The Denver Beer Beat is a weekly roundup of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, and more happening in the Front Range and beyond. Be sure to check in each Wednesday to discover anything and everything happening around Colorado’s beer scene. Now let’s get to this week’s can’t miss beer events.

 

Tuesday, December 17

8 Crazy Nights of Barrel-Aged Beer @ Launch Pad Brewery (Aurora) – 884 S Buckley Rd, Aurora, Colorado

Date/ Time: Monday, December 16- Monday December 23, from 2:00–10:00 p.m.

Details: Available on Tap and in 19.2 ounce Stove Pipe Cans. Limited Release. First come, first serve.

M12/16: Soyuz Aged in Golden Moon Port finished with Rye Whiskey Barrel with Mourvedre grape must
T12/17: Gemini Belgian Dubbel Aged in Laws Four Grain Bourbon barrels with coffee
W12/18: Cozy Christmas Soyuz: Imperial Stout with coffee, coconut, caramel and vanilla beans
T12/19: Soyuz aged in a Creekside Cellars Sherry barrel with strawberries and balsamic vinegar
F12/20: Old Fashioned Saison aged in Laws Whiskey barrels with cherries and oranges
S12/21: Gemini Belgian Dubbel Aged in Laws Four Grain Bourbon barrels with gingerbread spices
S12/22: Soyuz aged in Laws Four Grain Bourbon barrels with pistachios and honey
M12/23: Soyuz Aged in Laws Rye Whiskey barrels with cherries and almonds

(Special Events and Festivals)

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Wednesday, December 18

Extra Pineapple & Cherry Pie Velvet Can Release @ 4 Noses Brewing Company (Broomfield) – 8855 W 116th Cir, Broomfield, Colorado

Date/ Time: Wednesday, December 18, from 3:00 -10:00 p.m.

Details: On December 18th, we are coming out with two new members of our Velvet series: Extra Pineapple & Cherry Pie Velvet!

Cherry Pie Velvet – milkshake IPA beautifully balanced with cherries and graham crackers. On top of that, we used Monroe hops that push the cherry flavor boundaries even more. With both sweet and tart cherries, the cherry flavor dominates and is rounded out by the subtle vanilla and graham cracker that melds nicely with the rich malts. 6.5%

Extra Pineapple Velvet – do you remember our delicious little 12 oz can of Pineapple Velvet? Well if so, take that beer and add 30% more pineapple and 33% more beer with this now being in a 16oz can! We wanted to make this beer as juicy and creamy as possible and we certainly accomplished that. This pineapple and citrus-forward beer has a full-bodied mouthfeel due to the added lactose & choice of malt used. If you thought our regular Pineapple Velvet was good, you’re going to lose it for this one! 7.0%

We can’t wait to see everybody in the taproom and liquor stores trying these two wonderful beers! Cheers everybody 🙂

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Small Batch: Naughty and Spiced @ WestFax Brewing Company (Lakewood) –  6733 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, Colorado

Date/ Time: Wednesday, December 18, from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Details: Come join us for a special small batch tapping! We gathered a handful of our Loyalty members to come and brew their very own small batch! They picked the style, ingredients, and even came in on the brew day to help out!

Enjoy this malty winter warming beer on Wednesday 12/18 at 7PM that’s spiced with allspice and nutmeg producing a slight spiced beer with notes of biscuit, and a touch of toffee.

Please note: There is only one keg of this beer available which means no crowlers to-go and that it will go fast! We suggest arriving early!

(Firkins/Casks/Special Tappings/New Tappings)

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Thursday, December 19

Star Wars Beer Tapping @ Fiction Beer Company (Denver) – 7101 E Colfax Ave, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Thursday, December 19, from 2:00 –10:00 p.m.

Details: Just in time for the final installment of the Skywalker Saga! Inspired by everyone’s favorite scruffy looking nerf herder.

‘Never Tell Me the Hops’ is a New England Style IPA dry hopped with Galaxy and Styrian Wolf hops. The soft mouthfeel helps this beer go down faster than Han can make the Kessel Run! Notes of passionfruit and tangerine with a touch of guava are sure to be light years better then anything served in a Mos Eisley Cantina. Be like Han and shoot first on this one, it won’t last long.

(Firkins/Casks/Special Tappings/New Tappings)

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An Imperial Christmas @ Comrade Brewing Company (Denver) – 7667 E Iliff Ave, Ste F, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Thursday, December 19, from 4:00 –10:00 p.m.

Details: Join us for a holiday party on December 19th at 4pm!

We will be tapping FIVE different Quit Stalin Russian Imperial Stout variants.
Stay tuned for releases!

Beers will not last long, you don’t want to miss it!
Ugly sweaters encouraged.
Christmas cookies will be provided.

LET’S. PARTY.

(Special Events and Festivals)

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Friday, December 20

Cinnamon Toast Crunch GCP @ Denver Beer Company (Denver) – 1695 Platte St, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Friday, December 20, from 11:30 a.m.–11:00 p.m.

Details: This is cinnamony delicious – we’re cuckoo for Cinnamon Toast Crunch Graham Cracker Porter, the breakfast of champs. Coming on tap to both of our taprooms this 12/20 with ONLY 100 limited edition crowlers. Come and grab yours before we run out!

Our beloved Graham Cracker Porter made with cassia cinnamon and brown sugar for some additional sweetness – reminiscent of your favorite sugary breakfast cereal!

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Inaugural Can Release @ Westbound and Down Brewing Company (Idaho Springs) – 1617 Miner St, Idaho Springs, Colorado

Date/ Time: Friday, December 20, from 11:30 a.m.–11:00 p.m.

Details: We are thrilled to announce Westbound & Down’s first official can releases! Perfect for your next adventure; we’re kicking off our new canned offerings with our award-winning Double IPA, classic Colorado Pale Ale and crushable Chicago Peaks Kölsch.

New Canned Beers Available:

Chicago Peaks Kölsch ($13 4-pack/16 oz. cans)

If a 14er had flavor, it would taste like this. Simple, clean and crisp with supporting bitterness that balances the effort with the victory. A Cologne classic German ale, brewed with our friends at Bierstadt Lagerhaus. Pleasant spicy subtle hop aroma meets dry, clean Pilsner malt character. 4.9% abv

Westbound Double IPA ($17 4-pack/16 oz. cans)

Flavorful is an understatement. We did not hold back on our 2019 Great American Beer Festival Silver Medal Winning Double IPA. A ludicrous amount of Enigma, Galaxy and Mosaic hops pack big aromas of tangerine, blueberry, papaya, and other tropical fruits. Even with all of those hops you do get a nice sweet biscuit malt profile, that ends in a clean dry finish. 8.76% abv

Colorado Pale Ale (IPA) ($14 4-pack/16 oz. cans)

Our ode to the clear skies of the Rocky Mountains. The combination of crisp and fruit forward flavor captures Colorado’s adventurous spirit. This American IPA has a bright citrus aroma from dry hopping with Mosaic, Simcoe, Centennial, and Citra hops. They are balanced with formidable malt flavor from Maris Otter malt. 7% abv

Cans will also be available on December 21st at The Cultural Center, our shared barrel cellar in NW Denver.
https://www.facebook.com/events/673413519851084/

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Rocky Mountain Olsons Release @ Avery Brewing Company (Boulder) – 4910 Nautilus Ct N, Boulder, Colorado

Date/ Time: Friday, December 20- Sunday, December 22, from 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.

Details: **Brewery Only Release!**

Long, long ago, on a snowy day in The Alley, our Cellar Manager John Olson dropped some malted milk balls into a stout. The result? Rocky Mountain Olsons. This creation is beloved by our brewers, and they wanted to share it with you as a holiday treat!

Rocky Mountain Olsons is a stout aged in Bourbon barrels with milk chocolate malted milk balls. Come get your Rocky Mountain Olsons beginning on Friday, December 20th!

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Pre-Christman Can Drop @ Cerebral Brewing (Denver) – 1477 Monroe St, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Friday, December 20, from 12:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: We will be dropping TWO cans just in time for the holidays! Come stock up on stocking stuffers on Friday, 12/20 for our Pre-Christmas can release of Strange Claw and Nordic Noir.

𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗪
6.5% IPA brewed with Pilsner, 2 Row, Wheat & Oats and hopped with heaps of Citra and Columbus
$16/4-PACK, LIMIT 1 CASE PP

𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗖 𝗡𝗢𝗜𝗥
10.5% Baltic Foeder Porter brewed with Pilsner, Munich II, Oats, Caramunich II & Pale Chocolate and hopped with Columbus.
$14/ 16oz 2-PACK, LIMIT 1 CASE PP

Doors open at noon and both will also be available on tap!

(Bottle/Can Release)

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End of Year Bottle Release @ Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company (Lafayette) – 297 N. Hwy 287 Suite 100, Lafayette, Colorado

Date/ Time: Friday, December 20, from 1:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: We promised we would bottle the rest of Coconut Anarchy Project and Mexican Chocolate Anarchy Project before the end of the year. We also promised some extra beer treats to go along with that release. Here we go.

PURVEYOR OF MAYHEM:
Belgian Quad aged in Spirit Hound Distillers bourbon barrels. $19.99 +tax/Bomber. Limit 3 per person. This is the only bottle that may see limited distribution. 13% ABV

CANDY BAR ANARCHY PROJECT:
Bourbon Barrel Aged RIS blend with peanut, chocolate, nougat, and salted caramel. It tastes like a Snickers candy bar. $26 + tax/Bomber. Limit one per person, tasting room only. ~60 bottles available. 12% ABV.

COCONUT ANARCHY PROJECT:
Same beer from our black Friday release but with an extra 2 weeks in stainless due to…. ahem… a label shortage. Bourbon barrel aged RIS blend with toasted coconut, chocolate, and Madagascar vanilla bean. $23 + tax/Bomber. Limit one per person, tasting room only. ~70 bottles available. 12% ABV.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE ANARCHY PROJECT:
Same beer from our black Friday release but with an extra 2 weeks in stainless due to the same reason as Coconut Anarchy Project. Bourbon barrel aged RIS blend with cinnamon, chocolate, ancho peppers, and Madagascar vanilla bean. $23 + tax/Bomber. Limit one per person, tasting room only. ~70 bottles available. 12% ABV.

COCONUT PORTER:
Imperial Porter (Same base beer as our Peanut Butter Porter) with toasted coconut. $11.99 +tax/Bomber. Limit one per person, tasting room only. ~80 bottles available. 8.6% ABV.

GINGERBREAD COOKIE PORTER:
Imperial Porter (Same base beer as our Peanut Butter Porter) with a blend of teas and graham crackers that will help put your mouth in the holiday spirit. $11.99 +tax/Bomber. Limit one per person, tasting room only. ~60 bottles available. 8.6% ABV.

(Bottle/Can Release)

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July in Christmas @ Little Machine Beer (Denver) – 2924 W 20th Ave, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Friday, December 20, from 7:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: We’re cranking up the heat to 80F, putting on our best beach attire and forgetting about the long Colorado winter, if just for one night.

Karaoke from 8-11 hosted by Yellowbrick Productions.
Pineapple IPA re-release.
Take a photo with Bad Santa.
Enjoy warm kiddie pools and lawn games.
And get a FREE BEER with your beach attire.

(Special Events and Festivals)

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Saturday, December 21

Occasional Opening @ Amalgam Brewing (Denver) – 6381 Beach St. Unit A, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Details: Drink beer and talk to people.

More details coming soon.

(Special Events and Festivals)

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Dusty Bottle Day @ Cellar West Artisan Ales (Lafayette) – 778-B W Baseline Rd, Lafayette, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, at 1:00 p.m.

Details: We’re having a Dust Bottle Day this Saturday, December 21st! We put one of these together a year or so ago and it was a hit, so you don’t want to miss out. The idea is we’ve pulled several rare, exclusive, and vintage bottles out of our private cellar and will be selling a limited few to the public on the 21st to enjoy at our brewery. The first 25 “dusty bottles” sold will also include a complimentary stem glass to bring home. Here’s a rundown on the bottle list for the day – doors open at 1pm. First come, first served (limit 1 bottle of each beer peer guest). Again, these are for on-premise enjoyment only. Share, discuss, and enjoy!

Vintage Bottles:
Pride of Provence (Green Bottle) – 2 bottles; 750ml
Make Hay (2018 Vintage) – 4 bottles
Cobwebs (Saison Vielle) – 6 bottles
Skiwi (Oak Aged Brett Saison w/ NZ Hops) – 1 case
Orca (Rum Barrel Ginger/Lime Dark Sour) – 1 case
Wayward Badger (Oak Aged Brett Pils) – 1 case
Cobwebs (Stoned Again) – 1 case
Black Grove (Oak Aged Citrus Dark Saison) – 1 case
Creek King (Oak Aged Wild Ale w/ Cherry) – 1 case
Dragon Blossom (Oak Aged Saison w/ Strawberry + Jasmine) – 1 case
Make Hay Reserve (Bourbon Barrel w/ Peach) – 1 case
Meager (Oak Aged Table Saison) – 1 case
Scarletta (Bourbon Barrel Flanders Red) – 1 case
Assimilation (Saison + Sour Ale Blend w/ Apricot) – 1 Case, 750ml

(Bottle/Can Release)

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The Sacred Fire: Solstice Party @ Ursula Brewery (Aurora) – 2101 N Ursula St Unit 10, Aurora, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–9:00 p.m.

Details: We are releasing “The Sacred Fire” – our 12% Scottish style Wee Heavy in honor of the Winter Solstice. As most know this is the party and the beer when we do the “hot poker” treatment while standing around fires and celebrating the Winter Solstice.
This beer will be on draft and a limited amount of 375ml bottles.

(Bottle/Can Release)

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3rd Anniversary Darty! @ Outer Range Brewing Co. (Frisco) – 182 Lusher Ct., Unit #2, Frisco, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: We can’t believe ORB is turning 3! We are throwing a HUGE Day Party to celebrate, with our biggest can/bottle release ever. 

(Anniversary)

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Stout & Holiday Beer Fest @ Hops & Pie (Denver) – 3920 Tennyson St, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: We will be pouring:

WeldWerks – Medianoche #18706
Ratio – Genius Wizard
Cerebral – Safe Word | Winter Halo
4 Noses – Coconut Barrel Aged Stout
Westbound & Down – Vanilla Absence
Copper Kettle – Mocha Snowed In
Firestone Walker – Mole Merkin
Strange – Gingerbread Man
Port – Santa’s Little Helper
Brouwerij Huyghe – Barrel Aged Delirium Noel
Southern Tier – Old Man Winter
Fremont Chocolate Vanilla Maple Dark Star

(Tap Takeover)

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Single Cask: Bear Creek Mr. Sandman @ River North Brewery (Denver) – 6021 Washington St, Unit A, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–9:00 p.m.

Details: The last Single Cask of 2019 will be released December 21st at 6021 Washington Street’s taproom at NOON! This Single Cask has been aging in Bear Creek Distillery barrels and is our American Imperial Stout, Mr. Sandman.

**** Current Northers will be able to renew their memberships for the upcoming year! ****

Want to be a Norther? New member enrollment begins January 4th alongside our first Single Cask release of 2020. Stay tuned for details to follow.

(Bottle/Can Release)

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C’est La Saison: Can Release and Tapping @ Diebolt Brewing Company (Denver) – 3855 Mariposa St, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–10:00 p.m.

Details:What better way to celebrate the shortest day of the year than cozying up to our barrel aged Imperial Saison, C’est la Saison. We aged this winter seasonal in 5 different barrel varieties; Chardonnay, Red Zin, Tequila, Rum, and Double Barrel Bourbon.

We are releasing all varieties as 4 packs of the same barrel and a pick 4 or 6 pack of multiple barrels. We’ll also have a keg of each barrel on tap for the occasion, as well as, some limited pours of 2017 C’est la Saison varieties.

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Group Hug Dry-Hopped Cream Ale @ Goldspot Brewing Company (Denver) – 4970 Lowell Blvd, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 3:00–10:00 p.m.

Details: Group Hug – A collaboration between 28 breweries in support of one of our own. Josh Martin is the head brewer at Blind Faith who has been steadily working his way up the ranks from working at a home brew shop to Head Brewer of the last several years. This year, his wife Lorna was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and we brewed this to raise money to help them and their two young children stay on their feet and cover some of the treatment costs. Its a super clean, lightly dry hopped (with Huell Melon) crushable cream ale. Help us help them crush cancer! Grain and Yeast generously donated by Root Shoot Malting and Propogate Yeast Labs. Look for it at all of these breweries. Only one keg each so get there soon.

Here is the Go Fund Me link if you’d like to donate
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-lorna-for-cancer-treatment

(Firkins/Casks/Special Tappings/New Tappings)

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Belgian Blonde Bottle Release @ Banded Oak Brewing Company (Denver) – 470 Broadway, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: We’ve decided to bottle one of our absolute favorite beers to come out of barrels. There have been many different versions of this beer but this one is very special. Our Belgian Blonde that has been aged in French Oak Pinot Noir barrels for 5 months. We’ve previously tapped this same base beer aged in Cabernet barrels and we’ve done a Chardonnay version as well. We like this beer so much that we put our brewer’s wife on the label. She’s actually a Brazilian blonde and not Belgian but hey this is America, we’re a melting pot country. It doesn’t matter what’s on the label as long as the beer is good and this one is delicious.

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Widow Maker + Variants Release @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) – 321 Mountain Ave, Berthoud, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 12:00–10:00 p.m.

Details: Today we release 2019 Widow Maker!! This year we have also included two variants, coffee decaf and coconut. Come in and try them all in a flight and take home bottles for the perfect holiday gifts.

Widow Maker is a colossal Imperial Stout, City Star’s darkest beer brewed in honor of the darkest day of the year. This nod to the Winter Solstice boasts a big, bold and complex flavor profile of dark roasted malt, chocolate and dark fruit. Smooth, rich and ready to sip and savor.

Coffee Decaf: This flavorful variant of Widow Maker Imperial Stout is infused with Coava Coffee Decaf provided by Dark Heart. Two pounds of coarse ground coffee per barrel are added to the conditioned beer for a robust 24 hour cold brew. Rich, chocolatey Honduran coffee mingles with the imperial stout’s dark roasted malt, chocolate and dark fruit flavors. Not for the faint hearted.

Coconut: The Coconut variant of Widow Maker Imperial Stout is conditioned with organic shredded coconut from the Philippines. Sweet, chocolate, and dark roasted malt notes showcase the delicate sweet and nutty coconut flavor and aroma. This nod to the Winter Solstice is creamy, rich and ready to sip and savor.

(Bottle/Can Release)

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Shortest Day Darkest Night @ Falling Rock Tap House (Denver) – 1919 Blake St, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, at 12:00 p.m.

Details: We’ll be celebrating the Solstice in True Falling Rock fashion! Starting at noon of the shortest day of the year, the darkest beers will go on tap. The lineup is still being finalized but here’s a preview:
Surly Darkness
Epic Big Bad Baptist Quintuple Barrel
Avery Mephistopheles 2015
Alesmith Nibs & Beans Speedway Stout 2018
Elevation Coffee Oil Man 2018
Destihl Dosvidanya
Alaskan Smoked Porter 2015
Boulevard Rye on Rye on Rye 2016

(Special Events and Festivals)

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Beer and Donut Pairing @ Fiction Beer Company (Denver) – 7101 E Colfax Ave, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, from 1:00–11:00 p.m.

Details: Our 6th annual Beer and Donut pairing celebrates the release of DONUT PANIC! The beer is inspired by and made with the amazing flavors of craft doughnuts.

Our selection this year uses a pale stout base; rich with characteristics of fresh bread, chocolate and caramel. We then added 7 lbs per barrel of toasted coconut and 1.25 lbs per barrel of cocoa. A full bodied beer with all the characteristics of a Samoa Donut.

Unabridged details:
•Open at 1:00
•Pairing Donut Panic and the Samoa donut
•Beers and donuts available a-la-cart
🍩Donuts available while supplies last

(Beer Pairing)

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Media Blackout @ Comrade Brewing Company (Denver) – 7667 E Iliff Ave Suite F, Denver, Colorado

Date/ Time: Saturday, December 21, at 12:00 p.m.

Details:An American Stout, with a rich blend of roasted British malts and flaked barley. Generously hopped with Simcoe hops to match the big roast flavors of this pitch black ale. 5.9% ABV

(Firkins/Casks/Special Tappings/New Tappings)

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