered dinner, automatic entry to the giveaways throughout the evening, unlimited beer, and a champagne toasts to ring in the new year.
-If you are in the mountains celebrating the New Year swing by the Dam Brewery in Dillon. $12 at the door gets you party favors, a champagne toast, and a concert from Something Underground. Of course while waiting for the clock to hit midnight enjoy many of the great award winning beers made on site.

New Beer Releases:
-Friday, January 3 Uplsope Brewing in Boulder will be tapping a firkin voted on by the fans. The beer of choice is a milk stout with vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, and cinnamon. Tapping is at 2 pm at the Lee Hill location, you’re not going to want to miss this one.
-Saturday, January 4 in what has become a New Year’s tradition Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be tapping their 3^rd annual mystery beer. In years past we have seen a Black Belgian Quad, and a Juniper Berry Belgian Golden Strong, so what could this year’s be? Tapping is at noon, arrive early and do your best guesswork to figure out this year’s special batch.
-Saturday, January 4 at 1pm River North Brewery in Denver will be releasing another new barrel aged beer. J Marie their flagship and signature saison has spent time in a red wine barrel and is ready to be served to the masses. Anyone who knows River North knows that their barrel aged beers are worth trying and this one will be no exception.
-It’s January and that can only mean one thing, Great Divide will be releasing Orabelle again. This Belgian Tripel made its debut last year and will be hitting tap lines and store shelves soon. Also Great Divide will be releasing a new year round beer! Lasso a session IPA that comes in right around 5% ABV joins a great lineup of IPAs that features Titan, Hercules, and Rumble and is sure to be popular.

Other News:
Starting this year Saint Patrick’s Brewing Company will start opening on Saturdays. This small batch brewery in Englewood known for both classic and experimental lagers is slowly becoming one of the hidden gems of the Colorado beer scene, and his expanded hours will only help to solidify that. Saint Patrick’s is located on 4750 S Santa Fe Cir in Englewood, so make the trip, say hi and taste some great lagers.

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The Year Ahead

2013 was a great year for craft beer with an abundance of new breweries opening their doors all over the state. Denver, Boulder, and other established towns continued their expansions with great new breweries like Jagged Mountain, J Wells, and Sanitas. Also 2013 saw small suburbia towns getting their first microbreweries. Lafayette was home to two, Westminster opened one with another one in the works. As the year wraps up and 2014 is right around the corner the number of breweries slated to open up continue to grow, and here are some to look forward to in the year ahead.

38 State Brewing Company: With all the breweries in Colorado there are some towns that still don’t have an expansive craft beer scene, one of which is the small suburb of Littleton. That will change early in 2014 with the opening of 38 State Brewing Company. Founded by Colorado natives this urban rustic brewery with a patio will be located on 8071 S Broadway in Littleton. This small batch brewery will start on a 1 BBL system from Ruby Street, and once opened they will feature six flagship beers. Those beers include a Chocolate Bourbon Stout, Golden Lemon Honey Wheat, Two Buttes Double IPA, Great Plains Scottish Ale, ColorAmber Ale, and a brown ale which they are still working on a name for. If all goes as planned look for their doors to open in late January. With a Colorado name, Colorado inspired beers, and a great location this brewery will be a great addition and definitely one to look forward to opening in 2014.

Factotum Brewhouse: Factotum will be a very unique addition to the ever expanding craft beer scene in Denver when they open. Why? Because this brewery will embrace and pay homage to the home brewers who have dreams of opening up their own brewery. Brother and sister owners Chris and Laura Bruns will brew two of the seven beers available on their 7 BBL System. The other five taps will be run by home brewers who not only want to learn brewing on professional equipment, but also want honest feedback on their recipes. This will be on a waitlist system so that the same style of beer does not dominate their tap list. While their first location fell through they are currently in the process of finding a new location, and with a successful kickstarter fundraiser they are ready to go and get open. Despite the few setbacks they have faced this will be a very unique brewery that is sure to be popular for all the varieties of beers for craft beer drinkers and home brewers alike.

Kokopelli Beer Company: After months of anticipation one of the breweries we are most looking forward to will also be one of the first to open in 2014, and in a town still growing in craft beer. That will come on January 3 when Kokopelli Beer Company opens their doors on January 3. Not only will this brewpub offer artisan pizzas and sandwiches to compliment their beer but they will also offer six flagship ales. These include an American Pale Ale, an English Pale Extra Special, a Belgian Wit, American Amber, IPA, and sweet Milk Stout. The flagship beers will be more on the traditional side, while their rotational and seasonal ales will be more experimental. While this brewery has been in the process to open for a while they have been staying busy brewing beer and getting their name out, most recently doing a collaboration beer with Caution Brewing out of Denver. Once this brewery opens they will join Westminster Brewing Company as the second microbrewery in this small suburb, making it one of the most to look forward to next year.

Blue Spruce Brewing: In another brewery that was supposed to open in 2013 but will open their doors in early 2014 comes out of the town of Centennial, Blue Spruce Brewing. Located at the corner of County Line and Colorado this brewpub will feature 8-12 beers on tap from brewer Rick Kane and will feature Mazatlan style Mexican food that pairs with the beers along with other food options. The 7 BBL system will brew plenty of beer to serve to the thirsty masses and include diverse lineup that features a golden strong ale, pecan pie brown, and IIPA which will be poured at the annual Vail Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywine festival, plus many more great offerings. Look for this brewery to officially open their doors sometime in January, and expect it to be a great addition to a neighborhood still establishing its craft beer scene.

So what other breweries are there to look forward to next year? Aurora will expand with 2 new microbreweries in Demon Spawn and Mu. Denver will continue to expand at a rapid rate with other breweries like Fiction and Zephyr. Also expect more suburb breweries to open up and small town breweries including a new one in Breckenridge, Manitou Springs, and more. No matter how you look at it and no matter where in Colorado the number of breweries opening up will be enough to keep all of our pint glasses full, and all of our thirst’s quenched. Cheers to the year ahead and what 2014 will bring.

What breweries are you looking forward to next year? Let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews       

2013 Best Breweries

During this craft beer boom that has been occurring over the past couple years, it has been a great time to be a craft beer fan. New breweries are opening up on a regular basis.  The list of upcoming breweries continues to grow at an alarming rate and 2013 was no exception. An abundance of new breweries opened their doors and served their pints to the thirsty masses all across the state of Colorado. With so many memorable breweries that opened it was hard to narrow down to our most favorite. Here are our choices for the best new breweries from this past year.

Denver: In the ever expanding brewery scene in Denver, the best brewery from the past year did not have the best location, but was in a great neighborhood. Tucked away in an alley in the highlands neighborhood is Denver’s best new brewery of 2013, De Steeg, which translated means alley. From the small but comfortable tap room that is consistently being upgraded, to the always friendly service you receive, this is a great place to spend an afternoon in great company. Then, of course, there is the beer. When they first opened their doors there were three diverse beers on tap: a Pomegranate Acai Wheat, French Saison, and English Mild.  Now, just nine months later, the tap list has greatly expanded to regularly include Imperial Stouts, Barley Wines, Blondes, and even some Oak Aged offerings. So, when looking for a great brewery in Denver, swing by the Highlands neighborhood, look for the wooden sign with a goblet, and see for yourself why this was the best new brewery from 2013 in Denver.

Golden: In a town that features one of the largest most mainstream breweries in the country it is a welcome relief that craft beer would still be a welcome part of this town. In May of 2013, the craft beer expansion continued in Golden when some School of the Mines students opened up their own brewery, Mountain Toad. This great brewery starts with the building itself, right on the corner of 9^th and Washington, and it not only provides great mountain artwork from a local artist, but lots of windows and a great beer garden that provides great mountain views of this small town. As for the beer it is a diverse tap list of both traditional and unique beers. For traditional, there is their Mt. Zion IPA, and Amber Ale both traditional, and full flavored. For slightly unique there is the White Ranch Wit, a classic Belgian Wit with grapefruit and orange blossom honey, and the Ryrish Stout, a dry Irish stout with a nice spice note from rye. Then there is the tadpole series, small batch beers that have become a cult classic. Factor in a great, relaxing tap room with refreshing beer, and of course a friendly staff and this is not only one of the best breweries in this small town, but hands down one of the best to open their doors in 2013.

Boulder: In the town where craft beer started it has certainly not stopped there, and the expansion of microbreweries in this small town continues to occur. In 2013, that included multiple new breweries and one of the best lies in a warehouse right next to the train tracks that run through this town. Named after a nearby mountain this is Sanitas Brewing. The owners of this new brewery came from Boulder Beer and created a brewery with their own identity, and a tap room to match. The views on either side of the tap room are great whether you want to see the outdoors and train tracks that run by, or into the large brewery and production area. The patio is large, and also includes an official bocce ball court to past the time. As for the beers they are all very straightforward in style, but full in flavor. The two signature flagship beers are a Saison which is light, tart, and refreshing. The other is a Black IPA which has a nice balance between roasted malts, hops, and comes with a subtle pine flavor. Both of those beers are available in the tap room and are also canned, and then there are the small batch train beers. Small batch beers that constantly rotate and are even offered at a discount when the train rolls by the tap room. Although this brewery is slightly off the beaten path within Boulder it is a must visit, and one of the best from the past 12 months.

Small Town: While the craft beer scene is primarily in large, destination towns the expansion and boom has now ventured into small towns that most people used to drive through without hesitation. That was the case earlier this year just outside Boulder in the small town of Lafayette where a brewery opened specializing in Belgian beers and IPAs, Odd 13. Located right within a neighborhood this brewery embodies that same feel with a large, comfortable tap room and a very friendly staff. But what makes this brewery unique is the original beer list. From a Belgian IPA that contains hints of Brett to a Red IPA the diversity for hop lovers is in abundance, and then there are the Belgian beers. Ranging from session pale ales and saisons to Golden Strong ales the beers range for fans of all styles, and recently Odd 13 started a sour program to introduce a great style on the craft beer level. Combine the environment and unique beers it is no wonder that Odd 13 was one of the best breweries of 2013.

Those are just some of the best from 2013, but there were so many more great breweries and great beers. After such a great year it will be great to see what 2014 has in line.

What were some of your favorite breweries from the past year? Let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews

Brews News 12-17

The year and month are just flying by and before we know it will be the holidays. But for now as the shopping and madness continues there is always going to be time for a break and a pint. Thankfully in the week leading up to Christmas there is plenty going on in the craft beer community that is Colorado. Some potentially new openings, great events, and as always new beers hitting the tap lines await us in the week ahead.

New Brewery Openings:
-Although this brewery has been around for almost a year, their tap room is only a few days old. Hall Brewing has officially opened the doors to their Parker Tap Room right on Main Street and are serving their great Farmhouse Ales to the masses. All their great beers and seasonal offerings are available for taster, pint, some in bottle, and growlers to go. Hours are 12-8 Monday through Wednesday, 12-9 Thursday, 12-10 Friday and Saturday, and 11-6 Sunday so stop by and enjoy some great beers from a very comfortable tap room.
-While it is not totally official yet all signs point to Station 26 Brewing opening their doors this upcoming weekend. This one time firehouse turned brewery on 38^th and Quebec in Denver recently poured at the All Denver Beer Festivus and had a small setback that prevented him from opening last weekend. We have been waiting anxiously for this brewery to open to try great beers like his Belgian-American Pale Ale and Cherrywood-Smoked Pale Ale so let’s all hope the doors open for good, and keep tuned for official details and hours.

Events:
Saturday, December 21 is the Winter Solstice and Wild Woods Brewery in Boulder is celebrating the event with what they are calling a “Night in the Woods.” This night will feature special prices on their already popular dark beer blends, a great food truck, and they will also be releasing 4 new beers, all dark offerings in honor of the longest night of the year. The new beers released will be a Black Smoke Imperial Stout, the Constellation Black IPA made with Australian Galaxy Hops, the Nocturnal Porter (a coffee Baltic Porter, and the Czar Tater (a Russian Imperial Potato Stout). Event runs from 2-9 and will be a great chance to try some new beers, and enjoy some already popular ones from a great brewery that has combined their love of outdoors with craft beer.

New Beer Releases:
-Tuesday, December 17 Crooked Stave is continuing Tap is Tuesday at the Source, this week is Strawberry Surette.
-Wednesday, December 18 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be tapping the last beer in their candied beer series with a Chocolate Peanut Brittle Old Ale. These beers have been running out on the same day they are tapped so arrive early to ensure you try it, tapping is at 3.
-Wednesday, December 18 Grist Brewing will be releasing a Russian Imperial Stout. This rich, dark, beer will be perfect for the season and is available starting at 4 pm.
-Wednesday, December 18 Upslope will be rereleasing their Foreign Style Stout. This popular is back for another limited release, and will be available at 5.
-Thursday, December 19 Grist will continue their new firkins, this time with a Cranberry Kolsch, perfect for the season.
-Friday, December 20 Lone Tree Brewing Company will tap a great beer perfect for the winter/holiday season, a Gingerbread Old Ale. Beer will be available at 12.
-Saturday, December 21 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will release a new IPL (India Pale Lager). This hybrid between a pale lager and IPA will be a great refreshing beer with a nice hop note. Goes on tap at 12.

In other news Our Mutual Friend has announced that they will now be open 7 days a week, and already some of the first beer releases of 2014 have been announced and is is already shaping up to be another great year in craft beer.

Is there anything you want featured? Let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews

2013 Best of Dark Beers

Throughout 2013 there were not only a lot of new breweries that opened their doors, but also an abundance of new beers that hit tap lines all across Colorado. While the new beers came from new breweries, already established ones were just as active in releasing new beers to the point where craft beer drinkers were always having their thirst’s quenched with new and unique offerings. As the year comes to an end and the weather turns cold we look back at some of the best dark beers from 2013. From porters to stouts here are the best from the past 12 months.

Shake (Boulder Beer Co., Boulder, CO): In a year full of new nano breweries and highly experimental beers it is often overlooked that the original craft brewery in Colorado released some new beers throughout the year as well, like Shake Chocolate Porter from Boulder Beer Co. So what makes this one of the best of the year? It lives up to its name perfectly, starting as a rich dark brown beer with an off white head. This leads into a full bodied beer that is full of chocolate flavor balanced out by a prominent coffee flavor. The richness of the cocoa makes this a hearty beer, and the clean aftertaste makes it very easy to enjoy. Once all is said and done there is nothing fancy to the beer, it is a very straightforward chocolate porter, making it one of the best of the year.

Chocolate Milk Stout (J Wells Brewing, Boulder, CO): In a more industrial part of Boulder within a small warehouse lies a small microbrewery making bold flavored beers, the brewery of course is J Wells. When he opened his doors in 2013 his tap list was minimal, but one of the beers featured was a Chocolate Milk Stout that was full flavored and fit the name perfectly. This was a full bodied beer had a creamy mouth feel making it obvious it was a milk stout, and then there was the primary flavor. This beer had a rich flavor where chocolate was prominent, but the bitterness of coffee was still a subtle undertone. This was a very balanced and traditional version of a classic style stout that had all the great flavor profiles one would expect. Nothing experimental, just traditional making it one of the best stouts from the past 12 months.

Chocolate Cherry Stout (Lone Tree Brewing, Lone Tree, CO): When one thinks of a stout they often expect a dark, full bodied beer full of a roasted coffee flavor. When flavors are added it is typically chocolate, but what about fruit that not only enhances the flavor, but also adds brightness as well? That is what Lone Tree Brewing put on the tap lines earlier this year with their Chocolate Cherry Stout that was also barrel aged. This was a beer where the flavors all complimented each other, and also were visible on their own. The chocolate added richness and enhanced the body of this big beer, and the cherry added a brightness and subtle sweetness. The bourbon barrel aging added a very subtle hint of bourbon, oak, and vanilla creating a complex beer full of flavors. But unlike other complex beers all the flavors in this beer balanced each other out, were still visible, making this easy to drink and unique, also one of the best dark beers of 2013.

Social Club Coffee Milk Stout (The BoB, Englewood, CO): At a place that makes their own craft beer and also serves great coffee drinks it is only fitting that a beer would bring together both their crafts, and that is the case with the Social Club Coffee Milk Stout at The BoB. This beer has a surprisingly light body for a stout and it starts with a subtle sweetness and creamy mouth feel making it a great representation of a milk stout. In addition is all the coffee to compliment the roasted grains. The strong coffee flavor with subtle hints of chocolate make this full flavored with a balance of bitterness, sweetness, and roasted coffee. There are no extra flavors added, just additions that enhance what makes stouts great. Not only is this beer a great late day version of coffee with cream, but it is one of the best dark beers made from the past year.

While those were some of our favorite dark beers there were plenty of other great ones from throughout the year. Some include the Psycho Penguin Vanilla Porter from Odyssey Beerwerks in Arvada, The Ryrish Stout from Mountain Toad in Golden, and Niobrara Stout from Grist. With all the breweries that opened during the course of the year and all the new beers that hit the tap lines the selection was n abundance. For fans of the dark beers there were plenty of great beers to choose from, and with all the great ones from this past year is makes next year looking that much more exciting.

What were some of your favorite dark beers from the year? Let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews

Brews News 12-10

The frigid cold week that was is now over, and as the weather starts to warm up so does craft beer events around the state. As the year draws to a close we still have new beer releases, festivals, and news coming from breweries in planning. Here is a look at the week ahead in Colorado craft beer.

Festivals:
Saturday, December 14 will be the 2^nd Annual All Denver Beer Festivus at the McNichol’s Building in Civic Center Park. Last year the inaugural event sold out in 2 weeks and featured 19 breweries from Denver. This year the number of breweries has increased by 8 and now includes De Steeg, Diebolt, Epic, Factotum, Former Future, Jagged Mountain, and Station 26. And of course all the other great Colorado Breweries will be there as well. Tickets are sold out, but this is a great festival to look forward to on what is now becoming a great holiday tradition. Event runs from 2-6.

Events:
-It’s the 2^nd Thursday of the month and that can only mean one thing, and that is the monthly Beer and Cheese Pairing at Copper Kettle Brewing Company. $20 gets you 4 beers from Copper Kettle, 4 cheeses from the Truffle Cheese Shop and a couple hours of fun and learning. Tickets are still available for this great event.

New Beer Releases:
-Starting Monday, December 9 Stapleton Tap House in Denver started their 13 days till Winter Tapping. Every day they will be tapping a special holiday, winter, or barrel aged beer leading up to the first day of winter. Those who have been here know some of the unique beers offered, so stopping by one of these days is a must. First tapping is Don’t Pout Holiday Stout from Odyssey Beerwerks in Arvada.
-Tuesday, December 10 Wild Woods Brewery will be releasing their newest small batch beer. Cinnamon Roll Brown, a spiced brown with a thick icing head comes in at 8.5 percent ABV and is sure to warm you up.
-Tuesday, December 10 Crooked Stave will begin tapping a new limited beer starting at 5 at the Source. This week’s offering id Dark Origins, a barrel aged dark sour ale.
-Wednesday, December 11 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will continue their “Candied Beer” month with a firkin of Fudge Stout. Tapping will be at 3 and is sure to go fast.
-Wednesday, December 11 back at the Source Crooked Stave will be tapping a beer blended with kombucha from Happy Leaf. This week is Vieille blended with Citra dry hopped prickly pear kombucha. Tapping is at 5 and this beer sounds so interesting it has to be tried.
-Wednesday, December 11 River North is bringing back their original barrel aged beer for Wayward Wednesday with the Whiskey Barrel Aged J Marie, tapping is at 3.
-Thursday, December 12 Crooked Stave will be releasing their seasonal Vieille in bottles at the Source. This saison has been flavored with cranberry and holiday spices, there is a 1 case limit per customer.
-Thursday, December 12 Grist Brewing in Highlands Ranch will begin a weekly firkin, and what is the first one? Rob’s Sweet Cherry Kolsch. Tapping is at 4 pm and this is a great weekly addition to the first brewery in Highlands Ranch.
-Friday, December 13 Hall Brewing will be part of a tap takeover at World of Belmar, this will be a great chance to try some great beer from Parker, CO and support a great local, farmhouse brewery.

It is certainly shaping to be another great and busy week in craft beer, and as the year starts to wind down what better way to celebrate than with a pint in hand?

Is there a brewery you want featured, let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews

2013 Best of Barrel Aged

Over the course of the year there were dozens of new beers released from breweries all over the state. As in years past one of the common trends seen in the craft beer scene was beers get aged in various barrels. 2013 was a very good year for barrel aged beers, and drinkers got to sample beers from all types of barrels. There was the standard bourbon and wine released beers, but also this year breweries began to utilize tequila and gin barrels as well. With so many new barrel aged beers released over the course of the year these were some of the best we tried.

Wine Barrels: Throughout the course of the year there were several beers we tried that spent time in wine barrels, but the best one also came from the largest brewery on the list, Odell. The beer? Amuste, and imperial porter aged in wine barrels. From beginning to end this beer was balanced, complex, and none of the great flavors were lost in a beer that took two years to make. The roasted barley and coffee notes from the porter created a rich, full body that was heightened by all the wine additions. The juice from tempranillo grapes added a richness, and acidity to balance out the beer, and then of course there is the time Amuste spent in a wine barrel. The end result was a rich beer that brought out the best qualities in wine and beer and brought the two together in harmony. The richness of the porter was present, and the tannin profile and mouth feel of red wine was equally as present. This full bodied beer was truly balanced, and one of the best barrel aged beers we enjoyed during 2013.

Bourbon Barrels: Typically when bourbon barrels are mentioned regarding a beer it is reserved for something dark like a porter or a stout. But what about when it is a second use barrel, rinsed out so the oak flavor is prominent, and the beer is a sour? That is exactly what Elevation Beer Co. in Poncha Springs did earlier this year when they released their Engel Weisse. This light and traditional Berliner Weisse was given a modern upgrade, but stayed true to the traditional style that this beer is. The light color, light body, and strong tartness made it obvious that this beer was a sour, and the low, sessionable alcohol content made it true to the style. But through all the sour notes was a subtle hint of oak that gave this beer depth of flavor. The oak cut through the acidity of this beer, gave it more body, but this beer stayed very true to what a Berliner Weisse should be. With such a unique style turning into a layered beer it is no wonder that it was one of the best barrel aged beers of the past year.

Same Barrel, multiple uses: What happens when a barrel begins by holding cherry wine, then moves to a distillery for bourbon, and then back to a winery for port? The next step is to age a beer in it, and that is exactly what happened at Copper Kettle Brewing Company in Denver during their 2^nd Anniversary, and the beer aged in this barrel was a Belgian Dark Strong. To go along with a great body and complex flavor the barrel aging was so unique that all flavors were still present. The subtle hint of the cherry was present at the beginning, the bourbon flavor carried over with each sip, and the hearty port was present on the finish. All this was highlighted by a full bodied beer full of complexities due to its Belgian yeast strain. The finish to this beer was clean making it very easy to sip on, and based on the uniqueness of the barrel it had to make the list of best barrel aged beers of 2013.

Barrel Compilation: It’s one thing to enjoy one high quality barrel aged beer, but what about a combination of one breweries best barrel aged beers? That is exactly what River North Brewery in Denver did when they released their Barrel Reserve 2013, combining their favorite whiskey aged beers into one. The result is a dark full bodied ale, with a strong malt base and minimal hop bitterness. The barrel flavor was prominent, but not as strong as one would expect, and there was a brightness from the Belgian yeast strain this brewery is so well known for. This is all capped off clean finish that makes this a crisp, clean beer. What makes this such a great barrel aged beer is that it is so unique and no 2 years can ever be that same, making it not only one of the best of the year, but also one of the ones to most look forward to on a yearly basis.

While these are only a few of our favorite barrel aged beers from the past year there were several others that were all very good in style and barrel. 2013 saw tequila and gin barrels being utilized more than seen in years past, and more breweries are beginning to start active barrel programs on a regular basis. While 2013 was a great year for barrel aged beers this list already has us looking forward to what 2014 will bring.

What were some of your favorites from the past year? Let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews

Brews News 12-3

Can you believe that it is December already? Gone is Thanksgiving and now the Holiday season is in full swing. Lucky for us that the craft beer world is giving us gifts early in the month, as this is a very busy week in craft beer around Colorado with festivals, anniversaries, and new beer releases to keep us warm, and full of great beer all week.

Festivals:
This week prior to the annual Parade of Lights is the annual Parade of Darks at the Wynkoop in LoDo. This annual event will feature around 35 breweries and over 80 porters, stouts, barley wines, and all great dark beers from around the state and country. Tickets are $35 in advance and $42 at the door, and all proceeds go to benefit the Denver Metro Care Ring. This is a great event with some great beer perfect for the cold weather and the Holiday Season.

Anniversaries:
2 Breweries will be celebrating their anniversaries this week.
-The first is a 2 night event in Denver as Our Mutual Friend Malt and Brew turns 1. The first night of this event is Friday, December 6 as they will be bringing back their popular Winter Warmer. Day 2 December, 7 is the staff tap takeover. This features beers from all the OMF staff and the beers will include a Black IPA, All Galaxy Red Ale, Blood Orange Wheat, Belgian Dubbel, Hoppy Saison, Cream Ale, and a NY Maple Syrup Porter. All Beers will be available in tasters or full pours. Of Course it wouldn’t be an Our Mutual Friend event without some great music and there will be local musicians and great food trucks to help this brewery celebrate.
-Saturday, December 7 Lone Tree Brewing Company will be celebrating their 2^nd Anniversary. This day will be highlighted with great food trucks, live music, and of course beer… lots of small batches will be tapped throughout the day. These include a Gran Cru Wit, Triforce Tripel, Biere de Garde, Barrel Aged Baltic Porter, Tropical Stout, Snickerdoodle Red, Jalapeno Cheddar IPA, Barrel Aged Black IPA on nitro, Peppermint Mocha Stout, and a vertical pairing of the 2012 and 2013 Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout. This will be a great event with some unique and great beers so stop on by and raise a glass to another year for this small brewery.

New Beer Releases:
You can tell the weather is getting colder, new beer releases this week will embody the season and warm the body.
-Renegade Brewing in Denver has brought back Radiator just in time for the cold weather. This popular winter warmer is brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, and brown sugar so head down to the Santa Fe art district and enjoy a pint.
-Wednesday, December 4 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will start a new month of firkins, and December is candied beer months. Starting off the month is a Caramel Bock Lager. Beer will be tapped at 3 and is sure to not last long.
-Thursday, December 5 in Colorado Springs Bristol Brewing will be releasing their annual Christmas Ale. This spiced ale full of cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and molasses is looked forward to every season and this year is no exception.
-Friday, December 6 Hall Brewing in Parker will be releasing another new seasonal ale, Deck the Hall is a Holiday Ale and will be available in the 22 ounce bombers we expect from this farmhouse brewery.
-Friday, December 6 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be tapping their Winter Spice Ale in their annual guess the spice contest. This English Style Old Ale is spiced to fit the season and if you can correctly guess 3 of the 4 spices you win a growler to take home.
-Saturday, December 7 River North Brewery will be Barrel Aged Avarice in bombers. Quantities are limited so arrive early.
-Saturday, December 7 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be releasing the first in a series of barrel aged bombers. The first is Snowed In, formerly known as High Country Breakfast Stout. Quantities are limited, and they go on sale at 12 so arrive early for this favorite beer.

Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside this week. Enjoy the season through Colorado craft beer and let the hearty ales warm you.

Is there a brewery you want featured in Brews News? Let us know at https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBrews