Denver Barely's Angels

Groups of dedicated craft beer lovers are in abundance across the country. These are groups of people that not only enjoy drinking, but also being educated about craft beer. One group that has brought the educational aspect and made it prominent is Barley’s Angels founded in 2011 to help women get more access to craft beer. The group has evolved to over 60 chapters worldwide and in 2014 it expanded into Colorado with a chapter in Denver and Boulder. The Denver group will meet the 4^th Monday of every month, and the Boulder group the 4^th Wednesday of every month, and as January comes to a close they will soon celebrate their inaugural events in Colorado.

Monday, January 27 the Denver event will kickoff at the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver. This event will provide food and Wynkoop beer and a tremendous opportunity to meet Bess Dougherty, who also happens to be Wynkoop’s first full time female brewer. After the meeting, attendees are invited to stay to discuss future meeting topics and activities to do while in Denver. Tickets are $15 and this will be a great opportunity to not only sample high quality ales, but to also meet people in the industry and ask any questions regarding working in the craft beer industry.

Two nights later on Wednesday, January 29 the Boulder chapter will have their kickoff party at one of Boulder’s newest breweries, Sanitas. This event will be a beer and cheese pairing featuring cheese educator John Scaggs from Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese. Tickets are $15 and will give guests four cheeses that will be paired with four tasters of Sanitas beer. After the event, guests are invited to stay around to help plan future events in the Boulder area. This is sure to be a great event and a great way for the Boulder chapter to start.
To purchase tickets to either event visit http://www.barleysangelscolorado.com/ 

With two great events in two great craft beer communities, Barley’s Angels is instantly going to make an impact and create a quick, rapidly growing following with their new chapter in Colorado. From Denver to Boulder and the surrounding communities, the possibilities are endless in types of beer to sample, and educational possibilities. Regardless of how you look at it this group is not only great for the craft beer scene, but is a welcome addition to craft beer lovers in Colorado.

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Brews News 1-21

So far January has been a great month in craft beer and a great start to the year. As the month continues we continue to see festivals start up again, new beer releases, and much more in the craft beer world. Here is what is going on in the week ahead in craft beer.

Festivals: Shortly after the annual Vail Big Beers festival the season continues on and before we know it we will be in the full swing of festival season.
-For now we have the Denver Winter Brew Fest at Mile High Station. This annual event will now be 2 days Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 day of for general admission, and $40/$45 for VIP hour. This event will feature some great Colorado breweries including Mountain Toad, Odd 13, Odyssey, Jagged Mountain, and Grist. Also included will be great local cider, mead, and kombucha from Colorado as well. This is a great event to start off festival season, and a great chance to try breweries from Colorado and around the country. For a complete list of participating breweries and to purchase tickets here is the link http://www.denverbrewfest.com/winter/.

New Beer Releases: Each week breweries around the state are releasing new beers to the thirst masses, here is what’s new this week.
-Tuesday, January 21 at The Source Crooked Stave has a great beer for Tap it Tuesday. This week is Batch 60 dry hopped with citra and Amarillo hops. Beer releases at 5:00.
-Tuesday, January 21 in Boulder Wild Woods Brewery will be releasing their Frozen Forest. This American style Barleywine was brewed with coriander and spruce, tapping is at 4.
-Wednesday, January 22 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will continue their New Year’s Resolution cask month with the resolution “Eat Better.” The beer this week was made with super foods and is a light wheat with pomegranate and acai berries. Tapping is at 3.
-Thursday, January 23 Our Mutual Friend in Denver will be releasing their newest beer, a Chinook Red Ale. This 8.3% beer comes in at 90 IBUs and is sure to be hoppy and malty. Beer will be tapped at 4 with food truck, and is a great addition to their lineup of beers. 
-Thursday, January 23 Station 26 will be tapping a Brown Ale with French Oak for their weekly firkin. Tapping will be at 4, these are becoming more popular on a weekly basis so arrive early!
-Friday, January 24 Dry Dock will be tapping a Tart Cherry Belgian Dubbel for firkin Friday, arrive early to save your spot in line for this 3:00 tapping.
-Saturday, January 25 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be bringing back their popular Saison Savoureux. This is always a popular beer when they bring it back, and this time is sure to be no different. Tapping is a 12.
-Saturday, January 25 River North Brewery will be releasing their newest barrel aged series and also their newest B Side Series. This Imperial Stout was aged in Oak Rye Whiskey Barrels. Only 360 bottles made, so arrive early and get your hands on this one.
-Sunday, January 26 TRVE Brewing will be releasing Batch3 of Eastern Candle. This batch was dry hopped with citra, and is sure to go fast. Bottles will be sold out of the tap room.
-Also by end of week 2 new beers should be hitting liquor store shelves. Lugene, the great Chocolate Milk Stout from Odell, and Snapshot, a new subtle sour from New Belgium.

Upcoming Events: Although this week is plenty to keep you busy there is always more to look forward to in craft beer.
-Alpine Dog Brewing in Denver announced their location. Colfax and Ogden in the old Independent Record store. Now that the location is squared away we have to patiently wait for the beer.
-Two22 Brew in Centennial should soon be finishing their construction in their great location, and should be announcing an opening date soon.
-As we are a few weeks away from Valentine’s Day look for some great events from breweries all over the city, including an already announced four course dinner from Copper Kettle Brewing Company.

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J Marie Barrelled and Bretted

Since River North Brewery in Denver opened their doors in 2012 they have prided themselves in serving great Belgian style ales. Whether it was a traditional saison, white ale, stout, or IPA a great Belgian influence went into each beer designed. Shortly after that quickly evolved into a brewery that featured their already great beers being aged into various style of barrels. From various styles aged in white wine barrels to whiskey barrels, and including a great barrel reserve beer that combines all their whiskey beers into one great offering. However in January 2014 this small brewery took their next step in their barrel aged program with a red wine barrel aged beer, fermented with Brett yeast. This could only be the J Marie Saison Barrel and Bretted.

Now of course for a beer so unique and limited proper glassware was a major necessity and for a beer like this we went with a traditional goblet style glass. The beer poured a rich dark golden color that showed all its effervescence, and this was capped off with a bright white head to top it off. A slightly heavy pour left a good inch of head on top this beer. The aroma was very unique combing the qualities of Belgian style ales and sours together into one beer. This beer brought a very complex aroma which has great qualities of yeast from the Brett, a subtle hint of citrus was visible in the nose, plus the red wine and oak were prominent from the barrel. With such a complex aroma how would this beer taste?

The body was very light and exactly what a saison/farmhouse ale should be. A light and effervescent body is the first thing you notice as the beer hits your tongue to awaken your pallet. A subtle malt flavor with low hop bitterness is the main base of this beer which creates a mellow flavor profile. Like with any farmhouse ale the yeast plays a prominent role in the flavor, and that is where this version of J Marie becomes bold, and unique. The reason behind such a bold flavor profile is that popular wild yeast strain Brett. This gave the beer a very unique and earthy flavor profile. This added a very subtle tartness to the beer but did not overpower the rest of the beer. Instead it worked in balance with the barrel aging this beer went through as well.

The barrel flavor came through strongly with a bold red wine flavor followed by a more subtle oak flavor. This added tartness to compliment the Brett yeast. To finish this beer had a slightly lingering aftertaste, but not one so powerful it makes you not want to drink it. It was just strong enough to make you intrigued to keep sipping, and the before you know it the bottle is gone.

Overall this was a great beer that was full flavored, and a great addition to an already great lineup of barrel aged beers that River North produces. Not only is the first use of red wine barrels but also the first beer they bottle conditioned, used a wild yeast train on, and a great version of one of their flagship ales. This simplistic ale was elevated with so many flavors, and yet the integrity of the saison was kept intact. With only 360 bottles produced not only could this be one of the best rare beers in Denver this year, but also one worth aging to see how this beer evolves and matures with time. Over all this beer is easily a 4 out of 5 and a great way to kick off a new year of craft beer.

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Brews News 1-14

The month is already half over and we have already seen new brewery openings faster than we can keep up with them. Also festival season has slowly begun, but as we head into a new week we take a break from new brewery openings. Instead we look at anniversaries and new beer releases to keep our pint glasses full. Here is what is going on in the upcoming week.

Grand Openings:
Even though they have already been open for a few weeks now Caution Brewing Company will be celebrating the grand opening of their new location Caution: West in Lakewood. Event is Saturday, January 18 from 12-10 and will feature some great beer specials, food trucks, and entertainment all day.

Anniversaries:
In the end of 2012 the small mountain town of Golden had only 1 microbrewery, now they have 4 and on Saturday, January 18 the second craft brewery in this town will be turning 1. Cannonball Creek will be celebrating their first anniversary with live music, great food, and of course great beer. 10 to be exact to celebrate 1 year in business that include a brand new Oatmeal brown n nitro, an anniversary ale, and a collaboration beer with the Colorado School of Mines home brew club. The party starts at noon so stop by, say congratulations, and enjoy some great beer in the process.

New Beer Releases/Events:
Some new beer releases around town this week, some new and some returning favorites.
-Tuesday, January 14 at the Source Crooked Stave will be selling Nightmare on Brett Street starting at 5:00. Bottles are $12 with a 6 bottle limit and this is a cash only event. Arrive early to get your spot in line as this popular beer is sure to go fast.
-Immediately following the sale of Nightmare on Brett Crooked Stave will be tapping their final keg of Hop Savant with Galaxy starting at 6. This great beer won’t last long.
-Wednesday, January 15 Copper Kettle is continuing their month long beers around New Years Resolutions. This week is “Be Kinder,” with a no bitterness ale. This mild ale was made with only finishing hops so there will be no bitterness. Tapping is at 3.
-Wednesday, January 15 Lone Tree Brewing will be bringing back their popular India Pale Lager (IPL). This is a rerelease of this beer and the first time it was extremely popular, so make sure t get a pint or growler early, it might not last long.
-Wednesday, January 15 for Wayward Wednesday River North Brewery in Denver will be bringing back a popular favorite, Abbey Style Unified Theory. Tapping will happen at 3.
-Yak and Yeti Brewpub in Arvada has been doing a porter series for the past few weeks and that continues Wednesday, January 15 with a Molasses Porter. These beers have been running out within a couple days so arrive early to try.
-Thursday, January 16 Station 26 will tap a new firkin. This week will feature the Red IPA with red and black chipotles and Cocoa Nibs. Sounds like a full flavored beer that should not be missed.
-Friday, January 17 at Grist Brewing in Highlands Ranch they will be releasing a new beer they call the Giant Rabbit Belgian Specialty Ale.
-Saturday, January 18 Copper Kettle Brewing Company in Denver is bringing back their Belgian Golden Strong. This beer is brought back on a limited basis and is always popular, tapping will be at 12 for this great beer.
-Saturday, January 18 at Epic Brewing in Denver they will be hosting the event Brewed, exploring how coffee and beer came together. This event is $15 and features 5 local coffee roasters, 5 local brewers, and will feature samples of both. Tickets are still available but are going fast.

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Stem Ciders

Within downtown Denver, in the River North neighborhood, the past year has seen a renaissance of sorts in this once run down area. First, the craft breweries came in and opened in masses. Shortly after, the Colorado wine scene expanded into this part of Denver with two wineries complete with tasting rooms. But in January 2014, a new business opened up in this booming part of Denver now making the options for refreshing beverages complete. Located right behind a small winery in a great warehouse, is one of Denver’s newest tasting rooms featuring none other than hard ciders, and the place is Stem Cider’s.

Walking up to this tasting room you know you’re there from the stenciled logo on a brick wall, a hanging metal sign, and a patio that will have picnic tables during warm weather. Walk inside and you are greeted with both a production facility and a comfortable tasting room. A small bar surrounded by growlers and glassware looks out on to the bar stools and long communal tables for guests to sit. Dividing the tasting room from the production is a wall of barrels all storing great cider waiting to be served. During their soft opening they offered a Farmhouse Cider, but once the doors open permanently there will be more offerings for the masses sure to come in.

The cider has a light golden color with a light carbonation with an aroma one would expect from a cider. But, it is in the flavor where you realize that this is a unique glass of cider with a talented brewer crafting each batch. While most ciders out on the market are very sweet, the ones at Stem are the total opposite and are dry. Not only does this add a great mouth feel but it also adds complexities that help to enhance the other flavors in this cider. To compliment the dryness of this cider there is a light body that makes this very crisp, and effervescent. But of course a cider wouldn’t be a cider without its most important ingredient, the apple. Grown locally in Colorado the pureness of the apples is very prominent adding a tartness and brightness that adds a refreshing quality. There is a subtle sweetness to this cider, but it does not overpower the drink. Instead, it creates balance and makes it well rounded with layers of flavor that keep evolving with each sip. The finish is extremely clean and pallet cleansing making it very refreshing, and easy to enjoy any time of year.

Once the grand opening happens the tap list is going to increase, and there will be a total of four ciders available; all of which are going to be unique in flavor profile and the way they were treated. The Malice will be dry fermented and stainless steel aged which should lead to create a different mouth feel. The Banjo has been aging in bourbon barrels which can only lead to a great blend of oak, vanilla notes, and a lot of complexities to compliment apples. The options of ciders are endless and what guests can look forward to are a wide variety of bold, full flavored ciders.

With a great selection of ciders, a relaxing and comfortable tasting room, and a group of very friendly owners, Stem Ciders has already created a great atmosphere to visit. As the tap list expands and the year goes on this will quickly become a place full of great regular customers, and newcomers looking to introduce themselves to cider. In an area of Denver that continues to grow at a rapid rate Stem Ciders is cemented right in the center of this growth with their unique take on a beverage not commonly seen on a craft market. So when in Denver and craving something refreshing to drink pass on the breweries and wineries, and make a trip to Stem Ciders to not only taste the quality, but to experience one of the great new businesses in RiNo for yourself.

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Brews News 1-7

We are already a week into the year, and what a week it has been. 2 weeks into the year the craft beer scene is already heating up for the year. Already we are celebrating anniversaries, festivals are starting up again, new breweries are opening up on almost a weekly basis, and the new beer releases around the state are being tapped in abundance. And that is all going down this week.

Anniversaries:
Friday, January 10 J Wells Brewing in Boulder will be turning 1! This small brewery quickly established themselves in the rich Boulder craft beer scene with their great English style ales, and Hop Haze Imperial IPA. The event runs from 4-9 PM and will feature 7 great beers on tap, so stop by, say congratulations, and enjoy some great craft beer.

New Brewery Openings:
This week we will have not 1, but 2 places opening for small batch beer and ciders.
-Thursday, January 9 Lafayette will welcome a great new brewery into this small suburb when The Post Brewing Company opens their doors. This chicken restaurant and brewery will be a welcome addition to the expanding beer scene in Lafayette. Dinner will be served at 4 along with their great craft beer offerings, and weekend brunch to follow that weekend.
-Friday, January 10 in RiNo Stem Cider’s will officially open their doors. This small building has had a couple soft openings offering one of their delicious ciders, and there should be 4 available for the grand opening. This is a great addition to the bursting RiNo scene so stop by, say hello to the friendly owners and enjoy some great dry cider.

Festivals:
It is already that time of year again for craft beer lovers head into the mountains for the 14^th Annual Vail Big Beers, Belgian’s and Barleywines. This annual event is one of the highlights of the festival year fro breweries and craft beer lovers alike. Event runs from Thursday, January 9 to Saturday, January 11 and is a must attend for those who have not.

New Beer Releases/Events:
There are a lot of great new beer releases this week, as well as craft beer events.
-Tuesday, January 7 Crooked Stave will be tapping the popular Nightmare on Brett Street aged in Leopold Whiskey Barrels. Tapping will be at 5 PM at where else but The Source.
-Wednesday, January 8 Copper Kettle will be starting a new month of firkins revolved around New Years Resolutions. The first beer is about reducing stress, and will be their India Pale Lager with Holy Basil added to it. Only 10 gallons that will be tapped at 3 PM will it’s gone.
-Wednesday, January 8 back at The Source Crooked Stave will continue their Happy Leaf release as collaboration with Happy Leaf Kombucha. This week will be the Vieille Saison with Cranberry lavender kombucha.
-Wednesday, January 8 Lone Tree will be bringing back their popular Bronco Belgian Pale Ale. This is a popular beer every year and with good reason.
-Thursday, January 9 Station 26 in Denver will continue their new firkin releases. This week’s small release will be a Coffee Red IPA.
-Thursday, January 9 is the second Thursday of the month and that can only mean one thing, the monthly beer and cheese pairing between Truffle Cheese Shop and Copper Kettle Brewing Company. $20 gets you four great cheeses, 4 great beers, and a night full of fun and information. Tickets go fast and can be purchased on the Copper Kettle website.
-Friday, January 10 Rockyard Brewing Company in Castle Rock will be releasing their Lightning Strike Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon barrels. This beer has been available at the brewery, but look for bottles of this great beer to hit liquor store shelves. Buy them quick because their small batch beers go quick, and are always popular.
-In other news Black Shirt Brewing continues to can their beers. This week the Red Saison will be joining the lineup that already features the Red IPA and Red Porter. Look for these great beers to go at the tap room by the end of the week.

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Station 26

Within the Denver craft beer scene the number of breweries and parts of the city these breweries are in continue to expand. What used to be primarily in downtown has now expanded to the very limits of the Denver border. Most recently towards the end of 2013 a new part of Denver became part of the craft beer scene, the Stapleton area. What used to house Denver’s main airport has undergone a huge makeover the past few years and now has a microbrewery to call its own. Housed in an old historical fire station this new brewery has a name fitting to the building, Station 26 Brewing.

Located within the old Station 26 Firehouse in Denver this brewery has undergone a great conversion to become a brewery, but still kept the historical firehouse environment present. Walk inside the large red building inside the large red brick building is a spacious tap room. The large garage doors make this well lit along with all the industrial light fixtures hanging from the high ceilings. The bar top wraps around the building with tables and standing room all around. The old brick walls are still the same and the fireman’s poles separate the seating area from where the beer was made. This brewery has a great environment, and of course there is the beer and with some very unique styles being served they are all worth trying.

For fans of the hops there are two very distinct options and the first is a Belgian-American Pale Ale. This classic style pale ale has the subtle hop bitterness but is balanced out by a citrus and grapefruit note from the Belgian yeast strain. Very straightforward in flavor profile, but very balanced, refreshing, and easy to enjoy. For a bolder hop profile there is the IPA #1. Made with Apollo, Nelson, and Simcoe hops this IPA has the bitterness one would expect but with layers of complex flavors from the three unique hop varietals. Subtle aromas and flavors of citrus and pine balance out the hop notes. The aftertaste lingers but this is a very traditional IPA that will be enjoyed by the hop heads out there. For another bitter beer but not in the pale ale category is the New World Bitter, a version of an ESB. With three different hops this beer is well balanced, full flavored, and very sessionable. Refreshing, unique, and easy to drink this is a great beer easy to enjoy by craft beer drinkers of all styles.

Of course Station 26 also has some unique offerings as well, and none are more unique than the Cherrywood-Smoked Golden Ale. A very light bodied easy to drink ale that is full of complex flavor and aroma. This light bodied ale has a subtle smoke not to the aroma that follows through perfectly to the flavor with a subtle sweetness. The flavors were all balanced from the malts to hops all with a hint of smoke. Cap it off with a clean finish and this is a very unique, refreshing beer that is easy to drink and very enjoyable. For fans of the dark beers there is a stout available, but a session stout. This light 4.1% ABV beer has a lighter body for a stout, but is still packed full of stout flavor. All the great qualities of a stout are present from the rich dark color, tan head, roasted barley, coffee, and chocolate. But unlike a traditional stout the light 4.1% ABV makes this not only light bodied but very easy to drink. A very refreshing beer for one so dark with a clean finish and so flavorful it makes it that much easier to drink.

With not only a diverse tap list in which there is a beer for fans of all styles this brewery has so much more going for it. A very friendly staff who are welcoming and engaging, a talented brewer who makes great traditional and unique beers, and a great tap room that is not only comfortable but brings together the great environment of a historic firehouse and craft brewery. In a craft beer market as rich and diverse as Denver’s this was a welcome addition. While off the beaten path from most of Denver’s brewery this one is worth the visit. So next time you are in the north Denver area swing by Station 26 Brewing and enjoy many of the great offerings, and see if anything new has hit the tap lines yet.

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