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)

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.

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)

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

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)

Seasonal Releases from Avery & Odell

The temperatures have started to drop and the leaves are beginning to change color, signs that can only mean one thing...new seasonal beers! This week Avery and Odell's winter warmers have hit the shelves in Denver and they're both perfect for the early fall weather. Old Jubilation from Avery weighs in at a hefty 8% abv and will be available from September to December. Meanwhile, Odell's Isolation Ale will be on hand to keep you warm all winter long.  So be on the lookout for these malty classics and other great fall/winter seasonal beers at your local liquor store.

Avery Brewing on Old Jubilation:

Our winter strong ale has a gorgeous mahogany hue, a hint of hazelnuts, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee. No spices, just a perfect blend of five specialty malts. Cellarable for 2 years.

Odell Brewing on Isolation Ale:

The copper colored winter warmer is brewed with imported premium malts from England. Isolation has a rich and slightly sweet malt flavor that is complimented by a subtle spice hop finish, and pours a creamy head like frost on a pumpkin.

Falling Rock GABF Kickoff Recap

Falling Rock Tap House hosted their 13th annual Great American Beer Festival tapping party on Monday and it was a great way to start the week and try some new brews. As THE beer bar in Denver you just knew the event was going to be special. Especially because they set aside a few kegs specifically for this party each year! Around 10 or so beers were tapped throughout the night featuring some of the best from Avery, Odell, Full Sail, Lost Abbey, Dry Dock, Port, Moylan's, Left Hand, and Great Divide and everything I tasted was fantastic. The two highlights for me were Great Divide's "Les" Claymore Sour Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale (quite the name!) and Avery's The Beast from the Wood (at 15% abv this is no beer for lightweights). Odell also brought their fantastic new Bourbon Barrel Stout, which seems to be at every event I go to this week and tastes great every time. If you missed the event you can still get a taste of some of these beers at their respective breweries this week. Great Divide will have the Sour Bourbon Claymore available in their tap room and Avery lists both The Beast from the Wood '08 and The Beast From JW Lees’ Wood ’08 as beers they might appear up in Boulder this week.

A blurry picture of a great beer with a long name. Great Divide's "Les" Claymore Sour Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale

Denver Beer Fest Events: Part 3 (9/24 - 9/27)

The Great American Beer Festival begins this Thursday and while it's THE big event in town, it's not the only one. So if you missed getting tickets this year, don't sweat it. The Denver Beer Fest continues this weekend and will provide you with all the beer drinking entertainment you need including a beer brunch at the Cheeky Monk on Saturday morning complete with beer mimosas! Plus the Falling Rock Tap House over on Blake Street will be serving up special brews throughout the weekend (I know I cannot wait to try New Belgium's La Folie on tap) and Flying Dog is hosting it's second annual free FBAG party on Friday just down the road in the warehouse that used to house their brewery. Cleary you don't need GABF tickets to have a good time this weekend, you'll just have more fun if you do!

Thursday, September 24th

• Avery Tap Room - Voltron & Hot For Sammy, 11:00am
• Great American Beer Festival, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
• Koningshoeven Tasting @ Cheeky Monk, 7:00pm
• Rhythm and Brews @ Paramount Cafe, 10:00pm - 2:00am
• Collaborate Evil Tasting @ GABF, 6:30pm - 7:00pm

Collaborate Evil is an effort between 9 brewers to take a common theme and put their own individual spin on it. This year the theme is a Belgian Strong Pale and all 9 brewers will be presenting their versions at Thursday's GABF session. The participants include Valley Brewing, Sacramento Brewing, Fatheads Brewery and Grill, Flossmoor Station, Oakshire Brewing, Silver Peak Brewing, Lucky Bucket Brewing Co., FiftyFifty Brewing, and Speakeasy Brewing Co.

• World Brewer's Forum @ Denver Marriot City Center, 8:00pm - 12:00am
• Boulder Beer Meet the Brewer @ Crown Plaza, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
• Boulder Beer Tapping Party @ Falling Rock, 3:00pm
• Ommegang Brewers @ Argonaut Liquor, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
• Stone Brewing Tapping @ Falling Rock Upstairs, 10:00pm
• Shelton Brother's Tasting @ Falling Rock Downstairs, 10:00pm ($20 per person)
• Jewbilation Bar-Mitzvah @ Falling Rock, 11:00pm

Friday, September 25th

• Avery Tap Room - Sour Cherry Mephistopheles Stout & Moloch, 11:00am
• Great American Beer Festival, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
• Stone Brewing Meet & Greet @ City O' City, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
• Beer Advocate Social @ Great Divide Tap Room, 11:00am - 1:00pm
• Denver Rare Beer Tasting @ Wynkoop Brewery, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
• Firkin Friday - Cask Conditioned Dale's Pale Ale @ Oskar Blues, 5:00pm
• Oktoberfest @ Larimer Square, 5:00pm - 1:00am
• Lay the Foundation Lunch @ TAG Restaurant, 12:30pm ($55 per person)
• Achouffe Brewery Meet the Brewer @ Cheeky Monk, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
• Odell Meet the Brewer Lunch @ Govnr's Tavern, 11:00am - 1:00pm ($5 per person)
• St. Feuillien Celebration @ Cheeky Monk, 7:00pm
• Blues, Brews, & BBQ @ Paramount Cafe, 10:00pm - 2:00am
• Three Course Beer Dinner @ WaterCourse Foods, All Day ($52.80 for two)
• Flying Dog Brats & Gonzo (FBAG) Party @ Flying Dog Warehouse, 3:00pm - 6:00pm

The 2nd Annual FBAG party include free beer samples, free brats, and free live music. Did I mention it was free? Flying Dog will also be tapping their 20th anniversary beer for the first time for free!

• Sierra Nevada Kill-A-Keg @ Falling Rock, 12:00pm
• Sierra Nevada Estate Tapping @ Falling Rock, 12:30pm
• Meet Chris Brouwaerts from La Chouffe @ Falling Rock, 1:0pm
• Left Hand/Terrapin Depth Charge Espresso Milk Stout Cask Tapping @ Falling Rock, 2:00pm
• Up Your Reinheitsgebot: An Evening of Impure & Illicit Beers @ Falling Rock, 10:00pm

Dogfish Head, Avery, Allagash, and New Belgium will be pouring exotic beers that plead the 5th on the German Purity Law of 1517.

Saturday, September 26th

• Avery Tap Room - Straight Outta Hell, 11:00am
• Great American Beer Festival - Early Session, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
• Great American Beer Festival - Late Session, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
• Oktoberfest @ Larimer Square, 11:00am - 1:00am
• Flying Dog Beer Dinner @ Brauns Bar & Grill, 6:30pm ($35.95 per person)
• GABF After-Party @ Govnr's Park, 10:00pm - 2:00am
• Breakfast with The Bruery @ Cheeky Monk, 9:30am - 11:30am
• Gastropub Tour of Denver, 1:00pm - 4:00pm ($99 per person)
• Annual GABF Tasting with Dr. Bill @ Falling Rock, 9:00pm ($20 per person)

From Dr. Bill:

For those of you who haven't attended my previous events we ask for a $20 contribution to help pay for the beers we will order from Chris and to tip out the service staff. Also feel free to bring beers you may want to share. That being said I will be pouring over 100 rare and exotic offerings. A few teasers would be; LA Duck Duck Gooze, Santa's Little Helper aged in Bourbon barrels, Angel's Share, Cuvee de Tomme, RR Temptation, Consecration, Deviation, Bottleworks 10th Anniversary, The Bruery Papier, Alesmith BA Speedway, etc., etc., etc..

• La Chouffe Brewers @ Argonaut Liquor, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
• Boulevard Smokestack Beers @ Falling Rock, 4:00pm
• New Belgium Rarities @ Falling Rock, 10:00pm

Falling Rock will be pouring some of New Beglium's harder to find beers including Love, La Folie, Transatlantic Kriek, La Fleur Misseur & Le Terroir

Sunday, September 27th

• Avery Tap Room - Holy Trinity Day, 11:00am

Avery has just the cure for your post-GABF blues. More beer! They'll have their entire line of Holy Trinity beers on tap (Hog Heaven, Salvation, The Reverend) plus oak barrel aged and Brettanomyces versions!

• Oktoberfest @ Larimer Square, 10:00am - 5:00pm
• Coors Brewmaster @ Bridgewater Grill
• Beer Festival Exchange Fair @ Cheeky Monk

Denver Beer Fest Events: Part 2 (9/21-9/23)

The Denver Beer Fest kicks off tomorrow with several great events, but things really start heating up on Monday when Falling Rock throws their 13th Annual GABF Tapping Party. They actually save kegs specifically for this event and bring out stuff you cannot find anywhere else. It's definitely a "can't-miss" party and is sure to be packed, so get there early. If you happen to miss out though a quick look at the list below should tell you that you won't have any trouble finding things to do and new beers to drink in Denver, but also be sure to check out the happenings up in Boulder. Avery will be tapping extremely rare beers everyday at 11:00am and The Kitchen is hosting what looks to be the coolest beer dinner all week. Also don't forget to check our calendar often as I will be updating it with new info frequently.

Monday, September 21st

• Society for the Pursuit of Hoppiness - GABF Preview @ Avery Tap Room, 6:00pm ($15 for lifetime membership)
• Avery Brewing - Tasting & Tassels @ Lannie's Downtown Clocktower, 7:00pm ($22)
• Avery Tap Room - Eagle Rare Reverend ‘08 Tapping, 11:00am
• Appaloosa Grill & Great Divide Beer Dinner, 6:30pm (Contact events@appaloosagrill.com to reserve a spot)

Appaloosa Grill & Great Divide Brewery have teamed up for Denver Beer week to celebrate local beer and local food for who else? The Locals. Space is limited for this one of a kind event. The evening will start at Appaloosa with a three course dinner followed by dessert at the brewery and a tour. All guests will then be transported back to Appaloosa for an evening of live music. To reserve your spot please contact Mindy Lorens (events@appaloosagrill.com)

• Belgian Pairing Special @ Cheeky Monk, All Day
• Brew with the Brewer @ Rock Bottom - Park Meadows, 5:00pm (Call (303) 792-9090 to RSVP)
• 13th Annual GABF Kickoff Tapping Party @ Falling Rock, 5:00pm

They will be tapping 10-12 kegs at 5:00pm of harder to find specialty beers from breweries from all over, some sent in just for this event. Some of the breweries: Avery, Russian River, Lost Abbey, Port Brewing.

• Free Great Divide Tasting @ WaterCourse Foods, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Four Course, Four Beer Dinner @ Vine St. Pub, 6:00pm ($55 per person)
• Meet the Oskar Blues Brewers @ Duo, 5:00pm - 7:00pm ($12 per person)
• Five Course Left Hand Beer Dinner @ Elways Downtown, 6:30pm ($70 per person)

Tuesday, September 22nd

• Avery Dinner @ Jax Denver, 7:30pm ($50 per person)
• Meet the Left Hand Brewers @ Duo, 5:00pm - 7:00pm ($12 per person)
• Avery Tap Room - Bad Sally ‘08 Tapping, 11:00am
• Best in Brews Tasting @ TAG Restaurant, 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Come enjoy some of the finest brews around without the crowds of the GABF. Meet the merry men who make it happen. Sample some tasty snacks to help "wash down" the suds. Featuring: Avery Brewing Co., Bull and Bush, Great Divide and Oskar Blues, to name a few.

• Boulder Beer Meet the Brewer @ Rialto Cafe, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
• Great Divide Dinner @ Osteria Marco, 6:30pm ($40 per person)
• Beer College @ Rock Bottom - Westminster, 5:00pm
• Cheeky Monk Anniversary Party, 8:00pm
• Battle of the Beers @ Paramount Cafe, vote for your favorites all day
• Meet the Flying Dog Brewer @ Paramount Cafe, 8:00pm
• Specialty Beer Showcase @ Rock Bottom - Downtown, All Day
• Herman Joseph's Beer Dinner @ Parallel Seventeen, 6:30pm ($50 per person)
• Odell Brewing Tasting @ Marlowe's, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Meet the Guys from Alaskan Brewing @ Govnr's Park, 7:00pm
• Meet and Greet with John Harris From Full Sail Brewing @ Govnr's Park, 4:00pm
• Skull 'n Bones Grand Cru Release Party @ Bristol Brewing, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
• Breckenridge Brewers @ Argonaut Liquor, 3:00pm - 7:00pm

Wednesday, September 23rd

• Beer vs. Wine Dinner @ TAG Restaurant, 7:00pm ($75 per person)
• Boulder Beer Pool Party @ Crown Plaza, 5:00pm
• Sui Generis Release Party @ Avery Tap Room, 3:00pm - 8:00pm (Limited number of bottles per person)

Sui Generis is a complex ale, aged and artfully blended from several types of oak barrels, and displays a delightful lactic sourness complimented by hints of brett, oak, and acetic. Intricate yet bold, deeply complex yet surprisingly refreshing. It is not on tap due to extremely limited quantities, but they will have small amounts of tiny-batch sour beers made with their House Sour Blend.

• Boulder Beer Meet the Brewer @ Old Chicago - Market Street, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
• Boulder County Brews Cruise, 8:00am - 4:00pm
• Deschutes Beer Dinner @ Baker St. Pub - DTC, 6:00pm ($50 per person)
• Free Avery Tasting @ WaterCourse Foods, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Beer and Cheese Pairing @ Paramount Cafe, All Day
• Beer Pairing Dinner @ Bistro Vendome, ($60 per person, Call 303-825-3232 for reservations)
• Automne Release Party @ Bristol Brewing, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
• Q & A with the Brewers from Gambrinus @ Govnr's Park, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Pints & Bites @ the Governor's Residence, 5:00pm - 7:30pm ($100 for 1, $150 for 2)
• Third Annual Gold Medal Dinner @ The Kitchen Upstairs, 6:30pm ($140 per person)

The Kitchen [Upstairs] welcomes five of the nation's most progressive breweries and their brewmasters. Guests will enjoy a special five-course meal created by The Kitchen's head chefs and each course will be paired with two beers from our five featured breweries. Brewmasters will be on hand to pour and discuss their favorite beers. Featuring Allagash, Avery, Dogfish Head, Russian River, & The Lost Abbey

• New Belgium Tasting @ Marlowe's, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Great Divide Meet the Brewer @ Duo, 5:00pm - 7:00pm ($12 per person)
• New Belgium Beer Dinner @ Simms Steakhouse, 7:00pm ($60 per person)
• Chef and Brewer's Dinner @ Rock Bottom - The Orchards, 7:30pm ($40 per person)
• Tommyknocker Brewers @ Argonaut Liquor, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
• Flying Dog 20th Anniversary Beer Tapping @ Falling Rock, 4:00pm
• Pyramid Snowcap Unveiling @ Falling Rock, 5:00pm
• Artisanal Imports Tasting @ Falling Rock, 9:00pm

Boulder Beer Heat Rave 2009 Recap

As expected, the Boulder Beer Heat Rave was a great time. For just $25 I was able to sample several rare "tap-house" only beers from 25 different brewers all in one place while enjoying live music and meeting some great people.

Just about every beer was excellent, but there were a few that stood out a little more. These included the new Bourbon Barrel Stout from Odell Brewing (in stores now, so be on the look out for it), New Belgium's Tart Lychee (a sour beer aged in oak barrels with Brettanomyces yeast and blended with lychee and Ceylon cinnamon), and Blue Moon's Peanut Butter Ale (peanut butter in beer actually works!). The event's hosts, Boulder Beer Company, also pulled out all the stops and were offering up a Bourbon Berry Porter, Bourbon Mojo IPA, and 1998 Igloo Ale (that's right 11 years old!) plus their usual selections.

Barrel aged beers were definitely the hot trend of the day. In addition to the 4 already mentioned, there were 4 others available including Twisted Pine's delicious Reilly's Oak Whiskey Red (available in their tap room 9/18), year old Old Ruffian from Great Divide, oaked Mama Pilsner from Oskar Blues, and Avery's new Moloch Ale (I think on tap for the first time and every bit the 13.5% ABV). All in all, it was an excellent day and a great way to start off Boulder Beer Week!

New Beer Releases

I was looking around Argonaut Liquors on Colfax yesterday and noticed a few new beers are now available in Denver. Two that immediately stood out to me were Odell Brewing's new Bourbon Barrel Stout and Stone Brewing's latest release in their Vertical Epic series.

The Odell Bourbon Barrel Stout is the latest barrel aged beer from the brewery and if the label's description is to be believed it will be fantastic. It is a little pricey at $15/bottle, but it will also be on tap at the Boulder Beer Heat Rave on Saturday if you'd like a taste.

This limited edition offering begins with a full-bodied imperial stout that has notes of sweet milk chocolate, smooth vanilla and roasted coffee beans. Then things get interesting. We transfer it to Kentucky bourbon barrels where it’s aged for four months to let traces of oaks and caramel come forward.

Stone's Vertical Epic 09-09-09 is the most recent addition to their ongoing series each released 1 year, 1 month, and 1 day from the last. The entire series is designed to be aged until 12-12-2012 and then enjoyed in a vertical tasting, so I'd suggest picking up a few bottles to see how the flavors change. You'll want to buy some soon though as it appeared to be selling fast at Argonaut.

From Stone Brewing:

During the brewing process we added dark candi sugar, vanilla bean, and tangerine peel to complement the flavors of the porter. The vanilla bean addition is fascinating, as it actually enhances the chocolate character from the roasted malts, and the candi sugar adds a nice hint of molasses flavor to the finish. The tangerine actually turned out to be quite subtle on the finish, and combines nicely with the chocolate malt character. We aged this beer on French oak chips, which contributes a smooth and subtle woody undertone and even more vanilla flavors.