Them Crazy Southerners Will Eat Almost Anything

This Sunday night, there is a beer dinner in Charleston, SC.

On the menu:
country ham, oysters, duck sausages, beef tenderloin and fried bologna and liver pudding.

Fried bologna and liver pudding??? Really? Oh yea, I forgot. Those crazy southerners eat parts of a cow that the rest of us throw away.

(laugh!)

Here are some great things to do this weekend here in Colorado.

Today (Friday, Nov. 13th)

It's Firkin Friday at Dry Dock and at Oskar Blues. Dry Dock is pouring a Bourbon Oaked Old Ale (www.drydockbrewing.com) while Oskar Blues is featuring Dales Pale Ale that's been dry hopped with a big dose of summit hops. (http://www.oskarblues.com/) Oskar Blues is also hosting a beer dinner tonight at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Denver. (http://www.delfriscos.com/)

Left Hand Brewing releases their newest brew Fade to Black at a release party this afternoon (http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/) and down in the four corners, Pagosa Brewing's Nipple Mountain Nip is back! (http://www.pagosabrewing.com/)

Tomorrow is Cask Ale Saturday with their IPA at Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs and Sunday morning, they host another session of Beer Yoga. BYOM (bring your own mat.) (http://www.bristolbrewing.com/)

Beer: Water to beer from Colorado snowpack
Local beer's long, loving trip to LoDo starts with gorgeous Colorado water

Douglas Brown--The Denver Post

People from around the world come to Colorado to make beer. Not for the hops or the grain. They come for the gorgeous water.

The collision of Pacific-borne storms and towering mountains yields enormous reservoirs of pristine snow in the state, much of which melts and submits to gravity, ending up in water-treatment facilities 5,000 feet lower and miles away along the Front Range.

And, eventually, in your pint glass. Hops, barley, yeast and time transform millions of gallons of Colorado water every year into ale and lager. Colorado breweries (more than 100 of them) pump out more beer — 23,370,848 barrels in 2006 — than any other state.

New Belgium in Fort Collins sits somewhere between brewing leviathan and microbrew startup. Hundreds of workers create an array of beers, from sour Belgian-style ales that cost $15 for a 22-ounce bottle to more-straightforward mugs of suds that sell for $4 at LoDo sports bars.

What goes into that six-pack of bottled blizzard? It starts with snow, in the northern fringes of the aptly named Never Summer Range.

Read the entire article here.

Reward? Ale Diablo from Steamworks

A couple weeks ago, I picked up a bomber of one of my favorite fall beers, Ale Diablo from Steamworks in Durango, Colorado. I stuck in in the 'fridge, figuring I'd save it for a special occasion.

Now, I am a man of very low expectations. Seeing me work hard enough to get the next Rocky Mountain Brewing News Hop Tips finished before deadline is good enough for reward time in my book. So, I grabbed the bomber, popped its champagne cork top, and poured myself a pint.

Ale Diablo is a one of those brews that I really look forward to drinking. There is a wicked, yellow eyed, red faced devil on the label (I give bonus points for good label art) and it pours bright golden, an almost hefeweizen color, keeping true to its American Blonde Ale roots.

Ah, but the taste is what I like best. Ale Diablo has a lot more going on in its yellow-ness than most of the other American Blonde Ales. There is plenty of fruity apples and citrus and cloves. There is a nice malty flavor in the background and the earthy hops run from first sip to swallow. It's almost like a Belgian. The flavors are there, but it's lighter. Not as bold as the Belgians we love so much.

I got it! Ale Diablo is a Belgian Lite. It's much more flavorful than most American Blonde Ales, but not as bold and complex as the Belgians.

Oh yea, respect the breath of this beer. You will feel it when you take a quaff. It's not an overpowering taste of alcohol, just a warning that this brew carries a very respectable 8.5% ABV.

The Downside? Availability. Ale Diablo from Steamworks is one of their limited releases and you only find it in the fall. So, buy it when you see it. Tomorrow could be too late.

By the way, the next issue of the Rocky Mountain Brewing News should be showing up at your favorite brew spot in a week or so...and, watch out for the email version of Hop Tips, covering everything beery for the last two weeks of November here in the Rocky Mountain West.

Not a subscriber? Drop me your email and you will be.

Cheers!

In Minnesota, They Spell It D-L-U-I

This one is too good to pass up.

A 62 year old guy got popped for DUI when he was caught driving this ------------------------>!!!

Dennis LeRoy Anderson said he was cruising home from the Keyboard Lounge in Proctor, Minn. He was doing just fine until "a woman jumped on my La-Z-Boy." Anderson said she knocked it out of control and into a nearby parked car. Anderson's blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit at the time.

Hey, you can't make this stuff up.

Anderson's motorized La-Z-Boy was powered by a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower engine. It has a stereo and cup holders. He stuck a NHRA sticker on it, just so folks wouldn't laugh.

The cops took Anderson's motorized recliner away after he was convicted of Driving a La-Z-Boy Under the Influence. They will sell it with the rest of the stuff they have confiscated when they hold their next police auction.

Contact the Proctor, Minn. Police Dept. for the date/time.

Snow Means Stew...With Beer, of Course.

I don't know about you, but in my house I am the cook. (I keep telling my wife that she is a very lucky girl.) Oh yea, I keep my man card up by grilling as much as I can, but I am a guy who can dance in the kitchen, too.

When the weather starts to go winter like it has today, I go in search of a big, hearty soup or stew. I have a lot of favorites...but, one of my favorite favorites is called Carbonnade, a classic Belgian stew, made with my three favorite ingrediants....beef, onions and beer.

Now, here is a little secret. You do not have to be a master chef to create a really great tasting Carbonnade. It's no harder to cook than your normal beef stew. And, I think it is a nice change up.

Here is a great recipe for you to try.

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/carbonnade_beef_and_beer_stew/

It's Alive!!!!

What are you doing for lunch?

How does some Carolina BBQ and a great brew sound?

Cool! Because starting today we get both, from the fathers of the American craft beer in a can movement.

After months of wishing and waiting, Oskar Blues' newest creation is open today at 11am.

Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids is their brand new down home brew joint that has 43 craft brew taps, southern inspired BBQ and "soul saving live music."

Like their brews, I am not sure which I'll order first. Will it be their North Carolina style BBQ pork or the spare ribs? Maybe I'll get some beer-can chicken or an order of the salmon or turkey.

All I know is all this down home slow cooked goodness comes from their in-house smoker, called the Midnight Toker.

I hope they ain't bogarting because this Carolina boy want him some, too.

Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids
1555 South Hover Street
Longmont, CO 80501
303-485-9400
open 11am to close, all week long, starting today.

To The Boats, Mate. There Is A Floatilla Of New Brews On The Horizon

Woo-Hoo!!! It's another Friday Afternoon Colorado Brew Cruise.

Today, we start at Colorado's oldest microbrewery. Boulder Beer is tapping the first keg of their Obovoid Oak-Aged Stout at 3pm. This is a perfect brew to dance with on a cold, Colorado afternoon.

Then, we will scoot across Boulder to the Twisted Pine. They are celebrating fall with a tapping party for their Mr. Brown Pumpkin Ale at 3pm. Mr. Brown comes complete with a little whipped cream on top. Whoa.

Ok, now it's time to chart a course out to Aurora. It's Firkin Friday at Dry Dock Brewing, the GABF's 2009 Small Brewery of the Year. Today, they are serving up Seven Seas Double IPA that's been dry-hopped with Riwaka hops. That starts at 3pm, too.

Speaking of the Great American Beer Festival, Downtown Denver's Falling Rock Tap House is the unofficial HQ during the GABF. Of course, they always have bodatious brews flowing from their wall of taps. Avery Brewing's gonna tap a keg of their brand new brew at 5pm, so here's your chance to grab a pint of dugan IPA.

Back in the boat and let's head south. Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs is rolling out one of my winter favorites today. It's Winter Warlock time. Today at 5pm, they tap the first kegs of this amazing Imperial Stout.

Finally, we head back up north to drop anchor at Oskar Blues Brewing in Longmont. It's another Firkin Friday at The Tasty Weasel and they are pouring a wet hopped Dale's Pale Ale in OB's brewery pub. They tossed an extra heaping helping of Cascade Hops in this sucka. The grassy hops will be enough to make us wish for summer again.

So, leave a message for the boss, grab an oar and lets row over to the bar. There are some great new brews waiting for you and I today.

Ska Brewing's Decadent Imperial IPA

It's an ugly day in Colorado. Yesterday, we had blue skies and nice warm temperatures. Today, it's 35 degrees and the drizzle is threatening to change over to snow. I heard the weather whizzes saying winter was coming so, I got the mower out one last time. The sweet smell of cut grass got me remembering summer. As soon as I finished in the yard, I went in search of some hoppy beer grassiness. In the fridge, I found a big, brown, bomber bottle, filled with Ska Brewing's Decadent Imperial IPA.

Decadent's packaging is outstanding. You've got a thick coating of deep, red wax that covers the top and neck of the bottle. It drips seductively down over the label, guarded by a nasty looking skeleton in his tie and top hat. He clenches a big green branch of hops jauntily between his crooked teeth.

Pour the brew. Decadent is a rich, copper colored beer with a really tight, off white head. It might look a little hazy. Mine did.

Pick up the pint glass. Here is the Decadent difference. While many Imperial IPAs lead with hops, Decadent is silly full of citrus. The bitterness of a grapefruit rind slaps your nose, fills your mouth, coats your tastebuds and lasts long after you swallow. It also seems to muzzle the hops and malt flavors in the beer. What the citrus does not cover is the alcohol taste. Decadent carries 10% Alcohol By Volume (ABV), and you will feel the alcoholic warmth that goes with it. You will also feel the sting of carbonation. Decadent is a fizzy beer.

Bottom line....Ska's Decadent Imperial IPA is big and it's bossy. It's a heavy hitter that slaps your face with citrus and carbonation and pounds your head with its high alcohol content. I liked it. I really did. Even so, Decadent is not be my "go to" Imperial IPA. It needs a lot more hops...over the top hops...to be "go to" on that list.

Oktoberfest in Munich...ever wondered??

Ever wonder how many beer glasses get swiped during Munich's Oktoberfest?

Well, those that make it ain't telling, but according to the official post-Oktoberfest report, sharp eyed security types confiscated 145,500 glasses at the exits this year, which is down from the record 200,000 they found on drunken revelers last year.

That figure would have been much higher, but my wifey wasn't there this year. (She has a PhD in pint pilfering.)

Other interesting things at this year's Oktoberfest in Munich:

*the number of visitors dropped 5 percent (because of terrorism fears) but the amount of brew quaffed remained the same. 5.7 million people who showed up at the 16 day festival drank 6.5 million liters or 1.7 million gallons of beer (if my math is right....) and that is even with the price going up 6 percent.

*The total number of oxen eaten in the 14 giant tents reached an impressive 111, up from 104 last year, while sales of fried chicken fell 3 percent.

*The number of lost items fell to 4,100, including 1,250 items of clothing, 700 identity cards and passports, 420 wallets, 320 mobile phones and 75 cameras, a fishing rod, a chess clock, a toaster, a ballet skirt, three crutches, a miniature pinscher and a milk tooth. A total of 18 children were also lost but all of them were reclaimed.

*The Munich police reported collecting a total of 759 "beer corpses" -- people who had drunk themselves to oblivion. That was up sharply from 2008, when 565 were reported. Three people actually died -- an Australian man was run over by a local train after visiting the festival, a 51-year-old man choked on his own vomit and a reveller from England died when he fell out of his hotel room window while trying to urinate out of it.

Seriously??? A guy pissed himself to the pearly gates? Dang, them Germans sure know how to party.

Steamworks' Steam Engine Lager. Let's Give it a Ride

According to Rob Willey of Details Magazine, Steamworks' Steam Engine Lager is a really excellent brew. As a matter of fact, Steam Engine is at the very top of his "excellent canned beer list."

He writes..."Yes, it tastes similar to Sam Adams, but it's preferable by a long shot, with a sweetness and a peppery tang."

The can is just as bold, promising that Steam Engine Lager is "arguably the best American style amber lager in the world."

This is all very heady stuff, so I popped a top of Steam Engine Lager and gave it a ride.

I have to admit, I was very impressed with its appearance. Steam Engine Lager poured crystal clear with a warm, deep coppery color. The head was tan-ish white, but it wasn't long before it dissolved into the brew. It always bothers me when a brew's head does that.

The taste? Well, I thought something was missing here. Yes, Steam Engine is a malty brew, just like an American Amber should be. It is malty enough to be called "Biscuit" if it was a horse. But, here is the deal. When a brew bills itself as "the best American amber lager in the world" and when some magazine writer sticks it on the very top of his "excellent canned beer list," the beer should bring something more than just its bready malt flavor to the table.

It didn't.

Steam Engine is a very drinkable, middle of the road American amber lager. It is a malt lover's dream. However, Steam Engine would not lead my "excellent canned beer list." It is good, but good isn't good enough to be most excellent when you are talking about being the best in the world.

Sorry guys.

Here is Details Magazine's excellent canned beer list.
1. Steamworks Steam Engine Lager--Colorado
2. Caldera Ashland Amber--Oregon
3. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout--Colorado
4. 21st Amendment Brew Free! or Die IPA--California
5. Sly Fox Pikeland Pils--Pennsylvania
6. Butternuts Heinnieweisse Weissebier--New York
7. New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale--Colorado

Agree? What would be your top 7 canned beers?

By the way, I was also going to review Steamworks' Ale Diablo today. I wandered on down to Lukas Liquors in the Denver Tec Center to pick up a bottle. They didn't have it in stock. So, I trucked over to Davidson Liquors. They didn't have it either, but big beer kudos to the Davdson beer guy who offered to call the Steamworks' rep. (That's good customer service gang!) The rep said it was just hitting the Denver market, so watch for old Ale Diablo to start showing up next week.

Yum!

Friday is IP-Yay! Day

Who wants a new beer?








How about TWO beer releases on the same day?




















Avery and Left Hand are both in Boulder County, CO and both are set to bring out their latest this Friday. duganA IPA is Avery Brewing's two year project to find a brew that would fit in between Avery IPA and their Maharaja Imperial IPA. They say it is "brutally bitter, dank, piney and resinous. This 8.5% abv monster offers a mystical and divine hop experience with 93 IBUs of hop goodness." http://www.averybrewing.com/

Meanwhile....

Left Hand Brewing's Warrior IPA returns this Friday, too. This annual fall brew has a "strong hop character that is balanced by a strong malt foundation, allowing for an approachable and drinkable IPA that finishes amazingly clean." Some of the hops in this brew come from Left Hand's very own hop farm. http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

GABF Docks A Big Award In Aurora

Let me tell you a little story. It's a little long for a blog, but it is a story worth telling.


Once upon a time there were these two guys, Kevin DeLange (he's in the green shirt) and Kevin Kellogg. The two "Kevs" were quietly brewing little batches of beer in The Brew Hut, a small home brew shop they owned in Aurora, CO. The beer was good. It was so good their customers started telling them they ought to open a brewpub.


It's Alive!
In 2005, they did just that. They knocked a hole in the wall and took over the empty space next door. It was small. There was just room for a couple bar stools, 5 or 6 tables and a popcorn machine in the corner. They didn't care. They weren't there to impress the world. They just wanted a place where people could gather and enjoy their beer. Kevin grabbed the tap. With the "psssshst" of compressed air, Dry Dock Brewing was born.



They are brewing really good beer in Aurora.
It didn't take long for the word to get around. People were quaffing every gallon of beer the Dry Dock could brew. Kevin knew he needed help, so Bill Eye became head brewer and brought his love of rich, German lagers to the Dry Dock. (That's him in the brown shirt.) Two other guys, Jim Denier (right, wedged in the Boil Kettle) and Lachlan McLean (left, stuck in the Lauter Tun) signed on as assistant brewers. The four figured their beer was pretty good, so they entered a couple at the Colorado State fair. They won! They took some to Denver and won a couple of medals at the GABF, too.



Trouble on the Horizon
All of a sudden, Kevin discovered he had a problem. It was great that legions of brew lovers were packing the place, but his little brewpub was too small to handle it. Even with the fermenter running non-stop, they still could not keep up. So this summer, just four years after Kevin tapped the first keg, Dry Dock set sail. It dropped anchor at a big, new, spacious brew house, just a couple doors down from the old brew pub. It had everything a brewer could want, including a brand new brew system with bright, shiny kettles. One thing didn't change. Kevin, Bill, Jim and Lachlan were still brewing it right. Dry Dock's beer was as good as ever.



Hello World
Saturday, the beer world sat up and took notice. A huge cheer rocked the place when the Great American Beer Festival announced that nobody had a better small brewery than Kevin DeLange. Out of hundreds of choices from all over the country, Dry Dock Brewing was picked as the 2009 Small Brewing Company and Brewer of the Year.



Congratulations Kevin! You and Bill and Jim and Lachlan ought to be mighty proud of yourselves. Dry Dock crafts amazing beers and it is great that the largest beer gathering in America, The Great American Beer Festival, agrees.




----It's Almost "Hop Tip" Time----
I am putting the finishing touches on the next Hop Tips from the Rocky Mountain Brewing News. It's filled with October's events, festivals and new brew releases from all across the Rocky Mountain West. Watch for it to pop up in your email in the next couple of days. If you don't get "Hop Tips", click here to sign up. You don't want to miss any beer-vents this fall.

Bumblings from the Boulder County Brew Cruise

The 4th annual Boulder County Brew Cruise is history. Once again, two big busloads of happy hop-sters spent the day sloshing across some of Colorado's most fertile beer landscape. Here are some interesting flecks of malt and mash I picked up along the way.

First stop was Boulder Beer where BB brewer, the mysterious D Zuckerman, told me they will have an amazing beer tapped next Tuesday in the Wilderness Pub at the brewery. It's a keg of Igloo Ale that has been cellared for over 10 years. Talk about a blast from the past!

Interesting beer trivia of the day. Dan Weitz, Boulder Beer's bubbly tour guide and most excellent marketing man let it slip that the brewer who created their Hazed and Infused was attempting to make a beer with the aroma of weed. Yup, no kidding.

Next, to Longmont and Left Hand Brewing. We charged into the tap room and found Depth Charge expresso milk stout on tap. DC is the newest collaboration brew between Left Hand Brewing and Terrapin Brewing in Athens, GA. The gang on the brew cruise almost rioted when the Left Hand gang announced they were going to treat us to an early release of two cases of this amazing brew. I snarked up two bombers and will post up a review here on One Good Brew next week. I can tell you that Depth Charge is one of the best expresso milk stouts I have had in a long time. It should show up in front range liquor stores very soon and grab it when you see it. This will be a very limited release. It won't be around long.

Bubba Love, Left Hand's singing tour guide (and, Boulder County sales guru by day) told me Left Hand's Warrior IPA is being packaged right this very minute and it should start showing up on shelves soon, too. This beer warrior loves himself the Warrior IPA.

Oskar Blues hosted lunch for our little band of bodacious brew hunters in the Tasty Weasel tap room. Boy how they have grown! Before Oskar Blues starting putting their craft beer in cans back in 2002, it made just 700 barrels of beer a year. Next year, they are planning to brew up a heady 36,000 barrels of their brew to keep up with demand. By the way, they had oak barrel aged Gordon on tap that was nothing short of OMG Outstanding! Definitely worth the trip, just to get yourself a pint. In the brewery, there were stacks of whiskey barrels from Stranahans' Colorado Whiskey of Denver. Each was filled with Ten Fidy. I can't wait for that to be tapped!!!

Finally it was on to Avery, just in time for the release of Sui Generis. Those smart enough to grab some got the chance to have their bottles hand signed by Adam Avery himself. Sui Generis is the second of Avery's new Barrel-Aged Series. Brewers aged Sui Generis in several different oak barrels and fermented it with brettanomyces, lactobacillus and pediococcus. Only about 150 cases of Sui Generis were brewed so this new Avery beer is sure to become the gem of your beer cellar if you can get your hands on some. The price? About 48-dollars a six pack.

Speaking of Avery, their newest brew…duganA IPA will be released October 2nd. No doubt, duganA IPA should be another amazing brew from the Avery Brewing bunch.

That's all I heard...or all I remember...from this year's Boulder County Brew Cruise. It is a most amazing way to start your GABF adventures. Thanks to Left Hand Brewing for putting this puppy on.

Cruise On, Mighty Beer Bus

Today, I am off on the Boulder County Brew Cruise, organized by those right brain thinkers at Left Hand Brewing. Look at this photo from 2007. See, nobody has a good time on these things.

Truthfully, it is incredibly hard work spending the day touring and drinking and eating and drinking and touring through Avery Brewing, Boulder Beer, Left Hand Brewing and Oskar Blues.

I only do this to pursue my craft. Nobody would ever volunteer for this rough, almost inhuman duty.

I don't really know how I will survive.

So, while the cat is away, here are some beer-dashiously things going on.

Play on mices. Play on.

Be part of history as Avery Brewing releases its Sui Generis today. Less than 150 cases of this amazing brew were created, so it will not be on tap. Don't worry. Avery will have some interesting creations for you to try. 3pm-8pm (303) 440-4324 http://www.averybrewing.com/

Left Hand Brewing's classic keg tapping today is the 2008 Terra-Rye’zd Black Rye Lager. 10a-10pm (303) 772-0258 http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

There is a GABF Beer Tapping Party at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs. Trinity will tap special kegs of brews from all across Colorado at their Brewery in Colorado Springs. 11am to 10pm (719) 624-0029 http://www.trinitybrew.com/

One of Colorado's newest breweries, Black Fox releases their newest brew today. "Automne" is a refreshing amber saison and is the fifth offering from Black Fox Brewing. The release party is at Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs at 5pm. (719) 633-2555 http://www.bristolbrewing.com/

Falling Rock Tap House is ground zero for a bunch of special keg tappings today. Check this out. At 4pm, they tap a keg of Flying Dog's 20th Anniversary Beer. At 5pm, they unveil Pyramid's Snowcap. At 9pm, Artisanal Imports brings some of their offerings including a new, limited offering, Koenigshoeven (La Trappe) Isid'or 125th Anniversary Beer. Live music with Marty Jones & the Great Unknowns with special guests the Rolling Boil Blues Band. (303)293-8338 http://www.fallingrocktaphouse.com/

Boulder Beer is all over the place today. They host a Brewer's Meet-n-Greet at the Crown Plaxa Hotel in Denver. 12n-2pm. They tap a keg of special whiskey barrel aged Mojo IPA at the Falling Rock Tap house at 3pm and, they host a Boulder Beer Pool Party up on the 6th floor of the Crown Plaza Hotel, in Denver at 5pm. Then Boulder Beer's Brewmaster David Zuckerman shows up at Old Chicago on Market Street for a "Meet and Greet the Brewer" from 5pm-6:30pm. (303) 444-8448 http://www.boulderbeer.com/

Tonight, it's "pass the muchies, Gov!" It's Pints and Bites at the Governor's House in Denver, an evening of Colorado craft beer and food pairing hosted by the Governor's Residence Preservation Fund, the Colorado Brewers Guild and the Culinary School of the Rockies. All proceeds benefit the preservation of the Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. 5-7:30pm (303) 722-3623 http://www.coloradoshome.org/

It's also the night for the 3rd Annual Gold Medal Beer Dinner at The Kitchen in Boulder. Eat, drink and be merry while five of the world's best brewers go head to head to see who will cry first. Come eat and drink with Adam Avery (Avery), Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River), Rob Todd (Allagash), Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head), and Tomme Arthur (The Lost Abby.) A meet and greet starts at 6:30 with dinner starting at 7pm. $140 (303) 544-5973 http://www.thekitchencafe.com/

Great Divide Brewing is in Duo Restaurant's "Meet the Brewer Happy Hour" tonight. 5pm-7pm.. They are also hosting a really nice beer dinner at Eagles' Nest at Green Valley Ranch.(303) 296-9460 http://www.greatdivide.com/

Deschutes Brewery is hosting a beer dinner at Baker St. Pub and Grill in the Denver Tech Center. $50 6p-10pm (303) 557-2790 http://www.sherlockspubco.com/

Left Hand Brewing holds beer tasting tonight at City, O City. For two hours, celebrate the beers that made this brewery famous at City, O City. 7-9pm (303) 831-6443 http://www.cityocitydenver.com/

New Belgium Brewing hosts a beer tasting at Marlowe's, on the 16th Street mall in downtown Denver from 5pm-7pm. They are bringing Fat Tire, Hoptober, Sunshine and other special release beers. Buy a beer and keep the glass, along with Chocolate-beer pairings. (888) NBB-4044 http://www.newbelgium.com/

Which is better...beer or wine? Find out the answer at the Beer vs Wine Dinner at TAG Restaurant in Denver. Avery Brewing and the Bull and Bush are gonna tag team Master Sommelier Doug Krenig from Southern Wines and Spirits and show him why beer pairs with food better than wine. 7:30pm – 8:30pm (303) 440-4324 http://www.averybrewing.com/

Falling Rock Tap House Gets The GABF Week Going

Who has the biggest wall of beer taps in the Mile Hi City? The Falling Rock Tap House, hands down. This place is the holy shrine of suds in downtown Denver. When the Great American Beer Festival comes to town, Falling Rock kicks it up even more with a bunch of special beer releases, beer events and keg tappings each day.

Circle it in red. You gotta visit this Denver brew palace.

Last night, Falling Rock got the week rolling by tapping some wickedly crazy brews from Avery, Odell, Full Sail, Moylan's, Port, Russian River, Lost Abbey, Dry Dock, Great Divide, and Left Hand. The crowd's most popular seemed to be Great Divide's "Les" Claymore Sour Bourbon Barrel Scotch, Lost Abbey's Ten Commandments, Full Sail's Lupulin, Port Brewing's Older Viscosity and Odell Brewings Bourbon Barrel Stout.

Believe me. Each was an amazing brew. The low grade throbbing in my head tells me I must have done my dead level best to down at least a pint of each one.

And, the GABF hasn't officially even started, yet.

---Beer-vents Today---

Left Hand Brewing is tapping 2 year old Widdershins Barley Wine in the tap room of their Longmont Brewery, starting at 10am.

Avery Brewing in Boulder has another special tapping today. There are only two little 5-gallon kegs of Bad Sally '08 left in the world. This is Avery's Salvation Belgian Golden Ale that was aged in a Bookcliff Cabernet Sauvignon barrel and graced with a secondary Brettanomyces fermentation. Today, Avery will tap them both at a special tapping at 11am sharp in the tap room at the brewery.

Enjoy brews from Boulder Beer and other craft brewers at an "Underground" beer tasting at Denver's TAG Restaurant, 1441 Larimer Sreet in downtown Denver, beginning at 2pm.

Boulder Beer's head brewer, Steve Trese, hosts a "Meet the Brewer" Night with a special food menu designed around several Boulder Beers at The Rialto Café on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, starting at 4pm

It's taken Bristol Brewing five years to create their newest Belgium Sour Ale, Skull N' Bones. Grab a pint at the release Party at the brewery in Colorado Springs. The tapping party is at 5pm.

Odell Brewing is hosting a beer tasting at Marlowe's Restaurant on the 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver, beginning at 5pm.

You can do a "meet-n-greet" with Left Hand's brewers in Denver tonight at Duo Restaurant, 32nd and Zuni. $12 per person. 5-7pm

Wynkoop Brewing taps the first keg of Ba-dunkle-donk tonight. Cody Christman, the 2009 Beer Drinker of the Year, helped to put this puppy together. It's a Munich-style dark lager called a dunkles: rich and malty, served at cooler temperature.

Hungry AND Thirsty?

Avery Brewing is at Jax Fish House in downtown Denver tonight, hosting amazing evening at one of the top ten best restaurants in Denver (5280 magazine) $50.

Great Divide Brewing is at Osteria Marco in Denver, pairing their incredible beers with the delicious Italian creations of Chef-proprietor Frank Bonanno. The reception starts at 6:30pm. Dinner starts at 7pm. $40

Oskar Blues Brewing and The Corner Office, 14th and Curtis in downtown Denver are teaming up for a Beer Pairing Dinner tonight. $40. 6-8pm

Denver Beer Fest Goes High Gear Today

The big beer week in Denver has arrived. From now through Sunday, Colorado is awash with great brews and the GABF ain't even started yet.

Here is the official "One Good Brew" beer tour for today.

We start our special beer tour in Boulder at Avery Brewing at 11am. Today, they will tap the final barrel of Reverend, their Belgian Quadrupel aged in an Eagle Rare Whiskey barrel. A little whiskey, a little sour, a lot of love. The special tapping is at 11am sharp in the tap room at the brewery.

Then, we're are back in Denver at Wynkoop Brewing. Saturday, Wynkoop brought back The Obamanator, the beer that made last summer's DNC famous. This afternoon, they roll out another special brew. All Star Ale is a moderately hoppy ale brewed arm in arm with the Brewers Supply Group. Get a free pint between 4 and 5pm.

Ok, let's waddle over to the Falling Rock Tap House, the unofficial HQ during the GABF/Denver Beer Fest. Tonight starting at 5pm, they will tap 10 to 12 keys of some hard to find brews from Avery, Russian River, Lost Abbey, Port Brewing, Left Hand, Odell and more.

It's meet the brewer night at Duo Restaurant in Denver, so we gotta slide by there. Besides the guys who started this "Can A Craft Beer" apocalypse, Oskar Blues will be there. $12 per person. 5-7pm.

It's Durango night at City, O' City in Denver. Ska Brewing is bringing their beers and Peach St. Distillery has the whiskey. 7-9pm.

Now we are hungry, right? Lucky for us there are several really nice beer pairing dinners tonight as some of Denver's finest establishments.

Vine Street Pub's Chef Rob Green and Head Brewer Brian Hutchinson are hosting a 4-course beer pairing dinner tonight at Harry's Space, just east of the pub. 6pm. Get tickets at the Vine Street Pub.

Great Divide Brewing is teaming up with Appaloosa Grill for a three course dinner, followed by a GD brewery tour and live music. It starts at 6:30pm. RSVP events@appaloosagrill.com.

Left Hand Brewing is pairing their great beers with the amazing food of Elway’s at the Ritz in the heart of Denver. For more information, visit their website or call 303-312-3107.

Now that dinner is over, how about something just a little bit naughty? Tonight is Beer and Burlesque! Avery Brewing is going to be bringing their brews to Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret. Twirl it baby! 7pm – 8pm

You are probably asking yourself..."Self? How does he know about all this stuff?" It's simple really. I spend hours and hours toiling over an ever expanding list of beer events happening across the Rocky Mountain West. Then, I stuff it into an email and send it out every couple weeks. "Hop Tips" is from your beer buddies at the Rocky Mountain Brewing News. Get on the list and get your "Hop Tips," FREE! Just Click Here

The Presidential Brew Is "Barrracckkkk!"

The guy who started Denver's Wynkoop Brewing is John Hickenlooper. He is a Democrat. These days, John Hickenlooper doesn't run the Wynkoop. He runs Denver.

He is the Mayor.

When the Democrats desended on Denver last summer for their National Convention, the brew-sters at Wynkoop knew they should create a special beer. They set out to build a beer special enough to carry the future President's name.

Guess what?

The Obamanator back on tap again, just in time for Denver's other big party, The Great American Beer Festival. The Obamanator is a Maibock, a style that is lighter in color and more heavily hopped than other bocks or German beers. We Americans pronouce it "My Bock." This type of beer is usually brewed in the spring. Maibock means May Bock in German. It can also be called a Helles Bock, Heller Bock, or a Frühlingsstarkier (spring strong beer), but I'm getting in way too deep here.

Let's get back to The Obamanator.

At the re-rolling out party, the Wynkoop brew crew grabbed onto the special, one of a kind, "Look Ma, Obama is on a beer tap" handle. Out came a light, yellow colored lager with an almost snow white head. For a second, I thought I was getting Coors by mistake. The difference is the hops. You really get it in The Obamanator. Hops dominates the aroma and is the biggest player in the flavor, too.

That's the beauty of a Maibock.

Look, I know that you are gonna be awash in cool brews when you come to town for the GABF, but do yourself a favor. Save room for The Obamanator from Wynkoop Brewing in Downtown Denver.

This ain't no cash for clunkers deal. It's a really good brew and you know something, Republicans will like it too. They just won't admit it.

Politics is funny that way.

Hang On To Summer With FCB's Big, Black Elephant

Are you ready for winter? Me neither. As I stared into the glass brew cages at the liquor store last night, I wasn't ready to surrender to the fall seasonals or the porters and stouts of winter.

I wanted summer to hang around a little longer. I wanted another nice IPA.

So, I reached for the big, black elephant.

Rocky Mountain IPA
Ft. Collins Brewery
Ft. Collins, CO
ABV: 6.20%
http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/

I have enjoyed this brew before, but haven't taken time to talk about it (shame on me.)

Ft. Collins Brewery's Rocky Mountain IPA is one of my favorite IPAs. It has a nice coppery-orange color with a tight cream colored head that really lasts.

Give it a sniff and you'll get a generous noseful of citrusy hops. Wait a minute. There is something else in here. Yes, its hoppy....but, there is a really nice bready malt aroma, too. That's what I really like about Rocky Mountain IPA. There is loads of hops...pure, wonderful hops. But, there is plenty of bready malt too. It's a great blend that you don't find in some other IPAs.

You taste the blend too. Lots of grassy and citrusy hops and some nice malts, too. The hoppy-ness really lingers after you swallow, giving you a chance to enjoy Rocky Mountain IPA's flavors just a little while after its gone.

This brew is so well done, you could drink it all day. So, you have another and another...and, another. Suddenly, here comes trouble. This brew is blended so well you haven't noticed it carries a 6.2% ABV. Look Out!!! A Big, Black, Elephant Buzz Is Rumbling Right Atcha!!! (maybe that is why they put that thing on the label...)

Overall, Rocky Mountain IPA is a great beer. It's the blend of hops and malts I really like. You will too, if you are lucky enough to live in one of the 19 or 20 states where Ft. Collins Brewery beers are sold.

Go grab yourself one last gulp of summer.

****ON TAP THIS WEEKEND****

All Weekend:
*It's the Telluride Blues and brews festival this weekend. The grand beer tasting is on Saturday. http://www.tellurideblues.com/

*Oktoberfest is Oompahhing in downtown Denver http://www.oktoberfestdenver.com/ and up in Breckenridge. http://www.breckenridgeoktoberfest.com/

Saturday, September 19th:
*Colorado Pork and Hops Challenge continues in Lincoln Park in Grand Junction, CO. http://www.porknhops.com/
*Wynkoop will roll out The Obamanator. This dry hopped Maibock lager was originally brewed for President Obama's historic visit to Denver during the DNC. 5pm. http://www.wynkoop.com/ *Denver's RooBar's Anniversary Party is tonight with Great Divide brews. http://www.greatdivide.com/

Live Music!
*It's Bluez House with Paul Soderman ($5) at Oksar Blues in Lyons.
*Crank up the tunes with Jon Cody on the patio at Left Hand Brewing in Longmont. 5pm. http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

Sunday, September 20th:
*The Zooma Women’s Race Series takes off at 7:30am from Central Park in the Stapleton neighborhood in Denver. After the running, Left Hand Brewing does the pampering. http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

*Vesta Dipping Grill Beer Dinner is tonight with beers from Great Divide Brewing in Denver. http://www.greatdivide.com/

Live Music!
*Scott Von on the patio of Left Hand Brewing in Longmont at 4:30pm http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/
*Felonius Smith acoustic blues band plays Oskar Blues Brewing in Lyons.

Missed the Boat at the Mountain Sun in Boulder at 10pm and Paper Stars plays the Vine Street Pub in Denver at 10pm http://www.mountainsunpub.com/

Ready, Set….BEER!

Here we go. Today begins an orgy of hops and malts. The Denver Beer Fest starts today, Boulder Beer celebrates 30 years of brewing tonight, Pre-GABF events kick into high gear and Oktoberfests start popping out all over.

Here is a list of some of the brew-things to choose from.

*****ON TAP TODAY*****
Tonight at 5pm, Oktoberfest in Downtown Denver begins. This might be the last one. The promoters are pulling out. www.oktoberfestdenver.com/

Tonight at 8pm. The Boulder Beer Throw Down at Boulder Theater on Pearl Street in Boulder. “Colorado’s First Microbrewery” celebrates 30 years of brewing with local music and $2.50 Boulder Beer pints all night long! Attendees will have a chance to win free beer for a year! Live music from Great American Taxi & Oakhurst. Get your tickets at http://www.bouldertheater.com/ or at the Boulder Theater Box Office.

Also at 8pm tonight. Nomis Fashion Show and Fall/Winter Line Release in The Tap Room of Avery Brewing in Boulder. A $15 get you in the door for the fashion show, three Avery brews, munchies from Illegal Pete's and more. http://www.averybrewing.com/

Beer Me!
Today is Free Sample Friday at Great Divide Brewing in Denver. Enjoy up to 8 free samples of Hercules. And Titan. And Hoss. And Yeti. And everything else. 'Nuff said. http://www.greatdivide.com/

Today at 3pm. Firkin Friday at Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora. Grab a pint of their Hazelnut Southern English Brown Ale, but don't be late. FF at Dry Dock is hugely popular and the beer doesn't last. http://www.drydockbrewing.com/

Tonight at 5pm. Firkin Friday at Oskar Blues in Lyons. Always great brews from the OB gang. Tonight, they tap 5 gallons of Ol' Bovinity Milk Chub. Now that sounds interesting. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Tonight at 5pm, Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs Rolls Out a New Brew. Come enjoy their latest, Edge City Octoberfest, a light, toasty malt brew with a crisp finish and a head bonking 7% ABV. The release party includes great German food from the Edelweiss Restaurant. http://www.bristolbrewing.com/

Tonight at 5pm, Trinity Brewing in Boulder Releases Another Great Beer. This time, is their Oak Whiskey Red. http://www.twistedpinebrewing.com/

This Weekend:
It Telluride's Blues and Brews Festival. The Grand Tasting is tomorrow. http://www.tellurideblues.com/