Backcountry

Within the Rocky Mountains of Colorado there are small towns that are nestled within the mountains. Some are very well known and sought after destinations while others are driven through on the way to another town. One of these small towns is Frisco which is located near the popular ski towns of Keystone and Breckenridge, and within this small town lies a small restaurant that not only provides guests with great views, and food, but they are also crafting their own beer on site. Serving pints to thirsty skiers and guests since 1996 this is the Backcountry Brewery.

Located right on Main Street this second story brewpub provides guests with a true mountain environment. Walking in you instantly feel as if you are in a mountain lodge from the wooden walls to the amazing views of the Rocky Mountains from the comforts of inside or on the spacious outdoor patio. In addition to the great scenery outside there are also clear and visible views into the brewery aspect of this brewpub which allows guests to see how their favorite beers here are made. With such a spacious and relaxing environment Backcountry is a place easy to enjoy craft beer at, and with a great selection of both year round and seasonal offerings the selection is plentiful.

When starting with a light beer it is best to also start with one of the award winning beers, and at Backcountry that happens to be the Pilsner. This beer can be described in one word and that is traditional from beginning to end. It starts with a very nice hop aroma that follows through to a balanced flavor of malts and hops. The hop flavor is prominent but does not overpower this beer, combine that with a clean finish and this is a very balanced, light beer. For a beer with a bolder flavor, and also one that has a gold medal to its name there is the Pale Ale. This beer has a traditional copper color and a nice malt forward but the highlight of this beer is the hops. With a distinct bitterness and brightness from Pacific Northwest hops this is a very unique beer. This is a very hop forward beer and a great representation for a pale ale. The finish does linger but it is very easy to enjoy. Also available for year round offerings are a wheat, amber, and a porter.

With a great lineup of flagship beers to choose from the seasonal offerings at Backcountry are both unique and a must try, and it starts with a Berliner Weisse. This light colored ale fits the profile perfectly for this sour beer and it starts with the light colored appearance which is a pale straw color. The aroma is a give away to how tart this beer is with a bright, and acidic aroma but the most important part of this style is the taste. The taste lives up to the style and this beer is sour without a doubt, and very sessionable to go along with it. While there is nothing fancy about this beer it is a very traditional sour and unique to see at a smaller brewery but once all is said and done it is a must try. For fans of something darker another signature seasonal offering at Backcountry is their trademark Breakfast Stout. This coffee milk stout brings together the best of various styles of stouts into one beer. The strong coffee flavor is prominent while the milk aspect adds a very creamy mouth feel. The beer is very well balanced, surprisingly light bodied, and finishes clean making it very easy to enjoy, and very warming in the cool mountain air. Also available in the seasonal lineup are an Oktoberfest, and Weizenbock.

Despite winning multiple awards and serving high quality beer Backcountry Brewery is still a very small brewery that not only produces high quality ales but also has some great views and a very friendly staff to go along with it. It also happens to be one of the easiest to drive by and not realize that you just missed it. With an abundance of various styles of traditional beers and a great selection of seasonal offerings that are both unique and traditional this brewery offers something that every beer fan will enjoy, and new beer drinkers will find something new that they like as well. So when driving along I-70 don’t rush to whatever final destination you have in mind, take a break in the small town in Frisco and enjoy Backcountry Brewery, the scenery they offer, and some of their award winning offerings.

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Brews News 10-29

We are in the last week of October and into the beginning part of November and of course we have Halloween this week. As the months get colder the craft beer scene in Colorado is just as hot as ever with new brewery openings, anniversaries, and new beers flowing all week here is what is going on this week.

New Brewery Openings:
-After much anticipation the suburb of Highlands Ranch will welcome the opening of Grist Brewing Company on Saturday, November 2. Doors will open at noon and there will be six beers on tap. These include a Kolsch, Hefeweizen, Brown, IPA, Stout, and a Belgian Strong. There will be pints, tasters, and growlers available. This opening has been long awaited and is a must visit for any fan of craft beer in this great state.
-Earlier this week the craft beer scene in Boulder also expanded with the opening of Crystal Springs Brewing Company. This is a great new addition to an already diverse and great craft beer scene and their beers can be found in select locations throughout the area.

Anniversaries:
2 Breweries are celebrating anniversaries this week.
-In Loveland Big Beaver is turning 3 and the festivities began on Sunday, October 27 but they continue all week with new beer releases. Still to come this week includes the release of Cocoa Mate Scottish Ale, Juniper Pale Ale, Apricot Belgian Ale, and an Espresso Bourbon Stout. All of these beers will be available the one day only and in very limited quantities, the only beer available all week will be their Oktoberfest which was tapped on the 27^th.
-In Boulder Upslope Brewing Company is turning 5 with their 5 Years of Beer Celebration. This 2 day event starts on Friday, November 1 at the Lee Hill Location with live music and special beer tappings. Saturday, November 2 the festivities continue at the Flatirons Park location with special beers plus the 5^th Anniversary Ale.

Festivals:
Even though the Great American Beer Festival is behind us there are still a few festivals to keep us full of great beer and on Saturday, November 2 in Colorado Springs there is the 7^th Annual All Colorado Beer Festival. This event features 40 breweries from all over the state, and tickets range from $30-50. For a complete list of participating brewers visit http://www.allcoloradobeerfestival.com/2012-acbf-brewers/.

New Beer Releases:
With Halloween ending the week and November starting there are new beer releases from all over to enjoy.
-Wednesday, October 30 for Wayward Wednesday River North Brewery will be tapping Unified Theory with pomegranate.
-Wednesday, October 30 Odyssey Beerwerks will be tapping a Mayan Chili Belgian Black as their most recent discovery series.
-On Wednesday, October 30 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be concluding their month of Dead Styles this month with a firkin of Adambier. This German Smoked Barley Wine is sure to go fast so arrive early and enjoy a great pour.
-Thursday, October 3 the cask beers continue and Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be re-releasing their Imperial Pumpkin Porter but with a twist. They have 5 casks that have been aging in Rum Barrels. They will also be hosting a costume contests for the holiday.
-Down in Colorado Springs on October 31 Bristol Brewing will be bringing back a favorite seasonal Winter Warlock. This popular Oatmeal Stout is looked forward to every year so enjoy it early and often.
-Saturday, November 2 Caution Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado will be releasing their first bottled beer. Toaster Black Bat Porter has been aging in barrels and will be available in very limited quantities. 200 cases only with a 2bottle limit. Each bottle was hand autographed by owners Danny and Betty Wang and will be $25 each.

Coming Soon:
-Hall Brewing Company the great Farmhouse brewery in Parker, Colorado announced their plans to open a tap room. Look for details to come soon and the location is being planned near Parker and Main Street.
-Renegade Brewing will be adding a new beer to their lineup of cans. Their medal winning Hammer and Sickle imperial stout will soon be debuting and available in liquor stores.

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Dillon Dam

Of the many things that make Colorado great two in particular are the Rocky Mountains, and craft beer. So when driving west along I-70 the scenery is great in all directions and when needing a break from the road to enjoy the scenery the places to stop for a pint are in abundance. This includes the small town of Dillon where most people drive by on their way to a larger resort town, but within this small town lies one of the nation’s largest brewpubs. Serving not only delicious food and award winning beer to go along with the great scenery since 1997 this is the Dillon Dam Brewery.

Located right off the highway in a two story building this small brewery has a great environment both on the outside and inside. Walking inside you are greeted with a spacious bar top lined with tap handles, to the left is an open window into all the brewing equipment, and to the right is a patio. Walk to the second floor of this building and guests get a bird eye view into the production facility where all the kettles and fermenters are located, and in the upstairs dining room guests are surrounded by windows that show the mountains from every direction. Throughout the restaurant are all the awards this brewery has won including a coveted gold in both World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival. With so many awards and so many beers to choose this is a brewery with a diverse, refreshing selection.

With so many beers available it is best to start on the light end of the spectrum and there is no better way to start than with the Wildernest Wheat. Brewed with lager yeast, Czech Saaz hops, and German Hallertau hops this is a very light bodied and clean beer. Served with a lemon slice this is a very refreshing beer and a great way to start a flight. Also available on the lighter side of beers is the Paradise Pilsner. A well balanced beer that has the hoppy forward one would expect, but unlike other pilsners this beer finishes with a nice malty flavor. Still on the lighter side, but with a more medium body is the Dam Straight Lager. A Vienna Style lager with great caramel notes from the malts but a mild hop finish this is a very balanced beer that is both crisp and refreshing.

For beers that are more full bodied and bold flavored there is the Sweet George’s Brown, winner of multiple awards and a great English Style Ale. This ale is brewed with a variety of both brown and caramel malts which create a richness, sweetness, and depth of flavor. The hop profile is very minimal, and there is very little bitterness. The end result is a rich, slightly sweet beer that has great body, and a clean finish making it easy to enjoy any season. For something darker there is the McLuhr’s Irish Stout. Winner of multiple awards and brewed with a variety of malts this beer has a rich sweet flavor full of coffee, chocolate, and even hints of caramel. Served with nitrogen it has a creamy mouth feel and a great Irish stout. Also available are a rotating variety of seasonal ales that include an IPA with seven different hops, an Oktoberfest, and an unique style known as a Bier de Garde in additional to several others throughout the year.

With a wide variety of beers that fans of all styles will enjoy it is no wonder that Dillon Dam Brewery has been serving high quality, award winning ales for so many years. A true destination in terms of breweries in Colorado this one is slightly off the beaten path within the mountains but one that is truly worth visiting. Good food, great beer, friendly service, and a small but comfortable tap room with some of the best scenery in Colorado. So when driving through the Rocky Mountains take a little extra time to make a visit to Dillon and visit the Dillon Dam Brewery where as they say they have some “Dam Good Beer,” and see for yourself one of the largest brewpubs in the nation.

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Brews News 10-22

October is coming to an end and as we get ready to head into the colder months of the year craft beer is still at the tops of our list in Colorado. With the festival season all but behind us there is a lot going on at tap rooms again all throughout the week.

Anniversaries:
Arvada Beer Company continues their weeklong celebration of their 2^nd Anniversary. As part of the celebration there will be a new beer release everyday this week. Starting on Tuesday they will release their first sour beer, and this particular one is a Cherry Sour. Wednesday will be a Barrel Aged Doppelbock. Thursday will be back to sours with both a Nitro sour as well as a Sour Red. Friday will be back to barrels with a Barrel Aged Maibock. Saturday the festivities end with a Barrel Aged Wheat Wine and a live broadcast of the Colorado Craft Beer Show. A great event with a lot of limited release beers, all worth checking out.

New Beer Releases:
Some new beer releases this week and some classic beers from some of our favorite breweries coming back this week.
-Wednesday, October 23 the Dead Styles Month continues at Copper Kettle Brewing Company in Denver. This week they will be tapping a Kentucky Common. This Dark Cream Ale will go fast so arrive early.
-Friday, October 25 Dry Dock Brewing Company in Aurora has a great Firkin. They will be releasing their Peanut Butter Cup Porter.
-Friday, October 25 in Boulder at J Wells Brewery they will be releasing the New Hop Haze. This event will come with tasters, and of course the pints of this IPA will be flowing.
-Saturday, October 26 Lone Tree Brewing will be getting in the Halloween spirit a little early with the re-release of Hop Apocalypse. This popular Red IPA will be available in a limited number of bottles and pint glasses. Tap Room opens at 11 so arrive early.

Events:
Lots of events all around the state this weekend, and something to do everyday.
-Thursday, October 24 the pre Halloween festivities will begin at the Stapleton Tap House with the beginning of Oktumpkin Fest. 11 of their 30 tap lines will be filled with hard to find pumpkin ales and Oktoberfest beers from around the state.
-Friday, October 25 Caution Brewing Company in Denver will be hosting their Hallowbeer bash. This event starts at 4 and includes a costume contest, snacks, music, food truck, and most importantly beer including the rerelease of Toaster Black Bat porter.
-Friday, October 25 Tiny Ass Brewery in Broomfield will be hosting a kickstarter party. The event runs from 7-10 and includes bratwurst, cheese, and 6 tasters of beer. This will be a great event to help support one of the area’s newest breweries as well as sample some great beer. Event must be RSVP to attend so they can ensure there is enough tasters to cover all in attendance.
-Saturday, October 26 Denver Beer Company has teamed up with local animal rescue foundations and will be hosting the Howl-Oween Dog Adoption Event. Dogs available for adoption will be in their barrel room, and the tasting room will be available for beer and to drop off any donations including leashes, toys, and dog food. Event runs from 1-5 and will support a lot of great causes around the state.
-Sunday, October 27 Big Choice Brewing in Broomfield will be hosting Beer and Brushstrokes. Event is at 3:30 pm and tickets are $40 and available in the tasting room. A great chance to drink some great beer and paint a great picture.

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Epic

With Colorado tabbed as the Napa Valley of craft beer it is no wonder that the list of breweries in this state continues to grow. In 2013, that list now also includes out of state breweries expanding into Colorado. Such as when a Salt Lake City brewery opens up a new location in the heart of Denver where they can not only increase their distribution, but also have the tasting room they were not allowed to have in Utah. The location is in the thriving and trendy River North area, and the brewery is none other than Epic Brewing Company.

Located inside a 14,000 square foot warehouse this tasting room is not only spacious, but also comfortable and inviting. The large amount of windows allow natural light to keep this area warm, and that is complimented by the light fixtures made out of the base of fermenter tanks. Along the bright green brick wall sits a floor to ceiling fireplace with couches around it. To the left of the bar, lies the production area lines with rows of barrels and fermenter tanks. The tall ceilings and various sizes of tables make this a great tap room for large groups, or for one person wanting to enjoy some great beer. Epic Brewing has over 30 beers to choose from so deciding which one to have first can be slightly overwhelming.

For a brewery that originated in Salt Lake City and then moved to Denver, Epic decided to brew some select beer exclusive to the Denver brewery, and it starts with the Blueski Lager. This pale golden color lager is very light, refreshing, and a great beer to start with to wake your palate up. This lager has a great balance of malt and hops, with a crisp flavor and a clean aftertaste. It is very balanced, and it will lead itself into a more bold flavored beer that is the RiNo Pale Ale. The RiNo Pale Ale is light amber in color with a medium body, and a subtle malt flavor in the background.  The hop flavor creates a prominent bitter flavor that works well with the dry mouth feel. A clean aftertaste makes this beer refreshing, balanced, and easy to enjoy. The last of the Colorado exclusive beers is the Escape to Colorado IPA, which was one of the first beers Epic made in Colorado. This golden colored ale comes with a lighter body, but delivers a strong hop flavor from beginning to end. This beer has a very dry mouth feel along with layers of hop flavor with notes of pine, and citrus. The aftertaste lingers, but does not over power making this a very enjoyable IPA.

Of course all of the other great beers from Epic are available at the tasting room. These include the great barrel aged brainless fruit series available in peach, raspberry, and cherry. The seasonal ales are widely available, and the other great flagship beers in all styles ranging from the variety of saison, the stouts, and unique beers Epic is known for like the Utah Sage. All beers are available in sample sizes, full pours, growlers to go, and a wide variety of bombers available for purchase from the tap room.

With so many beers to choose from, an inviting tap room, and a friendly staff Epic pulled out all the stops and went all out when it came to constructing their new Denver home. With bold flavored, experimental, and unique ales and lagers flowing in abundance this is one brewery where there is a beer that anybody will find enjoyable and like. So when in the new hot spot of Denver in the River North area swing by Epic Brewing and enjoy the best of Salt Lake City in Denver, and enjoy some locally exclusive ales in the process from the confines of a comfortable, relaxing tap room.

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Brews News 10-15

Great American Beer Fest is officially behind us for another year, and as the festival season winds down we look forward to enjoying the best of Colorado craft beer from the tap room, and at local bars throughout the great state. Even though there are not any festivals this week there is still a lot going on in craft beer.

New Beer Releases
This week brings a great mix of new beer releases, and seasonal beers that we often look forward to and it starts on
-Wednesday, October 16 at Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs. It is that time when Venetucci Pumpkin Ale makes its return to the tap room. This family farm provided pumpkins to kids for over 6 decades and now Bristol returns all the profits from this beer to keep the farm running. A great beer for a great cause.
-Also on Wednesday the Dead Styles month continues at Copper Kettle Brewing Company with the tapping of a Gratzer. This is a German Smoked Wheat and will be available on cask, so arrive early and try this unique beer,
-Slightly north in Lafayette on Wednesday Odd 13 will be releasing a small batch beer they are calling Hoppy Stout. There will be 2 varietals so a vertical pairing is in the works to sample both these brews.
-Friday, October 18 Boulder Beer Company will be releasing one of their classical seasonal beers. Never Summer is making its return for the season and will be available at the tap room.

Events
Even though the festival season is winding down there are still great beer related events going on all week.
-Wednesday, October 16 at Casselman’s Bar and Venue there will be the Save the Ales event. $30 will get you unlimited tastings and money will go to Colorado Air Protection to help preserve the necessary ingredients to brew beer. Event is on 2620 Walnut in Denver.
-For the Fresh Hop fan on Saturday there is a Fresh Hop Celebration that will be held at the Providence Tavern in Edgewater. Tickets can be purchased for $20 ahead of time at freshhopcelebration.com or $25 at the door and include a tasting glass and unlimited samples.
-Saturday, October 19 there is a second Fresh Hop Festival, this one in Denver at the Falling Rock Tap House. Tickets are $25 ahead of time and can be purchased at http://events.imbibedenver.com/products/fresh-hop-festival or are $30 at the door and include unlimited tastings from breweries such as Dry Dock, Great Divide, Crooked Stave, and many more.

Anniversaries
One anniversary, and the beginning of a weeklong anniversary celebration all begin on Sunday, October 20.
-The first anniversary this week is not a brewery but instead the Colorado Cider Company. Tehir tasting room is turning 1 and on Sunday join them from 1-5 to raise a glass and enjoy some of the best cider you will find anywhere.
-Also on Sunday Arvada Beer Company will begin the week long festivity celebrating their 2^nd Anniversary. All the beers served this week are going to be big and barrel aged, and as a tease they will be releasing 3 new beers on Friday for guests to try. They include the return of the popular Poolhall Porter, and Pumpkin Ale, plus the release of their new Vanilla Porter. As the beers are announced for the anniversary they will be made available.

Even as the year comes to an end breweries are still going above and beyond, and this week is no exception with an abundance of great beer to try to get us through the week and into the weekend. Cheers!

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GABF Winners

Colorado had a great year in the Great American Festival, and here are the winners from our great state.

Dry Dock Brewing: Aurora, Colorado
                Gold: SS Minnow Mild
                Gold: Wee Heavy
                Silver: HMS Victory Amber Ale, Extra Pale Summer Ale
                Bronze: Enterprise IPA

Wiley Roots Brewing: Greeley, Colorado
                Bronze: Super 77 Wheat

Great Divide Brewing Company: Denver, Colorado
                Gold: Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

Odell Brewing: Fort Collins, Colorado
                Gold: 5 Barrel Pale Ale

Cannonball Creek Brewing: Golden, Colorado
                Silver: Featherweight Pale Ale
                Silver: Battlecat Stout

Lefthand Brewing: Longmont, Colorado
                Gold: Sawtooth Ale
                Gold: Fade to Black
                Gold: Milk Stout

Rockyard Brewing: Castle Rock, Colorado
                Bronze: Redhawk

Colorado Boy Brewery: Ridgeway, Colorado
                Silver: Colorado Boy Irish Red

City Star Brewing: Berthoud, Colorado
                Gold: Bandit Brown
                Bronze: Mulekick

Echo Brewing: Frederick, Colorado
                Bronze: Echo Amber

Colorado Steamworks: Durango, Colorado
                Gold: Slam Dunkel

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project: Denver, Colorado
                Bronze: Hop Savant 

Renegade Brewing Company: Denver, Colorado
                Bronze: Hammer and Sickle

Bull and Bush: Denver, CO
                Bronze: Release the Hounds

Grim Brothers Brewhouse: Loveland, Colorado
                Bronze: Fearless Youth

Yak and Yeti: Arvada, Colorado
                Silver: Chai Milk Stout

Carver Brewing Company: Durango, Colorado
                Gold: Munich Dunkel
Blue Moon Brewing: Golden, Colorado
                Gold: Golden Knot-Chardonnay
Pagosa Brewing: Pagosa Springs, Colorado
                Gold: Peachy Peach
Trinity Brewing: Colorado Springs, Colorado
                Gold: Elektrik Cukumbahh
Prost Brewing: Denver, Colorado
                Gold: Keller Pils
Ska Brewing: Durango, Colorado
                Gold: True Blonde
Gordon Biersch Brewing: Broomfield, Colorado
                Silver: Czech Pilsner
Glenwood Canyon Brewpub: Glenwood Springs, Colorado
                Silver: Hanging Lake
New Belgium Brewing: Fort, Collins, Colorado
                Silver: Charlie's Brown (Pro-Am Competition)
Avery Brewing: Boulder, Colorado
                Bronze: Lilikoi Kepolo
Twisted Pine Brewing: Boulder, Colorado
                Bronze: West Bound Braggot
New Planet Brewing: Boulder, Colorado
                Bronze: Gluten Free Brown
SandLot Brewing: Denver, Colorado
                Gold: Second Hand Smoke
                Gold: Move Back
                Bronze: Goat Runner
                Large Brewery of the Year

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