Tag Archives: Colorado

Lafayette Brew Fest – Sept. 8, 2018

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Lafayette Brew FestLafayette Brew Fest, Sept. 8, 2 – 7 p.m., Old Town Lafayette. Explore craft beer one pour at a time! The event will feature 26 Breweries and Cideries all within 75 miles of Lafayette.

Event day pour prices:
$2.00 for each 4 oz pour
$6.00 or 3 pour tickets for 8 oz glass of wine

Discounted pre-pour sales on sale now
Twenty-one – 4oz pours – $36.00 – Save $6.00
Fourteen – 4 oz pours – $24.00 – Save $4.00
Seven – 4 oz pours – $12.00 – Save $2.00

Participating Breweries:
Avery Brewing Co., Beyond the Mountain Brewing Co., Boulder Beer Co., Call to Arms Brewing Co., Crystal Springs Brewing, Elevation Beer Co., Endo Brewing Co., Fate Brewing Co., Front Range Brewing Co., Left Hand Brewing Co., Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co., Loveland Aleworks, Mother Tucker Brewery, Odd13 Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery/Cigar City Brewing, Ratio Beerworks, Renegade Brewing Co., Stem Ciders, The Old Mine Cidery and Brew Pub, The Post Brewing Co., Twisted Pine Brewing, West Flanders Brewing Co.

Local food includes – Suburban Wiener, Butcher and the Blonde, Big Dawg Barbecue

Enjoy music by – Blind Alley Troubadours

21 & Over to drink (Must show ID at the door) There are no age limits for entrance, but there are limited things for those under 21 to do at this event. We ask that you use your discretion in bringing kids.

No animals allowed except for service animals – Be kind to your pets and leave them at home when you visit the Lafayette Brew Fest. Only service dogs allowed in the barricaded area. .

Those who are drinking must purchase tasting tokens and will receive a souvenir cup.

For more information call 303-666-9555

Palisade Brews and Cruise Festival – May 5, 2018

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2018 Colorado National Bank Palisade Brews and Cruise Festival

The Palisade Chamber of Commerce presents the fifth annual, Colorado National Bank Brews and Cruise Festival in Palisade, CO at Veterans Memorial Park, May 5, noon to 5 p.m. (rain or shine). Each year, the Palisade Chamber builds on their popular festival, which offers the opportunity to chat with the brewers as you sample their beers. Here’s your opportunity to learn what makes each beer special, from the brewers themselves.

This year the festival will include an Antique Truck Show, and a Brew Master Dinner the night before the festival brings more fun and food! Spring in beautiful Palisade is the perfect setting to bring your bikes for a before festival, ride through town and the Wine and Fruit Byway.

The Palisade Brews and Cruise Festival is one of our favorite festivals of the year. Veterans Memorial Park is the perfect setting for a fun day spent with friends and family enjoying great local Colorado craft beer. Palisade is fun little town on the Western Slope that is worth a visit if you’ve never been. We’ll be there and hope you will be as well!

Fees/Admission: (must be 21 or over to purchase sampling tickets)

  • Grand Tasting (unlimited sampling): $25 advance purchase or $30 at the gate
  • VIP: $55 advance purchase or $60 at gate
  • $10 Non drinking ticket
  • Purchase tickets here

Palisade Brews & Cruise Festival – May 6, 2017

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Cruise on over to The Colorado National Bank Brews & Cruise Festival! The festival will be held Saturday, May 6, 2017 from Noon – 5:00 p.m. at Palisade Veterans Memorial Park (120 W 8th St, Palisade, CO 81526). Rain or shine, There will be vendors, food, brew samples, local wine for sampling, corn hole tournament and live entertainment with The Navigators, Lincoln Pants Band, and Dual Lakoo.

General drinking tickets are $25/person which includes a complimentary beer mug. Bring your bike for the ride home. Non-drinking tickets are also on sale now.  Volunteers are welcome to call 970-464-7458 for sign up form. Ticket prices will be higher the day of the event. Purchase your tickets here.

NEW FOR 2017 – VIP Tent
New this year is the VIP tent for serious beer lovers. Craft beers not available on the western slope will be on tap in the VIP tent, Oskar Blues special draft, Cigar City and Parrin the featured Breweries. Ticket holders will have tables, water and food all for $55 pre-sold and $60 at the gate. Tickets are limited to only 100. Buy early!

2017 Colorado Beer Festivals

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Colorado is full of great breweries and of course, great beer. Along with the great beer comes many fun beer festivals around the state. Our list includes some of our favorite festivals and is not meant to be a master list with every beer festival in Colorado. The 2017 Colorado Beer Festival list will continue to grow throughout the year and you can find the updated list here.

2017 Colorado Beer Festivals

Boulder Craft Beer Fest – Boulder, CO: The 4th Annual Boulder Craft Beer Festival brings together the best craft breweries from Boulder County and beyond for a tasting festival, offering attendees samples of Boulder’s best beer. The festival includes live music and food for purchase. This is a ticketed event for those 21 years of age and older. August 19, 2017

Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival – Breckenridge, CO:  The Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival is one of the coolest events of the spring in the Colorado Rockies!  Featuring brews, views and free live music, the Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival is an event you don’t want to miss. April 8, 2017

Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival – Breckenridge, CO: The Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival is one of the coolest events of the Summer in the Colorado Rockies!  Featuring brews, views and free live music, the Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival is an event you don’t want to miss. July 8, 2017

BrüFrouFEST – Denver, CO: BrüFrouFEST 2017 will not only be the largest craft brewer + chef pairing event in the country, but also the finest. As always, the main attraction will be the finest Colorado craft beer + culinary pairing menu featuring 120 local brewers & chefs collaborating on 80+ unique pairings. July 16, 2017

Bruises & Brews Festival – Glendale, CO: Join thousands of rugby fans and beer aficionados at Glendale’s Bruises & Brews Beerfest Saturday August 26, 2017 from 12-4 p.m. at Infinity Park in Glendale. 20 breweries will showcase their top brews, along with a few distilleries and a couple terrific hard ciders. Beer and rugby… they are better together! For the complete Bruises & Brews Beerfest experience, fans also gain admittance to the 2017 RugbyTown Sevens tournament.

Burning Can notjusta BeerFest – Lyons, CO: Music. Food. 50+ Breweries. Rocky Mountain revelry. Our cans only beer fest set in our home town that kicked off the can beer apocalypse – Lyons, CO. All proceeds benefit ‘Can’d Aid’ the non-profit side of Oskar Blues Brewery, and is a public charity dedicated to giving back and doin’ good. June 3, 2017

Collaboration Festival – Denver, CO: Collaboration Fest returns for a 4th year! Don’t miss out on America’s most creative beer festival featuring 100+ beer projects with over 150 participating breweries. Come for the beers, stay for the conversation! Every beer tapped at Collaboration Fest has a unique story as two or more breweries come together to brew something special. The result? Some of the most exciting, delicious beer tappings you’ll find anywhere. March 25, 2017

Colorado Craft Beer Week – Colorado Craft Beer Week 2017 will host hundreds of brewery supported events throughout the state from educational panels at neighborhood breweries to the fourth annual Collaboration Fest at the National Western Stock Show Complex. March 18-25, 2017

Colorado Brewers’ Festival – Fort Collins, CO: Beer (and Music) Fans rejoice! The award-winning* Colorado Brewers’ Festival (COBF) returns to Downtown Fort Collins on June 24th & 25th, 2017! This iconic event weekend will feature 90+ Colorado beers, 40+ Colorado breweries and an interactive Beer School with tastings and demonstrations. June 24-25, 2017

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous – Salida, CO: The Brewers Rendezvous is held in Salida every July, and features more than craft breweries from around the state. It takes place along the banks of the Arkansas River and features great food and music. July 8, 2017

Denver Brew Fest @ Mile High Station –  Denver, CO: The Brew Fest at Mile High Station will celebrate craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond and features; live local music, food, and other vendors. 100+ brews from 45+ craft breweries! There are two Denver Brew Fests, Winter & Summer. Summer Brew Fest: July 28-29, 2017

Erie Brewfest – Erie, CO: 30 Local Colorado Breweries, Regional Food Trucks, Music by local groups. This is the Erie Chamber’s 5th Annual OUTDOOR BREWFEST held in Historic Downtown Erie on Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt. June 10, 2017

Evergreen Summerfest & Palette of Brews – Evergreen, CO: Colorado breweries serving unlimited tastes to ticket holders as part of Summerfest on July 15-16. The event takes place only five minutes off I-70 in Evergreen at the Buchanan Park Athletic Fields (at Hwy 74 & Squaw Pass Rd.). July 15-16, 2017

Feast of Saint Arnold – Colorado Springs, CO: The 5th Annual Feast of Saint Arnold. “Colorado’s Family Friendly Beer Festival ” showcasing the best of Colorado’s craft brewers, winemakers, and emerging distilleries. It is located on the historic grounds of the Chapel of our Saviour Episcopal Church in the heart of the Broadmoor Neighborhood at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain. June 10, 2017

Great American Beer Festival – Denver, CO: A Denver tradition that takes place each fall. With exhibits manned by more than 400 of the top craft brewers in the nation, attendees are able to sample more than 1,800 different brews. The festival is produced by the Brewers Association, the national trade association for all craft breweries, which is located in Boulder, Colorado. October 5-7, 2017

Haunted Brew Fest – Colorado Springs, CO: The Haunted Brew Fest team have worked tirelessly preparing for one of the most unique brew fest’s Colorado Springs has ever seen!  This Is Going To Be The Biggest Halloween Party To Date! Don’t Miss It! Check back for 2017 info

Hops + Handrails – Longmont, CO: Back for its fifth year, Hops + Handrails Beer Fest & Rail Jam, returns March 11th to Longmont, Colorado with the support of Winter Park Resort, Burton Boards, and the Satellite Board Shop. The hybrid winter event will feature a 60+ brewery craft beer fest alongside a 40′ high snowboard ramp & rail jam competition, world-class rock and blues lineup. March 11, 2017

JUL-IPA Festival – Boulder, CO: A CELEBRATION OF THE BEST & BADDEST IPAs! The West End Tavern and The Millennium Harvest House bring you the Third Annual JUL-IPA Festival. Bringing together brewers, beer geeks + the community. Check back for 2017 info.

Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival – Keystone, CO: Keystone brings the wonders of Appalachia to the Rockies. Down-home cooking, mountain music and a unique blend 30 microbreweries from Colorado and beyond showcase their unique blends of hops and barleys. Live music rocks out on 3 stages. August 5-6, 2017

Lafayette Brewfest – Lafayette, CO: Come and join us for the Lafayette’s Brew Fest featuring craft beers for sale from 25+ breweries.  Explore craft/micro beers one pour at a time! No entrance fee. Tickets sold by 4 oz pours. Visit a variety of restaurant and food booths, wine will also be sold. Only Service Dogs allowed. September 9, 2017

Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival – Manitou Springs, CO: Manitou Springs welcomes 25+ local craft breweries to Memorial Park for the ultimate beer tasting experience! Tickets get you admission unlimited tastings, a commemorative tasting glass, music, food and more. Help support the Manitou Springs Heritage Center in the preservation of Manitou Springs History. September 2017 (check back for date)

Palisade Brews & Cruise Festival – Palisade, CO: The Colorado National Bank Brews & Cruise Festival offers an opportunity to taste and chat with fellow beer lovers. We will have several acclaimed craft breweries, beer, and food pairings, live music and the finest quality of handcrafted unique products and arts and crafts. New this year is the VIP tent for 100 serious beer lovers. May 6, 2017

Parker Brewfest – Parker, CO: Many of the best, local craft brewers from Douglas and surrounding counties will showcase their products for sampling and discussions with attendees. 100% of proceeds from this event go to our Rotary Club’s support for many local projects and organizations and can be eligible for matching funds from our Rotary District 5450. August 19, 2017

Red, Whites and Brews in The Boat –  Steamboat Springs, CO – The Reds Whites & Brews In The Boat Festival (formally known as Reds Whites & Brews) is proud to announce we’re moving to Steamboat Springs this June. The Reds, Whites & Brews Festival has evolved to become a ‘don’t miss’ event of the summer!  This event will feature amazing unlimited wine & craft beer tastings, LIVE music, vendors and food all in beautiful Downtown Steamboat Springs. June 14, 2017

Save the Ales – Denver, CO
Raise a glass with friends while helping Conservation Colorado raise funds to protect, conserve, and ensure a future with plenty of clean water for all Coloradans. Because no water means no beer! Your Save the Ales ticket purchase will help Conservation Colorado educate citizens on how to be stewards of water, collaborate with lawmakers to protect water at the policy level, and encourage people to stand up for the basic human right to clean, healthy water for all. August 10, 2017

South Denver Beer Fest – Littleton, CO: South Denver Beer Fest features over 60 breweries both local and national. The festival takes place in beautiful Clement Park in Littleton, Colorado.  The festival is set next to a lake with Rocky Mountain views in a distance.Guests will have the opportunity to sample over 150 beers and vote for their favorites in a variety of categories. Check back for 2017 info.

Steel City Brewfest & Competition – Pueblo, CO: Join us at the beautiful Pueblo Riverwalk for the 4th Annual Steel City Brew Fest. This event is part of the 17th Annual Loaf ‘N Jug Boats, Bands and BBQ Festival, presented by Loaf ‘ N Jug, an annual event that draws over 30,000 people over a two day period. The Steel City Brew Fest will allow participants to sample beer from both Colorado and national craft breweries. This event benefits the HARP Foundation, a 501(c)(3). May 20, 2017

Taste of the West – Golden, CO: Taste of the West is the premier culinary event in Jefferson County, Colorado. The “Taste” will feature award-winning cuisine from many of Jeffco’s best restaurants and caterers. In addition to tasty food samples, the festival will feature an assortment of beer from local breweries, wine and culinary exhibitors. 2017 marks the 3rd year for our Taste of The West beer garden, which highlights the great local craft beer from Jefferson County. June 8, 2017

The All Colorado Beer Festival – Colorado Springs, CO: Lots of Great Colorado Beers. Lovers of Colorado Beer allow the All Colorado Beer Festival to distribute over $80,000 to very deserving charities during the past five years. The festival is located in Colorado Springs, CO. November 2017 (check back for info)

The Springs Beer Fest – Colorado Springs, CO: Enjoy a fun-filled day of bottomless, fresh, craft beer samplings from over 55 Notable Craft Brewers. Join 4,000 beer enthusiasts for an afternoon of live music, local vendors, and local fare from food trucks and area restaurants. August 5, 2017

Wild West Fermentation Fest – Glenwood Springs, CO: The Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts & Roaring Fork Events look forward to spending the weekend with you at the 2nd Annual Wild West Fermentation Fest. Craft Breweries ♦ Cideries ♦ Distilleries ♦ Wineries ♦ Music ♦ Art ♦ Food. June 30th & July 1st, 2017

Hops + Handrails – March 12, 2016, Longmont, CO

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Hops+Handrails 2016Saturday, March. 12th | 12-6 pm | Roosevelt Park | Longmont, CO

60 Breweries | Rail Jam | Live Music feat. Sam Bush | Vendors | Kid Zone
Left Hand’s bringing the mountain to the people! In it’s fourth year, Hops+Handrails features the best of Colorado, mixing an epic beer fest with a live rail jam! Sip from 60 craft breweries, while riders do their best tricks down the 40ft. ramp with live music filling the air. Sam Bush will headline the Hops + Handrails stage, featuring his trademark bluegrass and jaw-dropping mandolin playing!

Hops + Handrails is a benefit for SOS Outreach, Chill, and the LHB Foundation.

VIP EXPERIENCE: Beer Fest + Rail Jam- $75

Exclusive Beer & Food Pairings, Couches, Private Bathroom, Shade
GENERAL ADMISSION: Beer Fest + Rail Jam – $30

General Admission, including 4 hours of unlimited sampling
GENERAL ADMISSION: Rail Jam Only – $10
KIDS (5-12yrs) – $5
KIDS (0-5yrs) – Free

Click Here to purchase tickets!

Hops + Handrails features some of Colorado’s best riders,
showing off their tricks on Left Hand’s 40 ft ramp & rails!

Riders will participate in the Open, Women’s, & Junior’s categories with prizes below.

Open :
1st- $1K, 2nd – $500, 3rd -$250
Women’s :
1st- $1K, 2nd – $500, 3rd -$250
Juniors:
Burton Gear

Sip from over 60 craft breweries, across 4 hours of unlimited sampling!

300 Suns Fate Renegade
4 Noses Firestone Walker Revolution
Avery Ft Collins Rockyard
Bear Republic Gravity Shoes & Brews
Big Choice Great Divide Sierra Nevada
Big Thompson Green Flash Ska
Bootstrap Brewing Grimm Brothers Skeye
Boston Beer Grossen Bart Station 26
Boulder Beer Liquid Mechanics Stem Ciders
Bristol Beer Lost Abbey Stone
City Star Loveland Aleworks Telluride
Crazy Mountain Melvin The Traveler Beer Company
Crow Hop Mountain Sun Three Weavers
Dark Horse New Holland Trinity
Declaration New Belgium Twisted Pine
Denver Beer Ninkasi Upslope
Deschutes North Coast Victory
Dogfish Head Odd13 Wibby
Dry Dock Odell Wild Cider
Eddyline Oskar Blues Wild Woods
Elevation Post Wiley Roots
Epic Pumphouse

Odyssey Beerwerks Brewery & Taproom – Arvada, CO

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Odyssey Beerwerks logoOdyssey Beerwerks Brewery & Taproom is located in Arvada, CO near I-76 and Sheridan Blvd. Odyssey is known as a happening brewery with live music, great food trucks, and a fun atmosphere. The brewery is in close proximity to the Clear Creek Bike Trail, and has great access to a few of the major metro area highways. Whether on a bike or in a car, Odyssey is a popular place to stop in for a fresh Colorado craft beer.

History of the Brewery:
Odyssey Beerwerks opened for business on May 25, 2013. Owners, and Colorado Natives, Chris Hill and Josh Van Riper are longtime friends and homebrewing partners that had a dream of opening their own brewery someday. Chris and Josh had extensive homebrewing experience dating back to the mid-90s. Chris grew up in Fort Collins, a town widely known for it’s amazing craft beer. Josh grew up in Montrose, on the Western Slope of Colorado. The two met in Fort Collins, and developed a friendship that ultimately led to the creation of Odyssey Beerwerks. Over the years they honed their craft with help of a friend that brewed for, and helped open some of the CB & Potts locations in Colorado.

Initially, Chris and Josh wanted to open up a brewery in Fort Collins. After doing some research they decided it was best to look elsewhere – due to the high density of breweries in Fort Collins. Since Fort Collins was out, they began looking on the north side of the Denver metro area, and landed in a newly built industrial park on the eastern edge of Arvada. Odyssey Beerwerks is a great example of a team coming together with different skills to create an excellent product. Chris brought experience in marketing, while Josh brought engineering experience. Together the two designed, and built an impressive brewing setup at Odyssey. Josh was actually responsible for much of the wiring and setup of the controls for the fermenters. It should be noted that the wives of both owners have also played an important role in running the brewery, helping with bookkeeping and scheduling.

IMG_0545(1)About the Brewery:
While many new breweries simply open up with the intent of selling beer inside their facility, some like Odyssey open with bigger plans in mind. When Chris and Josh opened Odyssey Beerwerks, their business plan included distributing their beer to local liquor stores and taprooms. Odyssey’s brewery includes a canning line, a 15 barrel brewhouse, four 15-barrel fermenters, and two 30-barrel fermenters. The brewery has the capacity to have 120 barrels fermenting at one time. Josh has done a great deal of testing and tweaking the brewing equipment in order to maximize production, and ultimately distribution of Odyssey Beerwerks’ beer.

Beer List: Odyssey has a beer locator that can be viewed here. I’ve seen Odyssey’s beer in many local liquor stores around the Denver area, so it should not be difficult to find their beer somewhere close to home. While they will try many different styles of beer, Odyssey tends to stick mostly with ales. They do some season lagers – it just depends on the time of year for exactly which options will be available. You will always find a diverse menu at Odyssey, thanks to Josh Van Riper’s experience traveling, and learning about different beer styles along the way.

  • Psycho Penguin Vanilla Porter: ABV 5.4%, IBUs 36 –  Dark, silky maltiness will slide down the throat but not before the nose and tongue have picked up the smooth and smoky flavor of Mexican vanilla beans lurking within.  It’s an easy drinker and hard to put down.
  • Heliocentric Hefeweizen: ABV 5.5%, IBUs 12 – Very good, light, crisp, banana hints from the Belgian yeast strain. This was one of my two favorite beers at Odyssey.
  • Ghost Drifter Pale Ale: ABV 5.8%, IBUs 36 – Smooth flavor, hop forward, northwestern hops.This is a classic American Pale Ale, and was my favorite beer at Odyssey!
  • Clan Warrior Scotch Ale: ABV 8.7%, IBUs 29 –  A rich and sweet, and malty ale that showcases a blend of specialty malts. There is also a nice smokiness to this awesome scotch ale.
  • Eye of Ra Belgian Strong Ale: ABV 8.9%, IBUs 39 – Malty, yet not strong tasting for a higher alcohol volume beer, very smooth. Has a deep, crisp, and seductive fruit and spice notes. The Eye of Ra is worthy of devotion.
  • Seasonals: Rum Barrel Aged Olde Ale, *Hop Shot IPA, Lazy Gopher Dry Stout, Dubbel Down Abbey Ale,, Belgian Black Ale (always have stout and IPA), Seething Stout, Palm Tree Caribbean Pilsner Lager (hop note with peppery note).

Odyssey just came out with 12-pack mix packs, which you can purchased at the brewery, or in select stores. If you would prefer to purchase a growler, you can pick up a 64oz glass growler for $7. The core beers are $14 to fill, seasonals are more expensive depending on the style of beer. For the outdoorsy types, you can purchase 64 oz Hydro Flask Growlers, which will keep beer cold for 24 hours!

I had a good time discussing Colorado craft beer with Chris Hill at Odyssey Beerwerks. I would recommend a trip to the brewery for anyone that enjoys a fresh, locally brewed beer. You will find a wide variety of beer styles so everyone in a group should be able to find one that fits their taste. Bring a bike and check out the Clear Creek Bike trail, or simply stop in and hang out on the patio, you’ll enjoy visiting Odyssey Beerwerks!

Odyssey Beerwerks Brewery & Taproom
5535 W 56th Ave, Suite 107
Arvada, CO 80002
(303) 421-0772

FATE Brewing Company Reveals Plans For Expansion

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Fate Brewing LogoProject 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.

Front Range Hop Company: Supporting Growth of Colorado Hops

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Front Range Hops Comany LogoFront 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

38 State Brewing Company – Littleton, CO

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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 Logo

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 Logo

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.” Brett Blazek 38 State Brewing

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

2013 Top 50 Craft Breweries List: Includes 6 From Colorado

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CBP13_Top_50_ BreweriesThe Brewers Association recently released their list of the 2013 Top 50 Craft Breweries in the U.S. For the 2nd year in a row, 6 Colorado breweries are on the list. The 6 on the list include; New Belgium, Oskar Blues, Odell, Left Hand, Rock Bottom & Breckenridge. These 6 are the same as last year, but a few of them have moved spots on the list from 2012. Left Hand Brewing Co. made the biggest jump, moving up 5 spots from #43 to #38. Oskar Blues moved up 3 spots from #27 to #24. On the other end of the spectrum, Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries (Rock Bottom) dropped 7 spots from #32 to #39.

6 Colorado Breweries listed in the top 50 Craft Breweries in the U.S.

  • New Belgium Brewing Co: #3 (no change from 2012)
  • Oskar Blues Brewery: #24 (up 3 spots from 2013)
  • Odell Brewing Co: #34 (down 1 spot from 2012)
  • Left Hand Brewing Co: #38 (up 5 spots from 2012)
  • Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries (Rock Bottom): #39 (down 7 spots from 2012)
  • Breckenridge Brewery: #40 (up 1 spot from 2012)

Of the 6 Colorado Breweries listed in the top 50 Craft Breweries, 4 of them are also listed in the top 50 overall brewery list!

4 Colorado Breweries listed in the top 50 overall:

  • New Belgium Brewing Co: #8 (no change from 2012)
  • Oskar Blues Brewery: #33 (up 3 spots from 2012)
  • Odell Brewing Co: #44 (no change from 2012)
  • Left Hand Brewing Co: #50 (1st time on the list!)

2013-Top-50-Brewery-List