Special Releases On Tap @ Bull & Bush

Attention Denverites! Go ahead and cancel whatever plans you may have had this weekend because something a lot better (probably) just came up. Starting this Friday, December 18th, the Bull & Bush brewpub will be reaching deep into their beer cellar and pulling out five aged beers for your drinking pleasure. This includes two of my favorites, the Legend of the Liquid Brian and Royal Oil.  It'll be worth stopping by just to try those two and I'm sure the others will be excellent as well.

Special releases at Bull & Bush this weekend:

• The Legend of the Liquid Brain Imperial Stout - 2008 Vintage
• Aged in a used 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel
• Royal Oil Barley Wine - 2008 Vintage
• Aged in a used 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel
• Pimp My Rye - 2007 Vintage
• Aged in a Sazarac Rye Whiskey Barrel for 2 years
• Yule Fuel - 2009 Vintage
• Yule Fuel Lambic - 2004 Vintage
• Aged in a French Oak Burgundy Barrel with Brettanomyces added
• 38th Anniversary Ale - 2008 Vintage
• Belgian style Export Stout aged in a 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel with Italian Plums

Retail Beer Releases (Week of 12/13)

With just a week till Christmas Eve the new beer list is far shorter than usual and I've already covered the only one of these that looks like standout, so I guess I'll use this post to talk about the blog.  I'm currently trying to come up with some new ideas for future posts and was wondering what you, the readers, would like to see.  I have a little poll on the right or you can just comment on this post. Additionally, I'll be going on another vacation next week, so posting may be sporadic until the new year.

New beer releases in the Denver area:

• Buffalo Bill's Blueberry Oatmeal Stout (Seasonal)
• Great Divide Barrel Aged Old Ruffian Barleywine (Limited Release) - More details here
• Green's Gluten-Free Discovery Amber (New)
• Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown (Seasonal)

Breckenridge Announces Homebrew Contest Winner

A couple of months ago Breckenridge Brewery announced that they would continue the recent industry trend of professional/homebrewer collaborations by holding a homebrew competition to determine their 20th Anniversary brew.  Today, the brewery announced on FOX 31 News that winning beer was a French and Belgian style Saison from Jen and Greg Seitz of Denver.  The couple only started homebrewing 8 months ago, so this is quite the accomplishment.  You will be able to taste their winning beer sometime in mid-February at all the Breckenridge locations.


 

Great Divide Barrel-Aged Old Ruffian Release Details

Great Divide released the 2009 version of their Barrel-Aged Old Ruffian Barleywine today at both their tap room and in area liquor stores. There are 1,188 bottles of this beer available and just like last month's Barrel-Aged Hibernation most of them will be distributed to Denver stores (the two bottles above were purchased at Argonaut).  Each 750 ml bottle is retailing for $25 and I also believe there is a 2 per person limit at the tap room. The brewery expects to release the last of their barrel-aged beers (Yeti) in January.

From Great Divide:

The special release of our acclaimed hefty barely wine has been aged for nine months in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels.  The process tempers Old Ruffian's edges for a mellowed version with heady whiskey flavors and subtle oak notes.  Bottle conditioned, it'll age nicely for years. If you can resist it that long. 65-80 IBU's. 

Upcoming Events (Week of 12/13)

If you're anything like me, your wallet gets a bit thinner this time of year and the beer buying budget shrivels up. Luckily, Dry Dock Brewing is starting the gift giving a bit early with help from Joe's Dent Removal. This Wednesday, December 16th, you can head down to the brewery and get a free pint courtesy of Joe Griffith (owner of Joe's Dent Removal). Dry Dock will also be tapping a keg of their delicious Russian Imperial Stout and should have a special firkin on tap.

Other beer events in the Denver area this week:

• The Society for the Pursuit of Hoppiness @ Avery Tap Room - 12/14, 6:00pm
• Hop Lover Challenge - Contestants must first identify various hop strains in pellet form, and then identify those same hops when used to dry-hop a keg of Avery IPA. 1st place wins a $50 Avery gift certificate
• Free for Society members, $15 for a lifetime Society membership
• Great Divide Barrel-Aged Old Ruffian Release - 12/14 (I'll be posting more details about this later today)
• Recession Relief Wednesday @ Dry Dock Brewing - 12/16, 3:00pm - 9:00pm
• Sour Tapping Event @ Trinity Brewing Company - 12/16 (Looks like the moved the date on this one, still don't have many details)
• Hop Disciples Meeting @ Great Divide Tap Room - 12/17, 6:00pm (RSVP to info@greatdivide.com)
• Oskar Blues Firkin Friday @ The Tasty Weasel - 12/18, 5:00pm
• Dry Dock Firkin Friday - 12/18, 3:00pm -11:00pm
• Black Fox Hiver Saison Release @ Bristol Brewing - 12/18, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
• A special holiday spiced beer
• Special Tapping @ Avery Tap Room - 12/18, 5:00pm
• They'll be tapping at 3 year old keg of Samael's Oak Aged Ale at 5:00 sharp.

If you know of any events I've missed or would like your event added please e-mail me: denverbrew@gmail.com

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)

New Oaked Beer from Tommyknocker

Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs has just announced a new oaked beer for their 15th anniversary on December 12th.  The brewery has been developing The Legend for over a year and it will be an oaked nut brown ale (10% abv).  I'm assuming this is a new take on their already great Imperial Nut Brown Ale, so it should be delicious.  Brewmaster Steve Indrehus used toasted Hungarian Oak in this beer with Crystal, Munich, and Chocolate malts, a little pure maple syrup, and a blend of American hops.  In the press release, Indrehus says he "used oak in this brew as an ingredient rather than just an aging vessel. Utilizing this technique has really brought out notes of spiced vanilla as well as hints of smoky biscuit, harmonized with black pepper and coffee overtones."  I'm not sure when it will be hitting stores, but it will be available in 375ml wax dipped bottles so keep your eyes open.