Forget Peach — Here Are Five Raspberry Beers That Are Ripening in Colorado

Update: Just after posting this story, I saw a planned new raspberry release from Denver Beer Co. It is included at the bottom.

Peaches and pumpkins are popping presently. But raspberries have always been a popular ingredient for Colorado breweries, whether it was Great Divide's Wild Raspberry Ale in the mid-'90s, Twisted Pine Raspberry Wheat in the early 2000s, or New Belgium's Frambozen raspberry brown ale, a recurring favorite. And 2015 will see a lot more raspberry beers. Some, like Funkwerks Raspberry Provincial and Dry Dock Chocolate Raspberry Porter, hit shelves in 2014, but others have just debuted, and there's more on the way. Here's a rundown.

Chocolate Raspberry Porter
Dry Dock Brewing
This beer debuted in December 2014 as part of a flurry of special releases from Dry Dock, but you can still find it on shelves — in 22-ounce bomber bottles — in a few places around town. Made with dehydrated, seedless raspberry powder from Ticklebelly Desserts in Aurora and organic cacao nibs from Ghana, it is very sweet and definitely showcases raspberry flavors.
Lil' Brainless on Raspberries
Epic Brewing
A new beer and a new seasonal from Epic Brewing, Lil' Brainless on Raspberries is a lighter, more sessionable cousin to the brewery's well-known, bigger Belgian-style Brainless on Raspberries. Brewed with raspberry puree, Lil' Brainless showcases bright fruit flavors. Packaged in cans, it just hit store shelves in the last few weeks.
Brazzle Sour Golden Raspberry Ale
Odell Brewing
Part of Odell's Cellar Series, Brazzle is is a golden ale that was brewed with golden raspberries and then aged in oak barrels for two years. It has sourness with a touch of sweet. Odell is no stranger to raspberries, having made another sour ale, Friek, for years; that one is brewed with cherries and raspberries. Brazzle was released in late February and began hitting shelves this month. It is sold in 750 ml corked and caged bottles.
Raspberry Sour
Avery Brewing 
One of many new offerings that Avery has planned this year after having just moved into its brand new brewery north of Boulder, Raspberry Sour was aged in oak barrels with Brettanomyces, Lactobaccillus and other funky agents. It appears to be part of a new series for the brewery called Botanicals & Barrels. Weighing in at 7.2 percent ABV, it will be sold in bomber bottles, at least at first.
Raspberry Gulch Imperial Saison
Elevation Beer Company
This seasonal release is part of Elevation's Black Series and is scheduled to hit shelves this summer. Weighing in at 8.25 percent ABV, it will pack more of a punch than a typical saison. It shares a name with a trail close to Poncha Springs, where Elevation is located.
Princess Yum Yum
Denver Beer Co
It looks like Denver Beer Co has plans to release a new seasonal canned beer this summer called Princess Yum Yum, a lower-alcohol Kolsh made with raspberries.

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