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.

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

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.

Rings from the Weekend Coffee Table

We had a heady weekend at the Long's Peak Scottish/Irish Festival in Estes Park (CO) last weekend.

Yes, it rained. No wait. That's an understatement. It rained a lot! Several people came up to me, telling me how sorry they were we had to be there the whole time. No need. When you love being Irish as much as I do, spending the weekend in a cold, driving rain storm doesn't bother you a bit. I hardly noticed as I played drums with my friends, Ciorcal Cairde. We are Colorado's newest Irish pipe band and are truely a Circle of Friends.

Besides, everybody knows a Scottish/Irish festival is a drinking sport! There was a lot of Guinness and Harp to be had. Plenty 10 and 15 year old scotch and irish whiskey, too.

No doubt. I am a wee bit foggy this morning.

It was great to get a chance to play drums with Gobs O' Phun while the rain fell and the wind blew. Don't miss an opportunity to hear their Irish harmonies when they come around where you are. Gobs O' Phun are three guys who are phun, phor sure.

I was also very happy to see Oskar Blues at the festival this weekend. I'd have given anything to have been able to grab a gulp of Gordon or a can o' Chubb.

But, NOOOO!

Somebody else had the beer concession, so OB was only allowed to dish out its Cajun….not its canned beer.

While we were piping, drumming and drinking, the Broncos were….well, the Broncos were killing us with their last second pass, tip and win drill. I am officially on the "ohhh, it's going to be a long season" bandwagon.

Happy Birthday to Yoooooouuuu!!!

As the beer world gears up for Denver's Great American Beer Festival (Sept. 24-26), Boulder Beer is getting ready for something else....their birthday!!

They will turn 30 on September 25th.

The celebration kicks off tonight with a Cornhole tournament at the brewery pub. You could win free beer for a year!!!

They have a really cool beer dinner at the brewery pub tomorrow night and special working stiffs brewery tours all week.

Click here for a great story from Boulder's Daily Camera and click here for more information about Boulder Beer's birthday bashes this week.

*****On Tap*****

Tonight (Sept. 15): Besides the Boulder Beer Birthday stuff, Kyle Hollingsworth-Then There's Now plays the Southern Sun Pub in Boulder at 6pm. There is something called an acoustic plug in blues jam and open stage thing at Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons at 7:30 and Wisebird cranks it up at the Mountain Sun in Boulder at 10.

Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs is releasing a brew called Farmhouse Peche Noir today. It's created with dark malts, brown sugar, fresh Palisade's (CO) peaches and pumpkin. Wow...that's a lot of stuff in one pint. Trinity Brewing is also kicking off Soul Runners, their brewery running club, tonight at 6pm. From "never ran" to "do it every day," there is a short/flat 4.25 mile route and a longer 8.3 mile circuit. Go exercise, then you can quaff your fill.

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/

New Belgium's Newest Seasonal....Hoptober

Watch for it! It is Hoptober Golden Ale. It's is New Belgium's newest seasonal.

Hoptober is brewed with 5 hops and 4 malts, which NBB says gives us a nice medium bodied ale with a creamy mouthfeel. They say they used Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette and Glacier hops and pale and wheat malt and mashed it with rye and oats.

This is suppose to be a "Hop Lover’s dream within the Belgian idiom, a bonfire of citrus notes, fruity cheers and a bold finale."

Whoa! Sounds very interesting!

Let me know how you like it!

*****In The News*****
Nice article from NPR on the success of canned craft beer. Oskar Blues Brewing in Lyons, CO was the first brewery in the country to put their craft brews in cans. That was 7 years ago. It's great to see the rest of the country getting in step. Pass me a Chubb, will ya?

*********On Tap Today******
Speaking of Oskar Blues, they have a pig roast going today, Noon to 6pm. Live music from The Dan Treanor Band starts at 9pm. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Left Hand Brewery's Summer Concert Series continues today at the tap room in Longmont. This afternoon, it's bluegrass with Backwoods Galaxy, starting at 5pm. Tickets are still available for their Boulder County Brew Cruise, Wednesday, 9/23. http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

The Boulder Beer Garden is a great hangout at the Boulder Hometown Fair which continues today. http://www.boulderbeer.com/

It's the Tour de Fat at the home of the Tour de Fat today. Ride your schwinn over to New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins. http://www.newbelgium.com/

Grab a Breckenridge brew today at the Four Corners Folk Festival--Reservoir Park--Pagosa Springs, CO. http://www.folkwest.com/

And if you must, A taste of Colorado rolls on in downtown Denver through Monday. http://www.atasteofcolorado.com/

Boulder Beer's Dinner at the Brewery...You Have A Date With Delish!

This is gonna be a blast! 4-courses of YUM with amazing brews from Colorado's First Microbrewery. I can't see the downside...can you?

You gotta get your tickets in advance...and, don't wait. This sucka is gonna sell out for sure. www.boulderbeer.com

What A Weekend For Us Beer Lovers.

Ah, Labor Day....one of the biggest weekends of the year for bodacious brew stuff to enjoy. So, let's get to it.

Tonight, (Friday Night, Sept. 4th), you can kick off the weekend with equal parts folk, country, blues and bluegrass. The Kort McCumber Band performs at Oskar Blues in Lyons. The show starts aboout 9 and it'll cost ya 5-bucks to get in. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Close your eyes and you might think you are hearing Joni Mitchell and the Counting Crows, but Jill Cohn has a sound all her own. Catch her free concert tonight on the Patio at Carver Brewing in Durango. It starts at 8:30pm. http://www.carverbrewing.com/

Speaking of the Four Corners, this is the weekend for the The Four Corners Folk Festival. Grab yourself some great Breckenridge brew and enjoy the live tunes. It happens all weekend at Reservoir Hill Park in Pagosa Springs, CO http://www.folkwest.com/

The Boulder Hometown Fair is this weekend, too. You might wanna chill out in the Boulder Beer beer garden with a Cold Hop or Mojo. http://www.boulderbeer.com/

It's the Taste of Colorado in downtown Denver this weekend. Go people watch, then head over to Great Divide, or Breckenridge, or Wynkoop, or the Falling Rock Tap House and wash that turkey leg taste out of your mouth with a good brew. http://www.atasteofcolorado.com/

Saturday, (Sept. 5th)
It's Fat Tire Time! Head to the New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins for the Tour de Fat. I just wish I'd kept my old Schwinn Rocket. http://www.newbelgium.com/

Oskar Blues in Lyons pigs out! They have a pig roast going Saturday and Sunday. And, after you've porked yourself on Saturday, hang around for The Dan Treanor Bandis free concert starting at 9pm. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Sunday (Sept. 6th)
Beer and Yoga? Sure, why not! Robyn, The Bristol Beer Ninja, leads a yoga session at Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs on Sunday. Don't sweat it...it is guy friendly, too. $10 gets you the session, bottled water and a post yoga beer. BYOM (bring your own mat) http://www.bristolbrewing.com/

Didn't make it yesterday? That's ok, the Oskar Blues pig roast in Lyons, CO continues today, 2-6pm. Then, enjoy country AND western when Halden Wofford & The Hi-Beams brings their honky tonk out starting at 6pm. http://www.oskarblues.com/

DVS 3 plays at The Vine Street Pub in Denver. 10pm. Catch Hot Club Sandwich at the Mountain Sun Pub in Boulder. http://www.mountainsunpub.com/

Monday, Sept. 7th (Labor Day)
Come celebrate the labors of Doug and the Odell Brewing when they roll out their Bourbon Barrel Stout. The keg tapping and tasting starts at 1pm in at Odell Brewing in Ft. Collins. http://www.odells.com/

Another new brew is out. New Belgium Brewery just announced that Hoptober Golden Ale, their new autumn brew is coming out. This puppy is described as “...a Hop Lover’s dream within the Belgian idiom.” http://www.newbelgium.com/

Whoa.

Redpoint Ale--Something From Avery That Is Not A Big, Bold Brew (and, that's ok.)

Redpoint Ale
American Amber Ale
ABV: 5.1%
Avery Brewing Co.
Boulder, Colorado

http://www.averybrewing.com/

Some people thing Avery's brewers are like mad beer scientists. They picture them huddled all night in a mountain top laboratory. While lightning flashes outside, these white coated beer geniuses spend their whole lives creating monster brews.

Maybe that is why some people thump Redpoint Ale. Maybe they can not get past the fact that this great brew from Avery does not share the boldness of its monster beer brothers.

Big mistake.

Redpoint Ale looks great with its deep, reddish color. Avery calls it an amber ale, but you will notice that this brew's color is darker than many of the other ambers out there. It's taste was all malt at first, but the Avery gang had a surprise in store. As this brew warmed a bit, I started tasting it's citrusy hops, too. It was a great blend of both worlds.

I am a big fan of Avery. They brew some amazingly complex brews. Redpoint Ale shows another side of this Boulder brewery. It is not as bold as many of its sisters and brothers, but it is a favorite of mine.

In fact, when somebody asks "what's a good beer to start exploring craft beer with?" I suggest two...Fat Tire, of course and Redpoint Ale from Avery.

On Tap This Week Around the Rocky Mountain West:

Today, September 1:
Salt Lake Brewing Co celebrates its 20th anniversary at its Squatters Pubs in Salt Lake City and Park City, UT. with a new brew, Hops Rising, a double IPA that weighs in at a whopping 9% ABV and a 20th anniversary special reserve Oktoberfest brew in a commemorative bottle. http://www.squatters.com/

Catch Kris Hansen live at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs, CO, starting at 7pm. http://www.trinitybrew.com/

Wednesday, September 2:
It's local band night at Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO with Steamboat Zephyr & Dave Gerard. 8pm. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Thursday, September 3:

Catch another Great Garden Escape Concert at the Idaho Botanical Gardens, Boise ID. The McCleary Band brings their unique country folk with a splash of rock and blues. Highlands Hollow Brewhouse brings the food and beer. 6pm-9pm http://www.highlandshollow.com/

Heidi and The Rhythm Rollers bring their bluesabilly to Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO. 8pm. http://www.oskarblues.com/

Catch Chris Daniels and The Kings tonight at the Boulder Beer Tent at Rhythm of the Rails in Nywot, CO. 6pm. On the patio at Boulder Beer, it's Train Back Home. 5pm. http://www.boulderbeer.com/

Johnny Shoes plays the TableRock Brewpub and Grill in Boise, ID 6pm-9pm. http://www.tablerockbrewpub.com/

Friday, September 4:

It's another Firkin Friday at Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora, CO. This Friday, they are rolling out an Engligh Toffee ESB! Don't wait to late. Firkin Friday brews almost always disappear before closing time. http://www.drydockbrewing.com/

It's equal parts folk, country, blues and bluegrass. The Kort McCumber Band performs at Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO. Show Starts at 9. $5 cover. http://www.oskarblues.com/

You might think of Joni Mitchell and the Counting Crows, but Jill Cohn has a sound all her own. Catch her free concert tonight on the Patio at Carver Brewing in Durango, CO. 8:30pm. http://www.carverbrewing.com/

Travis Ward, the "Original Idaho Fly Fishing Folk Singer” and his band Hillfolk Noir plays at Portneuf Valley Brewing in Pocatello, ID, starting at 8:30pm. http://www.portneufvalleybrewing.com/