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 10/18)

Compared to the last few weeks this is a relatively slow one for new beers in the Denver area, but still a few seasonal releases have arrived.  One to look out for is Ska Brewing's new Hoperation Ivy fresh hopped ale.  This once-a-year brew was one of my favorites at the Colorado Fresh Hop Celebration last weekend and is part of Ska's push to distribute their excellent Local Series further outside of Durango.  Hoperation Ivy is a 100% Colorado beer made in state using Cascade hops that the brewery's employees hand-picked at San Juan Hop Farms in Montrose, CO.  It's supposed to be a limited release, so don't wait to pick some up.

• New Belgium 2° Below Winter Ale (Seasonal)
  
• Port High Tide (Seasonal)
• Ska Hoperation Ivy (New/Seasonal)
• Golden City Evolution IPA
• Rogue Maierfest Lager (Seasonal)
  
• Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout (Seasonal)

Retail Beer Releases (Week of 10/4)

This is a big new beer week in Denver with no less than 17 new or seasonal beers hitting area stores including the latest releases from Avery, Fort Collins, and Odell. Plus the return of fresh hopped beers from Great Divide and Left Hand, the introduction of Elysian into the Denver market, and Dogfish Head's innovative Pangaea arriving in town (brewed with ingredients from each continent).  However, the real prize for me is the 2009 release of Oskar Blues Ten FIDY Imperial Stout.  I've mentioned in the past that I was on hand for the brewing of this year's first batch, so it was kind of exciting to open my first can and taste the end product.  Lucky for you, my presence didn't throw things off too badly and it tasted every bit as good as last year's version!

Look for these new releases at a beer store near you:

• Avery duganA IPA (New)
• Breckenridge Lucky U IPA (New)
• Buffalo Bill's Blueberry Oatmeal Stout (New)
• Dogfish Head Pangaea (Seasonal)
• Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA (New)
• Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale (New)
• Elysian The Immortal IPA (New)
• Elysian Loser Pale Ale (New)
• Fort Collins Brewing Common Ground (New)
• Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale (Seasonal)
• Great Divide Hibernation Ale (Seasonal)
• He'brew Jewbelation (Seasonal)
• Left Hand Warrior IPA (Seasonal)
• Odell India Barleywine (New)
• Oskar Blues Ten FIDY (Seasonal)
• Sam Adams Coastal Wheat (New)
• The Bruery Autumn Maple (Seasonal)

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)