The holiday’s are upon us. #TurkeyPartyDay is just hours away and you are probably planning for some Black Friday festivities. Let us help you make that plan just a bit more sudstastic and beerific. PorchDrinking’s Denver Beer Beat brings news of openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, anniversaries, tap takeovers etc. each and every week. Let’s Party!

Are you native to the city and looking for events to tide you over for the week? Are you new to the city and looking for the best place to find tasty suds? Visiting and looking for events to hit while you are in town? Check out this week’s Denver Beer Beat and return each week to find all things #craftbeer in the Denver Metro Area.

Wednesday, November 26

New Brewery Opening in Southern Colorado @ Storybook Brewing (Colorado Springs)

Time: 4pm on the weekdays, 12pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays and Mondays.
3121 N El Paso St, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

The grand opening was yesterday but you can grab pints each day at 4pm. The brewery will have 6 beers on tap with more on the way. This three barrel system boasts 15 years of experience and we can only wish them the best on the lower Front Range!

Festivus Goes on Tour @ Denver/Boulder/Fort Collins

Time and Location: Specific to Each Event

It’s true that Festivus was born in Denver. But Boulder and Fort Collins have their own beer culture, craft drinkers and brewers. Thus, our friends at Imbibe decided it’s time for each city to have its own wintery celebration of local suds. Not quite sure what Festivus is? Navigate to your city via the hyperlinks provided to learn more about this glorious beer festival. And, if you’ve been before, make your way to all three cities for a craft beer extravaganza in each! Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins.

Bottle Sale & Elder Brett Release, and Black Friday Sale @ Epic Brewing Co (Five Points)

Time: 11:00am – 9:00pm
3001 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205

On Wednesday, Epic will have a bottle sale with unbeatable prices so you can stock up for your Thanksgiving dinner. Plus that day, they will release this year’s batch of Elder Brett (batch 6) along with a limited release of last year’s (batch 4). Get them both with a neoprene bag for a special price. They will be closed on Thursday. Then on Friday they will have a Black Friday merchandise sale (1 day only). All week long – have fun on their typewriter telling them what you are thankful for.

Cinnamon Cranberry Thinking of Something Orange Firkin Tapping @ Verboten Brewing (Loveland)

Time: 3:00pm
1550 Taurus Ct, Loveland, CO 80537

Come in for their very 1st Firkin Tapping on Wednesday at 3pm. They’ll tap a Cinnamon-Cranberry Thinking of Something-Orange. They will have their happy Hour pricing going on from 3-6pm with $1 off pints. They’ll be closed for Thanksgiving so make sure to stock up for your holiday imbibing.

Drizly Donating to No Kid Hungry, Promo Code and Giving Back in Denver @ Drizly (Denver)

Drizlywill be helping others give back this Thanksgiving holiday in the following ways: First, Drizly will be donating 30% of profits through the end of the month to No Kid Hungry, a great organization that is working to end child hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. Second, Drizly is holding a “Get a Bottle, Give a Can” food drive. Consumers who place an order through Drizly in the Denver area between today and Nov. 26 can give their delivery driver non-perishable items in return to be donated to local food banks. Finally, as our way of giving thanks to our users, we’re offering free delivery on orders over $50 with the promo code “Turkey” now through Thanksgiving.

Double Beer Release Just in Time for the Holidays @ Funkwerks (Ft. Collins)

Time: Available at the brewery now
1900 E Lincoln Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524

Two Beer Releases THIS Wednesday! Blanka, a double Witbier & Crimson, a wild cherry Belgian beer will both be released just in time for Turkey Day! Both of these brews would pair wonderfully with Thanksgiving dishes.

Lambics Against Leukemia III (The Final Round…hopefully!)

Listen up friends, this is important. Brewtally Insane, one of our friends through beer and blogging, have got a fundraiser to share with you that not only goes towards a great cause, but also offers up a chance to win some awesome, über rare beers. It’s the 3rd round of Lambics Against Leukemia, which helps fund little Owen Meyer’s battle against the disease. Owen’s father, Matt, is the Beer Manager at Freshcraft and a dear friend to the Colorado beer community. It’s the season of giving and this is a great opportunity to help make a difference for Owen and the entire Meyer family.

Please take a minute to look over the details from event organizer and beer connoisseur Bill Young. We urge you to make a donation, make a difference for Owen, and get entered to win one of the amazing boxes of beer listed below, generously donated from companies like AC Golden, Crooked Stave, Casey Brewing and Blending, Dry Dock, the beer nerds here at BI, and many others.

Pecan Pie Brown Ale Cask Tapping @ Copper Kettle Brewing Company (Southeast Denver)

Time: 2:00pm – 10:00pm
1338 S. Valentia Street, Unit 100, Denver CO 80247

Every Wednesday, they release a fun and interesting one off cask. Join them on Wednesdays to see them release their creative side! November is “Happy Thanksgiving” cask month! How about all the things you love about Thanksgiving in four tasty beers! Up this week is their “Pecan Pie Brown Ale Cask“, a traditional light-flavored, malt-accented brown with pecans and brown sugar. For Thanksgiving Eve, we saved the best for last!

Wayward Wednesday at River North Brewery (LoDo/Ballpark)

Time: 3:00pm
2401 Blake St #1, Denver, CO 80205

For today’s pre-Thanksgiving Wayward Wednesday, they’ll pour J. Marie dry-hopped two ways. One keg with Galaxy, one with Pacific Jade!

$2 Craft Can Night @ Hops & Pie (Berkeley)

Time: 5:00pm – Close
3920 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212

Wednesday is $2 Craft Can Night from 5pm-close at Hops and Pie.  This week’s Artisan Sando is the elusive Hickory Smoked Turducken with Griddled Sweet Potatoes, House Made Cranberry Sauce and Gravy on a griddled house roll!!

Can Party and Cellar Aged Sweetie Pie Sendoff Keg Release @ High Hops Brewery (Windsor)

Time: 5:00pm
6461 Hwy 392, Windsor CO, 80550

Can Party – The Honeyed One & the Dark One are here!!! HHB are so excited to finally be able to release these beers in cans!! Go celebrate with them and take home ANY 6 PACK FOR ONLY $8 (Golden, Zeus, Honey, or Dark)! Take home cans to share with friends and family this Thanksgiving! As for the Sweetie Pie Sendoff Keg Release, the High Hops folks want to ‘Give Thanks to Beer! They saved one keg of Sweetie Pie from last year and held onto it (with much temptation) to do a special release this Thanksgiving! This 1 year old beer will pair great with your Thanksgiving dinners, so be sure to stop in and fill your growlers – YES, they are doing growler fills for $35!! After this keg is gone, Sweetie Pie will be completely gone, so send it off by sharing it with your friends and family this Thanksgiving! High Hops Brewery will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so make sure to get in before the holiday if you want cans or growler fills!

Vanilla Porter Debuts in 6-Pack Cans @ Dry Dock Brewing Co – North Dock (Aurora)

Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
2801 Tower Rd, Aurora, CO 80011

It’s true— Dry Dock is canning the beloved Vanilla Porter and packaging it into 6-packs. The holidays come early this year. Escape Black Friday and head to the Canoe Room to celebrate the release of canned Vanilla Porter instead. Receive a FREE Vanilla Porter Koozie with every 6 pack purchased for the entire weekend!

Vertical Taster Paddle of Killer Penguin @ Boulder Beer Co (Boulder)

Time: open to close
2880 Wilderness Pl, Boulder, CO 80301

They’ve got a Black Friday treat for you! On Friday 11/28 only, their Pub will be serving a Vertical Taster Paddle of Killer Penguin Barleywine, showcasing years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014! Better not miss this rare opportunity.

Thursday, November 27

Happy Holidays and Turkey Party Day!

Friday, November 28

Russian Imperial Stout Release @ Comrade Brewing (Cherry Creek Country Club)

Time: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
7667 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80231

On Black Friday, November 28, Comrade Brewing is releasing their Russian Imperial Stout. Brewed with Chinook, Sorachi Ace and a generous late addition of Centennial, this all malt beer pours pitch black with a dark tan head. Aroma of toffee and chocolate dominate, lightly sweet, full-bodied and smooth on the palate with a subtle smoky finish and just enough bitterness to balance out the malt sweetness. 10.5% ABV 70 IBU.

Black Friday @ Station 26 Brewing Co. (North East Park Hill)

Time: 1:00pm – 10:00pm
7045 E 38th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80207

Instead of shopping, they’re tapping eleven (!) different flavors of their 11+% Dark Star Imperial Stout throughout the day. So before the mayhem starts, put down the shopping bags and join S26B for an imperial stout journey. Here’s the schedule:
1:00 – Dark Star, Firkin Dark Star, Whiskey Coffee Dark Star
2:00 – Belgian Chocolate Dark Star, German Chocolate Dark Star, Mexican Chocolate Dark Star
3:00 – Thanksgiving Dark Star (cranberry, rosemary, thyme), Raspberry Dark Star
4:00 – Kopi Luwak Coffee Dark Star
5:00 – Gingerbread Dark Star, Rum Raisin Dark Star

Saturday, November 29

Odyssey Beer’dwerks Movember Party @ Odyssey Beerwerks (Arvada)

Time: 6:00pm
5535 W 56th Ave, Suite 107, Arvada, Colorado 80002

Join Odyssey Beerwerks and the Boulder Facial Hair Club on Saturday, November 29 at the Odyssey taproom to culminate the month of Movember with an “Odyssey Beer’dwerks” party! They’ll have a beard and moustache showcase at their taproom with prizes awarded for Best Beard, Best Mo’, Best Female “Beard,” Laziest/Worst Facial Hair, and Judges Fave. Costumes are also encouraged! In addition, we’ll have music from the king of Colorado rockabilly, Jim Jamm Jimmy! And food from Barbed Wire Reef!

Cucumber Christmas Release Party @ Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland)

Time: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
623 Denver Ave, Loveland, CO 80537

Join Grimm Bros on Saturday, November 29th from 12pm to 9pm for the release of Cucumber Christmas, a Cucumber Pilsner and their tribute to the Christmas Pickle tradition. The Christmas pickle is a Christmas tradition where a decoration in the shape of a pickle is hidden on a Christmas tree, with the finder receiving either a reward or good fortune for the following year. It’s the perfect counterpart to all the dark, big ABV beers available this time of year. Fruity, cool and refreshing, you’ll have visions of the spa dancing in your head.

Sunday, November 30

#InstaSweater Photo Contest @ Breckenridge Brewery (Breckenridge)

Get Festive. Instantly. If you’re lucky enough to find one of their Christmas Ale coasters at your favorite bar or restaurant, just hold one at arm’s length in front of a friend until it looks like a sweater! Take a picture and post it with #‎Instasweater. They might just post it up and send you a present! Must be 21 years of age or over.

Tuesday, December 2

Pints in the Press: Denver Bar on 12 Hottest New Beer Bars in the U.S. @ Asbury Provisions (University)

Asbury Provisions – 2043 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80210

An excerpt from Zagat: “Bartending pros Chris Topham and Jason Ladd took the extensive experience gleaned from some of the best beer bars in their native Philadelphia and channeled it into this new Denver University taproom. A list of 25 rotating drafts is heavy on Colorado favorites, with specialties from both coasts interspersed throughout, and those looking for an easy chug can turn to the vintage “grandpa’s fridge” for a can of High Life or Genesee Cream Ale. The menu supports the brew list with pickles, small plates, burgers and sandwiches.”

Fermenting Events About Ready To Be Tapped . . .
December 4^th – Beethoven and Brews @ the Colorado Symphony (CBD/Downtown)
December 5^th – Boulder Festivus featuring ONLY Boulder Breweries @ The Rembrandt Yard (Boulder)
December 5^th – Repeal Day Tapping with Firestone Walker at 7pm @ Freshcraft (LoDo/Union Station)
December 6^th – 5th Annual Parade of Darks presented by Wynkoop @ Bindery on Blake (Five Points)
December 6^th – December Releases: 3 new beers and 2 new blends @ Casey Brewing & Blending (Glenwood Springs)
December 9^th – Christmas Beer Tasting AND the Liquid Brain Release @ Bull & Bush (Glendale)
December 12^th – 2nd Anniversary Party from 2pm to midnight. @ Our Mutual Friend Malt & Brew (Five Points)
December 12^th, 13^th and 14^th – A First Birthday Blowout @ Station 26 (North East Park Hill)
December 12^th – Fort Collins Festivus featuring ONLY Fort Collins Breweries @ Yendra Built (Fort Collins)
December 13^th – Denver Festivus featuring ONLY Denver Breweries @ McNichols Building (Civic Center)
December 23^rd – 2nd Annual “Festivus for the Rest of Us Dinner” @ Barrels & Bottles Brewery (Golden)

Did we miss any events in this week’s? Let us know by emailing us at cory{at}porchdrinking{dot}com.

Cheers to ye and may eternity find us in as good company as this! Stay Thirsty and Keep Denver Beer’d!