The Post Brewing Co. in Lafayette is seeking entries into its second annual Lil’ Brewer Buddy Homebrew Competition, which gives the winner a chance to brew his or her beer at the Post with head brewer Bryan Selders and have it served on tap there. The panel of judges will include Selders and last year's winners, Nick Anderson and beer author Dan Rabin. “Beers will be judged on technical merit as it pertains to the beer being free of off flavors, good clarity, good foam stability, proper carbonation, etc. Beyond that, other purely subjective criteria are judged like 'do we like the beer?', 'is the flavor good?', 'am I likely to want another?' This is style-guideline, category-free competition, so entrants are encouraged to go crazy. Just make sure it's awesome," the brewery says. To enter, drop off two bottles of your best homebrew at The Post by April 15 at 2 p.m. For all the details and more information, call 303-593-2066 or visit: www.postbrewing.com/homebrewers-competition.
Wednesday, February 18
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project will release a brand new beer today at 6 p.m. Progenitor is a 6.2 percent ABV dry-hopped sour ale. "Born from the idea that all beers were once sour, Progenitor is a beer unlike other modern sour beers — it is the primitive form of beer, but with an extreme take on dry hopping," the brewery explains. "Primary fermented with Crooked Stave's mixed culture of wild yeast and bacteria, Progenitor is a complex blend of sour funk with a heavy handed dose of tropical and citrus hop notes from the ample dry hopping regimen." Bottles will cost $8 each, and there is a limit of twelve.
Copper Kettle will bring back its annual Decadent Chocolate Cask Month in February, offering different Imperial beers each Wednesday along with doughnut pairings (in limited quantities) from Glazed and Confuzed. This week's pairing is Copper Kettle's Chocolate Toasted Coconut Imperial Porter with a turtle doughnut, caramel glaze with chocolate drizzle and sweet, salty crunchy pecans. The Truck Yeah Food Truck will be there at 4 p.m.
World of Beer in Cherry Creek will tap Pliny the Younger today at 6 p.m. World of Beer Loyalty Members will have first crack, though, and are guaranteed a pour between 5 and 5:30 p.m. A line will form at 5:30 for everyone else.
Thursday, February 19
Boozy local blog Denver Off the Wagon turns four years old this month. As it does every year, the bloggers have teamed up with a local brewery to create a celebratory beer. In this case, Off the Wagon joined Former Future to brew a 7.8 percent ABV imperial IPA called 4×4. To make it, they used four grains, four hop varieties, four yeast strains (to highlight the fourth anniversary. You can find the beer at Former Future starting tonight, and then at Star Bar, starting tomorrow.
Alpine Dog Brewing will release its newest beer — a black IPA called Darth Hop — today at 5 p.m. The brewery will also have a Star Wars-themed party to celebrate, so wear a costume because the top three will be awarded prizes ranging from growlers to t-shirts. The beer is "packed with tropical/citrusy American hops, caramel and de-bittered roast malts for a smooth malty, roast cocoa/coffee profile," the brewery says. The Truck Yeah Food Truck will be on site.
Upslope Brewing will release the third volume of its quarterly limited release Lee Hill Series today at the brewery’s original Lee Hill tap room in North Boulder. The beer, a 10 percent ABV Barrel Aged Imperial Stout , "was brewed to be aged in Leopold Bros. Maryland Rye Whiskey barrels," Upslope says. "With copious amounts of Maris Otter malted barley and three distinct roasted grains this stout provides a chocolate, coffee and nuanced dark fruit flavor that fuses excellently with the unique character of the oak barrels." Today's party runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Shopey’s Sandwiches food truck will be serving food, and 19.2 ounce Barrel Aged Imperial Stout cans will be available for $10 (limit four).
Saturday, February 21
"It's gonna be a party. Wear your drinking shoes." That's the message from Goldspot Brewing, which will open its doors for the first time at noon today at 4970 Lowell Boulevard, near Regis University. The brick-walled neighborhood spot, owned by Matt Hughes and Alex Sward, will have five or six beers on tap, including an IPA, a coffee cocoa porter, a Belgian pale, a Kolsch-style golden ale, and Uh Huh Honey, an IPA that Goldspot brewed for last December's Festivus beer fest along with Cerebral, a brewery-in-planning. Basic Kneads will be serving pizza.
Denver Beer Co will host its fourth annual Beer, Bacon & Coffee Fest from 9 a.m. to noon today at the brewery's Platte Street location. Each ticket holder gets a breakfast burrito, coffee from Coda Coffee Company, and all-you-can-eat bacon from Denver Bacon Company. You will also receive a souvenir mug to fill with all the "breakfast-inspired" brews you can drink from Denver Beer Co.
Two22 Brew in Centennial will celebrate its one-year anniversary today and tomorrow, featuring hourly releases of favorite beers from throughout the year, including Patio Peach, Boo!22, Hefeweizen, Imperial Melon IPA, Saison, Abbey, White IPA, Chocolate Porter. The Basic Kneads Food Truck will be on hand from 1 to 8 p.m.
Falling Rock Taphouse will tap Russian River's Pliny the Younger triple IPA today at 1 p.m. The tapping will adhere to strict rules and times; you can find the details on Falling Rock's website.
Sunday, February 22
Avery Brewing, which just opened its new taproom and restaurant earlier in the week, will host its first bottle release today, starting at 11 a.m. when people can begin buying Batch No. 4 of the highly-acclaimed bourbon-barrel-aged Uncle Jacob's Stout. The 16.9 percent ABV beer has become one of the brewery's signatures. Each bottle is $12 and there is a limit of one case (24 bottles) per person. Other Avery beers will be flowing from the brewery's new thirty-tap wall, both into pint glasses and into growlers.
Copper Kettle Brewing and Hops & Pie have teamed up to offer the Snowed In Brunch, a craft beer and gourmet cuisine breakfast that's taking place at the brewery at 8 a.m. and again at 10:30. The brunch will feature a four-year vertical tasting of Snowed In, Copper Kettle's bourbon-barrel-aged imperial oatmeal coffee stout, dating back every year to 2011, when the brewery first opened. The menu from Hops & Pie is three courses: "White Corn Grits, Smokey Tomato Jam & Hickory Shrimp; Candied Bacon, Deviled Egg & Tiny Hash Browns; and Handmade Apple/Sage Pork Sausage, Fresh Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits & Maple/Bourbon Gravy." Tickets are $55 and will sell out.
Two22 Brew in Centennial will conclude its anniversary week today with a tribute to our the Colorado charities that the brewery donates to. They will release their new Fruits of Philanthropy Beer; the Wong Way Veg Food Truck will be on hand.
Euclid Hall will tap Russian River's Pliny the Younger today at 3 p.m. "Due to a limited amount of The Younger we will be selling tickets for one 6 ounce pour per person for $6 on a first come first serve basis so that as many people as possible can sip on this special brew," the restaurant says on its Facebook page. "Tickets will be available when we kick the doors open at 1:30pm. Once you have your ticket you can enjoy a glass of Pliny the Elder, Blind Pig or Temptation while you wait."
Freshcraft will tap its Pliny the Younger today at 2 p.m. Here's the details: "All PtY purchases will be cash only and only available at the bar. We will not be starting tabs for the purchase of Younger. We will be forming a line at 1:30pm, Tapping at 2pm. It is recommended that you arrive early. You also must have a Valid ID. There will be a limited number of tickets - once you receive one you can relax, you will get a pour of the beer. After initial tickets are passed out we will then have a few remaining "second chance" tickets which will be numbered. These "second chance" tickets do not secure you a pour, but allow you the chance to get one of the last few remaining pours until the keg kicks. On top of all that goodness, starting at 11am (when we open) Russian River Blind Pig and Pliny the Elder will be available on draft. After the Younger keg kicks we will also be tapping at least one of the Russian River barrel aged sours. None of the Russian River offerings will be available for happy hour pricing this day."
Monday, February 23
The Cheeky Monk on Colfax Avenue will tap Russian River's Pliny The Younger triple IPA today at 6 p.m. Tickets ensuring a pour of the beer go on on sale at 4 p.m. the day of the tapping.
Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids will tap Russian River's Pliny the Younger tonight, HOWEVER, you have to have bought your ticket the previous Saturday, February 21, at 10 a.m. One per person.
Sanitas Brewing will tap the second beer in its Wild and Sour Project today at 3 p.m. The Boulder brewery will pour Bramble, a 4 percent ABV blackberry sour ale, which "is loaded It’s loaded with complex sour notes, deep oak undertones, and finishes crisp and dry with a lingering blackberry characteristic," Sanitas says. Bramble was fermented in oak barrels with a proprietary blend of wild yeast and bacteria. Blackberries were added near the end of fermentation.
Tuesday, February 24
All five Mountain Sun-owned breweries and restaurants in Boulder, Denver and Longmont will release another imperial stout today as part of the company's annual Stout Month. The beer is Bourbon Barrel-Aged Addiction Coffee Imperial Stout, which is the brewery's coffee-infused Imperial Stout aged several months in Maker's Mark Bourbon barrels.
Hops & Pie will tap Russian River's Pliny the Younger today at 1 p.m. The restaurant will begin handing out tickets at 11:30 a.m. sharp when the doors open. "If you receive one of said tickets you are guaranteed a 10 oz pour, you do not have to be present at 1 p.m., you just have to return at some point Tuesday WITH your ticket. If you loose your ticket you loose your beer, sorry. If you do not redeem your ticket by closing on Tuesday your pour will be enjoyed by the staff. That is all," Hops & Pie says on Facebook.
Wednesday, February 25
Copper Kettle will bring back its annual Decadent Chocolate Cask Month in February, offering different Imperial beers each Wednesday along with doughnut pairings (in limited quantities) from Glazed and Confuzed. This week's pairing is Copper Kettle's Chocolate Hazelnut Peanut Butter Imperial Brown Ale with a strawberry shortcake doughnut, strawberry jelly glaze with a shortcake spike whipped cream. The Truck Yeah Food Truck will be there at 4 p.m.
Lost Highway Brewing will tap TJ's PJs today at 3 p.m. The beer is a limited release of the brewery's Liquid Pajamas winter warmer that was aged in a maple whiskey barrel. It will be paired with a pork belly bao bun. Liquid Pajamas is a 12.5 percent ABV winter beer, brewed with wheat, rye, barley and eight pounds of powdered cocoa.
Fiction Brewing will tap a new beer at 6 p.m. today, a Gose. The salted wheat beer is based on an old German-style of beer with a high sodium content. The 4 percent ABV beer is tart and sessionable and has cardamom and makrut lime leaves.
Friday, February 27
Breckenridge Brewery will release its brand new Barleywine Batch #2 today at its Kalamath Street headquarters from 6 to 8 p.m. This will be one of your last chances (although probably not the final one) to "party amongst the fermenters" with live music, chocolate and cheese pairings, the brewery says. The beer is an English-style barleywine aged in French oak Cabernet Sauvingnon barrels; it gives off aromas of prune, molasses, wet oak, and subtle hints of wine, the brewery adds. Like its predecessor from last year, Barleywine Batch #2 will also be sold in 22-ounce wax-topped bottles. Breck will also be popping some bottles of Batch #1 to compare.
Odell Brewing in Fort Collins will celebrate the release of its newest Cellar Series beer today through Sunday in its taproom. Brazzle Sour Golden Raspberry was aged in oak barrels with wild yeasts and 300 pounds of golden raspberries. Odell will be offering samples of the brew, cheese pairings (while supplies last) tomorrow and and live music on Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
City Star Brewing in Berthoud will release Outlaw today at noon in the taproom. The beer is the first in City Star's barrel-aged series and the firsts City Star beer available in bottles. The 13.25 percent ABV brew was aged for one year in Breckenridge Whiskey barrels. It includes flavors of "dark chocolate, toffee, dark fruit, oak, vanilla, and of course American whiskey," City Star says. The brewery only has 970 22-ounce bottles available. They cost $18 each, with a limit of twelve per person.
