Retail Beer Releases (Week of 12/6)

The seasonal beers are back in a big way this week and just in time for the Christmas holiday.  California heavyweights Stone, Lost Abbey, and Port have all sent new winter beers to Denver that you won't want to miss.  Lost Abbey's Gift of the Magi is a big Golden Ale inspired by the story of the Three Kings using the bark of Frankincense and a little bit of Myrrh.  Stone's Special Holiday Ale is a collaboration with Nøgne Ø and Jolly Pumpkin that was brewed with chestnuts, juniper berry, white sage, and caraway seed (Check out Chipper Dave's review of last year's version here). Port Brewing's Santa's Little Helper is one of my favorite imperial stouts and it is so flavorful that I have difficulty describing it.  That could be because it's brewed with “everything but the kitchen sink.”  This great beer was also on tap at Falling Rock last weekend, so head down there for a taste.

Additionally, Tommyknocker's The Legend Oaked Brown Ale (covered here) has started showing up on liquor store shelves in the area.  I believe only 1,500 bottles were produced, so get it while you can.

New retail beer releases in the Denver area:

• Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (Seasonal)
• Breckenridge Christmas Ale Hand Numbered 1 liter bottles (Limited Release)
• Del Norte Luminaria (Seasonal)
• Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi (Seasonal)
• Nøgne Ø/Stone/Jolly Pumpkin Special Holiday Ale (Seasonal)
• Port Santa's Little Helper (Seasonal)
• Tommyknocker The Legend (Limited Release)
• AC Golden Herman Joseph's Private Reserve (New)
• Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti (Seasonal)
• Great Divide Old Ruffian Barleywine (Seasonal)
• Boulevard Harvest Dancer Wheat Wine (Limited Release)

Retail Beer Releases (Week of 11/29)

It looks like we're in for a great new release week in Denver coming off the Thanksgiving holiday. For the first time in a while, we're getting new releases that aren't seasonals! You'll definitely want to be on the lookout for the Sam Adams Barrel Room collection brews (covered here). Denver is one of 4 locations to get these beers and after trying the American Kriek I can assure you they're worth the $9.99 price tag. Definitely my favorite offerings from Sam Adams.

Another "can't-miss" beer is Boulevard's Bourbon Barrel Quad. This is the latest release in their Smokestack Series and it sounds fantastic. The brewers aged an abbey-style quadrupel in various oak barrels for up to a year then carefully blended them together. The end result has "very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore."

Oh and a collaboration beer from two little breweries in California and Delaware has finally reached Denver.  Only a limited number of bottles of Life & Limb (from Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, in case you didn't figure that out) were sent to Colorado, and from what I understand they are going quick. In fact, some stores aren't even putting it on shelves, so be sure to ask an associate wherever you shop.  If you miss out on a bottle though there is always the tapping party at Falling Rock tonight!

New beer releases in the Denver area this week:

• Birrificio Montegioco Demon Hunter (New)
• Birrificio Montegioco Draco (New)
• Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad (Limited Release)
• Goose Island Pere Jacques (New)
• Sam Adams Barrel Room American Kriek (Limited Release)
• Sam Adams Barrel Room New World Tripel (Limited Release)
• Sam Adams Barrel Room Stony Brook Red (Limited Release)
• Southampton Cuvee des Fluers (New)
• Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb (New/Rare)

Retail Beer Releases (Week of 9/13)

New week, new beers in Denver. The highlights this week are two brand new brews from Fort Collins Brewery. Tomorrow (9/17) they will be releasing an Oatmeal Raisin Stout both in stores and at the brewery. The only downside is it looks like this one will only be available at Wilbur’s Total Beverage in Fort Collins. However, their other new beer, a coffee infused Amber called Common Ground, will be available in Denver and also sounds great. So keep your eyes peeled and let me know if you like it!

From Fort Collins Brewery:

This style of stout, developed in honor of brewer & Colorado State University Alumnus Matt Wensman, is produced and bottled by The Fort Collins Brewery, and marketed by Wilbur’s Total Beverage. All proceeds from sales are being donated to the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, CSU, to be used in teaching the FTEC 460 Brewing Science and Technology course.

Also be on the look out for these new releases:

• Sierra Nevada Chico Estate Harvest Ale (BeerAdvocate)
• Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale (BeerAdvocate)
• Ska Brewing Merlo Stout (BeerAdvocate)
• Boulevard Seeyoulator Doppelbock (BeerAdvocate)
• Blue Moon Harvest Moon (BeerAdvocate)
• Fort Collins Brewery Common Ground (BeerAdvocate)
• Jack's Pumpkin Spice (BeerAdvocate)