The Beer Thread
I'm heading to Boulder/Denver next week, and I'm overwhelmed with choices. Any "must-visit" recommendations? I prefer to stay on the Boulder side of things, but am willing to travel to Denver if there's a compelling reason.
james ford gave a complete run-down of his CO trip a few weeks back, so scroll back a dozen pages or so in this thread and you'll have a ton of recommendations.
My must hits:
Denver:
1. Crooked Stave Tasting Room (if you like sours)
2. Hops and Pie Restaurant (if you like great food/pizza to pair with your beer from a great draft list)
3. Thirsty Monk Belgian Cafe (if you like the best Belgian beers (actually from Belgium) at half price for lunch)
4. Freshcraft (excellent food/draft list, good happy hour specials)
5. Dry Dock Brewing (very good at a number of styles, a bit out of the city proper)
*also if you do go to Denver, check the Falling Rock draft list. Which unfortunately gets update no plae online
Arvada:
1. Yak and Yeti Brewpub/Restaurant (if you like an outstanding IPA paired with excellent spicy Indian food)
Fort Collins:
1. New Belgium Brewery (if you like an outstanding, entertaining tour with plenty of free samples…note, tours fill up way in advance, book ahead…not many brewery only options though, and NB is of course widely distrusted around here)
2. Odell Brewery (if you like a cool tasting room with loads of interesting choices that don't get bottled (actually none of their bottles make it to the East Coast)
3. Funkwerks Brewery (if you like saisons…definitely the third choice for Ft Collins, but if you go there you might as well do this one too)
Boulder:
Actually, I have no "must hits" here. I was very sick the day we were in Boulder, so I'm biased because of that. Avery Brewery is probably your best bet. Comparable to Odell, though I liked Avery less. People rave about Backcounty Pizza…Excellent draft list but the pizza was mediocre.
More details in post from mid-July.
Denver:
1. Crooked Stave Tasting Room (if you like sours)
2. Hops and Pie Restaurant (if you like great food/pizza to pair with your beer from a great draft list)
3. Thirsty Monk Belgian Cafe (if you like the best Belgian beers (actually from Belgium) at half price for lunch)
4. Freshcraft (excellent food/draft list, good happy hour specials)
5. Dry Dock Brewing (very good at a number of styles, a bit out of the city proper)
*also if you do go to Denver, check the Falling Rock draft list. Which unfortunately gets update no plae online
Arvada:
1. Yak and Yeti Brewpub/Restaurant (if you like an outstanding IPA paired with excellent spicy Indian food)
Fort Collins:
1. New Belgium Brewery (if you like an outstanding, entertaining tour with plenty of free samples…note, tours fill up way in advance, book ahead…not many brewery only options though, and NB is of course widely distrusted around here)
2. Odell Brewery (if you like a cool tasting room with loads of interesting choices that don't get bottled (actually none of their bottles make it to the East Coast)
3. Funkwerks Brewery (if you like saisons…definitely the third choice for Ft Collins, but if you go there you might as well do this one too)
Boulder:
Actually, I have no "must hits" here. I was very sick the day we were in Boulder, so I'm biased because of that. Avery Brewery is probably your best bet. Comparable to Odell, though I liked Avery less. People rave about Backcounty Pizza…Excellent draft list but the pizza was mediocre.
More details in post from mid-July.
grateful wrote:
I'm heading to Boulder/Denver next week, and I'm overwhelmed with choices. Any "must-visit" recommendations? I prefer to stay on the Boulder side of things, but am willing to travel to Denver if there's a compelling reason.
the tour and tasting room at Avery get rave reviews. their beers might not be #1, but at least it will be an aesthetically pleasing experience (could be a big plus if you're dragging along non-beer geeks).
I had forgotten about the CO trip summary upthread. Sorry about the repeat. I'll be going out there for work, so I'll be limited to evenings… Thanks for the recommendations!
Others to hit in Boulder:
Sanitas
Fate
Upslope
Bru
And in Lafayette: Post
Sanitas
Fate
Upslope
Bru
And in Lafayette: Post
One thought I had about Avery (and maybe some of these as well) is that you'd need a car or cab to get there from downtown. If you're looking for something near the downtown pedestrian mall, Mountain Sun would probably be a good bet (though I didn't make it there myself).
Lazer wrote:
Others to hit in Boulder:
Sanitas
Fate
Upslope
Bru
And in Lafayette: Post
Victory to open a brewpub in Leesburg. Nice.
http://www.victorybeer.com/news/victory-brewing-company-announces-fourth-brewpub/
http://www.victorybeer.com/news/victory-brewing-company-announces-fourth-brewpub/
outlet shopping just got WAY more appealing
James wrote:
Victory to open a brewpub in Leesburg. Nice.
http://www.victorybeer.com/news/victory-brewing-company-announces-fourth-brewpub/
wow, some of those ring uncomfortable true. luckily, I have a partner who supports the cause and has as many beer tshirts as I do.
Yada wrote:
http://firstwefeast.com/drink/dating-a-beer-nerd/
very, very happy to see this beer return…
DOWNINGTOWN, PA, September 4, 2014 ?Victory Brewing Company® (Victory) is pleased to announce the release of Mooonglow Weizenbock, a bottle conditioned German style ale, rich in malt tones, spicy fruit aromas and warming flavors which combine to create the perfect autumnal elixir.
Originating from German brewing tradition, this 'bock' beer utilizes German hops and a strain of 'weiss' ('wheat') beer yeast, which plays a major role in charging the ale with flavors reminiscent of clove, vanilla and honey. As per traditional German style conventions, it is comprised of two different types of malted wheat totaling nearly 60% of the grist among the seven varieties of malted grains employed. This recipe, with its historic roots, revitalizes a refreshing, well-made style of ale that is rare today.
Drinking a Moonglow Weizenbock is much like traveling back in time, due to the strict, age-old, quality controlled brewing process it adheres to. Simultaneously, the brew stands out amongst the current trend of hoppy, American ales with a fresh, exciting flavor profile, driven by malt and yeast. Harvest fruit flavors conjuring fresh apple and pear lead into notes of caramel and toffee, resolving into spicy characteristics that leave a satisfying impression comparable to frothy banana bread in this tempting ale.
Moonglow Weizenbock, has an ABV of 8.7% and is available at craft beer bars, bottle shops, beer distributors and major gourmet grocery stores throughout Victory?s 35 state distribution footprint, with a suggested retail price of $9.99 and will be sold in 12 ounce 4 packs. Use Victory?s Beerfinder to discover a nearby location, or download the free Victory Mobile app for Android or iPhone.
?This beer is a vivid example of what our company is all about ? the exploration of German brewing traditions combined with our individual creative ingenuity,? said President and Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski. ?Whether clearing new paths or rediscovering old roads via glow of the autumnal moon, this is a product that celebrates the spirit of that journey.?
About Victory Brewing Company
Victory Brewing Company is a craft brewery headquartered in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Founded by childhood friends, Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, who met on a school bus in 1973, Victory officially opened its doors in February of 1996. In addition to the original Downingtown brewery and brewpub, Victory recently opened a second state-of-the-art brewery in Parkesburg, PA to expand production capabilities and serve fans of fully flavored beers in 35 states with innovative beers melding European ingredients and technology with American creativity. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company visit us on the web at www.victorybeer.com.
DOWNINGTOWN, PA, September 4, 2014 ?Victory Brewing Company® (Victory) is pleased to announce the release of Mooonglow Weizenbock, a bottle conditioned German style ale, rich in malt tones, spicy fruit aromas and warming flavors which combine to create the perfect autumnal elixir.
Originating from German brewing tradition, this 'bock' beer utilizes German hops and a strain of 'weiss' ('wheat') beer yeast, which plays a major role in charging the ale with flavors reminiscent of clove, vanilla and honey. As per traditional German style conventions, it is comprised of two different types of malted wheat totaling nearly 60% of the grist among the seven varieties of malted grains employed. This recipe, with its historic roots, revitalizes a refreshing, well-made style of ale that is rare today.
Drinking a Moonglow Weizenbock is much like traveling back in time, due to the strict, age-old, quality controlled brewing process it adheres to. Simultaneously, the brew stands out amongst the current trend of hoppy, American ales with a fresh, exciting flavor profile, driven by malt and yeast. Harvest fruit flavors conjuring fresh apple and pear lead into notes of caramel and toffee, resolving into spicy characteristics that leave a satisfying impression comparable to frothy banana bread in this tempting ale.
Moonglow Weizenbock, has an ABV of 8.7% and is available at craft beer bars, bottle shops, beer distributors and major gourmet grocery stores throughout Victory?s 35 state distribution footprint, with a suggested retail price of $9.99 and will be sold in 12 ounce 4 packs. Use Victory?s Beerfinder to discover a nearby location, or download the free Victory Mobile app for Android or iPhone.
?This beer is a vivid example of what our company is all about ? the exploration of German brewing traditions combined with our individual creative ingenuity,? said President and Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski. ?Whether clearing new paths or rediscovering old roads via glow of the autumnal moon, this is a product that celebrates the spirit of that journey.?
About Victory Brewing Company
Victory Brewing Company is a craft brewery headquartered in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Founded by childhood friends, Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, who met on a school bus in 1973, Victory officially opened its doors in February of 1996. In addition to the original Downingtown brewery and brewpub, Victory recently opened a second state-of-the-art brewery in Parkesburg, PA to expand production capabilities and serve fans of fully flavored beers in 35 states with innovative beers melding European ingredients and technology with American creativity. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company visit us on the web at www.victorybeer.com.
Split one of each of these with my wife with dinner last night.
Paired it with a rather unhealthy fettucini alfredo dish and healthy arugala salad I made.
The Jacobins Rouge went better with the food. Just and awesome sour.
The Duchesse is a bit too sweet, not bad, more of a dessert beer, imo.
anybody, ever have this thing i saw, the other day called
Yada wrote:
http://firstwefeast.com/drink/dating-a-beer-nerd/
#8 + #10 ring true for me. and that's a bad ass local option t-shirt.
Yada wrote:
http://firstwefeast.com/drink/dating-a-beer-nerd/
really good list, but i have a few edits:
6) ?YOU?LL FIND YOURSELF WITH NOTHING TO DO FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES YOU SIT DOWN AT A BAR AS HE METICULOUSLY STUDIES THE BEER MENU.?
false. beer nerds look up the bar's online beer menu beforehand. a beer nerds walks in an already knows what he wants to try.
7) ?HE?LL NEVER WANT TO TAKE PHOTOS OF YOU?ONLY OF HIS BEERS.?
not quite: he'll only take pictures of you with beer. so if you want to show up on his instagram feed, point out how cute you look holding a pint of whatever pretentious beer he ordered for you.
#8 doesn't apply to me as i've never gotten into Ontappd, but i realize i'm in the minority on this one.
sweetcell wrote:
false. beer nerds look up the bar's online beer menu beforehand. a beer nerds walks in an already knows what he wants to try.
guilty of that, too.