This Week in Beer: Holidaily Raising Funds for Expansion and More

As the local brewery scene continues to evolve and grow, we’re rounding up the news, events and new releases you need to know about. Here’s the latest:

Inaugural Colorado Brewers Cup Announced
The Story: The new competition will take place in January.
The Scoop: The Colorado Brewers Guild, a trade association that promotes Colorado breweries, is organizing the event, which is open to active breweries who are members of the Guild – a number that approaches 300. The competition will include 31 categories with gold, silver and bronze awards for each. Given the organization behind the event and a strong planning committee, this will be a competition to keep an eye on as it could quickly grow to become one of the higher-quality showdowns in the nation.

Holidaily Brewing Raising Funds
The Story: The gluten-free brewery in Golden is looking to expand operations and grow.
The Scoop: Holidaily is raising up to $1.235 million at a valuation of $13.88 million. The fundraising page shows that nearly $250,000 has already been raised. Owner Karen Hertz tells Westword that while she’s done a few private fund raises before, this is both the first public fundraiser and is at the highest valuation. “It’s really just to continue our momentum and get people on board that are passionate about our brand and not only want to invest but want to be ambassadors for Holidaily,” says Hertz.

She adds that Holidaily has been growing, and this investment will allow the brewery to bring more tanks and increased production capabilities to its Golden location. “We built [the facility in Golden] anticipating that we would eventually need to grow it,” notes Hertz, who also says that there are currently open rows in the space for the new equipment.

Yampa Valley Brewing Announces Closure of Two of its Locations; New Owner
The Story: The Craig location will remain open, while both the Steamboat Springs and Hayden locations will close.
The Scoop: The operation in Craig will be taken over by Savana Crow, who is already a core part of the team at that location.

Upcoming Events

Nestle Out for Asheville
Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8, noon to 7 p.m.
New Belgium Brewing
500 Linden Street, Fort Collins
New Belgium Brewing is hosting a North Carolina disaster relief supply drive. It’s challenging customers to “fill the truck,” partnering with Manna Food Bank to collect supplies. The drive will accept items like canned fruit and veggies, canned proteins, breakfast bars, healthy snacks, toothpaste and brushes, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and menstrual products. Additionally, $1 from every pint of Mountain Time Lager sold will be donated to disaster relief.

Tree Skier Pale Ale Release
Friday, November 8
Over Yonder Brewing
18455 West Colfax Avenue, Golden
For the fourth year, Over Yonder Brewing will team up with Powder7 to release Tree Skier Pale Ale. The beer is brewed with spruce tips from the Colorado mountains, adding a fresh scent of spruce to the aroma and flavor. Amarillo, El Dorado and Citra hops were also used in the beer. Over Yonder and Powder7 will be hosting a raffle at the brewery, with proceeds benefiting Friends of CAIC, and there will be live music from bluegrass band Magoo.

Barrel-Aged Stout Release and Pie Competition
Saturday, November 9, noon
Diebolt Brewing
3855 Mariposa Street
What’s better than drinking an award-winning barrel-aged stout? Eating pie at the same time! Join Diebolt for its 2024 release of Vladislav, a multiple World Beer Cup award-winning stout and one of our picks for the best beers of 2023. Diebolt will release the beer, aged in a blend of Heaven Hill bourbon and Jim Beam apple-smoked barrels, at noon. At 2 p.m., hand over $15 to taste and judge a pie competition. Prizes include gift cards and bragging rights.

Rare Beer Charity Auction
Sunday, November 10, 2 to 6 p.m.
Dry Dock Brewing
15120 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora
Also dubbed Verticals for Vets, the Aurora City Brew Club is hosting this auction as a fundraiser for the Veterans Community Project. This is the second time the club has hosted the event – the first raised $16,000 for homeless vets. Numerous local businesses have donated to the auction including Second Dawn Brewing, A Bit Twisted Brewpub, Elizabeth Brewing, Local Relic, Dry Dock Brewing, Strange Craft, Comrade Brewing, Avery Brewing, Milieu Fermentation and more. A full list of the impressive auction items is available online.

Beer of the Week

Drunkard’s Cloak from Banded Oak Brewing, Old Ale, 9.7 percent ABV
From the Brewery: 2024 batch two, this old/stock ale was aged in Cabernet wine barrels.
From the Glass: Sweet malt and cherries on the nose with dark caramel, a hint of toast and a whisper of vanilla. As it warms, interesting notes of butterscotch, plum and chocolate-covered cherries become more prominent. A deep, complex barrel-aged beer.
Availability: On draft at the brewery, 470 Broadway