Beer Calendar: Summer Brews, a Hop Swap and a Father's Day Brewery Crawl

Hold on to your hats. Longmont's Left Hand Brewing, the last holdout among Colorado's largest craft breweries, has decided to start canning some of its beers. Although the brewery has maintained for years that it didn't have any canning plans — and went so far as to participate in a video eschewing cans in favor of bottles — the Colorado sunshine must have finally caught up to Left Hand.

Even Left Hand itself is in shock. Here is the brewery's statement: "Can you believe it? Colorado’s 4th largest brewery, Left Hand Brewing, famous for its pioneering line of Nitro bottles, is debuting cans in 2016! Partnering with one of the leading canning line manufacturers in the world, KHS, Left Hand’s new thirty-head volumetric filler will be arriving early fall. Plans are in motion for three of Left Hand’s beers to be canned in twelve-ounce six-packs this coming winter including: three-time GABF Gold Medal winning and 2016 World Beer Cup gold medal winner Fade to Black, a foreign export stout; Extrovert, their new American IPA; and Milk Stout, the brewery’s famous sweet stout. Additional beers, including several new additions, will be available in 2017.

"In congruence with the brewery’s commitment to quality, Left Hand has designed a canning line with automated volumetric filling, to ensure low oxygen levels and consistent fill heights," the brewery continues. "Left Hand Brewing has broken ground on their future canning space at their 1265 Boston Avenue production facility in Longmont, Colorado. Rollout of Left Hand cans will begin in the fourth quarter, with plans to distribute to the brewery’s 36-state footprint."

In other beer news....

Wednesday, June 15
It's English-style cask month at Copper Kettle Brewing, which is going back to Old World brewing roots. "A cask-conditioned ale is beer that is brewed from traditional ingredients and matured in the cask from which it is served. This means that it is fresh and unfiltered and therefore has a unique flavor," the brewery says. "Cask ale is naturally conditioned as a by-product of the secondary fermentation that takes place inside the cask. It is then served directly, without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide or chemical treatments of any sort." Today's beer is London Porter, "a moderate-strength brown beer with a restrained roasty character and bitterness, made with all English ingredients." Ol' Skool BBQ will be on hand.

Every summer since Denver Beer Co. opened in 2011, the brewery has hosted a Neighborhood Hop Swap "during which the brewery hands out traditional American Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hop plants for Denverites to grow in their own back yards. The hop starters from Summit Plant Labs are well suited to grow in Colorado’s Front Range climate," Denver Beer Co. says. "Denver Beer Co. provides the hop starters for free to anyone willing to give them water, sunshine, and a little love to grow throughout the summer season. Once the hops mature in the fall, Hop Swap participants bring their hop harvest back to the brewery where they are used in a true 'local' brew. Hop Swap farmers have the opportunity to help Denver Beer Co. brewers craft a traditional American Pale Ale made with their own hops. Once the Hop Swap beer is ready for drinking, Hop Swap farmers are invited in to pick up a complimentary growler of their home-grown Hop Swap Ale. At the end of each September, the neighborhood hop 'farmers' brought in their hop harvest which we use to create an awesome Neighborhood Hop Swap Pale Ale. The 2015 Neighborhood Pale Ale featured a base of 2-Row, caramel, and munich malts. A record amount of freshly picked wet hops were harvested by our favorite neighbors to create a rich, grassy, citrusy character." Today's hop swap runs from 5 to 7 p.m. First come, first served until they are gone.

Thursday, June 16
Head up to Odd 13 Brewing in Lafayette today from 3 to 9 p.m. for the release of Robot Librarian, a New England-style double IPA that was collaboratively made by Cerebral Brewing, Fiction Beer Company, WeldWerks Brewing Company and Odd13. The beer celebrates the hazy, hoppy beers that all four breweries like to produce. Tonight only, Odd 13 will also be tapping guest taps of Cerebral's Rare Trait, Fiction's Cosmic Unity and WeldWorks' Juicy Bits. Robot Librarian will be exclusively in the tap room today, but the brewery will begin distribution in cans and kegs later this month.

Friday, June 17
Comrade Brewing will tap a new beer today at noon. Bear Dog: Imperial Red IPA was brewed with flaked rye, Patagonia crystal malt, Manadarina Bavaria, Galaxy and Mosaic. hops. It weighs in at 8.4 percent ABV and 90 IBUs.

Saturday, June 18
River North Brewery continues its re-launch after having to move its brewery by rolling out two of its flagships in new 375-ml bottles today at noon. They are J. Marie, an 8.1 percent ABV imperial saison named for brewery founder Matt Hess's wife, Jessica; and Quandary, a 9.6 percent Belgian-style quadrupel. There will be food for sale by Pikine Grill.

"After the horrific tragedy in Orlando this last weekend," Black Shirt Brewing reports, the brewery has been "thinking about what we can do to help. The phrase Love At All Cost kept coming up. Love is exactly what we want to give the people of Orlando — the victims, their families, and all involved." So today at noon, Black Shirt will release its latest collaboration with TiredPirate, Love At All Cost, Vol III - a passion fruit double IPA. The brewery will donate $1 from each beer and each Crowler sold of this beer to Equality Florida, which is donating "every penny to the victims and families of the Orlando tragedy. Additionally, the purchase of each Love At All Cost beer will enter you into a raffle for a free 'Hidden HeART' piece from TiredPirate. We will donate $1 from each beer poured through closing time on Sunday, June 19," Black Shirt adds.

Fermaentra Brewing will host its second bottle release today at noon. This time, it's Quixotic, a Belgian quadrupel, that will be on tap. "This beer is not for the faint of heart, is for the Belgian beer lover, and was designed for a truly decadent experience that will only continue to improve with proper cellaring and time," the brewery says. "In addition, our artist who designed the label - Dominic Bedan - will be in house, beginning at 7 p.m., with art giveaways and prints of other pieces for sale."

12 Degree Brewing, which took home the 2016 World Beer Cup Champion Small Brewpub and Brewmaster award last month in Philadelphia, is having a big party to celebrate its three-year anniversary. The Louisville brewery will open up at noon and tap four small-batch Farmhouse Ales and one kettle-soured ale throughout the day. The new beers will be tapped at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and are: Pommy Dervish, a mild Brett Saison aged on Pomegranate; Wicked Blackberry, a wild Farmhouse ale aged on blackberries; Mowgli, a Cabernet barrel-aged Saison; One Night Stand, a classic Saison aged on Brett; and Pearanormal, a kettle-soured blond ale aged on pears. Treachery, their World Beer Cup Gold Medal winning Golden Strong Ale, will also be on tap, along with the rest of their current lineup.

Lone Tree Brewing will tap Cucumber Wheat today at 11 a.m. for its annual Summer Solstice Celebration. "Enjoy island-style live music by Mango Brothers, Hawaiian eats from the Denver 808 food truck, face-painting and outdoor games," the brewery says. Whitherward will play in the afternoon. There will also be a dunk tank where you have the chance to dunk any and all brewery employees. Proceeds benefit the Colorado Cattlemen Agricultural Land Trust, which protects agricultural lands and encourages the intergenerational transfer of Colorado ranches and farms.

Bootstrap Brewing in Niwot will celebrate its fourth anniversary today with beers, raffles, a corn-hole tournament and the North Boulder Underground playing live music at 6 p.m.

SOLD OUT: Avery Brewing will host its sixth annual SourFest today from noon to 5 p.m., featuring more than eighty different sour and wild ales. Tickets were $80 and sold out in minutes in May.

Sunday, June 19
Rackhouse Pub, Ratio Beerworks and Epic Brewing will host another River North progressive beer/cider dinner today, this time in honor of Father's Day. The Father's Day Freedom Trail begins at Ratio, where the brewery will offer a beer and a Buffalo chicken crepe from Crepeful. Then it's on to the Rackhouse for hop-rubbed St. Louis spare ribs, scalloped cheddar potatoes, salt-and-vinegar taro chips, stave-smoked BBQ sauce, a cider from C Squared Ciders (which is located in the same building), and a beer from Bierstadt Lagerhaus. Course three, at Epic Brewing, is dessert from the Preservery and a beer. There are various seatings between noon and 6 p.m. Tickets, $45, are available at nightout.com.

Avery Brewing will release its latest barrel-aged sour, Certatio Equestris, today at 11 a.m.  The sour ale was aged in bourbon barrels with spearmint added. It weighs in at 8.9 percent ABV.

WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley will release the very last of its Medianoche bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout variants for 2016 today, starting at noon. The brewery will sell coconut and vanilla Medianoche in 375-milliliter bottles. "In our humble opinion, these will be the best variants released to date thanks to the extended aging in barrels (over twelve months now) and the higher usage rates and longer contact time with adjuncts," the brewery says. There will be a small amount on tap, and bottle sales will be limited. WeldWerks reports that its 2017 Medianoche "is already happily aging in bourbon barrels."

Wednesday, June 22
River North Brewery will take over the taps at First Draft Taproom & Kitchen today from 4 to 8 p.m. with River North White, FarmHouse, J. Marie, Quandary, Anniversary Ale 4 1/4 and Barrel Aged Avarice. The event is part of the brewery's re-launch after being forced to move. Brewery reps will be at First Draft with swag and giveaways. There will also be a cheese pairing from First Draft's chefs.

It's English-style cask month at the Copper Kettle. "A cask conditioned ale is beer that is brewed from traditional ingredients and matured in the cask from which it is served. This means that it is fresh and unfiltered and therefore has a unique flavor," the brewery says. Today, Copper Kettle will tap ESB. "Low gravity, low alcohol levels, and low carbonation make this an easy-drinking session beer. The malt
profile can vary in flavor and intensity, but should never override the overall bitter impression." Pavy's food truck will be on hand.

Friday, June 24
Banana Hammock is back — and you can't have just one. Wit's End will tap its beloved amber rye hefeweizen today at 2 p.m. The beloved seasonal beer, with huge banana flavors, will be on tap all summer in the taproom and available as beer-to-go in growlers. The brewery also recently tapped a new beer called Mr. Bigglesworth, "an incredibly full-flavored hoppy Belgian pale ale...spicy up front with a hop candy like finish...all at about 3.5 percent ABV."

Beryl's Beer Company will begin its three-day two-year anniversary party tonight with a beer release, the I GotZ BratZ food truck, corn hole, and live music from 7 to 9 p.m. from the Kevin Smithwick Band.

Saturday, June 25
Renegade Brewing will throw its fifth-anniversary block party today from 3 to 10 p.m. in the 900 block of West Ninth Avenue, in front of the brewery. There will be local food (Matt's Snack Shack, Pasty Republic, Ol' Skool BBQ, Green Tree Stir Fry and Em's Ice Cream), local music (Holly Lovell, Animal Electricity, Plume Varia and Inner Oceans) and lots of Renegade beer. There is no entrance fee, and all beers are $5. 

Beryl's Beer Company continues its three-day two-year anniversary party today with a special beer release, corn hole, food from Little Bird Baking and live music.

Every year, Parry's Pizza throws a huge craft-beer party with Avery Brewing that they "affectionately" call the Big Ass Tap Takeover — and for good reason. "We typically tap between fifteen and thirty different Avery kegs at this event, depending on the location," Parry's says. "We even supplement the draft selection with some of Avery’s rare bottle releases, as well." Expect the same passion this year as in years past. Five Parry's locations will participate this year, with about fifteen Avery kegs at the Castle Rock and Greenwood Village spots, and at least thirty kegs in Highlands Ranch, Longmont and Northglenn. Avery founder Adam Avery and some of his brewery posse will appear at some of the locations to talk beer and make a toast. Live music will be on in Longmont and Northglenn, and there will be hourly drawings for craft-beer goodies, including Avery VIP brewery tours, at all locations. "This is an all damn day event.," Parry's says. "Get sitters for the kids and the pets. Make sure you don’t have to work on Sunday. Get your vacation dates worked out around this date. If you don’t get your affairs in order and miss this event, you will be criticized and possibly tarred and feathered." The party runs from 11 a.m. to close.

Wednesday, June 29
It's English-style cask month at the Copper Kettle Brewing. "A cask conditioned ale is beer that is brewed from traditional ingredients and matured in the cask from which it is served. This means that it is fresh and unfiltered and therefore has a unique flavor," the brewery says. Today, Copper Kettle will tap XXX Stout, "a very dark, moderately strong, fairly dry, stout with prominent roast flavors." Mestizos Food Truck will be on hand.

Friday, July 1
Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales is a side project of Former Future Brewing, but Black Project's beers are made in such a limited quantity that they are rarely on tap on the brewery, being primarily sold via month bottle releases. But Black Project is hijacking the taps at Former Future today for "a night of 100 percent wild, spontaneous, and isolated yeast beers," the brewery says. The taplist should include: Peach Rye Whiskey Dreamland. Kalmar 100% Spontaneous Gose, Kalmar with Fruit, a not-yet-released Black Project Saison, a not-yet-released Black Project Saison with Oats and Wheat, and more. Former Future will also launch a new monthly event today called the Brewer's Table. Held on the first Friday of every month, it will include a tour, tasting from the barrel, one bottle of a Black Project beer, two ten-ounce pours of any beer on tap, charcuterie from the Trufffle Cheese Shop. Tickets are $75 per person with a limit of six people per session. "Please expect to share a table with others if your party does not include six people." Tickets for the Brewer's Table are available at www.blackprojectbee.com/brewers-table. 

It's July, which means its time for the return of Jul-IPA at the West End Tavern in Boulder. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. every day this month, and the West End will host a variety of festivities and offer beer specials, all featuring everyone's favorite hoppy beer, the IPA. There will also be a mini-satellite taproom every Tuesday and Thursday, with beers from breweries from across the country including: Wildwoods, Elysian, Denver Beer Co, Telluride, Odd13, New Belgium, River North, Stone, and Avery. 

Saturday, July 2
Locavore Beer Works in Littleton will host its second annual Freedom Fest celebration today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The brewery will tap its seasonal Jolly Farmer Watermelon Wheat beer. There will be corn hole, tie-dye for adults and kids, four live bands, and food from Brad’s Pit BBQ. There will also be limited-edition T-shirts and glassware. A portion of proceeds will benefit Denver firefighters. Go to Locavore's Facebook page for more information on the event and on pre-ordering T-shirts.

Wednesday, July 6
The Brew on Broadway (the BoB,) in Littleton, will celebrate its third anniversary today by releasing its 2016 Gothic Sour Milk Stout, along with "many earmarked BoB special brews that have been lurking in the cooler," the brewery and coffee shop says. Saturday night events feature the Mighty High Grateful Dead Cover Band and El Tep's Mexican Street Kitchen Food Truck.