Vexovoid

When it comes to unique beers in the Colorado craft beer scene one brewery that always exceeds expectations is TRVE Brewing Company in Denver. From the Prehistoric Dog salted wheat to the Smoked Tea Saison this brewery has consistently delivered full flavored beers that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Recently this small heavy metal inspired brewery has taken the next step in their production and that was with the beginning of bottling. The first bottled beer from this small brewery was a tap room exclusive that brought together all the qualities of a sour ale with the ever growing popular wild yeast strain Brettanomyces. Available in bombers the beer was named Vexovoid, and after enjoying a bottle of it here are our thoughts on this unique beer.

As with any beer drinking it out of the proper glassware is important, and for this particular sour a traditional tulip glass was necessary. This led to an aggressive pour that generated a lot of foam and created a nice contrast between the golden color and the snow white foam. Once the foam settled down but did not fade away this allowed the aroma to truly be released. The aroma to this beer was very unique and complex. The aroma had an earthy quality that was difficult to pinpoint and that was followed by a subtle bright tartness. This helped to create a pucker affect that would follow through to the flavor and body of this beer.

Once this beer had a moment to breathe and allow the aroma to be taken in it was time to enjoy a sip of this sour ale. At first sip this beer has a very light body that can be attributed to the wheat base and allows the strong flavors to shine. The beer has a lot going on with each sip. There is a mild hint of citrus that helps the bright acidity of this ale become that more prominent. The Brett yeast creates a earthy flavor that also adds some body to the beer to make it a beer that should be sipped and savored. To go along with it this beer had a lot of dimensions and the flavor profile was constantly changing the longer it sat out at room temperature. When cold and straight out the fridge the yeast was prominent and this beer had a earthier flavor. As it warmed up the beer became more acidic and bright which allowed the sour notes to create that pucker mouth feel. Regardless of temperature this beer had a very clean aftertaste making it very easy to drink, and not be overwhelmed by the strong ingredients that were used.

Once all was said and done this was a very light, refreshing, and complex beer that delivered on flavor and style. While it was not the most sour beer out there it provided just enough of a tartness to make the mouth pucker, and to want another sip. To make it even better is beers made with Brett are good for aging so it will be interesting to store a bottle or two for a while and see how the flavor profile changes over time. Either way this was a very well rounded beer, and a great first beer for TRVE Brewing Company to bottle, and it already makes us wonder what this unique brewery has in mind for their next experiment.

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Brews News GABF

It has been a long year but it is finally that time of year again. The time where hundreds flock to Denver, Colorado for the annual Great American Beer Festival. Now for those of you who were unable to secure a ticket into this event there is a lot going on throughout the week to keep those thirsts quenched with great craft beer.

Monday, October 7 The beginning of the week starts off slow, but there will be special tappings.
-Odyssey Beerwerks n Arvada, Colorado is tapping a special beer every night and donating $2 from every pint to the Salvation Army in flood relief. They kick off the week with a Fluffy Pumpkin Porter. Quantities are limited so arrive early and thirsty.

Tuesday, October 8 will truly kick of the festivities at a great event that does not include a brewery, but instead a great bar that features amazing beer. The Rackhouse Pub in Denver will be hosting a sensory training class with Scott Kerkmans (Lead Judge at GABF). This class will help guests learn how to pick up subtle flavors in beers, and help enhance their pallets all while enjoying great beer in what will be an amazing learning experience from one of the best in the business.

Wednesday, October 9 is where the events will begin at the breweries and various tap rooms.
-Copper Kettle Brewing Company in Denver will be continuing their theme of dead style ales on cask, and today will be releasing a rare style known as a White Stout. This is called a stout for when beers were named stouts due to their ABV, not by style.
-A few miles away at Renegade Brewing in Denver they will be opening up their back room and allowing tours, something not often offered at this tap room. Tours will begin at 5 and will also feature a taste from an exclusive small batch made for the tour only, so arrive early.
-In their new home at The Source Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project will be selling bottles of their Origins Burgundy Sour. Quantities are limited, so arrive early to get your hands on this great beer.

Thursday, October 10 kicks off the Great American Beer Festival, and also continues the festivities around the state.
-One of Denver’s newest breweries who is not participating in the festival will be hosting a small one of their own. Diebolt Brewing in Denver will be hosting their Oktoberfest party with the new release of their Dunkelweizen. This party will include a band and brats as well.
-The Stapleton Tap House is partnering with River North Brewery for a special beer and cheese pairing. $45 at the door this night will include 6 beers from River North including a rare barrel aged offering, a special pint glass to take home, plus a full pint from the Tap House.
-Barrel Aged beers are going to be in high demand this week and at Our Mutual Friend Malt and Brew they will be tapping a Barrel Aged IPA.
-To go along with barrel aged beers Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be releasing 4 of their 2012 barrel aged offerings. These include the popular Breakfast Stout, English Barleywine, Double IPA, and Port aged Belgian Dark Strong. Vote on your favorite and which one you think will win a medal and possibly win a prize.
-Odyssey Beerwerks in Arvada will be tapping special discovery beers all week and on Thursday they will be tapping a Toffee Scotch Ale.

Friday, October 11 while the Festival is in full swing there will still be some small events going on around town.
-Renegade Brewing will be saying thank you to all of their loyal customers and from 7-9 pm they will be selling all their beers at the tap room for $1. A rare opportunity to have some great beers at unbeatable prices.
-If you are a fan of Barleywines than at Copper Kettle Brewing Company there is a rare chance to have a vertical pairing. The 2012 and 2013 will be both be available, and they will be giving guests a chance to see the difference that a year can make.

Saturday, October 12 will be the last day of the GABF, and the day all the awards are announced. As people await to see if their favorite brewery has some new hardware there will be plenty of beer in the Denver area to sip on while the awards are being handed out.
 -At Lou’s Food Bar in Denver they will be hosting a German Beer Brunch along with Prost Brewing Company. Tickets are $40 and will feature 3 delicious courses along with 4 great beers from Prost including their Oktoberfest Marzen.
-Our Mutual Friend will be tapping yet another new beer, and this will be a Chocolate Cherry Stout.
-Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be tapping a new barrel aged beer, a Belgian Tripel that has been aging in Malbec red wine barrels from Creekside Cellars in Evergreen.
-North of Denver in the small town of Lafayette Odd 13 Brewing will be hosting Sour Saturday. Their Dr. Cougar Petite Saison will be served with fresh raspberries, and they will also be tapping a rare and exclusive sour blonde. This is a blonde ale that has been aged on oak chips and has had both lactobacillus and Brett Yeast added. Both sound delicious and both are sure to go quick.

In spite of the fact that the festival will be the most sought after even of the week there is still a plethora of great events for craft beer lovers of all kinds. No matter how many nights you are available or what sounds best this week will be proof that there is something for everybody. Enjoy the week while it flies by, because it will be a long year before we get this week again.

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Sanitas

With so many new breweries opening throughout Colorado on a weekly basis there are some that turn out to be true hidden gems. Whether they are off the beaten path and take a little longer to find or the beer they serve is of such high quality that you enjoy every sip. That is the case in Boulder, Colorado where two former Boulder Beer employees came together to bring their love of craft beer to life. Combine that with a home brewer turned professional from Wisconsin and the brewery took shape. With a wide array of ales to choose from sourcing organic ingredients, and named after a nearby mountain this is Sanitas Brewing Company.

Located in an old industrial building next to the train tracks that run through this town the transformation this brewery underwent made this a very inviting tap room. This spacious tap room has room for the largest groups of people and has a nice bar top that accommodates the smallest of crowds. On one side lies a large group of windows that allows all guests to see inside the production area and how large scale this brewery is. On the other side lies more windows that has views of the outdoors and the train tracks that helps make this brewery so unique. That leads to a very nice outdoor patio complete with an official bocce ball court. With an inviting atmosphere to keep guests entertained of course a pint would be necessary, but which one to choose first?

For fans of hoppy beers there are two more unique styles of IPAs to choose from, and the first is their flagship Black IPA. This is a very complex IPA that starts with a bright, and citrus forward aroma that leads into a sip that has a surprisingly light body for such a dark beer. The flavor was also complex, but had a great balance. While this was a hop forward beer with a strong pine flavor the roasted malt flavor was still prominent to create balance and make this a very well rounded beer. Factor the clean finish and this is a great beer easy to enjoy any day. In a more unique IPA there is the first beer this brewery offered and was a collaboration beer with Dillon Dam Brewery, and it is the Snow White IPA. This is a hybrid style beer that brings together a traditional IPA with a Belgian style Witbier and the end result is very complex and flavorful. This beer had full body for a white ale and this was due to oats being added during the process and while it was a hop forward beer it was balanced out by and array of pink peppercorns and Valencia oranges. The end result was a full flavored beer that was very enjoyable and easy to drink, a must try.

For fans of non hoppy beers there is the other flagship beer, and that is the Saison. With a sweet aroma and a light body this is a truly refreshing beer. The flavor profile is very fruity with a subtle tartness, and the hop note is minimal but very unique due to the use of both American and French hops. A great beer that is easy to drink and one almost anybody would enjoy. Also for fans of the more unique and experimental beers there is a rotating line of beers known as the train series. With being located right next to the train tracks these smaller batches of beers will rotate regularly and will be offered at a dollar off a pint when the train drives by the tap room. Sanitas will also be canning very soon with their Black IPA and Saison available in six packs.

In a craft beer rich community like Boulder to open up a new brewery in this small town would take either some great beers, or some unique beers. Thankfully for Sanitas they have both. With styles of IPAs that are still not commonly seen on the mainstream market, and even their unique spin on traditional ales this brewery has a beer that anybody walking in will enjoy. Combine that with a very comfortable tap room, great scenery, and most importantly a friendly and knowledgeable staff and this is a brewery worth visiting. So when in Boulder venture slightly off the beaten path, and swing by Sanitas and try the delicious offerings in this locally inspired brewery.

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Brews News 10-1

October is officially upon us, and as we count down the days until Great American Beer Festival we must keep our pint glasses full in anticipation. Although it is not the most busy week in Colorado craft beer there is still lots going on and plenty of new beers to try.

New Breweries:
No new breweries opening up this week, while there are still plenty waiting to open there have been some delays in the process. Stay patient and before we know it the Colorado craft beer scene will continue to grow once again.   

Anniversaries:
No anniversaries this week.   

New Beer Releases:
Lots of great new beer releases this week and it all starts on Wednesday.
-New beer releases will begin early this week on October 1 at Lone Tree Brewing Company with the release of their new West Green Hopped IPA.
-October 2 Lone Tree Brewing will release their second new beer of the week with Mr. Moo’s Pumpkin Brew, a season pumpkin ale.  
-October 2 also brings on the beginning of dead month at Copper Kettle Brewing Company where they will feature styles not commonly seen anymore. They will kick off the month with a Gose, more commonly known at a Salted Wheat.
-River North will be featuring their newest beer for Wayward Wednesday with the Rum Barrel Aged Quandary.
-October 3 Funkwerks in Fort Collins will be bringing back Deceit, their Belgian Golden Strong. This beer won gold medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival and will be in strong demand.
-Also October 3 Arvada Beer Company will be releasing the always popular and often requested Butter Pecan Brown. One barrel of this beer was brewed so it will be available for growler fills as well.
-October 4 Wild Woods Brewery in Boulder will be releasing a special and rare beer. Their flagship Treeline IPA that has been aging in Gin barrels and will finally be tapped.
-October 5 at Copper Kettle Brewing Company they will be bringing back their popular Black IPA just in time for the fall weather. This popular beer is often requested and should go fast.

Events:
The weekend before Great American Beer Festival will be small, but still plenty going on to keep us entertained.
-Thursday, October 3 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be hosting their monthly beer and cheese pairing a week early. This monthly event pairs 4 beers with 4 cheeses from the Truffle Cheese Shop in Denver and is a must do for anybody wanting to learn more about beer. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance.  
-Saturday, October 5 Caution Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado will be hosting a pre GABF party. This will be complete with live music, a food truck, and of course beer. Caution will be releasing beers this day including a Pumpkin Curry ale, and a firkin of The Earl, an English Mild with Earl Grey Tea.
-Sunday, October 6 one of the most anticipated beers in Colorado from one of the more iconic breweries in Colorado will be conducting their pre sale. Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs will be doing a pre sale of the Ventucci Pumpkin Ale. This event goes from 10-4 or until the beer is sold out, and there is a 3 bottle limit.
-Wit’s End Brewing Company in Denver announced that they will be expanding their hours to include Wednesdays. They will be open from 4-8 starting October 2.

Coming Soon!:
As if this week does not have enough there is always more to look forward to in the Colorado craft beer scene.
-Great Divide has officially bottled their annual Fresh Hop Ale and it should be available for purchase very soon.  

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The BoB

When it comes to the craft beer world drinkers have learned to appreciate the art and craft that goes into the brewing process. But the art of a brewed beverage can include so much more than beer; it can also be talking about a well balanced, smooth cup of coffee. Well this past summer the two came together in the small suburb of Englewood, Colorado where the world of coffee and beer combined into one establishment. With long hours starting at 7 am, and late nights going until 10 pm this is The Brews on Broadway, more appropriately known as The BoB.

After finding a vintage looking theatre sign you know you are at the right place, and after walking into this spacious tap room it is obvious that it brings together the qualities of a coffee shop and a brewery. It is a large industrial looking building that greets you with the espresso machine, but walk past that to the bar and look around to see what a comfortable environment they have created.  There are cozy chairs to sit in, tables for large groups with bright décor all around the building. But the most visually striking aspect of this tasting room is the large brick wall with the garage doors that leads to the spacious beer garden. The brewing equipment is visible from the bar located behind the chalkboard menu and tap handles. With several beers to choose from in a variety of styles they all are unique but familiar.

With a couple different varieties of English style ales on tap it is best to start light and that would be with the City Mark Mild. Coming in at a very sessionable 4.5 percent this is a very balanced beer that has a light body, but still has a good malt flavor. The hops are not very prominent and this beer has a clean aftertaste making it a very refreshing beer and easy to enjoy any time of year. For another English style with a slightly bolder flavor try the Placer ESB. With a dark gold color, this beer brings forward a strong malt flavor, but it was balanced out by an equally strong hop flavor. The hops provide a great bitter note that also has a subtle smoky flavor. The finish of this beer is not clean, and has a slight lingering note to a very complex beer making you want to enjoy another sip.

To go along with the English style ales the BoB also offers to hop forward options and it starts with the Eaglerock Pale Ale. With a dark copper color this pale ale has a bright, citrus forward aroma that carries through to a bright, and acidic flavor. A hop forward beer with a prominent bitter note this beer has plenty of malt to balance it out and not overpower the beer. Very refreshing and more balanced, this is a great representation of a classic pale ale. For those craving a strong hop flavor that is available in the option of the Tuilerie’s IPA. This is a true IPA from the rich copper color, to the dry mouth feel, and the bitter flavor profile. The aftertaste lingers and lasts for a while making this a beer any IPA fan will truly enjoy. For a non English beer and a non hop beer there is a beer that brings both aspects of The BoB into one beverage, and that is the Social Club Coffee Milk Stout. This has a surprisingly light body for a stout but it is full on flavor. With a strong coffee flavor, creamy mouth feel, and subtle hint of chocolate it is a well balanced beer with a clean aftertaste making it very easy to enjoy, and a great style of stout.

With a wide variety of beverages to choose from and a expansive, diverse tap list it is obvious why The BoB has cemented themselves into this small suburb of Denver. Combine that with a friendly staff, and a very relaxed atmosphere and this is truly a neighborhood establishment where it would be very easy to pass the time with a group of friends. To go along with the early morning hours and late night hours it can be easy to enjoy a great beverage any time of day. So whether you want a great cup of coffee, or to enjoy a couple pints and watch TV swing down to Englewood and relax in the comfort of The BoB.

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Brews News 9-24

The season has changed and fall is officially upon us which can only mean one thing and that is that more big beers will be returning. While cold weather is just around the corner there is still plenty to do in Colorado craft beer.

New Breweries:
After much anticipation Epic Brewing is finally ready to open their doors in their new River North home and it all happens on Thursday, September 26. Unfortunately this is a soft opening only available to those invited, but sooner than later their doors will be open to the masses.  

Anniversaries:
This Saturday, September 28 marks the 1 year anniversary of one of Boulder’s best kept secrets in beer, and that can mean only one thing. Wild Wood’s Brewery is turning 1 and they are celebrating with 12 beers including some new releases and the returns of some fan favorites. They will be bringing back the popular 2012 Barley wine as well as the Tropical Paradise IPA a great IPA with mango and ginger. As far as new beers are concerned they will be releasing an Oktoberfest style lager, as well as a special anniversary ale known as Big Bonfire. This is an imperial version of their flagship Campfire Red and the first 40 people to order one will get to keep they glass for free.   

New Beer Releases:
Lots of great new beer releases this week and it all starts on Wednesday.
-Both of Hall Brewing Company’s new beers are available on liquor store shelves now. The Helles Lager and Oktoberfest Marzen are their newest additions and perfect for this time of season.
-September 18 will see the end of fresh hop month at Copper Kettle Brewing Company and they will be releasing the Nine Digit Cask. This beer was made from hops grown by one of their Mug Club Members.
-For Wayward Wednesday River North Brewery will be releasing a double dry hopped River North White, think of it as their interpretation of a White IPA.
-After much anticipation River North will also be releasing a new barrel aged beer. They will be releasing a Rum barrel aged Quandary. This abbey style ale that has subtle raisin flavors will match perfectly with rum and will be a must try.

Events:
This upcoming weekend Oktoberfest will continue throughout the state with more breweries continuing the festivities.
-Friday, September 27 Saint Patrick’s Brewing Company in Englewood will be hosting a small Oktoberfest party. Available will be all of their artisanal lagers including their new pumpkin lagers with vanilla and chai, as well as chocolate.
-Also Friday, September 27 Copper Kettle Brewing Company will be hosting their Oktoberfest celebration with the release of their Marzen lager. A traditional Oktoberfest lager, and in addition they will have their Kolsch and Dunkel Lager available with Crazy Good Food Truck serving German style food.
-Saturday, September 28 Denver Beer Company is joinging the Oktoberfest celebration with the release of their fall seasonal. $15 will get you a stein and a fill of this brew, and refills will be $6.
-Also on the 28^th up in Louisville Gravity Brewing will be hosting the Gravity Fall Fest  complete with three new beer releases. There will be an Oktoberfest, Weizenbock, and Wet Hop IPA available this day to go along with all their other great beers.

Coming Soon!:
As if this week does not have enough there is always more to look forward to in the Colorado craft beer scene.
-In addition to their bombers River North is going to be canning as well. Look for their River North White available soon.  

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Saint Patrick's Brewing

Despite the growth of craft beer in Colorado there are still certain styles that can be difficult to find on a regular basis. One of those styles is lagers, those clean, crisp refreshing ales that take time, cold fermentation, and great execution to make. So to find a brewery that only makes artisan lagers in a wide variety of styles is a hidden gem, and then to find out that they are only making them 25 gallons at a time shows the true craft this brewery has. That is the case in a small brewery in Englewood, Colorado where the lagers are pouring in traditional, hybrid, and experimental styles at Saint Patrick’s Brewing Company.

What started off in a garage in Centennial has now evolved into a small tap room located in a small row of warehouses. With only 18 seats this tap room is very small, but very comfortable and inviting. A large chalkboard displaying the available beers is visible for all to see, but the highlight of this tap room décor is the artwork that hangs from the walls. Prior to crafting lagers co-owner Chris Phelps was an artist, and some of his amazing paintings grace the walls creating a great eye piece. Right behind the bar top lays a group of small fermenters where these small batches are turning into beer. With so many different styles of lagers to choose from, deciding which one to try first can be overwhelming.  

A good rule of thumb to follow when tasting beers is to start light, and that would be the Luminosity, a traditional Helles meets a Belgian Farmhouse. This beer has all the traditional aspects of a Helles like the light body, crisp mouth feel, and light malt flavor. The addition of honey and fresh citrus zest gives this beer a bright fresh flavor with a subtle sweetness. Factor in the five hop additions and this is a complex beer that is balanced, finishes clean, and is very refreshing. For something still light, but with a much different flavor profile there is the Colorado Golden Lager, a Czech Pilsner with Saison influences. The honey and citrus flavors are still visible in the beer, but contrary to the Luminosity, this beer has a much more prominent hop flavor. This creates a dry mouth feel with a slight bitterness, but it is not overpowering. Instead the end result is a more complex beer that has a slight bitterness in the aftertaste, but is still very refreshing and easy to drink.

For something slightly more malt forward there is the Cerevisia, a traditional Vienna style lager with influences of the California Common style. A rich copper color sets the tone of this beer and the flavor profile is slightly sweet with a more malt forward flavor. The bitterness from the hops are still visible, but secondary in this clean beer. For fans of the dark beers, there is the Midnight Mocha, a Schwarz beer. This dark black lager had strong notes of coffee and chocolate which created a slight bitterness. This was balanced out by honey, and lactose added created a creamy mouth feel which added to the mocha flavor profile. With a surprisingly light body, and strong flavor profile this is a very unique beer that was very easy to drink. Also available are various seasonal lagers including a Czech Chai Ginger, Chocolate Pumpkin Lager, Pumpkin Vanilla Chai, Lana’I IPL and a traditional Dry Stout all released throughout the year.

Since opening their doors in 2012, Saint Patrick’s Brewing has been bringing forward the art of lagers. With the amount of time and the craft that goes into each batch the end result is truly a craft. With so many distinct beers to choose from the styles of this beer are endless, and the light bodied refreshing beers are all complex but easy to drink. This is truly a brewery that has brought forward a difficult style of beer to make, and the small 25 gallon batches bring the craft to life. While lagers can be difficult to find on the craft beer level, Saint Patrick’s has made it a little easier. So when looking for a new brewery, or style to try venture down to Santa Fe Circle in Englewood and give Saint Patrick’s a try, you may find a new favorite.

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