Estes Park Brewery – Estes Park, CO

Posted on February 22, 2015 by educyber

History of the Brewery:
The Estes Park Brewery is located in Estes Park, CO minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park, The Stanley Hotel, and many other tourist attractions. I had to opportunity to visit Estes Park Brewery after a day of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, and was impressed with the selection, and quality of the beer. The location of the brewery makes it a perfect destination for anyone that enjoys a beer after hiking, biking, or simply taking in the scenery in the area.

In 1993 Gordon Knight started High Country Brewery in Boulder, Co. That same year Ed Grueff opened the Event Center in Estes Park. In 1994 Ed and Gordon decided to combine the two businesses and the Estes Park Brewery was born. The original Brewing equipment which consisted of a 4 1/4 Barrel Brewhouse was moved to Estes. For the first summer the Event Center kept the main floor as a stage and dance floor. For the first summer the Estes Park Brewery offered four beers: Estes Park Porter, Estes Park Renegade, Longs Peak Raspberry Wheat and Estes Park Pale Ale.

In the fall of 1994, Gordon Knight decided to sell his half of the business. When Gordon left, Eric Bratrud took over as the head Brewer. The Brewery also expanded to a 14 BBL Brewhouse and moved out onto the main floor where is now located.

In 1995 the Estes Park brewery started packaging their beers in 12 oz bottles, which expanded their market. By this time they added a number of beers including Trail Ridge Red, Estes Park Gold, Stinger Wild Honey Wheat and Samson Stout. 1995 was also the first year of the Best of the West Brewfest held in the Brewery parking lot. Since ’95 we’ve continued to evolve both in our restaurant and with our brewing operations.

About the Brewery:
In 2003 Tyler Lemirande and Eric Bratrud took over as owners. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tyler and talking craft beer during my visit to the brewery. Tyler is a very nice guy that enjoys providing fresh craft beer to tourists, and locals alike. The atmosphere at Estes Park Brewery is unique compared to many of the breweries I’ve been to in the Denver area. Unlike many of the breweries around Denver, Estes Park Brewery has a restaurant with a pub-style food menu, a full bar, arcade games, and tons of seating. Due to its unique setup, Estes Park Brewery is a great place for the whole family to visit and enjoy a meal, or a fun gathering place for those only interested in getting a locally brewed beer.

The beer at Estes Park Brewery is comprised of quite a few different styles. There’s definitely a beer for all different types of beer drinkers available at the brewery. One of the really great things about the brewery is that visitors can try samples of different beers on the main floor before they head upstairs and order a beer. I’ve never been to another brewery that advertised free samples to visitors. Estes Park Brewery’s approach to samples allows visitors to try new styles of beer without buying a beer they don’t like. While I was trying a few samples, I overheard a lady say “she never tried anything like that, and it was really good!” As someone that’s grown to love beer in all different styles, I think it’s awesome to have a brewery promote trying different beers until you find one you like (up to 4 samples are free).

Beer List:
The list pictured below is the list of regular beers you will typically find at Estes Park Brewery. My favorite beer at the brewery was actually a seasonal, and one that can be found at The Stanley Hotel, the The Shining Pale Ale (in honor of Stephen King’s The Shining). From EPBrewery.com, “The Shining Pale Ale is brewed with rare British All-Star pale malt to give the beer a full body and unique flavor. We hop with Amarillo and Cascade hops. Of course this beer is named after the book “The Shining” by Stephen King. We don’t guarantee clairvoyance after after a pint or two we just hope you enjoy the experience.” I really enjoyed the pale ale, and look forward to the next chance I get to drink it.

The two top sellers at Estes Park Brewery are the Stinger Honey Wheat, and Bear Lake Raspberry Wheat. Both of these are great beers for those that enjoy lighter beers without much hoppiness. Of the two, I really liked the Stinger Honey Wheat, which is brewed with local Colorado honey. The honey taste is subtle and the beer is a really smooth, drinkable beer that is not overly sweet.

I want to thank Tyler Lemirande for taking the time to sit down with me and talk craft beer. I had a great time visiting Estes Park Brewery, and look forward to my next visit. I highly recommend visiting the brewery to anyone that’s able to make it to Estes Park. There’s a lot to see and do around Estes Park, and stopping in at the brewery should be on your list!

Estes Park Brewery
470 Prospect Village Dr.
Estes Park, C0 80517
970.586.5421
www.epbrewery.com

Gunbarrel Brewing Company’s first release party: January 24, 2015

Posted on January 22, 2015 by educyber

Join Gunbarrel Brewing Company for their first tapping party at Grandma’s House on Broadway in Denver, Colorado on January 24 at 4:30. Gunbarrel Brewing will be pouring a limited release of Salt Lick Gose and Rosemerry Pale Ale. Salt Lick is our interpretation of Gose (pronounced “Gose-uh”), an ancient unfiltered wheat beer from Germany. With a cloudy yellow color and refreshing lemony twang, Salt Lick is brewed traditionally with coriander seeds, and has a pleasant sharpness from the addition of salt. The finish is dry, tangy, and effervescent. Rosemerry is Gunbarrel’s signature pale ale and boasts a flowery hop character, with hints of citrus and pine and a crisp finish. Dry hopped with fresh organic rosemary, this brew evokes memories of merriment.

The Tony Guacamole food truck will be there serving up tasty grub.

Grandma’s House
1710 South Broadway
Denver, CO 80210

About Gunbarrel Brewing Company
Gunbarrel Brewing Company is a gypsy brewery based in Boulder. Crafted with passion by brewer Jamie Fox and his wife Marie, Gunbarrel Brewing Company is to be located in Boulder County, Colorado. While we seek out the perfect home for our brewery, we are gypsy brewing at a partner brewery in Denver. This relationship provides the creative freedom and facilities to brew beers that we can share with you until we have a taproom of our own.

Jamie has been brewing for the past fifteen years, and earned a Ph.D in neuroscience along the way. Marie has a background in marketing, hospitality and web development. Together, they share a passion for exploring the nuances and endless possibilities of craft beer.

We chose the name Gunbarrel for our brewery to pay homage to the rugged independent freedom of the West, and to honor the little slice of it that we call home. We look forward to pouring you a pint!

FATE Brewing Company Reveals Plans For Expansion

Posted on November 16, 2014 by educyber

Project To Include New Barrel Aging Room, Improved Packaging Facilities and Nearly 100% Production Capacity Increase

The project, scheduled to break ground December 2014, is announced more than two months before the brewery’s second anniversary. FATE Brewing Company owner Mike Lawinski states, “We knew that increased production capacity would be a goal at some point down the road. Never did we imagine it could happen so quickly but we have hit capacity and we need more space to keep up.”

In addition to nearly doubling fermentation space the plans reveal FATE Brewing Company’s recent acquisition of 1600 38th Street, Unit 103 in Boulder, Colorado. The previous home of Boulder Light, this approximately 2500 square foot space will undergo a remodel resulting in a new barrel aging room and improved packaging facility all right next door to the brewery’s existing property.

The remodel project is currently in its design phase and construction should wrap early 2015. Lawinski states “The goal of the project started simply: brew more beer and get our beer into more people’s hands but we are excited because the space will really allow us to do much more than that.” Increasing production capacity, optimizing packaging processes, enhancing packaged goods product portfolio and driving product innovation will all be other beneficial outcomes of the expansion, according to the owner.

In addition to bourbon, tequila and fresh charred American oak barrels we look forward to housing wine and other spirit barrels in a variety of sizes. Look forward to new (and more) barrel aged products from the brewery in the near future. The plan lays out new bottling, canning and labeling facilities/equipment for the burgeoning brewery while the brew house investment includes the addition of two 30-barrel fermenters, one 10-barrel fermenter and two 3-barrel fermenters.

FATE Brewing Company has been named Colorado’s Best New Brewery (RateBeer.com, 2014), one of 10 New U.S. Breweries to Watch from D.C. to California (Bon Appétit, 2014), Boulder’s Best New Bar (Daily Camera, 2014) and Boulder’s Best New Restaurant (Daily Camera, 2013). The brewery was also recognized this year for having the nation’s best Kölsch style ale at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival®, taking home Gold in the German-Style Kölsch category for their Laimas Kölsch Style Ale.

Fort Collins Symphony Presents: Bach & Beer

Posted on November 8, 2014 by educyber

Fort Collins Symphony Presents: Bach & Beer
Fort Collins is widely recognized as an epicenter for great beer and a thriving music scene. Experience the best of both worlds with an evening of live music exploring the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and cold, delicious beer from Fort Collins’ own Horse & Dragon Brewing Company.

When: November, 13th at 7:00 PM

Where: Horse & Dragon Brewing Company, 124 Racquette Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524

How Much: Cost: $25 Advance/ $30 Door

How to get tickets: http://www.fcsymphony.org/events/bachandbeer.html

Colorado Native Releases New IPL (India Pale Lager)

Posted on August 20, 2014 by educyber

AC Golden Brewing Company, the makers of Colorado Native Lager, announced this week they have a new addition to their Colorado beer lineup, Colorado Native IPL. IPL is an India Pale Lager, which is a newer style, and not seen very often. Colorado Native IPL is similar to an IPA (India Pale Ale) with a big hop flavor, and aroma. The main difference is the IPL is brewed with a lager yeast, which makes for an extremely smooth, balanced taste. You still get the hops you would in a typical IPA, but the bitterness is really toned down. I’m an IPA drinker, and found IPL to be a really good beer that is perfect for someone wanting to try something hoppy, but doesn’t like too much bitterness. Colorado Native IPL is a full bodied, hoppy, All-Colorado beer that I highly recommend trying.
There are many beer drinkers that say Colorado Native is simply a Coors product in flashy new packaging. I’ve been lucky enough to visit AC Golden twice – where I met the small staff, and brewers that brew the beer. Colorado Native is brewed in a small brewery within the Coors facility in Golden, however the production is on a very small scale in comparison. Colorado Native is unique in the fact that it’s brewed with only Colorado ingredients. Due to only being brewed with Colorado water, hops, barley, and the oldest yeast strain in the state, AC Golden can only produce a small amount of beer. Colorado does not have a big enough hop output to be able to produce Colorado Native in the large quantities of a Coors Light, or Coors Banquet. So for those of you that think Colorado Native is just another Coors product, I hope you realize that is not the case. While the beers are held to the same high quality standards as Coors, Colorado Native is produced by a small, passionate staff that puts a lot of love into what they do. For more of a background on AC Golden, check out the details from my first visit, here.

I visited with AC Golden’s President and Co-Founder, Glenn ‘Knip’ Knippenberg, Brewer, Jeff Nickel, and Marketing Consultant, Aimee Valdez. I spent a couple hours finding out about Colorado Native IPL, touring the brewery, and trying IPL at different stages in the brewing process. The team at AC Golden is as excited about their product as any brewery I’ve featured so far. From using only Colorado ingredients, to taking on a newer style of beer, the team at AC Golden impressed me with their genuine passion for what they do, and the commitment to making an excellent product that is only available in Colorado.

Colorado Native IPL Info:

Hops: Chinook, Centennial, Cascade, Nugget, Crystal
Malts: Moravian 2-row Pale and Munich
IBUs: 62
ABV: 6.5%
All ingredients are grown in Colorado
Bottles are manufactured in Wheat Ridge, CO
Colorado Native Lager and Colorado Native IPL are only sold in Colorado
Colorado Native provides incentives for Colorado farmers to produce hops. In doing so, they helped create a market for Colorado-grown hops and a new category of agriculture.

For more information, visit www.ColoradoNative.com

Front Range Hop Company: Supporting Growth of Colorado Hops

Posted on July 19, 2014 by educyber

Front Range Hop Company is a family owned and operated hop processor and wholesaler Located in Longmont, Colorado. Front Range provides a number of services both to local hop growers and breweries. Their mission is to support the growth of the hop industry in Colorado by helping to facilitate farm expansion and advocating for the broader use of local hops by local breweries. The team at Front Range Hop Company has a passion for local hops and craft beer, and hope to be a valuable resource to the growing Colorado craft beer industry.

From www.FRHops.com, “At The Front Range Hop Company, we are dedicated to supporting the local Colorado hop producing industry. We provide numerous processing services to remove barriers for existing as well as new hop growers. We also provide a single point of contact for brewers that are looking to source quality and consistent hops for their beers. Above all we believe in the quality of our products and that high quality ingredients make high quality beer.”

For Breweries:

Consistency of Product: You can have peace of mind that no matter what local farm you hops came from that they have been handled correctly. All of our hops go through the same process so you can be sure of a quality and consistent product every time you order through us

Single Point of Contact: Looking for more than one type of local hop can be difficult and time consuming. Who grows that locally? How can I get in touch with them? Do they have any left? We partner with many farms and are always looking to expand our network. Because of this we can be your single point of contact for all your local hop needs. Even if we don’t have a particular variety we will always attempt to point you in the right direction

High Quality: We have made investments in state of the art processing equipment to ensure the highest quality in the hops we process. We do not allow our hops to exceed 100F at any point in our processing, this includes our drying and pelletizing processes. By keeping the temperature of the hops below 100f we preserve volatile compounds that are normally destroyed in large scale hop processing. This results in a better quality product and fresher more tasty beer

Laboratory Testing Each hop variety from each farm is professionally laboratory tested by a independent third party lab. This takes the guesswork out of working with hops of unknown alpha/beta levels. each package is marked with the type, farm of origin as well as all laboratory findings

Anticipated 2014 Crop Through our local hop farm partnerships we anticipate having the following variety available after the 2014 harvest

Cascade
Chinook
Crystal
CTZ
Willamette
Mt Hood
Tettnanger
Nugget

Very Limited Avaliability

Glacier
Kirin II
Sorachi Ace

For Hop Growers:

Professional Picking:
We utilize a local Wolf Picker to professional pick our bines. This service takes a bit or coordination depending on when your crop is ready but once that is done all you need to do is cut down your bines and let us handle all the picking work for you. When it is this easy maybe you can handle planting another couple acres?

Drying:
After our hops are picked they arrive at our facility. There they are cataloged and loaded into our custom oasts (dryers). Unlike some large scale commercial drying operations that will dry at temperatures exceeding 140f we use minimal heating and never above 100f. This produces a higher quality hop and preserves volatile compounds that are lost at higher temperatures. Our oasts are designed to dry a total of 4000lbs of wet hops to 8% moisture in a 24 hour period. The smallest amount of one type of hop that can be dried is 50lbs (wet weight)

Milling and Pelletizing:
After drying hops can be used as leaf hops or further processed into pellets. Our custom Hammer Mill and Pellet Mill are professionally made in Colorado. We pelletize under active liquid nitrogen cooling to preserve the quality of the finished product. At no time in the processing do we allow the temperature of the hops to exceed 100f, again preserving volatile compounds and providing the highest quality product. Our Pellet mill will pelletize roughly 40lbs of material an hour

Packaging:
We utilize state of the art modified atmosphere packaging technology. This process removes all air in the packaging and replaces it with nitrogen. Combining this technique with high quality 7mil Mylar bags provides optimal shelf life and ensures a high quality product. We can package in anything from 3oz packages to 5lbs packages to fit your needs

Sales and Distribution:
Through our contacts at many local breweries we can assist in finding a home for your crop. Many times we receive calls looking for certain varieties. We can help with the transaction and delivery of your finished hops

Pay In Hops Program:
We know that for most farms around the harvest time cash can be tight. Our Pay in Hops Program aims to help with this cash flow problem. We allow our customers to pay some or all of their processing bills with their finished hops.

For Homebrewers:

Starting in 2014 we will be packaging some of our crop in 3oz packages of pellets for home brewers. you will be able to order here through our website as well as in some Colorado home brew stores. If you haven’t made a locally hoped IPA yet plan on doing one this year!

Anticipated 2014 Crop: Through our local hop farm partnerships we anticipate having the following varieties available after the 2014 harvest

Cascade
Chinook
Crystal
Willamette
Mt Hood
Tettnanger
Nugget

Front Range Hop Company
1240 Ken Pratt Blvd, Unit 9B
Longmont, CO 80501
info@frhops.com

2nd Annual Fermentation Festival: August 9-10, 2014

Posted on July 17, 2014 by educyber

The 2nd Annual Fermentation Festival Descends Upon Denver On August 9th and 10th at Denver’s Highlands Masonic Center. Fermentation Experts from across Colorado will gather to share their knowledge with the eager ears of attendees at the 2nd Annual Fermentation Festival & Market. The event will feature unlimited tastings from craft brewers, distillers, sauerkraut makers, Kombucha brewers and much more. Education is the main goal of the organizers with home fermentation classes offered on every subject from lacto-fermented veggies to how to make sake. Nowhere else will you find this many fermentation gurus gathered at one event.

This is not your typical festival. The event is open to all ages with fun activities for kids as well. Debuting this year is a fermentation “petting zoo” where kids will be encouraged to experience fermentation with all their senses – think Halloween where grapes turn into eyeballs and spaghetti noodles act as worms. Back this year is the ever popular pickle toss, where contestants will fling, toss and throw pickles into their teammates’ mouths from varying distances for a chance to win serious bragging rights, a gallon of pickles and $50 cash. “Fermentation is fun and we want the general public to gain insight to this vast and ever expanding world. We’re talking about a process that has been around since the beginning of time and is one of the oldest forms of food preservation,” says Mike Burns, one of the festival organizers.

Guests from all walks of life will have the opportunity to eat, drink and experience fermentation at its finest. This year’s event will benefit First Descents, a non-profit who offers young adult cancer survivors and fighters a free outdoor adventure experience designed to help them climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same.

Event Details:
When: August 9th and 10th 2014 General Admission 3:30-7:30pm, VIP 2:30-7:30pm Where: Highlands Masonic Center, 3550 Federal Blvd, Denver Co 80211
Tickets: GA – $35 Advance, $40 Door, VIP – $60 Advance, $65 Door Tickets and more info can be found online at www.fermentationfestival.com

Promo Video: http://vimeo.com/76070571
Participant Info Sheet (For Brewers): Fermentation Fest Participant Sheet

Golden Craft Beer Train – Saturday, August 9th

Posted on July 14, 2014 by educyber

Rides, Samples & Sounds

Railroads have been transporting beer out of Golden for decades. Some of Colorado’s best brews have been placed in refrigerator cars, known as “reefers,” and delivered throughout the United States.

Celebrate the history and heritage of beer in Golden and Colorado at the Golden Craft Beer Train on Saturday, August 9 from 12:00 to 4:00PM.

Sample beer from craft breweries, grab a bite to eat from local food trucks, and enjoy live music as you explore the Museum’s 15-acre railyard. Don’t miss your opportunity to catch a ride behind the historic steam locomotive in vintage passenger cars at the Colorado Train Museum!

Breweries include:
Barrels & Bottles Brewery
Cannonball Creek Brewing Company
Brewery Rickoli
AC Golden Brewing Company

Food Trucks include:
Gusto’s
B&B Smokehouse Meats

Special Event Pricing Applies:
Museum Members: Free
Nonmembers: $15
Seniors: $10
Order Event Admission Online Today

**Participation in Beer Sampling is an additional $10 at the door. Must be 21 or older to enter the beer sampling area.**

38 State Brewing Company – Littleton, CO

Posted on June 8, 2014 by educyber

38 State Brewing Company is our first featured brewery in Littleton, CO, and they’re also the first brewery/taproom located in Littleton. The name 38 State Brewing is in honor of Colorado becoming the 38th state to join the union in 1876. I had the opportunity to get some background information on 38 State Brewing from Brett Blazek, VP of Marketing, and one of the 4 part owners of the brewery.

38 State Brewing started much like everyone else (homebrewers), and decided to take their passion for brewing to the next level after friends and family gave them ample amounts of positive feedback about their product. Initially they began brewing as a hobby, never thinking it would escalate to anything more than that, but friends can be quite persuasive, so they decided to take 38 State to the next level and open their very own brewery.

38 State Brewing is currently located at 8071A S. Broadway in Littleton, which makes them the very first brewery/taproom in the city. 38 State is strictly a brewery, so they don’t have the capability of preparing any food on site (like the Old Mill Brewery/Restaurant – also in Littleton). The team at 38 State is quite excited to be labeled with the distinction as Littleton’s first true brewery/taproom, and look to cater to those locals who have desperately wanted a place to call their own. The brewery and taproom is located just north of C-470 & Broadway.

The four owners of 38 State Brewing are: Mike and Kim Keating, Jason Virzi, and Brett Blazek. When you take a married couple, high school friends, and literal neighbors… and put all of that together, along with their backgrounds (Mike – Master Gardener, Kim – CFO of a payment processing company, Jason – Aviation Project Manager, and Brett – a humble school teacher), you get the heart and soul of 38 State Brewing Company! 38 State Brewing is glad they could come together and give Littleton something that it has been missing, and hope they will continue to do so for decades to come. In my visit with Brett Blazek, it was evident there is a ton of passion behind what is being done at 38 State Brewing. Great beer, good friends, and a fun place to get together is how I would describe what the owners of 38 State have created.

38 State is about as small as a nano-brewery can get. The brewery is currently running a one-barrel system made by Ruby Street Brewing (out of of Fort Collins). Head brewer, Mike Keating, along with two assistant brewers put in long hours the one-barrel system to ensure that 38 State can meet the demand of its patrons. 38 State opened to the public on May 10, 2014 and had such a positive turnout that they actually went light on a couple of their beers due to demand being so high. This was great news for the brewery, but meant that they would have to crank up the production schedule.

38 State Brewing’s logo – spray painted mural in the taproom

The team at 38 State is quite fond of their little one-barrel system as it allows them to not only produce their staple beers, but gives them the freedom to try new things, recipes, ideas, etc. knowing that if lightning doesn’t strike, they’re only out one barrel as opposed to twenty. This freedom and creative approach is what they began with back in the garage while homebrewing, and they continue to keep the same thought process day in and day out. One of the many things that 38 State is proud of is the truly “hands-on” approach to what they do. According to Brett Blazek, “Each day our grains are milled by hand, and that hands-on process doesn’t leave until that beer is poured into a guest’s glass. Milling, steeping, stirring, transferring, pouring… it’s all done (by hand) by our fantastic staff who understands what it takes to make a great pint of craft brew.”

The Beer: In addition to the list below, 38 State plans to constantly introduce new styles to keep their beer selection fresh and different. Since their opening they’ve also showcased a small batch of Broadway IPA (a traditional IPA), and have two others debuting within 10 days time. As Brett Blazek puts it, “Again, we have this creativity per our one-barrel system, and we couldn’t be more excited to give the people something new time and time again.”

One thing I think is really cool about 38 State Brewing is that they’re still figuring out which beers are the most popular. Since they’ve only been open about a month, they’re taking feedback from patrons to figure out which beers should become a staple. Visitors of 38 State have the distinct opportunity to help shape future beer offerings by trying different beers, and providing feedback to the staff. It’s pretty cool that the people coming in to try a fresh craft beer, may also be the reason one of 38 State’s beers becomes a local favorite.

38 State’s current stable of beers consists of a little something for everyone. Keep in mind that with the current system, styles will be rotating frequently. The beer listed below may not be available tomorrow. The good thing is that overall, 38 State brews awesome beer, so you’ll be able to pick at least 1-2 that you’ll really enjoy when you visit.

Beer List:

Golden Lemon-Honey Wheat: This beer is created using fresh lemons, organic lemon juice and local Colorado honey. This American style Wheat beer has a crisp and refreshing taste that will help you get through the dog days of summer – or any time of year! Not too tart, not too sweet, we dare you to have just one! ABV 5.4%
ColorAmber Amber Ale: This American style Amber Ale focuses heavily on the special blend of both Munich and Biscuit malts which create a flavorful beer that is unbelievably drinkable. Add to that the pairing of Fuggle and Willemette hops, and you have an Amber Ale complete with superb taste and feel, making it a truly well-balanced session beer. ABV 4.3%
Great Plains Scottish Ale: This ale undergoes an extensive boil to help achieve its remarkable flavor and crisp bronze color. The high levels of fermentable sugar in conjunction with the gentle hop balance make this beer a special blend of savory malts and rich aromas that is sure to satisfy. ABV 6%
Two Buttes Double IPA: A brew for serious hop heads! This robust and genuinely flavorful Double IPA is inspired by the old world style of brewing, making it a favorite amongst beer drinkers. A strong Double IPA, this beer endures a lengthy boiling process to guarantee maximum flavor from its special blend of grains. This recipe’s meticulous attention to detail of both malt and hops creates a “beast” of a beer. ABV 9.2%
Chocolate Stout: This is a very creative recipe inspired by both classic English and Irish stouts. We use an awesome blend of chocolate and coffee malts. This stout is lightly hopped to complement the roasted flavors unleashed during the boiling process which leads to an easy drinking beer. ABV 6.5%
Littleton Kolsh: This one’s brand new! We’ll have a description and ABV soon!
Chocolate Oatmeal Stout: Chocolaty, a little smokey from the oatmeal, and a good choice for fans of stouts.
Dunkelweizen: Dark in color, smooth, refreshing beer for a hot day. Well, any day really.
Lunch Pale Ale: A great summer Pale Ale with a subtle hoppy flavor. This is a great beer for someone that may have avoided hoppy beers in the past. Try this one out, and you will see what you’ve been missing.
ESB: A smooth ESB, with a subtle bitterness.
IPA: We didn’t try this one, but it will be back soon.

After visiting 38 State Brewing, and sitting down with part owner, Brett Blazek, I can say without a doubt that beer drinkers will enjoy visiting the first brewery and taproom in Littleton. The atmosphere is inviting and the feel of the taproom is unique. 38 State is located in an area that is predominantly automotive. There are repair shops, dealerships, and other automotive business close by. The building they’re located in is actually an old garage that has been revamped, and now has the feel of a modern cabin. There’s nice woodwork on the walls, flights are served on hand-crafted wooden serving trays, and the old garage doors open to give the taproom an outdoor feel. Of course, if you want to sit outside, there is a nice patio in the front as well. It’s fitting that 38 State opened in an old garage, as that is how the owners began brewing together years ago. I look forward to seeing the growth of 38 State Brewing, and will definitely be heading back to try more of their outstanding Colorado craft brews. Check them out at the link below.

38 State Brewing Company LLC
8071A S. Broadway
Littleton, CO 80122
760-220-8580

Ironworks Brewery & Pub – Lakewood, CO

Posted on June 5, 2014 by educyber

Ironworks Brewery & Pub is located in Lakewood, CO on Alameda Pkwy. Ironworks sits on the eastern edge of Green Mountain, a popular area for mountain bikers and hikers, and is only a 15 minute drive from Downtown Denver. Ironworks has been brewing craft beer for nearly 25 years, or as they describe themselves, “Suppliers of great beer to all beer drinkers of Lakewood, Colorado, since 1989” (www.Ironworkspub.com).

Ironworks Brewery & Pub was opened by a working class, blue collar iron worker that loved beer, and saved enough money to open his own brewery. The atmosphere at Ironworks is a direct reflection of the original owner’s blue collar roots, and has an industrial, hard-working feel. You’ve probably seen a movie where the main character works hard with their hands all day and can’t wait for the day to end. On the way home they stop at the local pub for a fresh beer from the tap, and have a beer with all of the other hard-working folks from the neighborhood. Ironworks could be the set for this type of scene. While Ironworks has an industrial, tough as nails appearance, their beer is outstanding, and as fresh as you will find anywhere in town.

Owner, Mike Mader (left), Master Brewer, Mike George (right)

I was able to meet with Owner, Mike Mader, and Master Brewer, Mike George. It was great to find out the background of the name, and the history of Ironworks Brewery & Pub. Ironworks was the first craft brewery in Lakewood, CO, and went nearly 25 years as the only brewery in Lakewood (Caution Brewing opened earlier this year). Ironworks has great history, and is a staple to those living in the Green Mountain area. The brewing equipment at Ironworks is the same equipment that was originally used in 1989. While the equipment is the same, ownership has changed, and the production at Ironworks is on the rise. Mike George was proud to share that Ironworks averaged 350 barrels per year, prior to last year. In 2013, Ironworks produced 852 barrels of beer! The goal is to increase this number in 2014, while keeping the same great quality that Ironworks currently offers its loyal beer drinkers.

Mike George has been brewing at Ironworks for two years. Prior to that he was a regular patron at Ironworks. Mike decided he wanted to try his hand at brewing, and started training at Estes Park Brewery. New to brewing, Mike worked at Estes Park Brewery and at Ironworks in order to learn as much as he could, often putting in 90 hour weeks. Eventually, Mike became the Master Brewer at Ironworks. Mike has been on a mission to improve the quality of all the beer at Ironworks, while also trying out new styles along the way. In my visit with Mike, it was obvious how much he loves beer, and that he puts everything he has into brewing great beer. He’s not happy sticking with the status quot, and is constantly stepping outside the box to try something new.

A cool new addition in 2013 was a hop garden in the back of the building at Ironworks. Ironworks has been busy growing hops of different varieties that will eventually be used in some of the beer at Ironworks. If you’ve never seen hops grown, you’ll have to check out the hop garden at Ironworks. Mike’s passion for hops is not just evident in the hop garden. He’s working on a coop with 30+ breweries in the Denver area to ensure they have great hops available to them. There have been shortages of hops in the past, that have made it difficult for some smaller breweries to have the hops they need. To find out a little about Mike’s hop coop, check out this link: http://www.hop.coop/.

The Beer! Ironworks has 9 beers available at this time. They rotate seasonals in addition to their regular lineup. Ironworks has a good assortment of different styles, and there is something for nearly any taste in beer. My neighbor, a beer lover and someone that visits a different brewery each week, says his favorite beer of any brewery he’s visited is the Green Mountain Pale Ale. I agree with him, the Green Mountain Pale Ale is an outstanding beer. Below is a full list of the current beers at Ironworks Brewery & Pub:

Alameda Amber (5.1% ABV): Employees and patrons have been having fun with this one! The Alameda Amber is an approachable blend of nutty malt character and a touch of citrus hops. It is a good all-around ale “with training wheels”. The hops won’t knock you out; nor will the malt sweetness glue your mouth shut. You will enjoy the subtle addition of Rye and Honey Malts that round out Alameda Amber.
Agave Wheat (5.4% ABV): Everyone’s favorite easy going style just got a new twist! This wheat beer includes the unique nuance of pure organic Agave Nectar and a hint of lime zest. The result is a sweet yet crisp and refreshing American Wheat. The allure of the agave leaves you wanting more.
Golden Crisp IPA (6% ABV):
Raspsody Rye Pale Ale (5.1% ABV)
Green Mountain Pale Ale (5.5% ABV): For those that enjoy hops but can’t commit to the extremes of India Pale Ale, we offer Green Mountain Pale. This Pale Ale is a pleasant blend of malt and hops. Enjoy the heady, mouthwatering aroma of citrussy domestic hops without the debilitating alcohol content. At 5.5% ABV, it won’t put you under the table before you’re ready!
Hop Killa IPA (6.8% ABV): The “Hop Killa” defies hop shortages, bringing you the resiny citrus blast that you crave in an American IPA. This beer has a fresh, clean hop presence that will leave you wanting more.Flavor and aroma additions include Summit, Mt, Hood, Northern and Columbus hops.
Krausen Kolsch
Chocolate Milk Stout (7% ABV)
The Bitchen’ Belgian White (5% ABV)

Ironworks brewed 32 different styles of beer in 2013. They plan on brewing 40 styles in 2014, as they’re constantly looking to try new things. The beer at Ironworks is extremely fresh. It goes straight from the fermentation vessels to the serving vessels, then over to the tap! At this time, Ironworks does not distribute their beer outside of the pub. They do fill growlers, or any 64 oz container for $11 (IPAs are $12.50). If you want to purchase an Ironworks growler, they go for $5.

Recently a bet between Colorado and California Congressmen included an Ironworks brew. If the Denver Broncos had lost to the San Diego Chargers last week, Ironworks would have sent their Pigskin Porter to California Congressman Scott Peters. According to Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmutter, “In Colorado, craft beer is as important as water to economic and job growth in our communities. As a Colorado Native, I’m confident the Broncos are going to Sic ‘Em when the Pigskin crosses the goal line.” While the Broncos won, and Ironworks didn’t ship off any of their beer, it’s pretty cool that they were included in this bet. I think it speaks to the quality of the beer at Ironworks that they were included in such a high profile bet.

Activities: Ironworks has many activities throughout the week. Below is a list of the activities included at Ironworks.
– Monday: Trivia Night
– Monday, Wednesday: Free Pool
– Tuesday: Service Industry Night
– Thursday, Sunday: Karaoke
– Saturday: Live Music

I had a fun visit with Mike George and Mike Mader at Ironworks Brewery & Pub. I was able to try out some of their beer, and really enjoyed the Battlecat Black IPA, and Green Mountain Pale Ale! Ironworks is a great example of a Colorado craft brewery that brews awesome small batch beers! I highly recommend visiting Ironworks, you will not be disappointed!

Ironworks Brewery & Pub
12354 West Alameda Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: 303-985-5818
www.IronworksPub.com

Colorado Craft Brews

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