Hops, hops and more hops for IPA Day, harvests and more

Arvada's Voss Farms, which supplies hops for Black Shirt Brewing and other local beer makers, is already picking it's sweet-smelling produce, and you might be able to help. Like last year, Voss is looking for volunteers (although space is very limited). For details, email Andrew at [email protected]. Hop farmers in...

By Jonathan Shikes

July 31, 2013

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Arvada's Voss Farms, which supplies hops for Black Shirt Brewing and other local beer makers, is already picking it's sweet-smelling produce, and you might be able to help. Like last year, Voss is looking for volunteers (although space is very limited). For details, email Andrew at [email protected]. Hop farmers in the rest of the state are also getting ready to harvest their hop varieties later this month, something that will produce the fresh hop beers that are a specialty of September and October in Colorado. Wednesday, July 31

Avery Brewing brings back the Beast Grand Cru, a Belgian Strong Ale, today at 6 p.m. for a guided three-year vertical tasting. The beer's various manifestations will be paired with culinary creations from Cured. Tickets, $40, are available by calling 303-440-4324 or stopping by the Boulder taproom.

Thursday, August 1

Today is national #IPADay, and breweries around the country are celebrating by, well, doing what they do every day: brewing and serving IPAs. But Upslope Brewing's new Flatiron Crossing location in Boulder is taking things up a notch by putting nine India Pale Ales on tap. The party gets going at 4 p.m., the Heirloom Food Truck will be on hand at 5 p.m., and live music from The Longest Day of the Year will begin at 6 p.m. The IPAs on tap are Upslope India Pale Ale, Imperial IPA, Rye IPA, Thai IPA,Double dry-hopped Imperial IPA and four single-hopped Imperial IPAs using Cascade, Columbus, Summit and Galaxy hops respectively.

Copper Kettle with celebrate IPA Day by releasing a session IPA called Straight Jacket IPA because of its nutty undertones. "Dry, refreshing and with hints of a nutty flavor," the beer is lower in alcohol, at 4.6 percent ABV, than Copper Hopper IPA. Dogtown Concessions will be serving food at 4 p.m.

Arvada Beer Company will also celebrate IPA Day with three different incarnations on tap (and all are $1 off per pint all day). They are: Goldline 1, Goldline 2 and Fresh hopped Goldline with hops grown in Arvada.

Jake's Brew Bar in Littleon will tap a keg of Elevation Beer Company's rarish 7437 IPA today for #IPADay, along with two other India Pale Ales. Tapping at around 4:30 p.m.

Friday, August 2

Hops & Pie will celebrate its monthly Firkin 1st Friday series today by tapping a cask of Upslope Brewing's Galactic Invasion Pale Ale that has been dry-hopped with with Galaxy hops. The 5.8 percent ABV beer will begin pouring at 6 p.m.

Saturday, August 3

Odd 13 Brewing in Lafayette will hold its grand opening today with three different food trucks, live music and beers from the brewery's Odd Squad and Legion of Odd series on tap. These include Coal Miner's Cuzzin', Buzzin' Cuzzin', Eric the Red, Succubus, Doctor Cougar and Zed the Zorcerer. Saturday, August 10

Denver Beer Co is closing down Platte Street for a party celebrating its second anniversary. There will be live music, food trucks and twenty different beers on tap, including a limited release of their Second Anniversary Beer, an Oak-Aged-Rye IPA. Please ride your bike and leave your puppy at home.

Bull & Bush will celebrate its 42nd Anniversary Party today with a concert from the Samples at 9 p.m. Tickets are $19.71 (that's when the Bull & Bush was founded).

Wednesday, August 14

The Copper Kettle will roll out four different barrel-aged beers in August as part of its Wednesday firkin series. Today's beer is Tequila Barrel Aged Mexican Chocolate Stout. The beer is on tap from 3 to 9 p.m. (or until it is gone). The East Coast Joe's food truck will be in the house at 4:30 p.m.

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