Twisted Pine Brewing will debut a new series of one-off beers next year, releasing one per month. The Artisan Ale series will all be sold in limited quantities (about one hundred cases) in 750 ml bottles, and the labels will be adorned with artwork by local artists.

"These are going to be different, off-the-wall beers," says Bob Baile, owner of the Boulder brewery. The first will be Surreal Stout, aged in bourbon barrels and decorated by artist and designer Allison Boozer, who has worked for Twisted Pine.

The second beer will be called Wagon Wheel Stout, another bourbon-barrel aged beer, this one with cherries added to the mix. The art will be from Carrie Custis.

Brewing and releasing one-time, special-edition beers has become a big way for brewers to generate buzz about their beers and make money, as well. Avery, Odell, Oskar Blues, Great Divide, Breckenridge and many others do it on a regular basis.

Baile says he understands the competition in the craft brewing industry, but that his primary goal with the Artisan Ale series is just to have fun.

"The industry right now is in a really great spot, and we are very fortunate to be a part of it," he says. "What I ask myself is, 'What can we do to have a really good time?'"

• Beer Man