Retail Beer Releases (Week of 11/15)

Another solid new beer week in the Denver area with 4 seasonal beers hitting the market plus a new limited release from Odell.  I've already covered Left Hand's Fade to Black here and Odell's Woodcut No. 3 here and both are worthy purchases, but you won't want to miss out on Left Hand's other seasonal offering, Widershins Barleywine.  This is the latest release in the brewery's Big Mo' series of specialty beers, and if the others are any indication, it will not disappoint.  Left Hand has been aging a batch of the barleywine in Heaven Hill brandy barrels since April and then blended it with an un-aged batch to create the perfect balance.  It sounds fantastic.

From Left Hand Brewing:

Counter clockwise to the traditional American style barleywine, we designed this beer to be rounder & smoother than some less refined versions.  Full of caramel and malt flavors, yet balanced with a variety of different hop varieties all vying for your attention.  Oak aging and sparing use of speciality malt add complexity to this already deep beer.  Pairs with cerebal after-dinner conversation.

New beers available in the Denver area this week:

• Boulder Beer Never Summer Ale (Seasonal)
• Full Sail Wreck the Halls (Seasonal)
• Left Hand Fade to Black (Seasonal)
• Left Hand Widershins (Seasonal)
• Odell Woodcut No. 3 (Limited Release)

The Abyss Tapping Party @ Olde Towne Tavern

Tonight, Old Towne Tavern in Littleton will be hosting a tapping party for Deschutes' highly rated imperial stout, The Abyss (previously covered here).  Samples are free, so you won't want to miss out.  The details are below.

Meteor Shower Porter Release @ Twisted Pine

On Friday, November 20th, Twisted Pine Brewing will unveil a new limited release beer, Meteor Shower Porter, at their Boulder tap room.  The new beer is a Belgian-style dark ale that checks in at 10% abv and was brewed with blackstrap molasses and honey.  If you were at the Northstar Vertical Tasting a few weeks ago then you've already tried this one, but for the rest of you, get up to Boulder quick because only a small quantity was brewed and when it's gone, it's gone forever.

Woodcut No. 3 Release Party @ Falling Rock Tap House

This Friday, November 20th, Falling Rock Tap House will be hosting a party for the third release in Odell Brewing's acclaimed Woodcut series (the first in the series was voted one of the top 25 beers of 2008 by Draft Magazine).  Woodcut No. 3 is a limited edition crimson ale that was aged in virgin oak barrels to add complexity and flavor.  It sounds excellent and this is a great opportunity to try it out at an affordable price.

Things will kick off at 5:00pm and 3 oz tasters will be available for $5 each.  Woodcut No. 2 will also be available for side-by-side comparisons.  Additionally, a representative from the brewery will be on hand to discuss the brews and answer any questions you may have.

From Odell Brewing:

For Woodcut No. 3, brewers artfully combined Crystal, Cara, and Munich malts to create a pleasant sweetness and an appealing red color. Hints of caramel, raisin, and toasted almonds are balanced by delicate hop flavors, and the beer's distinct oak aroma enhances the finish. Woodcut No. 3 is a perfect pairing for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Barrel-Aged Hibernation Release Details

Great Divide released the 2009 version of their Barrel-Aged Hibernation yesterday at both their tap room and in area liquor stores.  Only 492 bottles of this beer were brewed and only 24 cases are available at the brewery.  The rest is being distributed to Denver area liquor stores (I know Argonaut already has a few bottles).  Due to the small number of bottles available at Great Divide they've decided to stagger the release to allow everyone a fair chance at getting some.  The plan is for 2 cases (just 24 bottles!) to be made available each day until they're all gone on Saturday, November 21st.  There is a 2 per person limit and each 750 ml bottle is retailing for $25. The brewery expects to release two other barrel-aged beers (Old Ruffian and Yeti) in November and December, respectively.

From Great Divide:

Last winter we took our Hibernation Ale and set it to age in Stranahan's Whiskey barrels. This fall we hand filled 492 750mL champagne-style bottles and set them aside to bottle condition. Once they were ready to drink, our packaging technicians hand labeled and hand foiled each and every bottle. We finished off the process by hand numbering each bottle

Upcoming Events (Week of 11/15)

This week there are several beer dinners, tastings, and release parties in the Denver area, but only one that you definitely won't want to miss as Avery Brewing celebrates 10 years of making their Belgian Quad, The Reverend, with the "beer dinner of the decade" this Friday, November 20th. Chris Blackwood, Executive Chef with the Big Red F Restaurant group, prepared a special Belgian-inspired five-course meal for the event and it will be served with a ten-year vertical tasting of The Reverend! Adam Avery will also be on hand, and in addition to the ten year vertical, he'll be presenting several other rarities from the Avery cellar.  They will also tap a firkin of Avery IPA, dry-hopped with a pound of centennial hops.  Only 60 tickets are available, so get them while you can.  Advance tickets are available at their web store.

Upcoming events in the Denver area:

• Great Divide Beer Dinner @ Argyll Gastro Pub - 11/16, 7:00pm ($45 per person, Call 720-382-1117 for reservations)
• Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Tasting @ The Pour House Bar & Grill - 11/17, 8:00pm - 9:30pm
• Oskar Blues One-of-A-Kind Keg Tapping @ Tasty Weasel - 11/17, 5:00pm
• Baker St. Pub & Grill Beer Dinner - 11/17 ($40 per person, Call 720-974-9490 for reservations)
• Homebrewers & Collectors Support Group @ Avery Tap Room - 11/18, 6:00pm - 8:00pm ($5 cover)
• Avery Beer Dinner @ Carellis - 11/18, 6:30pm ($40 per person, Call 303-938-9300 for reservations)
• Left Hand Beer Tasting @ Proto’s Denver - 11/19, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
• Hop Disciples Meeting @ Great Divide Tap Room - 11/19, 6:30pm
• Old #23 Barleywine Release Party @ Bristol Brewing - 11/20, 5:00pm
• Dry Dock Firkin Friday - 11/20, 3:00pm - 11:00pm
• Oskar Blues Firkin Friday @ Tasty Weasel - Cranberry Pilsner - 11/20, 5:00pm
• A Decade of Decadance: 10 Years of The Reverend Belgian Quadrupel @ Avery Tap Room - 11/20, 6:30pm - 9:30pm ($60 per person)
• Left Hand Beer Dinner @ The Empire Lounge - 11/21, 6:30pm - 8:30pm ($40 per person)

Barrel-Aged Hibernation on sale Monday

The 2009 vintage of Great Divide's Barrel-Aged Hibernation Ale will be going on-sale this Monday, November 16th!  It will be available in 750 mL bottles (~$25 each) at the brewery's tap room and in several Denver area liquor stores.  This is an extremely rare beer with only about 500 bottles produced each year, so if you miss it you'll have to wait until next year!

Extreme Winter Beer Tapping @ Trinity Brewing Company

Trinity Brewing Company in Colorado Springs just released the beer list for their Extreme Winter Beer Tapping Party on November 28th and it looks amazing.  Featuring no less than 19 rare and seasonal beers from around the country including two specialties brewed by Trinity themselves, it looks like a can't-miss event and the perfect way to celebration the Thanksgiving holiday.

Extreme Winter Beer Tapping Beer List:

• Beast - Avery Brewing  (Boulder, Colorado).  One of the strongest beers ever brewed in Colorado!  Avery's reputation on this beer proceeds itself.  Age and a light oxidation give this monster ale aromatic notes remarkably similar to a respectable port wine.  Lots of flavors throughout this Grand Cru' of caramel, butter toffee, cherries, raisins, and citrus.  15.0% ABV; Brewer Steve Breezley.
• Bourbon Strike Stout - Rockyard Brewing Co (Castlerock, Colorado).  The formidable house brewed stout from our northern friends is aged on a single small batch bourbon barrel for three months.  The result is a well balanced marriage of stout and spirit featuring:  a boosted alocohol level, notes of bourbon caramel intertwined with dark malt, vanilla, and oak.  8.5% ABV; Brewer, Jim Stinson.
• Bully Porter - Boulevard Brewing (Kansas City, MO).  Fresh to Colorado, this highly respected brewery has finally released its porter to our high mountain country.  Rich in dark malts, hints of cocoa, and coffee.  This beer is then keg conditioned for a natural carbonation and a silky texture.  5.2% ABV, Brewer Steve Mills. 
• Christmas Ale - Anchor Steam  (San Francisco, CA).  Anchor produces a single batch of the country's most famous winter seasonal annually.  The entertaining fact about this warming ale is the fact that they spicing is changed every batch!  We never know exactly what to expect!  5.5% ABV; Brewer, Fritz Maytag.
• Czar - Avery (Boulder, Co). One of the three "Imperial Series" beers from Avery.  This Imperial Stout is extremely hoppy for the style.  It pours black and thick with notes of coffee, chocolate, and hints of age.  11.0% ABV; Brewer, Steve Breezley.
• Delirium Noel - (Brouwerij Huyghe, Melle Belguim).  A mysterious, strong, and dark Belgian spiced ale.  What do we know about this beer ? NOT MUCH! But, we do know it's very tastey and extremely hard to find.  We feel very fortunate to have landed a 5 gal to pour on site.  9.00% ABV; Brewer, N/A.
• Dragoons Dry Irish Stout - Moylan's (Navoto CA).  Aromatically strong with roasted malts, notes of cocoa, and hints of leafy hops.  Mouth feel of this stout is large, color is black with a tan head, and finish is dry.  5.00% ABV; Brewer, Denise Jones.
• Fade to Black - Left Hand (Longmont, Co). A brand new annually brewed rotating dark winter beer.  This year's batch is somewhat of a hybrid between an Import Stout and an Imperial Stout.  It's big, well balanced with hops, and extremely roasty.  8.5% ABV, Brewer Joe Schiralde. 
• Jubelale - Deschutes (Bend, Or).  A winter warmer from the northwest coast.  Amber in color and thick in malt flavor.  Very bready with a heavy body.  A rare beer to see on tap in Colorado.  6.7% ABV, Brewer, NA.
• Old Jubilation - Avery (Boulder, Co).  Old school winter warmer first brewed WAY back in the 1990's.  Similar to an English strong ale by palate.  Very malty with large caramel backed by light roast and chocolate.  8.00% ABV, Brewer Steve Breezley.
• Life and Limb - Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada (Milton, DE and Chico, CA).  A collaborative beer dedicated to the family of beer drinkers and enthusiasts worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the vibrant craft-brewing community.  Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong beer that defies style characteristics-brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman "farm" at the brewery in Chico. The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries' house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska; it is the first beer we know of ever to use birch syrup in the brew.  10% ABV; Brewers, Sam Calgione and Ken Grossman.
• Never Summer - Boulder Beer (Boulder, Co).  A dark red winter seasonal ale hailing from Colorado's very first microbrewery.  Very sweet caramel with underlying notes of roast and chocolate.  The perfect beer for a cold day. 6.60% ABV; Brewer, Steve Trese.
• Noel Farmhouse - Trinity Brewing (Colorado Springs, Co).  Brewed with brown sugar, garam masala, pumpkin, white sage, coriander, and grains of paradise.  This version of our seasonally rotating Saison tastes like liquid Thanks Giving .... If you were in Belgium that is!  6.5% ABV; Brewer, Jason Yester.
• Nut Cracker - Boulevard (Kansas City, Mo).  A deep hazy orange hued brew, which is a little fruity as it warms up from elements of noticeable citrus hops.  Surprisingly full bodied for its appearance.  6.6% ABV, Brewer Steve Mills.
• Old #23 Barleywine - Bristol Brewing (Colorado Springs, Co).  A very special tapping indeed J.  We're not sure who is aware of this but our Brewer/Owner  worked at Bristol for a decade before starting Trinity, and 11 years ago Old#23 was his first commercially crafted beer.  Historically , the first bottled barley wine in the state of Colorado.  It's recipe changes each year it is brewed.  It is always big, chewy, malty, hoppy, and very warming.  9.6% ABV.  Brewer, Joe Hull.
• Old Winter Ale - Fullers (Chiswick, London).  Hailing all the way from England this frothy mahogany beige capped beer is truly food for the soul.  Nutty, fruity, floral, and traditional.  5.30% ABV; Brewer, NA.
• Shiner Holiday Cheer - Spoetzl Brewing (Shiner, TX).  A copper winter brew with notes of pecans, overripe peaches, and brown sugar. The light hop presence gives this ale a dry finish making it quite refreshing and quite sessionable.  5.40% ABV, Brewer NA.
• Slap Your Mammy - Trinity Brewing (Colorado Springs, Co).  Our very first Double IPA!  Accidentally brewed stronger than planned, this beer quickly became our fastest selling seasonal ever. Boiled 125 minutes and bittered to 125 IBU's with 8 hop varietals, this beer is literally one of the hoppiest beers on the planet.  10.5% ABV; Brewer, Jason Yester.
• Wreck the Halls - Full Sail (Portland, OR).  A nice alternative to all the malt bomb winter beers.  This complex orange ale features piney and citrus notes supported well with a toasty malt backbone.  Very balanced and very drinkable.  6.5% ABV; Brewer Amigo Paul.

Fort Collins Brewing Tasting @ Lukas Liquors

This week's tasting at Lukas Liquors in Littleton will feature beers from the Fort Collins Brewing Company including their seasonal Double Chocolate Stout.  As usual, the event will take place from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and a representative from the brewery will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

FCB beers available for tasting:

• Double Chocolate Stout

The most decadent creation ever to be conjured in the Fort Collins brewhouse. Deep, roasty flavors, rich chocolate nose, coffee undertones and impeccable balance are the result of imperializing an already flawless brew. Perfect way to put a smile on your face on a dreary day. No chocolate was harmed in the making of this delicious aphrodisiac.

• Retro Red Ale

This banshee of a red ale is a looker, and a taster. English crystal malts create a toasty, nutty flavor and medium body as Tettnang hops produce an assertive, yet balanced hop presence. Retro Red is a tantalizing treat for your taste-buds, and your eyes.

• Rocky Mountain IPA

An I.P.A. by definition is liberally hopped, and higher in alcohol. Rocky Mountain I.P.A. was made by being dry-hopped for an intense floral aroma, and a generous helping of malt was added to create a backbone stable enough to support the characteristic bitterness of the beer.

• Z Smoked Amber Lager

Rauchbier (smoked beer) dates back to the 1500's in Bamberg, Germany when malt was often dried over the flames of a beechwood fire. Z Lager was crafted to be smoky and palatable. Slight caramel undertones and a bright amber color compliment the lingering smoke flavors. Perfect companion to a good meal.

Retail Beer Releases (Week of 11/8)

This week brings us another huge new beer list in the Denver area with several big name seasonal releases.  As I discussed yesterday, the list is anchored by Deschutes' amazing The Abyss imperial stout.  However, there are other rarities worth checking out including Boulder Beer Company's Killer Penguin and The Bruery's Two Turtle Doves.  Killer Penguin is a barleywine that has over twice the malt of other seasonal beers and checks in at a big 10% abv.  According to the blurb on Rate Beer, it's also already been aged for 6 months, so it should be drinking great right away. Meanwhile, Two Turtle Doves is the second beer in The Bruery's Twelve Beers of Christmas series and it's a Belgian dark ale that was brewed with toasted pecans and cocoa nibs.  That sounds perfect for the holidays, but it's also suitable for aging for up to 10 years so you might want to pick up a couple of bottles.

New beer releases in the Denver area:

• Deschutes The Abyss (Seasonal)
• Anchor Our Special Ale 2009 (Seasonal)
• Belhaven Scottish Stout (New)
• Blue Moon Grand Cru (New/Seasonal)
• Boulder Beer Killer Penguin (Seasonal)
• Dogfish Head Chicory Stout (Seasonal)
• Dogfish Head Burton Baton (Limited Release)
• Koningshoeven La Trappe Isid'or (Limited Release)
• Moylan's White Christmas (Seasonal)
• Rockyard Bourbon Barrel Stout (Seasonal)
• The Bruery Two Turtle Doves (Seasonal/Limited Release)
• St. Bernadus Christmas (Seasonal)
• Victory Yakima Twilight (Seasonal)

The Abyss appears in Denver

Another great seasonal release arrives in the Denver area this week as the 2009 version of the Deschutes Brewery's highly acclaimed imperial stout, The Abyss, has begun showing up on shelves.  Part of the brewery's fantastic Reserve Series, this is one of my favorite stouts and given it's high ratings on the review sites (100 on Rate Beer and A+ on Beer Advocate) I'm not alone. Unfortunately, it's also a limited release that will definitely not be around long.  Additionally, the beer will only improve with age and Deschutes recommends picking up a couple of bottles to try one now and cellar one for the future, so stock up while you can.

From Deschutes Brewery:

The Abyss: Stout brewed with licorice and molasses with 33% aged in oak and oak bourbon barrels. It’s dark. It’s deep. It’s mysterious. Aged in French Oak and Bourbon barrels, this special brew has immeasureable depth inviting you to explore and discover its rich, complex profile. The flavor of molasses and licorice draw you in further and further with each sip. The Abyss beckons. Enjoy the journey.

Upcoming Events (Week of 11/8)

After all the events this past Saturday, this week seems like a relatively tame one for beer drinkers.  The highlight looks to be Friday night's Fade to Black release party at the Left Hand tap room up in Longmont.  The first in a new series replacing their Snow Bound Spiced Ale, Fade to Black is a Export/Foreign Stout that weighs in at a hefty 8.5% abv.  Perfect for a cool winter night.  It's about a 40 minute drive from Denver, but it should be worth it to get an early taste of the brewery's latest offering.

Tasting Notes from Left Hand Brewing:

Pours black with licorice, espresso beans, mollassses, and black cardamom notes that give way to a feeling of self loathing, burnt opportunities, and smoked relationships.

Other beer events in the Denver area this week:

• Oskar Blues one-of-a-kind Keg Tapping @ Tasty Weasel - 11/10, 5:00pm
• Elysian Pumpkinfest @ Falling Rock Tap House -11/10, 5:00pm
• Dry Dock Firkin Friday - 11/13, 3:00pm -11:00pm
• Oskar Blues Firkin Friday @ Tasty Weasel - Dry Hopped Dale's Pale Ale - 11/13, 5:00pm
• Fade to Black Release Party @ Left Hand Brewing - 11/13, 5:00pm - 10:00pm
• Oskar Blues Beer Dinner @ Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House - 11/13 ($65, Call (303)796-0100 for reservations)
• Cask Ale @ Bristol Brewing - 11/14, 12:00pm - 9:00pm
• Colorado Cheese Festival @ Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center - 11/14, 10:00am - 6:00pm ($20 for General Admission, $79 for All Day Pass) - Featuring beer from Great Divide

Vine Street Pub approved to brew

Earlier this week, the Denver City Council unanimously voted to approve a request to change the zoning regulations at Vine Street Pub to allow brewing on the premises.  All that remains is for Mayor John Hickenlooper to sign off on the request, which could be done as early as today.

Vine Street is the Denver branch of the Mountain Sun brewpub chain (along with Mountain Sun and Southern Sun in Boulder) and the change will allow them to increase production to 3,500 barrels annually with future plans to expand to 5,000-6,000.  They hope to have the Denver pub brewing within a year with the plan being for Vine Street to brew their eight year-round offerings, Southern Sun to handle small-batch beers, and Mountain Sun to focus on experimental beers.

It sounds like this change will be beneficial for both Mountain Sun and the Denver craft beer scene, so I hope it goes through without a hitch.

Odell Brewing Tasting @ Lukas Liquors Today

Today, November 6th, Lukas Liquor in Lone Tree will be hosting a special Odell Brewing beer tasting from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.  This week they'll be sampling four great beers including Odell's seasonal Isolation Ale and their brand new Mountain Standard Reserve.  This is the perfect opportunity to try new beers at a great price, FREE!

These four Odell offerings will be available for tasting:

• Isolation Ale

Ever been in a warm, cozy cabin and had a secret desire to get snowed in? To celebrate the winter season, we offer our Isolation Ale – a traditional winter brew made with premium malts imported from England. It’s just one of the reasons Isolation Ale stands alone.

• Mountain Standard Reserve

This is more than a limited edition offering. It’s an enigma in liquid form. At first it looks like a deep mahogany ale, then you take your first sip and notice its distinct hoppy character. We begin with a ridiculous amount of Cascade and Chinook hop varietals from Western Colorado and bring out their flavor with the hop back. Then we double dry hop for even more of that aroma you love. The result is an unforgettable beer from the forgotten time zone.

• Levity Amber Ale.

Levity is our lighter take on the amber ale. Munich and honey malts give it a full-bodied flavor and a happy-go-lucky personality. Then we let the finishing hops shine, for a beer that’s crisp instead of bitter. Levity was named by our brewers partly for its light color – and partly for the way it just refuses to take itself too seriously. Hey, we could all use a little levity once in a while.

• Easy Street Wheat

Light and refreshing, Easy Street Wheat is an unfiltered American-style wheat beer. Leaving in the yeast gives the beer a nice, smooth finish and a slightly citrusy flavor. Easy Street Wheat gets its name by brewers “taking it easy” and not filtering the beer. However, for ultimate enjoyment, we encourage you to work just a little harder in pouring it: pour 2/3 of the beer into a glass, swirl what’s left to stir up the yeast, then pour the rest and enjoy.

Retail Beer Releases (Week of 11/1)

The holiday beer season is officially in full swing with no less than 12 seasonal beers hitting shelves in Denver liquor stores this week.  Additionally, Odell has released the newest beer in their Single Serve Series, Mountain Standard Reserve.  This deep mahogany ale was brewed with 400 lbs of locally grown, organic Cascade and Chinook hops from Rising Sun Farms in Paonia, CO.  Odell then double dry hopped the beer to create an even hoppier aroma that just sounds fantastic.  It's currently being sold in 750 mL corked bottles for about $15 and they are planning on brewing it once a year after the hop harvest.  I'm definitely looking forward to trying this one.

New beer releases this week:

• Breckenridge Christmas Ale (Seasonal)
• AC Golden Winterfest (Seasonal)
• Delirium Noel (Seasonal)
• Dupont Avec Les Bon Voeux (Seasonal)
• Gouden Carolous (Seasonal)
• Lagunitas Brown Shugga (Seasonal)
• Odell Mountain Standard Reserve (Limited Release)
• Rouge Santa's Private Reserve (Seasonal)
• Sam Adams Winter Lager (Seasonal)
• Samichlaus Classic (Seasonal)
• Shiner Holiday Cheer (Seasonal)
• Sierra Nevada Celebration (Seasonal)
• Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter (Seasonal)

Sam Adams barrel-aged beers are coming to Denver

Last week, the Boston Beer Company announced that they will be releasing three new beers in a series called the Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection including a tripel, an American kriek, and a red ale. All three beers have been aged at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery in Eastern European oak barrels originally used to age brandy in Italy.  This process has added a sweet, toasty flavor to the beers that sounds delicious.

The kicker is the the 750 mL bottles will only see a very limited distribution.  Luckily for us, Denver is one of the four locations where the beers will be available according to Sam Adams' press release (along with Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire).  No word yet on when they will be in area liquor stores, but keep your eyes open.

The Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection includes:

• Samuel Adams New World Tripel: Pale gold in color, this ale is big, flavorful and complex. A special Belgian yeast strain adds tropical fruit and spice notes to the crisp dry ale, while Saaz hops add a subtle herbal note. (~10%ABV)
• Samuel Adams American Kriek: The intense black cherry character in this beer comes from Balaton cherries, which were discovered in Hungary and are now grown in Michigan. These special cherries are prized for their depth of flavor. The tartness from the cherries is balanced by a rich, malty characterwith toasted oak notes added from the barrel aging. (~7% ABV)
• Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red: This unique brew defies traditional beer style definition. The rich, malty brew combines notes of tart fruit from the yeast with a toasty oak character from the barrel aging. The long dry finish is almost wine-like. This is a beer that is satisfying on its own and also pairs well with many foods such as braised or roasted meats, beef stews and strong salty cheeses. (~9% ABV)

Upcoming Events (Week of 11/1)

This week is jam packed with beer related events in the Denver area highlighted by a vertical tasting at Twisted Pine and three big events this Saturday.  On Thursday, November 5th, Twisted Pine will be hosting a 5 year vertical tasting of their Northstar Imperial Porter.  Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and include five 6 oz samples of different Northstar vintages from 2004-2009, a commermative glass, and a 1.5 hour educational session with owner Bob Baile, brewer Eric Mosiman and brewer Jeff Brumley.  Space is limited, so try to get your ticket early.

Then on Saturday, November 7th, you'll have to choose between the 3rd Annual All Colorado Beer Festival in Colorado Springs, Upslope Brewing's 1st Anniversary Party in Boulder (featuring 6 beers on tap including their First Anniversary Stout), and perhaps the biggest event this week, Wynkoop's Beers of the Year party here in Denver. From 1:00pm to 5:00pm, the Wynkoop will be pouring 25 different beers including all their 2009 specialty beers and a few from 2008.  Four ounce samples are just a dollar each, or you can get unlimited samples for $25.

This week's beer events in the Denver area:

• Mountain Standard Reserve Release Party @ Odell Brewing, 11/2, 5:00pm
• Sisterhood of the Hop - Inaugural Meeting @ Avery Tap Room, 11/3, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (Free, Women Only)
• Northstar Imperial Porter Vertical Tasting @ Twisted Pine Tap Room, 11/5, 6:00pm - 7:30pm ($20 in advance, $25 at the door)
• Oskar Blues Firkin Friday @ The Tasty Weasel, 11/6, 5:00pm
• Dry Dock Firkin Friday - Belgium Bounty Old Ale, 11/6, 3:00pm - 11:00pm
• Beers of the Year @ Wynkoop Brewing Company, 11/7, 1:00pm - 5:00pm ($25 for unlimited samples, 25 different brews available)
• 3rd Annual All Colorado Beer Festival @ Mr. Biggs Event Center, 11/7, 12:30pm & 5:30pm ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) - Check out my write up here
• Upslope Brewing 1st Anniversary Party, 11/7, 2:00pm - 6:00pm