Beginning in May, Aurora's Dry Dock Brewing will begin selling its Apricot Blonde in twelve-packs of cans; the warm-weather favorite just won a silver medal at the World Beer Cup. In the meantime, Fort Collins Brewery has decided to end production of 1900 Amber Lager; the German-style beer was first made in 2009 as a way to commemorate the brewery's former location at 1900 Lincoln Avenue.
Turn the page for more news -- and all of this week's craft beer events.
Grimm Brothers Brewing in Loveland, which just began canning its Little Red Cap lager, has also added three thirty-barrel fermentation tanks to help keep up with production. And Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing announced this this week that it will finally break ground on its $175 million, 133,000-square-foot Asheville, North Carolina production facility. The new brewery and tasting room will eventually produce 500,000 barrels annually.
Odell Brewing will release its latest limited-edition bottled beer, Perle White IPA, this week, but only as part of its Summer Montage variety twelve-packs, which also include 90 Shilling, IPA and St. Lupulin. Part of the Roots Release series, Perle features traditional Oregon Perle hops as well as a new variety, Triple Perle, from Washington.
Wednesday, April 23Barrels & Bottles Brewery in Golden will tap the Big C today at 5 p.m. The beer, a Belgian-style IPA, was brewed by fourteen women from eleven different breweries. Beers made at those breweries are also on tap, including Wynkoop Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout, Bootstrap Insane IPA, Strange 1000 Barrel Imperial IPA, Epic Saison Sour Apple, Caution Honey Matrimony Brown, Renegade Fruhling Maibock, Horse & Dragon Summer Ale, Big Choice 10,000 Summers Saison and Pikes Peak Devil's Head Red. All proceeds from sales of the Big C will go the Pink Boots Society.
River North Brewery will tap a five-gallon keg of B-Side Avarice, its Belgian Imperial Stout aged exactly one year in rye whiskey barrels, at 3 p.m. today as part of its weekly Wayward Wednesday series.
12 Degree Brewing in Louisville will tap its Sorach L'Orange today in celebration of the warm weather. The beer is a spin on a Belgian farmhouse ale brewed with Sorachi Ace hops, with blood orange added post-fermentation. Also on tap: Soleil Saison Farmhouse Ale; Walter's White Belgian White; Brabant Tripel; Foxx Rougge Dark Strong Ale; Nemesis Dubbel; Treachery Golden Strong; Cerberus Golden Strong; Velour Fog Quadrupel; and two collaborations with Cannonball Creek, Coalesce Brett Saison and Coalesce Framboise Brett Saison.
Thursday, April 24
Copper Kettle Brewing will kick off a four-day-long celebration of its third anniversary today at noon. The brewery will showcase some of its favorite beers from the year, including Rum Barrel Aged Pumpkin Ale, Rum Barrel Aged Old Ale, Snowed In and Well Bred. There will also be live music from 6 to 9 p.m. by Midwest Rebellion, an acoustic duo, and food from Dogtown Concessions.
Station 26 Brewing will tap a firkin of Centennial IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic and conditioned with honey today at 4 p.m. as part of its weekly firkin series.
Friday, April 25
The Copper Kettle will continue its weekend-long third anniversary celebration today by opening at noon and tapping its first sour beer, Raspberry Framboise, aged for ten months in wine barrels. The Acoustic Mining Company will play from 6 to 9 p.m., and El Toro the Tot and Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs will be slingin' grub.
Dry Dock Brewing will tap a firkin of Caramel Vanilla Coffee Milk Stout today at 3 p.m. as part of its weekly cask program. Get there early because it won't last long.
Saturday, April 26 Comrade Brewing in southeast Denver will open its doors for the first time today at noon, with six beers on tap: Blonde Ale, Irish Red, Cream Stout with Coffee, India Pale Ale, Pale Ale and a special collaboration Cascadian Dark Ale. The Wikipita food truck will be there at noon, serving Mediterranean-style pitas. Brewery tours on the hour.
Copper Kettle will continue its weekend-long third anniversary celebration today at noon with a Battle of the Beers contest featuring recipes from different staff members. The beers include Tokaji Hungarian Oak Spiced Biere de Garde, Brown Ale with Bacon and Brown Sugar, India White Ale with Citra and Zythos Hops, Oak Aged Oatmeal Porter with Blackberry Liquor, Mint and Vanilla Double Chocolate Mexican Chocolate Stout, Colonial Ale with Black strap molasses, Oak Aged Vanilla Peach American Wheat, and the Luis Suarez Extra Special Biter. Groundscore will be playing live music from 6 to 9 p.m., while CKrêpes & CKatering and Basic Kneads Pizza will be on hand with food.
River North Brewery will release its second canned offering, River North IPA, today at 1 p.m. -- and "in an effort to offer this hoppy beer as fresh as possible, River North's brewers will keg and can IPA less than 24 hours before the release party," the brewery says, which is pretty cool. The 6 percent ABV beer -- which is similar to Belgian Pale Red, a taproom favorite -- crosses American hops with a Belgian yeast strain. River North will have the IPA on tap and for sale in four-packs of 16-ounce cans ($10).
Parry's Pizzeria & Bar in Highlands Ranch will host its second annual Big Ass Tap Takeover beginning at 11 a.m. today in conjunction with Avery Brewing, which will take over at least thirty taps. "There will be kill-the-keg contests, raffles for Avery and Parry's merchandise and three VIP tours to Avery's own brewery, as well as hourly bottle releases. Bottles being released range from Avery's barrel projects including sours, big ales and even some vintage selections straight from their cellar," Parry's says.
Echo Brewing Company in Frederick will hold its Anniversary Party today, featuring numerous beers along with live music and food trucks. ESPN Radio will air live from Echo from noon to 1 p.m., while Nick O'Conner will perform in the tap room from 1 to 3 p.m.; he'll be followed by Ben Pu and Crew from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Cat Jerky from 6 to 8 p.m. Rocky Mountain Slices, GottaRubIt BBQ Co., Lauer Krauts and The Orange Crunch, LLC will be there for the entire event.
Sunday, April 27
At 1 p.m. today Avery Brewing will release Rufus Corvus, No. 19 in its barrel series, at the Boulder taproom. The brewery calls it "an artful and massively acidic blend of two major projects and further enhanced with several orphan barrels from the corners of our barrel aging cellar." Bottle sales begin at 1 p.m., but the line will likely form much earlier. Each twelve-ounce bottle is $12, and there is a limit of twelve per person. Bring cash for the lineup of rare beers available on draft.
Copper Kettle will wrap up its four-day third anniversary celebration today by tapping Petit Verdot Barrel Aged Belgian Grand Cru. Live music will be provided by Aaron McCloskey & Alex Johnstone from 3 to 6 p.m. and food will be from The Biscuit Bus.
For more events later in April, turn the page. Wednesday, April 30
12 Degree Brewing in Old Town Louisville will host a Beer & Chocolate Pairing for Women today at 7 p.m. that includes the brewery's Belgian-style artisan ales and Robin Chocolates of Longmont. Robin Autorino of Robin Chocolates and Jon Howland of 12 Degree will both speak about the pairings. Organized by Barley's Angels Colorado, the event costs $20. Register at barleysangelscolorado.com/#!boulderevents/c8k2.
The Copper Kettle is celebrating Blondes this month by featuring a different blonde cask every Wednesday. Today's -- a twist on the cocktail called Sex on the Beach -- has peach schnapps, cranberry and orange peel. It will be tapped at 3 p.m. A new food truck, Barbed Wire Reef, will be on hand as well.
Thursday, May 1
The Source artisan food market in RiNo will host a New Belgium Brewing takeover today through Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., New Belgium will feature a miniature tasting room complete with New Belgium classics, along with the brewery's more esoteric Lips of Faith series, for sampling. In addition, the Source will show the Kentucky Derby races on a giant screen on May 3. All of the proceeds from New Belgium's Take Over at The Source will benefit the nonprofit Alliance for Sustainable Colorado.
Saturday, May 3
The South Denver Beer Fest returns to Littleton's Clement Parkfrom 2 to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, featuring a mix of more than 140 craft beers, wines and ciders. Many of the participating breweries have only recently opened their doors and some will be debuting at this years festival. But there will also be a variety of local spirits in the VIP Tent. Breweries will also be competing for votes from attendees as to the best overall beer. In addition, there will be a cooking-with-beer demo and food trucks. Tickets -- $40 in advance and $50 at the door, are available at southdenverbeerfest.com.
Sunday, May 4
The South Denver Beef Fest continues in Littleton's Clement Park. See above for details.
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