Snow is here. It’s colder than a tin toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg. Thanks for joining us for another installment of PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat. The 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 12

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.

Cask Wednesday @ Copper Kettle Brewing Company (Southeast’est 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 “Apple and Pear Tart Amber“, a traditional amber lager is characterized by soft, elegant maltiness with a sweet and tart finish.

Wayward Wednesday at River North Brewery (LoDo/Ballpark)

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

Welp, winter has arrived, so it’s time to pull out some barrel-aged kegs. Tequila Barrel J. Maria now flowing in the taproom, and then when the real cold sets in for this week’s Wayward Wednesday, they’ll pour Rum Barrel Quandary!

$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 artist sando of the week is: Leah’s Grandma’s Meatballs, Provolone, Marinara, Caramelized Onions, Balsamic & Basil Leaves on a Toasted House Hoagie Roll!!

Wednesday Firkin: ESB2 English-style Bitter Tapping @ High Hops Brewery (Windsor)

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

ESB2 Firkin Release: This English-style bitter was aged for 4 months and dry-hopped with a healthy dose of Pacific Jade which gives it a nice, peppery aroma!

Cottonwood Organic Pumpkin Porter @ Wynkoop Brewing Co (LoDo/Union Station)

Time: 5:30pm to 7:00pm
1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

Wynkoop kicks off the middle of the week with their release party for their Cottonwood Organic Pumpkin Porter. $1 of every pint of it sold between November 12th to December 12th benefits Cottonwood Institute. Please RSVP on the Cottonwood Institute Facebook page if you plan on attending the release party.

Thursday, November 13

Dr. Pat’s #17 Release with Lemon Verbena @ High Hops Brewery (Windsor)

Time: 3:00pm
6461 Hwy 392, Windsor CO, 80550

Brewed with Lemon Verbena that we grew on our farm! Inspired by our Golden One, this brew has a lovely lemony, citrusy flavor! Food from Chaulkboard Gourmet Express!

Yoga by the Barrels at the Infinite Monkey Theorem (Five Points)

Time: 6:30pm
3200 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Balance on your mat, and then get tipsy at the bar.  Every first and third Thursday of each month, The Yoga Mat will be hosting an hour-long yoga class surrounded by wine barrels and vino at the Infinite Monkey Theorem urban winery.  Following the class, they’ll move the party into the Wine Lab for a glass of wine (included with the registration fee).  Admission runs $20 – $25.  Please bring your own yoga mat.

Craft Beer & Chocolate Desserts Pairing @ West Flanders Brewing Company (Boulder)

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
1125 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302

Beer and chocolate… two of the most loved culinary indulgences for centuries. Why do we love them so? Do they go together? You bet! Rich, full flavored beers can balance the sweetness of many desserts and rich, roasty stouts, in particular, make wonderful companions to the roasted notes in chocolate. Presented by: Jeff Mendel, Partner, Director and “Beer Ambassador” for Left Hand Brewing Company and co-founder of Sapere Aude, Sarah Amorese, Chocolatier and Chef Owner of Piece, Love & Chocolate, with insightful anecdotes from Brian Lutz, Co-Owner and Brewmaster of West Flanders Brewing Company

The Class includes a flight of 8 beers – all from local Colorado craft breweries – and a pairing of more than 10 different chocolates & chocolate micro-desserts. $45 per person (must be at least 21 years old)
Get your tickets today!

Friday, November 14

Signature Series Double Vanilla Porter Release @ Dry Dock Brewing (Aurora)

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

Meet the next beer in Dry Dock’s Signature Series this weekend exclusively at Canoe Room at North Dock. The Double Vanilla Porter will be available on tap and in 22-ounce bombers at the Canoe Room on November 14, 15, and 16.

Cabernet Aged Biere de Triomphe Tapping @ Diebolt Brewing Company (Sunnyside)

Time: 4:00pm
3855 Mariposa St, Denver, CO 80211

Diebolt Brewing Company will be releasing a barrel aged version of their Biere de Triomphe this Friday, the 14th. After a 5 month ‘garde’ in Cabernet barrels, wonderful flavors of black currant and spicy oak mingle with grape-like esters and slight citrus notes from the Biere de Triomphe leaving a smooth, slightly tart, well blended, barrel-aged Biere. The beer will be available when the tasting room opens at 4 p.m. Friday.

First Bite Boulder Restaurant Week Menu Announced @ BRU handbuilt ales & eats (Boulder)

Time: Contact the restaurant for reservations.
5290 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303

Join BRU handbuilt ales & eats for First Bite Boulder from November 14th-22nd. 3 courses for $27pp, call 720.638.5193 for reservations. The week celebrates Boulder’s exceptional dining community and will help bring the city the well-deserved reputation into the national spotlight.

Saturday, November 15

Liberate Yourself from Crappy Beer Fest No. 4 – California Edition @ Parry’s Pizza (Highlands Ranch)

Time: 11:00am to close
9567 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO

The “Liberate Yourself from Crappy Beer Fest No. 4 – California Edition” will be on Saturday, November 15th from 11am until close at Parry’s Pizza in Highlands Ranch. Parry’s is once again giving you the opportunity to liberate yourself from crappy beer with its fourth installment of, “Liberate Yourself from Crappy Beer Fest No. 4.” The party will be at their Highlands Ranch location and they’ll be tapping Sculpin from Ballast Point, Idiot IPA from Coronado Brewing, Lucky Bastard by Stone Brewing and Blind Pig, Pliny the Elder and Consecration from Russian River.

Poses & Pints at Crooked Stave (Five Points)

Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
3350 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216

“Do Yoga. Drink Beer. Simple words we live by. “ Every month, Poses & Pints brings the Denver community together through two loves; yoga and craft beer. For $17, enjoy a one-hour Flow yoga class with a certified yoga instructor, and afterwards enjoy one craft beer from a local brewery. Join Poses & Pints on November 15th at Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project at The Source, where Cori Depue of The Freyja Project will teach an one-hour flow yoga class, and participants will enjoy a unique brew by Crooked Stave in one of the coolest places in town, The Source. The Source is a European style market with not only Crooked Stave, but a flower shop, two restaurants, liquor store, butcher, general store, and more. Our event is geared to everyone, no matter the skill level. This is a BYOM (Bring Your Own Mat) event. No cancelations are allowed less 48 hours before event.

GRAND OPENING @ Locavore Beer Works (Littleton)

Time: 12:00pm to close
5950 S Platte Canyon Rd, Littleton, CO

Opening day is coming soon for these Littleton’ians! Plan to attend their Grand Opening on Saturday, November 15th from 12pm to close. They will have 11 beers on tap plus a full menu of food from Rocky Mountain Catering. What is a Locavore you may ask? It’s a person who chooses to support local industry, whether it is food, drink or general services and products. Become a Locavore to this local brewery and you will not be disappointed.

GRAND OPENING @ FermÆntra Brewery (University)

Time: 12:00pm
1715 E Evans Ave, Denver, Colorado 80210

On November 15th at noon, the new University neighborhood brewery, Fermaentra, will have 8 beers on tap and Texorado BBQ serving up goodness. Read their official press release on their website here.

GRAND OPENING @ Alpine Dog Brewing Company

Time: 12:00pm

1505 Ogden Street, Denver, CO 80218

Alpine Dog Brewing Company Soft Launch and Grand Opening! Regular hours begin on Nov. 15th and opening party on Nov. 22nd! 4 beers on tap to start; Alpine Dog IPA, Hogback Amber, Rye Blonde, and Belgian/American Hybrid Pale Ale, and more to follow soon! Food by Truck Yeah on the 22nd; sliders, wraps, and the infamous Totchos! (tater tot nachos)!

 

Whiskey Barrel-Aged J Marie Bomber Release @ River North Brewery (RiNo/Ballpark)

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

Whiskey Barrel J. Marie Release! Their original barrel-aged beer returns! Whiskey J. Marie on tap and in bottles in the taproom starting at 1pm. Full details here.

Nitro Fest – the first exclusively nitrogenated beer fest @ Left Hand Brewing (Longmont)

Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm
1265 Boston Ave, Longmont, CO, 80501

Left Hand Brewing is proud to present Nitro Fest – the first exclusively nitrogenated beer festival this November 15th from 3-7pm at Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, Colorado. Nitro Fest will feature 22 of the best breweries from across the US pouring rare, never-before-seen nitro styles in celebration of Left Hand’s 21st birthday. Nitro Fest will be a lavish evening, pairing smooth & creamy ales with fire spinning, sword juggling, stilt walking, and other circus acts. Local fare & commemorative tasting glass is included with the ticket. Help us make our “Labels Come to Life” in an evening of costumes themed after our beer labels. Best dressed takes home a case of Left Hand Brewing Company craft beer.

Check out the confirmed breweries: Left Hand Brewing Company, Bear Republic, Boulder Beer, Breckenridge, Cigar City, Deschutes, DogFish Head, Elevation Brewing, Elysian, Epic, Firestone Walker, Founders, Green Flash, Lagunitas, Mountain Sun, New Belgium, North Coast, Odell, Oskar Blues, Sierra Nevada, Ska, Victory.

Event proceeds benefit the Left Hand Brewing Foundation. Nitro Fest is inside a heated event tent.

Bacon and Beer Chef and Brewer Dinner at The Lobby (Ballpark/Five Points)

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
2191 Arapahoe St. Denver CO 80205

What better way to celebrate Bacon and Beer Festival weekend than a curated dinner matching amazing chefs with amazing beers. On Saturday, November 15th, join us at The Lobby for a 5 course meal with beer pairing featuring excellent regional chefs and brewers. Price includes tax and gratuity. 21+ to drink. Because of the nature of this event it will not be possible to accommodate menu substitutions. Welcome beer from a Breckenridge Brewery. Course 1: John Little from Harman’s Eat & Drink with Crooked Stave Course 2: Drew Watson from Hops & Pie with Copper Kettle Brewing Company Course 3: Vincent Vigil from Panzano with Renegade Brewing Company Course 4: Brandon Muncy from The Lobby with TRVE Brewing Co. Course 5: Samm Sherman from Linger and Root Down with Great Divide Brewing Company. For more info, check out our event preview here.

Sunday, November 16

Denver Bacon and Beer Festival 2014 @ The Curtis (LoDo/Union Station)

Time: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
1405 Curtis Street, Denver, CO‎ 80202

The Denver Bacon and Beer Festival is back for Year 3! On Sunday, November 16th from 2:30pm to 5:00pm at The Curtis, @eatboston and Denver Off the Wagon will once again bring together area restaurants and breweries to offer creative bacon-based dishes and fine brews. Proceeds from #DenverBaconAndBeer will benefit Metro CareRing and Project Angel Heart. Your ticket gets you in to Bacon and Beer Fest where you’ll be free to sample the dishes and the beer. There will be other people there with the same intention, so remember to share. Read more about the event in our event preview.

1st Annual Chili Cook off – 12pm to 10pm @ Chain Reaction Brewing Co (Athmar Park)

Time: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
902 S Lipan St, Denver, Colorado 80223

Come on down for Chain Reaction’s 1st Annual Chili/Chile Cook off! It’s free to enter and free to attend! They will have 3 categories of chili up for judging; Red, Green and vegetarian. You are welcome to enter in just 1 or all 3 if you think you’ve got the best of the best of each. Judging will be done by all the attendees who partake in chili eating. Prizes will be given to the top 2 chiles of each category then grand prizes will be given to the top 2 overall. If this fun chili cook off wasn’t enough, they will also be releasing the first ever Chain Reaction Brewing Company barrel aged beer! This extremely special brew will be their smoked hatch chile amber ale aged in a tequila barrel! That’s right a beautiful amber ale that uses over 70 fresh roasted hatch chiles per barrel that are then smoked over pecan wood then put into the beer! Then they put all that goodness into a fresh tequila barrel! Signup sheets for the chile cook off will be available at the brewery so come on down and sign up to reserve your spot.

Tweak: First Annual Release @ Avery Brewing Taproom (Boulder)

Time: 11:00am rare beers start tapping, bottles will start selling at 1:00pm
5763 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303

Avery Brewing releases a taproom favorite, once named Meph Addict, now more appropriately named Tweak. The 17.81% ALC/VOL stout with coffee added was aged in bourbon barrels for four months. Bottle sales at the Avery Tap Room Release Party begin at 1pm. Bottles are $12 each, 1 case limit per person.

Rare beers on draft starting at 11am featuring:
– Eremita VII: Berliner Weisse aged for 5 months in neutral wine barrels infused with organic cucumber and organic hibiscus flowers. 4.5% ABV
– Sour 10 lb. Strawberry: Sour Belgium Wit aged for 6 months in neutral wine barrels infused with 10 lbs. of strawberry per keg. 6% ABV
– Karmarita : Belgium sour aged in Tequila barrels for 6 months, infused with Mayan sea salt and organic keylime juice. 6.3% ABV
– Drew’s Fuzzy Peach: Belgium sour aged for 6 months in neutral barrels infused with 40# of fresh Palisade Peaches. 6.3% ABV
– Antonious’ Carmen: Dark sour aged in Madeira barrels. 7.72% ABV
– Bourbon Trogdor- Smoked doppelbock aged for 4 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. 8% ABV
– Hanging with the Boysen: Heavily acetic sour aged for two years in neutral barrels and infused with Boysenberries. 8% ABV
– Bourbon Barrel-Aged Czar: Our Russian Imperial Stout aged for 4 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. 10.5% ABV
– Ratman 10,000: a unique barrel-aged blend of four beers commemorating Ratman’s 10,000th beer rating. 12.99% ABV
– The Preacher: Blend of Heaven Hill bourbon barrel-aged The Reverend and The Beast. 14% ABV

Avery is expanding their barrel-aging program, which allows them to send Tweak to many places throughout the country! Keep an eye out in AR, AZ, CA, FL, KS, KY, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY, and of course CO! Put your zip code into the Avery Brew Finder to find Tweak near you!

Monday, November 17

PRAISE IN PRINT: OUR MUTUAL FRIEND feature in Modern In Denver @ OMF Tenth Acre & Brewery (Five Points)

Our Mutual Friend is located at 2810 LARIMER STREET DENVER, CO 80205

“The Draftsman” feature in Modern In Denver magazine recently covered one of the Five Points favorite neighborhood microbreweries. The article showcased Our Mutual Friend’s innovative Tuesday night special that turned a pint of beer into a work of art. That’s because one day a week, Our Mutual Friend Tenth Acre and Brewery (OMF) makes available for sale a limited edition glass designed by a local artist at the microbrewery in RiNo. They are available only for that month. And then, they are gone. Read more about the Tuesday night treat and OMF in the article here.

Blacklisted Deets for 2015 Membership Society @ Black Bottle Brewery (Fort Collins)

Black Bottle Brewery is located at 1611 South College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Black Bottle Brewery have put together a nice little package again for all you BBB lovers out there. For those who have been enjoying the perks of being Black Listed for the last 11 months, they hope you have been able to reap all the benefits you can handle. And, for those of you who missed out on being a part of the Black Listed membership, BBB have good news. They’ll be opening up membership sales again on December 1st!

Black Listed Perks

• 2015 Black Listed glass
• Black Bottle glass growler and fill
• 50cal Black Listed bottle opener
• 750ml bottle of Liquid Metal
• $1 off BBB draft beers/bottles and growler fills
• 50% off pizza on Mondays

Tuesday, November 18

Fiction Beer Company Craft Beer Dinner @ Table Top (South Park Hill)

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
2230 Oneida St, Denver, CO 80207

On November 18th, Table Top in Park Hill will be joined by Head brewer Ryan Kilpatrick from Fiction Beer Company for a four course beer dinner. The dinner will be a single seating event at Table Top (23rd and Oneida in Denver) starting at 6:30pm. Each course will feature a different Fiction Beer that will enhance and compliment the flavors of the fare provided by Table Top. Tickets are $45 per person and are available for purchase at Table Top or Fiction Beer Company. If you have any additional questions, please send to [email protected].

River North Brewery Beer Dinner & a Movie @ Alamo Drafthouse (Littleton)

Time: 7:30pm
7301 S Santa Fe Dr., Unit #850, Littleton, CO 80120

River North Brewery has partnered with the best cinema in town for a great meal and a show! There will be a screening of Smokey and the Bandit, because not only does it harken back to Colorado beer history, but it’s just a fun movie! Chef Seth will serve smoked frog legs, cheese grits, stewed tomatoes and sautéed spinach in a clam cream sauce and you’ll enjoy an IPA, J. Marie and Avarice throughout the movie. It’s a full experience for only $25, click here. 

Future Events

November 20^th – Chef N Brew Festival 2014 @ Exdo Event Center (Five Points)
November 22^nd – NovemberFRESH Craft Beer Fest @ Green Man Taproom (Colorado Springs)

November 30^th – Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine’s MovemBeerFest event @ The Whiskey (Fort Collins)
December 5^th – Boulder Festivus featuring ONLY Boulder Breweries @ The Rembrandt Yard (Boulder)
December 6^th – 5th annual Parade of Darks presented by Wynkoop @ Bindery on Blake (Five Points)
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)

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!