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.

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/

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

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/

Want to go to Boulder Beer's 30th birthday party? Tickets are still available

Remember when we used to call them micro breweries. Well, they used to be…well, micro. These days, many of them have outgrown their tiny, little brewery status.

Tomorrow night Colorado's first craft brewery, Boulder Beer, celebrates its 30th birthday and you are invited. The Throw Down bash takes place at the historic Boulder Theater on 14th & Pearl. There will be live music by Great American Taxi featuring Vince Herman from Leftover Salmon, and Oakhurst. They will have crazy prize drawings (you can win BEER FOR A YEAR!), beer celebrations, and of course, pints of Boulder Beer for only $2.50. Tickets are still available and you gotta get them on the Boulder Theater website or at their ticket office. http://www.bouldertheater.com/

****ON TAP****

Ft. Collins Brewery releases their Oatmean Raisin Stout today. It is a benevolient brew. According to the label, "this style of stout, developed in honor of brewer & Colorado State University Alumnus Matt Wensman and all proceeds from sales are being donated to the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, CSU, to be used in teaching the FTEC 460 Brewing Science and Technology course.” It's on tap at the brewery in Ft. Collins. They will also bottle it and sell it by the 6 pack. http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/

Left Hand Brewing is doing another beer tasting. This one is at Proto’s Pizza, in North Boulder, from 6-8p. http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

Hungry? It's beer dinner season. The Avery Brewing/Le Central Restaurant beer dinner is tonight. http://www.averybrewing.com/

It's Great Divide Brewing night at City, O' City. http://www.greatdivide.com/

And, get set, because tomorrow is the beginning of the Denver Beer Fest. It is a celebration of all things beer, wrapped around next week's Great American Beer Festival. I'll post a lot of cool things each day so you can get your fill of this foamy fest that turns all of Denver into a large college keg party. Party on, dude!

A Little Denver Brewery Creates Amazing Mexican Style Lagers

Tomorrow (September 16th) is Mexican Independence Day, the perfect day to celebrate with a cold, crisp Colorado craft beer from Denver's Del Norte Brewing.

Del Norte specializes in Mexican style beers. My favorite is Oracle. It is a wonderful cerveza clara, a light lager with a slightly hoppy taste. Oracle reminds me of Pacifico. You can stick a wedge of lime in it if you want to, but I don't. Oracle is great, just the way it's brewed.

Mañana is the other brew from Del Norte. It is a cerveza oscura, a classic Vienna style lager. It is a darker brew, with a robust, malty taste that is amazing. It may remind you of something like a Negra Modelo, but it is fresher tasting. It doesn't waste time being shipped up from south of the border.

Oracle and Mañana are two really great beers from Denver's Del Norte Brewing. I love them both.

El Grito de Independencia!

*****ON TAP*****
Today (Sept. 15th)
Boulder Beer continues their 30th Anniversary bash by hosting an exclusive beer dinner at the pub at the brewery, starting at 6:30. Brewmaster David Zuckerman hosts this 5 course dinner. They also have another working stiffs brewery tour tonight at 5:30pm.

Tomorrow (Sept. 16th)
It's a special Founder's Night celebration and home brew rally at Boulder Beer in Boulder as their 30th Anniversary celebration continues. There is another 5:30pm working stiffs brewery tour, too.

Avery Brewing is pairing up with Elways at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Denver tomorrow night for another amazing beer dinner. Go grab great grub and bodaious brews at #7's place.

Left Hand Brewing is holding a beer tasting at Zamparelli's Italian Bistro in Lafayette, CO starting at 5:30pm. $10 gets you samples of six of their terrific beers.

Trinity Brewing in Colorado Srpings is releasing a new brew tomorrow. Montagne Brun is a Belgian Dubbel, perfect for the cooler days ahead.

Boulder County Brew Cruise Tickets Still Available? Really?

Is it the bad economy? I dunno.

One of the most fun things to do during the Great American Beer Festival is the Boulder County Brew Cruise. A big bus takes you to 4 different breweries. You get behind the scenes guided tours of Boulder Beer, Avery Brewing, Left Hand Brewing and Oskar Blues. There is plenty of brews along the way, plus breakfast and lunch, plus a cool t-shirt and tasting glass to prove you were there. The right brain thinking gang at Left Hand Brewing organizes it and this year's BCBC is Wednesday, September 23rd. Tickets are $55 and you can get them at http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/. Just click on "shop."

I'll see you on bus #1.

The BCBC is just one of over 100 brew things coming up in the next three weeks.

That's more than 5 a day!

I just wrapped up the latest "Hop Tips" for the Rocky Mountain Brewing News and was amazed to see so many beer-y things.

There are:
52 different craft beer events and festivals
44 beer samplings and release parties
15 beer dinners

All in just the next three weeks.

I am sure the Great American Beer Festival had a lot to do with it. So did all the fun surrounding Boulder Beer's 30th Anniversary. But still, I can't believe there is so much going on, in just the next three weeks.

Watch your email for the details. The next "Hop Tips" should go out in the next day or two. You aren't getting "Hop Tips" every two weeks? If you live anywhere in the Rocky Mountain west, you need "Hop Tips" so you don't miss anything. Click here to sign up.

*****ON TAP*****
Tomorrow, Sept. 11: Tomorrow night is Brew At The Zoo in Denver. There will be more than 40 breweries hanging around so you can sip their best brews while starring at the wildebeest. The zoo uses this event ot help raise cash for their Red Apple Fund for Life-Long Learning. The event goes from 7-10pm. http://www.denverzoo.org/

Chilly Temps Put Me in a Nefarious State of Mind

Night time temperatures are dipping below 40 in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. That means my beer tastes go dark. Instead of the hoppys of summer, I find myself choosing a stout or porter instead.

One of my favorites comes from the Ska Brewing bunch in Durango, CO. Never mind what you will find inside, you could like their Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter just for its packaging. Under its blue wax coated bottle top, its label is guarded by a really pissed off gold crowned skeleton brandishing a bowling pin and ball sceptre. Open it up and pour it into your pint glass and you will find yourself holding a dark, almost midnight black brew topped with a tight, khaki colored head. Nefarious is a rich, bold brew that is loaded with coffee, chocolate and sweet fruit flavors. I am thinking a couple bottles of Nefarious would go perfectly with a big bowl of stew, a thick, chunk of heavy German bread and a roaring fire on a snowy Colorado evening. And, with Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter's powerful 8% ABV, if I drank a couple 22 oz. bombers of this brash brew, I am pretty sure I’d be nefariously off to bed as soon as the dishes were done.

*****On Tap Today*****

Looking for work? The "werk fer us" job fair continues for Oskar Blues' new brew bar and restaurant, The Homemade Liquids & Solids restaurant. 9am-12pm and 3pm-6pm at The Tasty Weasel, 1800 Pike Rd. Longmont, CO. Get an application online at http://www.oskarblues.com/

Avery is teaming up with some of Boulder's best for the Cultiva, Growing Gardens dinner at the Harvest House, in Boulder, CO. 5pm tonight. http://www.averybrewing.com/

Left Hand Brewery hosts the The Indian Peaks Alers, Longmont’s homebrew club, in their tasting room tonight at 6pm. http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

Lonesome Traveler brings bluegrass to Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO. 8pm. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Glove Trucker plays at Odell Brewery, Ft. Collins tonight. http://www.odells.com/

And, speaking of Ft. Collins, the brew bunch at Ft. Collins Brewery are getting firked up. Today they add firkins to their Tap Club Series. First up, a tasty Cherry Cream Ale made with 3 pounds of cherries from Grant Farms CSA. Get it quick, a five gallon firkin is gone freakin' fast. http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/