The annual Craft Brewers Conference wrapped up last weekend in Philadelphia. The roving annual event, hosted by the Boulder-based Brewers Association, is the biggest craft-beer trade conference in the nation. This year's CBC also included the World Beer Cup, a competition held every other year, and numerous Colorado breweries won awards there (find them at worldbeercup.org). But the biggest winner was Louisville's 12 Degree Brewing, which was named Champion Brewery and Brewmaster in the Small Brewpub category and also took home two awards, a gold in the Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale category for Treachery, a golden strong, and a bronze in the French and Belgian-Style Saison category for Soleil, a Belgian saison. The winners were selected by an international panel of 253 beer judges from 31 countries; there were a total of 6,596 entries from 1,907 breweries in 55 countries.
Wednesday, May 11
Breckenridge Brewery will launch its new Nitro Vanilla Porter in sixteen-ounce cans today at 7 p.m. with a free concert at the Bluebird Theater. "These nitrogen-charged cans produce a silky, smooth, cascading head right inside the can. No glass? No problem. Crack open an NVP and enjoy straight from the can at any concert venue," the brewery says. The two bands are the Bright Light Social Hour and Dragondeer. Get a complimentary can of Nitro Vanilla Porter with entry. The show is free; no tickets necessary.
It's Fruit Saison Cask Month at the Copper Kettle, which will tap Blueberry Saison. "Perfect sweetness when paired with the spicy finish of the saison," the brewery says. Ol' Skool Que will be on hand.
Thursday, May 12
Head to Freshcraft today at 5:30 p.m. for the latest Possible Worlds event featuring Call to Arms Brewing, Cannonball Creek Brewing, Ratio Beerworks, Station 26 Brewing and TRVE Brewing, each of which brewed the same IPA "with the sole difference being the process in which each brewery utilizes their allotted Amarillo, Centennial and Citra hops." Freshcraft will be selling flights of all five beers and hold a brief discussion at 6 p.m. Seats are limited. "The beers will be analyzed for their color and bitterness units at Avery Brewing Co., and we'll host a discussion on the intricacies of hop utilization and how incredibly different beers can taste when brewed in different facilities," Freshcraft says.
Friday, May 13
Head to Finn's Manor in River North at 2 p.m. today for the exclusive tapping of Cerebral Brewing's latest, Shotgun Diplomacy Double IPA, which was brewed in collaboration with Finn's. The 8.1 percent ABV unfiltered beer, with a hazy appearance, "was meant for drinking, not for judging," the brewery says. Hopped "intensely with Hüll Melon, Azacca, Nelson Sauvin and Hallertau Blanc," it was brewed in response to Station 26's recent effort, Drunken Tirade, which was made as a tongue-in-cheek shot across the bow of the recent trend of hazy, "New England-style" IPAs. Cerebral will tap the beer in its own tap room tomorrow. Crowlers will be available then as well for $14 each, with a limit of two.
Comrade Brewing will tap a new beer today. Equinox Smash is a single-hopped pale ale with tropical flavors, brewed with American pilsner malt and Equinox hops.
Dustin Hall and his Brewtography Project will kick off the first of nine fundraising parties for his coffee-table book Kickstarter project, Discovering Colorado Breweries, tonight at 6 p.m. at Baere Brewing. The event includes a pickle, cheese and beer pairing with the Real Dill and Tony’s Market. "Two specialty beers will be released for the pairing: C3IPA, a classic American IPA with three traditional American hops balanced with a subtle malt backbone paired with smoked cheddar cheese and habanero pickles; Lens Cap, a dark sour that was fermented in wine barrels and barrel aged with Baere’s house mixed culture paired with buttermilk blue cheese and molasses pickles," Baere says. Each ten-ounce pour will include two cheeses, two pickles, a Brewtography Project tulip glass, and an 8x10 inch print signed by Hall. Tickets are $25 in advance from the website or $30 at the door and limited to fifty total. Get more details about the evening and the project on Brewtography's Facebook page.
Saturday, May 14
TRVE Brewing will release its latest beer, Ostara, today at noon. "Come get some of this fantastic golden sour ale with dandelion, lemongrass and lemon peel," the brewery says.
Denver Beer Co will throw its biggest-ever event today with the Sun Drenched Music Festival, which will take place outside at the brewery's Canworks production facility at 4455 Jason Street from noon to 8 p.m. The band lineup will be bluegrass-heavy and include headliner Hot Buttered Rum, as well as Caribou Mountain Collective, Bill McKay Band, the Railsplitters, Rapidgrass Quintet and Town Mountain. Denver Beer Co will transform the area outside the brewery into a "summer beach party complete with sand volleyball, beer balloon fights and beach games. In addition, festival goers can stroll the 'boardwalk' and grab food from favorite food trucks or shop at the festival market, which will feature several local artisans," the brewery says. "In addition to food, vendors, and games, the venue will feature an outdoor beer garden, and shaded and indoor seating areas." Tickets, $35 to $65, can be purchased at sundrenchedmusicfest.com.
Mockery Brewing and Pie Bird are teaming up to host a sweet and savory pie and beer pairing event that supports Discovering Colorado Breweries, the Kickstarter project from Dustin Hall and the Brewtography Project; it is one of nine Brewtography events. "For $25, each guest will receive a sweet pie (blueberries, raspberries, and cardamom) paired with a Lemon Pilsner and a savory pie (aged cheddar, potato, and leek with thyme and Dijon) paired with a West Coast style IPA. There is also a VIP option for $50 that includes an additional sweet pie (dark chocolate and lavender tart with Maldon sea salt) paired with a barrel aged Vanilla Bourbon Porter. VIP guests will also receive a 22oz bomber of the aged Vanilla Bourbon Porter to take home and a 8x10 inch print signed by Hall," Mocker says. Learn more about the event and about the project on Brewtography's Facebook page.
Locavore Beer Works in Littleton will release the Bees Knees, which won a silver medal at this year's International Maizer Cup, today. The 13 percent ABV Braggot-style beverage (that's half mead and half beer) was made with honey sourced locally from Clark's Honey Farm.
Sunday, May 15
The Post Brewing in Lafayette will release its two newest canned beers, Ol’ Zippy and Meathooks, today on liquor-store shelves. At 5 percent ABV, Ol’ Zippy Premium American Ale "features a crisp malt flavor and a snappy hop aroma. The hop zing carries through the flavor as the beer comes to a clean finish with a pleasant, subtle sweetness derived from flaked maize," the brewery says. Meathooks Mild Ale, at 4.1 percent ABV, includes "toasty, biscuity and satisfying lush layers of malt flavor and aroma, culminating in a clean, dry finish that begs another taste."
Tuesday, May 17
Westfax Brewing in Lakewood will tap Death Star Dubbel today at 4 p.m. The beer has been aging in a Laws Bourbon barrel and is finally ready to drink.
Strange Craft Beer Company is celebrating its sixth anniversary all week this week. Today the brewery will tap Chardonnay & Cabernet Barrel-Aged Blondes, its classic Belgian Blonde Ale aged in Chardonnay and Cabernet barrels.
Wednesday, May 18
In celebration of its sixth-year anniversary, Strange Craft Beer is hosting a luau in its beer garden with Roaming Bull Brasserie. "Start off with Tuna Poke appetizer and a half pint of brew. Follow it up with a traditional Hawaiian-style pig roast and side fixin's of kimchi and potato salad, along with a specialty small batch of Tropical Golden brewed just for the luau," the brewery says. "Don't forget to wear your festive shirts...we've got the leis. Music by Wylie 'Crazy Horse' Jones, for a little island flair." Seatings are between 4 and 8 p.m., no set times. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Thursday, May 19
Strange Craft marks its sixth anniversary today by tapping Super Kriek, which it calls "Cherry Kriek on steroids." The beer was a favorite at the Big Beers festival earlier in the year. There will also be extended hours, 2 to 11 p.m., hourly merchandise raffles (get a ticket with the purchase of a pint), live bluegrass from Groundcover at 6 p.m. and a Dr. Strangelove Barleywine bomber release party at 2 p.m. Also, if you wish Strange a happy birthday, you get a free five-ounce pour of your choice (not including Dr. Strangelove).
Alpine Dog Brewing will tap "some vintage Notorious MONK, Belgian-style Dubbel that has spent the last year aging in red wine barrels," today at 6 p.m. They will also be selling Colfax+Ogden/Alpine Dog branded glasses. Get a glass and your first pour for $10; supplies are limited.
Friday, May 20
Every year, Breckenridge Brewery makes a beer to celebrate Denver Comic Con, and hosts a naming and artwork contest. This year's winner is Snape-ricot, an American lager with sweet notes of apricot. It will debut at a free show today at Stoney's Bar and Grill featuring the Gin Doctors, a '90s cover band, and the Red 5 Band. Artist Frankie Serna will be attending the release party to sign commemorative 2016 Denver Comic Con pint glasses, which will be given away to the first 200 people through the door.
Saturday, May 21
Diebolt Brewing will tap the Wiggy Wiggy, its hibiscus-and-honey saison, today and will host a party in its honor. Details are still TBA, but there will be music, food and the saison — which Diebolt says is its most popular brew. Oh, and Diebolt will also begin canning the Wiggy Wiggy this year.
Platt Park Brewing will host a bottle-release party for its Watermelon Berliner Weisse today at noon. The brewery will only be selling about one hundred bottles, so there is a limit of two per person. Platt Park will also tap a single keg of the beer, and when it's gone, it's gone.
Copper Kettle will debut two new cans today, IPA and Milk Stout, which are joining the brewery's Helles, which has been in cans for a while now. The cans will be sold out of the tap room today, but should be available in liquor stores soon. There will be live music from Roots & Rhythm Band from 2 to 5 p.m., and the Cluck Truck will be out front.
Upslope Brewing in Boulder hosts its third annual Upslope Get Down music festival today from 1 to 10 p.m. at its Flatiron Park location and in the parking lot. In addition to the thirteen bands on stage all day long, there will be plenty of beer, food, live art, games and more.
The Rialto Cafe will host its fourth annual Brewers Alley event from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring beer tastings from ten local brewers, including Boulder Beer, Ska Brewing and Denver Beer Co, musical entertainment, lawn games and appetizers. The event takes place in the alley between Curtis and Champa streets. A portion of the proceeds are going to Denver's Road to Work Program. Find tickets, $25, at Eventbrite.
Thursday, May 26
Ernie’s Bar & Pizza and Ft. Collins Brewery are bringing back their 2nd Annual FCB Skeeball Tournament today at Ernie's at 8 p.m. The tournament will pit individuals and teams against each other to compete for prizes, including a VIP Tour for two of Ft. Collins Brewery. FCB beers on tap for the event include Far Away IPA, Red Banshee, Hefeweizen and the Savor Series American Barleywine. Participants will also receive a souvenir pint glass.
Saturday, May 28
Rebel Restaurant is pairing with TRVE Brewing for an unusual summer kickoff dinner that suits both of these artisan establishments: Rebel specializes in whole-animal presentations, while TRVE specializes in being metal. The event, called The Slaughter, features three whole animals — a pig, a goat and a lamb — which will be slow-roasted and smoked. Guests will then devour them in a pop-up biergarten in Rebel's parking lot; the food will be served alongside some old favorites and brand new summer sours from TRVE. There will also be homemade wine coolers from bartender Jason Randall. Nostalgic punk and metal records will be spun on the patio. The Slaughter runs from 2 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at theslaughter2016.nightout.com.
Nighthawk Brewery in Broomfield hosts its Inaugural Funk & Farm Fest today from 1 to 4 p.m.; the fest is a celebration of grisette, saison, and farmhouse beers and features more than a dozen Colorado breweries. Tickets, $38-$48, include a commemorative glass and goat cheese from Haystack Mountain. Participating breweries include Nighthawk, Trinity, Black Project, Crooked Stave, Atom Brewing, Dad & Dudes Breweria, Colorado Plus Brewery, Goldspot, Mu Brewery, Odd 13 Brewing, Spangalang, Our Mutual Friend, Wynkoop and Wiley Roots. Find tickets at eventbrite.com.
Friday, June 3
Ursula Brewery, formerly called Coda Brewing, is throwing a two-day "Re-Brandiversary" party to celebrate everything new. The location is celebrating its second anniversary, but also had to change its name when head brewer Luke Smith left earlier this year and took the name Coda with him. Ursula will have special tappings today and tomorrow, including some sours. There will also be a live DJ and bands.