Category Archives: Fun Stuff

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

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Fermentation FestivalThe 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

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Craft Beer Train Golden 2014Rides, 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.**

Snowmass Mammoth Fest: June 13-15, 2014

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Snowmass-Mammoth-FestThe Snowmass Mammoth Fest, formerly Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, returns for its 11th year on June 13-15, 2014 in collaboration with Snowmass Tourism. Tickets are on sale now.

The Colorado summer festival season kicks off in Snowmass Village at this year’s Snowmass Mammoth Fest. Snowmass Mammoth Fest is proud to announce that Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and Leftover Salmon, will headline the event this summer. Additional musical artists include Xavier Rudd, Les Claypool’s Duo De Twang, The Motet, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bonerama, Houndmouth, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Wheeler Brothers, The London Souls, Miner, and local DJs Berkel Beats, and Echo Da Funk.

Snowmass Mammoth Fest will include great music and food, but don’t forget about the brews! Come celebrate the Grand Tasting on Saturday, June 14th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm in the festival grounds where 25+ breweries will participate with over 50 different beers. Come sample some tasty brews from your favorite breweries on Saturday afternoon while listening to great music in Snowmass Town Park.

Mammoth-Fest-Brewery-ListThere are options of staying in a local hotel near the event, or you can camp at the event. Snowmass Mammoth Fest is coming up pretty soon, so be sure to check out avialability at local hotels here. Snowmass Mammoth Fest is a unique opportunity to be able to camp out at a festival with great music, food, and of course, craft beer. If you’re more interested in camping, check out the options here.

Snowmass Mammoth Fest – June 13-15, 2014
Snowmass Town Park
2835 Brush Creek Road
Snowmass Village, CO 81615

Black Sky Brewery: Ale of Yoto Release Party May 13th – 7 PM

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Decorated Author Set To Release Book Themed Brew with Black Sky Brewery

Denver, CO – 13-time award-winning sci-fi/fantasy novel The Bane of Yoto, published by FiXT, is setting its sights on beer lovin’ taste buds. Author Joshua Viola has partnered with Denver’s Black Sky Brewery to create The Ale of Yoto, a blueberry wheat beer crafted by master brewer Harry Smith. Black Sky Brewery logo

According to The Bane of Yoto Author Joshua Viola: “The concept of creating a beer seemed like a natural fit amidst the crazy things we were doing in the world of Yoto. The idea originally came to me when a friend — Groovey of Groovey.TV — had a custom brew developed for his online personality. It was received well and I knew then, after a fan suggested a Yoto beer, I had to do it.” “Groovey introduced me to the wonderful people at Black Sky Brewery and the rest is history. Their talented brew master, Harry Smith, concocted the most amazing beer I’d ever tasted. Harry came up with the blueberry wheat idea after reading the book; paying tribute the protagonist’s blue skin tone.”

A release party for the The Ale of Yoto will be part of the American Craft Beer Week celebration in Denver which showcases only the finest efforts from master brewers. Early taste testers have agreed that Black Sky’s Harry Smith knocked it out of the park. The Ale of Yoto has a smooth finish with just the right hint of blueberry and is perfect for the upcoming Summer season as well as for enjoying the blockbuster novel it was inspired from.

Ale of Yoto Release Party Tuesday, May 13th – 7 PM @ Black Sky Brewery
490 Sante Fe Drive | Denver, CO 80204

For More Information: 
http://baneofyoto.com 
http://www.blackskybrewing.com 
http://www.fixtonline.com

Colorado Native Lager Offering Free Blue Spruce Saplings to Aid in Colorado Reforestion

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AC Golden Brewing Company, the makers of Colorado Native Lager, are offering free Blue Spruce saplings to those interested in regrowing the state. For full details see the flyer and additional information below.

Colorado Native Regrow

Golden, Colo. – Colorado Native Lager, Colorado’s only homegrown beer, is offering free tree saplings to Coloradans who want to help regrow Colorado.

After several years of devastating wild fires and beetle infestation, and last year’s 100-year flood, the state’s forests and urban areas have lost millions of trees.

To celebrate Arbor Day, which is Friday, April 18 in Colorado, and to help regrow Colorado, locals can join Colorado Native’s club, The Brew Crew, and request a free Blue Spruce sapling be sent to their home for planting.

The Blue Spruce saplings, about 1½ years old, were grown by and purchased from the Colorado State Forest Service’s Seedling Tree Nursery in Northern Colorado.  The trees come ready to plant.  The Blue Spruce is Colorado’s state tree and is well suited to the local environment.

“As Colorado’s home grown beer, Colorado Native Lager is the perfect fit for helping Coloradans regrow the state, one tree at a time,” said Glenn Knippenberg, president and co-founder of AC Golden Brewing Company, brewer of Colorado Native. “Colorado Native is brewed with 100 percent Colorado ingredients, and is packaged and shipped only in Colorado. We reinvest 25 cents from every single case sold back into the state through projects like this one.  Colorado is our home and we feel strongly that our efforts and investments should benefit our beautiful state,” said Knippenberg.

To receive a sapling, go to www.ColoradoNative.com during April and click on Brew Crew.  There is no cost to join the club. Members receive free gifts and special offers like this one. Last month, Brew Crew members were able to join Colorado Native’s legion of volunteer hop growers and receive a free hop rhizome.  Members can grow and harvest their hops for inclusion in a Colorado Native brew in the fall.

About CSFS Seedling Tree Nursery
The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) seedling tree program allows farmers, ranchers and rural landowners to obtain trees at a nominal cost. Its goal is to encourage landowners to plant new forests; to establish effective windbreaks that reduce erosion; to protect homes, cropland, livestock and highways; and to enhance wildlife habitat. The nursery has many outdoors acres and an 18,000 square foot greenhouse. It sells an average of one million seedlings annually.

About Arbor Day –
Arbor Day is a nationally recognized day to encourage individuals and groups to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1872.   National Arbor Day is April 24 this year however each state observes its own date to facilitate the best tree planting time.  Colorado’s Arbor Day this year is Friday, April 18.

About AC Golden Brewing Company
AC Golden Brewing Company, located in Golden, Colo., is a small-batch brewery specializing in handcrafted beers for discerning beer drinkers. Among its beers are: Colorado Native, an amber lager made with 100 percent Colorado ingredients; Herman Joseph’s Private Reserve, a German-style lager; Barmen, a German-style pilsner, and Winterfest, a Vienna-style lager shared only during the holidays.

Colorado Craft Beer Week – March 21-29, 2014

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Tomorrow marks the start of the annual Colorado craft beer celebration, Colorado Craft Beer Week. The celebration consists of a collection of events featuring local brewers, restaurants and pubs that serve Colorado craft beer. The next nine days will be a great time to try a new brewery, or check out a taphouse or pub you’ve never been to. There are quite a few different opportunities during the week to learn more about the ever growing Colorado craft beer industry.

ColoradoCraftBeerWeekColorado Craft Beer Week is run by the Colorado Brewers Guild. As they describe it, “Colorado Craft Beer Week is a nine-day celebration of Colorado’s craft brewers, pubs and restaurants. Dozens of events will showcase brewers and educate beer lovers about Colorado’s unique craft beer community.”

There are too many events to list them all, so here are the featured events for the week:

  • Collaboration Fest: March 22, 2014 – This event will showcase the release of over 20 Colorado collaboration beers, all being unveiled at the event! Each beer featured at Collaboration Festival will be created by at least one Colorado Brewers Guild member, with other participating breweries coming from near and far.
  • Escape to Colorado: March 21-29, 2014 – All week long, Epic Brewing will be donating $.25 per pint sold in the tap room of our much-loved Escape to Colorado IPA to the Colorado Brewers Guild. Raise a glass to the CBG for all the work they do for Colorado’s craft breweries.
  • Colorado Craft Beer Week Classic: March 25, 2014 – In celebration of Colorado Craft Beer Week, Lou’s Food is teaming up with four of Colorado’s top breweries to host a 5-course beer dinner. Featured beers provided by Avery Brewing Co., Left Hand Brewing. Upslope Brewing Company and Prost Brewing.
  • New Kids on the Block: March 27, 2014 – New Kids on the Block is a beer-centric event celebrating Colorado breweries under 2 years old. Come in your finest 80s duds to this all-you-can-drink event! The event will include unlimited beer tastings, 80′s jams, a beer-themed buffet and a costume contest.
  • Hops & Handrails: March 29, 2014 – Left Hand Brewing is excited to announce the return of Hops & Handrails Beer Fest & Rail Jam, on March 29th in Longmont, Colorado. The hybrid winter event will feature the finest craft breweries alongside a 25’ high ski ramp at Left Hand Brewery. Hops & Handrails will bring the best Colorado has to offer in a family friendly winter wonderland loaded with snowboards and craft beer!

There are quite a few more events going on during Colorado Craft Beer Week. To find out more, check out the event calendar. Have a fun week checking out Colorado craft beer, and be safe out there!

Colorado Homebrew Suppliers and Resources To Get Started

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HopsAre you interested in brewing your own beer? Many people think brewing is too difficult to try, and leave it to the professionals. Don’t get caught up in thinking brewing is too difficult for you. There are certainly steps to learn, and there is a fair amount of science involved. At the same time, there are many great resources available to help those that are interested in homebrewing. Colorado is home to a great deal of craft breweries, mostly due to the many beer lovers that enjoy freshly brewed craft beer. Join the thousands of Colorado beer lovers that are brewing their own beer! Check out our list of Colorado Homebrew Suppliers to get started.

Here are some more resources that may come in handy in as you get started in homebrewing. You will find there are many places to find information on homebrewing. These are just a few to get you started. Happy brewing!

 

Caution Brewing’s Lakewood location opening this week!

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**Update: Caution Brewing in Lakewood is now open!** – December 21, 2013.

Craft beer drinkers in Lakewood are about to have a new craft brewery in their neighborhood. Caution Brewing Company has been planning to open their second location for months, and it looks like this week we’ll see the official opening. We’ll be sure to update everyone when the opening is official.

Caution Brewing Logo

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

CAUTION: Lakewood Opens This Week!

[Lakewood, CO] CAUTION: Brewing Company’s latest expansion will be unleashed to the public during the week of Dec 16th, with exact date and time to be announced on social media. Lakewood’s first production microbrewery and taproom finally opens for business after months of planning and construction. With a taproom and covered patio seating for that can accommodate over 70 people, CAUTION: Brewing Company will bring their own brand of specialty beers to the Lakewood area.

Award winners such as Lao Wang Lager, Card Your Mom Saison, and Honey Matrimony Brown Ale will all be a part of a 16-tap draft system designed with experimental and unique recipes in mind. In addition to a regular list of flagship beers, CAUTION: Brewing Company will fill the remaining taps with new creations brewed on a new 3BBL system sourced from Minnetonka Brewing & Equipment Company.

As Denver’s first microbrewery to open a second brewery and taproom, CAUTION: Brewing Company has enjoyed success at it’s original location just outside of the Stapleton area. CAUTION: East, as it’s affectionately known, will remain CAUTION’s primary production and packaging facility, while providing beloved fans and friends the original taproom experience only CAUTION can provide.

Along with the opening of the CAUTION Lakewood location, CAUTION will also be releasing a new version of the VIP Groupie Growler program, rightfully named “Groupie Growler 2.0.” Each of the new limited edition, black 32oz. Liberty Bottleworks growlers will be individually numbered – and only 130 are available. Owners of the Groupie Growler will enjoy membership perks such as $6 growler fills, early access to special beer releases and special events reserved exclusively for VIPs. The limited edition VIP Groupie Growler program will retail for $50.

Surprises will be aplenty during opening, more details will be announced on social media at a later time. CAUTION invites you to join in their celebrating their new Lakewood location. Are you ready to #partywithcaution?

About CAUTION: Brewing Company

Having established itself as one of Denver’s best speciality microbreweries, CAUTION has been enjoyed by craft beer lovers in the Denver area since 2011. Founded by Betty and Danny Wang, CAUTION strives to produce well balanced beers made with a unique twist. By using as much Colorado raw ingredients as possible, CAUTION is proud to be a part of the Colorado craft beer family and have locations in both Denver and Lakewood. For more information, please visit – http://www.cautionbrewingco.com/ or social media sites:
Twitter: @cautionbrewing
Facebook: facebook.com/cautionbrewingco
Untappd: untappd.com/cautionbrewingco

CAUTION: Lakewood
1057 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Unit 60
Lakewood, CO 80226

CAUTION: Denver
12445 E. 39th Ave. Unit 314
Denver, CO 80239

Upcoming craft beer events in Denver area

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Backgammon and Chess at Prost Brewing Company in Denver.
November 25th 7:00 – 10:00

Prost brews traditional, award winning German-style beers in Denver near Coors Field. Join us to sample some of their beers while meeting other chess and backgammon enthusiasts and join them for a game — or more! There is a cost of $10 for this event. Participants get a small taster flight, information about the brews in the taster flight, and a brief tour of the brewery. If you’d like to learn more about Prost’s beer or practice your chess/backgammon skills, this is the place for you.To view location information for the brewery or to sign up, go here: http://tinyurl.com/games-and-brews


Meet area writers and sample local craft brews at Front Range Brewing in Lafayette.
December 9th, 7:00 – 10:00

Sample the beers made by Lafayette’s Front Range Brewing Company and hear readings from local writers at the Louisville Writers’ Workshop 2013 End of Year Reading. For a cost of $10 per person, attendees will receive a small taster flight, receive a tour of the brewery and listen to some of the writing that has come out of the workshop since its inception. If you’re a budding writer, or interested in advancing your writing, this is the place for you. If you’d like to view location information for the brewery or to sign up, visit http://tinyurl.com/craftbeerwriting

Front Range Brewing Logo

Prost Brewing 1st Anniversary Celebration: August 19th – 25th

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Prost Brewing Company is celebrating their 1st Anniversary August 19th -26th. Prost is known for brewing authentic German-style biers with brewing equipment that was brought over from Germany. We visited Prost back in May and were really impressed with their outstanding beers, and the history behind the equipment and recipes they use. If you’ve never been down to Prost, next week would be a great time to make your first trip. Of course, if you’ve already been to Prost, you will also want to head down for the festivities. Great beer, a fun patio and good people will make the experience one for all to enjoy. Prost Brewing is located at 2540 19th Street Denver, CO 80211 (across I-25 from Coors Field).

Check out the schedule below – there are activities planned all week!

Prost-Anniversary