The answer to the question posed in the video above is, "Yes, freakin' open already!" The three dynamos behind Black Shirt Brewing have been pouring their hearts and souls into this neighborhood brewery, set to open very soon (really), and they must have a lot of both because the place has been in the works now for over a year. But they're not the only ones getting ready to start pouring in the neighborhood. Our Mutual Friend Malt and Beer -- just a few blocks away in Five Points -- is also just one or two city signatures away from opening as well. Who will pull the trigger first? Stayed tuned.
Find all of this week's beer events (and a few down the road) on the next two pages.
See also -Black Shirt Brewing's slanted Offero glasses will change the way you drink beer -Our Mutual Friend Malt & Beer will connect the brewery dots in Five Points -The crew behind Black Shirt Brewing is taking the Kickstarter route toward their dream
Wednesday, September 5Crooked Stave Barrel Cellar opens today at 2 p.m. Owner Chad Yakobsen will be serving a serious lineup of wild and sour ales, including: Wild Wild Brett Blue, Wild Wild Brett Indigo, Vignole, Petite Sour, L'Brett d'Or aged in Leopold Bros Peach Whiskey barrels which previously held NBB Love and Kombucha Blend. And if those tap out, he'll break out some Surette Reserva, Blackberry Petite Sour, Surette Blended with Kombucha and more sour barrel aged surprises.
Avery Brewing brings back its seasonal duganA today in the Boulder tap room. The double IPA, which the brewery calls an "ode to the resinous and piney Chinook hop," will be served when the taproom opens. If you come dressed as a twin with a twin, you get $1 off on selected pints.
Thursday, September 6
Upslope Brewing in Boulder will tap its gold medal winning Pumpkin Ale today at 2 p.m. and selling 16-ounce cans as well. Upslope canned the beer in tallboys for the first time this year and will be selling them at liquor stores, but anyone who shows up today can buy cans first. The beer is made using locally grown Munson Farms Baby Bear Pumpkins and an array of spices from Savory Spice. Anyone who purchase a pint will also received a coupon good for a free Baby Bear Pumpkin from Munson Farms.
Friday, September 7
Okay, so Oskar Blues firkin-master Tim Matthews has blended equal parts of three hugely hopped OB beers: G'Knight, Deviant Dale's and regular Dale's Pale Ale, and then dry-hopped with Simcoe hops in a cask. What will it taste like? You'll have to find out by heading to Hops & Pie at 6 p.m. for the monthly First Firkin Friday event.
Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora will tap a firkin of Toasted Coconut Porter today at 3 p.m. and another around 7 or 8 p.m. as part of its weekly Firkin Friday program.
The Yak & Yeti will release its Brown Rice & Honey Ale today at 4 p.m. The beer, a fall seasonal is based on a Northern English Brown, is "hardly recognizable from its base style after sixty pounds of clover honey and sixty pounds of brown rice are added," says brewmaster Adam Draeger. The 6.1 percent ABV beer pairs well with Nepalese foods.
Saturday, September 8
Avery Brewing in Boulder will "honor the craft beer style that has made the hop our favorite flower...be they dank or piney or floral or tart, spiced or fruited or dry-hopped or wet, Double or Imperial, a little of some or all those together," with the inaugural IPA Festival today from noon to 5 p.m. Attendees will find all kinds of IPAs from brewers in Colorado and around the country, along with music and a commemorative glass. Tickets are $35 and available at www.averybrewing.com.
Odell Brewing will celebrate the release of The Meddler, a barrel aged Flemish-style ale, today in its Fort Collins taproom from 4 to 6 p.m. The beer, Odell's fifth Single Serve release this year, "is a blend of several generations of brown ales that were barrel aged for over eighteen months. Wild yeasts, Lactobacillus, and Brettanomyces meddle with the beer creating complexity and depth of flavor. Intricate, yet balanced," the brewery says. The Meddler, at 8.9 percent ABV, will be sold in liquor stores in cork-andacage 750 ml bottles. The release party will include live music, beer samples, and food.
Ska Brewing in Durango will celebrate seventeen years today with its annual birthday party from 4 to 9 p.m. at Ska World Headquarters in Durango. There will be live music from Reel Big Fish plenty of guest beers from other breweries. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/246806. It sold out last year.
Gravity Brewing, at 1150 Pine Street, in Louisville opens its doors for the first time today at 2 p.m. with five beers on tap. The brewery is owned by John Frazee, Julius Hummer and Ryan Bowers.
Tuesday, September 11
Upslope Brewing in Boulder will tap its huge double IPA today, a ten percent ABV hop bomb. Evol Burritos will also be in the tap room at about 5 p.m. handing out free samples of their burritos.
Saturday, September 15
The Vine Street Pub will host its third annual Uptown Block Party today beginning at 1 p.m. Artwork is in and hanging in the pubs for this year's Vine Street Uptown Block Party and Brewer's Olympics. Keith Moseley from SCI, 12 breweries competing for gold, 30 different styles of world-class brews in the beer garden... and all to support New Era Colorado. Saturday, September 15th! Mark your calendars!
The Copper Kettle will tap two firkins of Peach Saison made with fresh peaches today in the taproom, from noon until it runs out. There will be live music from Indigent Row and the Epicurean Catering food truck on hand beginning at 5 p.m.
Parry's Pizzeria & Bar, which offers fifty taps in Highlands Ranch, is hosting a crazy tap takeover by Oskar Blues today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Why is it crazy? Because in addition to its regular lineup, Oskar Blues will be pouring a group of rarities that have almost never been seen in one place together. They include: Chaka, a collaboration with Sun King Brewing; Home Skillet Black IPA; Legends India Brown; Dave's Pale Ale (not Dale's); barrel-aged Old Chub, Ten FIDY and Gubna; nitro versions of G'Knight, Old Chub and Dale's Pale Ale; Red Wine Barrel Aged G'Knight; and Chardonnay Wine Barrel Aged Mama's Lil Yella Pils. Wow.
Find beer events for later in the month after on the next page. Wednesday, September 19
Arvada Beer Company will throw a Great American Beer Festival release party today from 5 to 9 p.m. by tapping all nine of its GABF entries. Tickets are $20 or $25 at the door (limited to 100) and include tasters of all nine along with a pint of your favorite. There will also be meats and cheeses from Olde Town's Woodburn Deli.
Saturday, September 22
Ska Brewing will debut its new Seasonal Stout program today by releasing the first of four canned stouts, Autumnal Mole Stout, a beer brewed cocoa nibs, spices and three varieties of chile peppers: Mulato, Ancho and Hatch green chiles (Read more: "Ska Brewing will debut a new series of seasonal canned stouts."). Cans should start showing up throughout Colorado today or over the next few days. Ska will release three more new, canned stouts over the next nine months, in December, March and June.
Saturday, September 29
The Great Rumpkin will rise at Avery Brewing today at 5 p.m. when the Boulder brewery taps its amazing imperial pumpkin ale aged in fresh rum barrels. Avery squeezed this beer into twelve-ounce bottles for the first time last year after previously distributing it only on tap and it will have both again this year. Today's barrel-release party will include live music, autumn-inspired eats, and a selection of rare and exclusive brews to sample. Bottles will be $10 each; cash only.
Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora will host its Docktoberfest today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan will be on hand to tap the German-style Märzen at 11:15am. There will be food and live music.
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