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.

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/

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