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!