Turn to the page to see this week's craft-beer events.
Wednesday, January 2
Euclid Hall will tap Firestone Walker's Double DBA, Parabola and XVI today at 7 p.m. as part of its weekly Backwall Takeover series in January, when one brewery takes over most of the taps on the back wall for an evening.
The Copper Kettle debuts a new Wednesday firkin series in 2013 to answer this recurring question from regulars: "What's on the hand pump today?" The brewery will tap a new cask each Wednesday beginning today with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Mexican Chocolate Stout at 4 p.m.
Lucky Pie Pizza and Taphouse in LoDo will break out a keg of Green Flash Candela and one of Green Flash Green Bullet today. You can try these rare beers from this San Diego brewery starting at 4 p.m.
Friday, January 4
Hops & Pie will tap a firkin of Walker's Reserve from Firestone Walker today at 6 p.m. for Firkin First Friday. The porter is a "dark ale featuring robust flavors of toffee, caramel and bittersweet chocolate."
Arvada Beer Company will re-release its Arvada Pride Double IPA today with a party.
The Providence Tavern in Edgewater will host a special pairing tonight of chocolates and of Odell Brewing's rich and creamy Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout, which was just released this week. The tasting runs from 7 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, January 5
Copper Kettle will release a mystery beer today at noon as part of its annual New Year mystery beer release; there will be a food truck at 5 p.m. and live music at 6 p.m.
Did you miss out on Stone Brewing's Vertical Epic tasting last month? You have another chance to try some beers from this series, which the San Diego County brewery designed specifically to be aged over the past ten years, at noon at Hops & Pie. You can sample the 08.08.08, the 09.09.09 (aged in wine barrels), two versions of the 10.10.10, the 11.11.11, and, of course, the 12.12.12.
Sunday, January 6
Odell Brewing will release a new seasonal beer today with a party in its Fort Collins taproom that will include beer samples, live music from Hwy 287 and local food-truck fare. Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout, brewed with lactose (milk sugar) and milk chocolate, is named for Lugene Sas, a local dairy farmer who has been feeding the brewery's grain to his cows for more than a decade. Sas combines the malt with organic alfalfa hay. The beer will be sold in four-packs beginning this month.
Tuesday, January 8
The Vine Street Pub will tap Bourbon Aged Olde Skiddy, an English Barleywine-style ale that aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels.
Wednesday, January 9
Lucky Pie Pizza and Taphouse will tap Grand Teton Brewing's Coming Home Holiday Ale and Double Vision Dopplebock today at 4 p.m.
Sunday, January 13
The Cheeky Monk on Colfax will tap three of Firestone Walker's previous anniversary beers, 14, 15 and 16. It's hard to find just one of these beers. Join them to try all three.
Thursday, January 17
The Falling Rock Taphouse will break out kegs of Alaska Brewing's Alaskan Smoked Porter going back to 2009. Try one or try the whole vertical beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 24
The Falling Rock Taphouse is clearing out parts of its vast cellar this month and will give you the chance to taste five year's worth of Avery Brewing Company's stellar Czar Imperial Stout today beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday January 26
The Falling Rock Taphouse will hold a Vintage Beer Sale today from noon to 6 p.m. "It's been a few years since we've done one of these, and my cooler looks like it," explains taphouse owner Chris Black in his newsletter. "We've got a few too many bottles of different vintages so...we'll put up a big dry-erase board of all the different beers we're clearing out and the quantity available for purchase (at substantial discount I might add) as we sell one we'll update the board and countdown till we're out."
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