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.

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/

Sawtooth Ale--A Bullseye Brew From Left Hand

Sawtooth Ale
American Style ESB
ABV:4.28%
Left Hand Brewery
Longmont, Colorado
http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

Longmont's Left Hand Brewing Company is not a little, hidden, Colorado brewery anymore. Today, you can find Left Hand brews in half the country and in much of Europe.

There is a reason its grown like that. Left Hand's beer is that good.

Take their Sawtooth Ale, for example. Sawtooth is an ESB, an extra special bitter. Don't worry. Sawtooth Ale and other really good ESBs, are about balance…not bitterness.

Simply put, Sawtooth Ale is amazing. From the first sight of its coppery color and tan colored head, to the last swallow from your pint glass, you will not be disappointed. The crew at Left Hand created a beer that has the perfect blend of malts and hops. It's not a heavy brew. It is light and airy, with just the right carbonation to tickle your mouth.

So, how does it go with food? Well, last night I cooked up an awesome boneless pork loin, stuffed with bacon, garlic and rosemary. Left Hand's Sawtooth Ale was the perfect beer.

I really like Left Hand's Sawtooth Ale. The only problem is that I wish I more.

**************************
Speaking of Left Hand Brewing Company, tickets for their 2009 Boulder County Brew Cruise are almost gone. This is a great way to kick off the GABF a day early. Breakfast, lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and discounts are included as you get the VIP treatment at 4 terrific Boulder County breweries (Boulder Beer, Left Hand, Oskar Blues and Avery.) Tix online at http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

On Tap This Weekend:

This weekend, there is a boatload of brewy good things going on.
*The 2009 Fort Collins Cycling Festival kicks off in grand fashion tomorrow with activities sure to bring a smile to your face and maybe take an inch off your waist. This is truly a fun event! It runs all weekend and one of the sponsors is Oskar Blues, so you know they will be bringing the brews. www.fccyclingfest.com/cruser-rideconcert
*NedFest 2009 is this weekend, too. It's a three-day outdoor music and microbrew festival with camping located in Nederland, just 17 miles west of and 3,000 ft. above Boulder. ww.nedfest.com

Friday, 8/28
*Kick off the weekend with Firkin Friday at Drydock Brewing in Aurora. They will feature a Coffee Porter with 4 oz. of Organic, shade-grown, free trade, hard bean, hand-picked from happy trees, Guatemalan Coffee. http://www.drydockbrewing.com/
*At Crabtree Brewing in Greeley, Friday is Teacher's Friday. Starting tomorrow, teachers get pints for only $2.50 each on Friday. Bring your Teacher ID. http://www.crabtreebrewing.com/
*In Boulder, Twisted Pine Brewery shows off their latest creation with a Saison Rollout Party, 3pm to 9pm in thier Ale House. They just birthed a new blog at Twisted Pint, too.
www.twistedpinebrewing.wordpress.com/

Saturday, 8/29
*Saturday is the Colorado Springs Foam Fest. It's billed as "The Only Beer festival in Downtown Colorado Springs." http://www.oldchicagofoamfest.com/
*Saturday is also Trinity Brewing Company's first birthday. So, while you are in the Springs, put on your pointy birthday hat and stop on by. http://www.trinitybrew.com/

Sunday, 8/30
*Sunday is the San Juan Brewfest in Durango. 18 breweries, including all your four corner favorites, will be there. www.cookmanfood.com/brewfest