Event Preview | Toppling Goliath GABF Tap Takeover at Tap and Handle

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, a brewery that RateBeer has awarded several “best” categories including double IPA, strong stout and American amber or pale, will be making its Colorado debut during the week of the Great American Beer Festival. The esteemed Iowa brewery will have a special GABF tapping at Tap and Handle in Fort Collins, Colorado at 5 p.m. on Monday October 2 (the brewery will also make its way down to Denver on October 4 at LowDown Brewery). Read More

New Belgium Brewing Group Acquires San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing Company

There is never a dull moment in the world of craft beer. Today, it was announced that a group led by New Belgium Brewing Company has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing as part of a bankruptcy proceeding. This partnership will be a majority-owned subsidiary of New Belgium, with Elysian founder Dick Cantell as well as Belgian lambic producer Oud Beersel as minority partners. Both Magnolia locations, their existing brands and staff, will continue to operate, working alongside Magnolia founder Dave McLean, who is included in the partnership. This will be Cantwell’s first brewing project since leaving Elysian in April of 2015.

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Sneak Preview: New Belgium’s Specialty Brands & Single Foeder Oscar No. 65

A little over a month ago, we reported on New Belgium’s decision to reimagine their specialty brands with the suspension of their popular Lips of Faith series and the implementation of their Wood Cellar Reserve series. Two weeks ago while attending the debut of Le Kriek Noir, the first entry in their new cork & cage Wood Cellar Reserve line, we were also treated to a sneak preview of what’s coming down the pipeline as well as a familiar brand that will also receive some fresh new packaging.

On Tuesday New Belgium Brewing Company announced that the second beer from its highly anticipated Wood Cellar Reserve series will be released this upcoming Saturday. At 8.5% ABV, single Foeder Oscar No. 65 is an unblended dark sour that has been maturing for 12 months in a 100 percent Missouri white oak foeder. According to the brewery, the beer pours dark walnut red with subtle notes of vanilla and coconut. These notes play beautifully with notes of plum skin and cherry Coca-Cola. This is a first run through using this foeder and only fresh beer will touch the American oak for the first time, thus the flavors for this release cannot be replicated—making this release truly special. Read More

Upslope Brewing | Champagne Saison with Nelson Sauvin

Sometimes tap rooms can act as testing grounds that can bring unassuming beers to the forefront, allowing for crowd pleasing favorites that otherwise wouldn’t be canned and distributed to share in some of the spotlight. Upslope Brewing’s Tap Room series is just that, offering a rotating series in which larger batches of popular tap room beer is brewed — split between kegs and cans, and then once it’s gone; that’s it for the year. Previous releases in 2017 have included Strawberry Mint IPA, Peanut Butter Porter and Hefeweizen. I was able to get my hands on its Champagne Saison with Nelson Sauvin, a beer that I like to call “fancy beer for outdoorsy folk.”

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Brewery Showcase | Horse & Dragon Brewing

Tucked away in an industrial part of town near the old Fort Collins Airport, you’ll find a bright red building, originally an airplane hanger, and now a family-run brewery called Horse & Dragon Brewing. Inside, long community tables and round tops casually welcome you to put your phone away and have a seat. There are no TVs, live bands, or food trucks for entertainment. Instead, the brewery welcomes you to come in, grab a beer, chat with some friendly patrons or staff, and enjoy the moment. And immediately, you will feel welcome. There is an inexplicable vibe that Horse & Dragon exudes, that can only be attributed to owners Carol and Tim Cochran. Their love of craft beer and the Fort Collins community is poured into the brewery and here is their story. Read More

What the Funk!? Invitational Announces 2017 Breweries & Event Date

Denver’s premiere festival, What the Funk!? Invitational showcasing wild, spontaneous, sour and barrel-aged beers returns Wednesday October 4 at The Studios at Overland Crossing. Over the years, the events surrounding The Great American Beer Festival have become just as popular and successful as the headlining event itself, and What the Funk!? always ranks at the top of our list as well. Read More

Event Recap | New Belgium’s Le Kriek Noir Bottle Release

At 10:30 p.m. we approach a line that spills out the door of New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins. The red carpet is rolled out, and folks are dressed to the nines wearing elegant cocktail dresses, suspenders, and fedoras to go along with the “film noir” theme of the evening. In a return to the cork and cage format of La Folie’s past, New Belgium’s Unveiled & Uncorked bottle release party was a celebration of the launch of the brewery’s Wood Cellar Reserve, a series of very rare, small batch wild and sour ales—and the star of the night was Le Kriek Noir, the first release from Wood Cellar Reserve. Read More

Dry Dock Brewing | Barrel-Aged Funk & Sour Series: Cassidae

ABV: 6.1% | IBU: 8
Last year, Dry Dock Brewing Company announced the launch of their Funk & Sour series, which features crowd-pleasing favorites from South Dock’s barrel-aging program. The series includes more than 80 barrels, which consist of mostly wine and some whiskey, and are dedicated to sour, Brett and mixed fermentations. I was able to get my hands on Batch No. 2, called Cassidae, a sour Brett saison that was bottled August 19, 2016.
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2017 GABF Ticket Sale Dates Announced

Featured image courtesy of greatamericanbeerfestival.com

Get ready! Tickets for the 2017 Great American Beer Festival will go on sale August 1 and 2. Last year, GABF sold out in 1 hour and 7 minutes so be sure to mark your calendars!

In 2016, GABF celebrated its 35th anniversary where 60,000 attendees brought down the house at the convention center. That means 3,800+ beers were poured and 780 breweries pouring those beers, all of which hit a new record. We can only expect more for 2017.

This year, the most anticipated beer event takes place October 5 – 7. Choose from four sessions over the span of three days and sample brews from more than 800 breweries. Read More

Event Recap | Hops + Vine Spring Beer and Wine Dinner

Featured image courtesy of Mainline Ale House’s Facebook page

Spring time is upon us which means it’s time to bring your patio furniture out from hibernation, crack open a tasty brew, and relish in warmer weather and longer days ahead. Spring in Fort Collins, Colorado is especially delightful; the flowers are in bloom, flops are out, and the people smile even brighter as they make their way around. Nestled in the heart of Old Town is Mainline Ale House, a restaurant serving up craft brews, cocktails and gourmet food. And this past Friday, the restaurant celebrated the change of seasons by serving up the ultimate spring-inspired beer and wine pairing, Hops + Vine Spring Beer and Wine Dinner.

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Ultimate 6er | Gilmore Girls

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Carole King said it best when she sang, “where you lead, I will follow,” in the intro song for the Gilmore Girls. Since the beginning, the show has created a cult following that’s multi-generational, divisive (are you Team Jess or Team Logan) and very loyal. For seven seasons I followed the Gilmore Girls around the town of Stars Hollow, through the halls of Chilton, attended Friday night dinners, and had coffee at Luke’s. I cheered as Netflix announced the release of a four-episode continuation of the series and then mourned when it was all over (seriously, what’s up with those last four words)? But what I love about the show is that it’s always there waiting for you. Frozen in time, from the span of 2000 – 2007, filled with kooky characters and questionable fashion choices, the Gilmore Girls welcome you to step into their world and enjoy the ride. Read More

Frezi Bouckaert | A Belgian Girl and Her Journey to Craft Beer

“I was his light in the darkness.”

Frezi Bouckaert smiled slyly as she made the comment. Frezi further noted, “It was dark and I was his shining light.” As Frezi started explaining this rather somber statement, I realized she was speaking both literally and figuratively. Let me give you a little bit of context. Frezi met her husband Peter Bouckaert (yes, that Peter) spelunking in Belgium. When dating, some folks like to go to the movies, see live music or wine and dine; Frezi and Peter would go caving. A lot. Read More

BREAKING | New Belgium Announces Bigger, Bolder Tour de Fat Schedule

New Belgium is bringing back Tour de Fat for its 18th year and this year’s celebration of biking music and beer will be bigger and bolder than ever before. Expanding the event from 9 participating cities to a 33-stop format, the tour season kicks off on May 20 in Asheville, NC and will end on October 7 in Tempe, AZ. “Fat Tire presents Tour de Fat” has pulled out all the stops with additional cities and world-class entertainment such as The Roots, Third Eye Blind, AWOLNATION, Skyler Grey, Michael Franti & Spearhead, X-Ambassadors and much more.

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Oskar Blues Brewery | Hotbox Coffee IPA

Featured photo courtesy of Oskar Blues Brewery

ABV: 7.2% | IBU: 70

Stouts and porters are most often the base styles for coffee beers and so my ears perked up when I heard about Oskar Blues‘, Hotbox Coffee IPA. The pairing of a hop heavy brew and coffee seem to be just the jolt I need out of a Spring Seasonal this year . Read More

Brewery Showcase | Maxline Brewing

Featured photo provided by Maxline Brewing

Step inside Maxline Brewing and you’ll see a small tasting room lined with large, wooden community tables and expansive garage windows that open out to a patio in the south-facing sun. Inside the tasting room, three fermenters are in full view with chalkboard titles tantalizing guests with the beers to come. On this particularly sunny day, the patio is full and beers are flowing. Maxline staff, often called beertenders, weave seamlessly throughout the tasting room stopping to exchange pleasantries with customers, pet a dog or two (dogs are allowed on both patio and tasting room), and high five children on their way out. For this midtown location in Fort Collins, it’s as if “everybody knows your name.” Read More

The Bruery to Release Chocolate Rain to the Public

Featured photo contributed by The Bruery

The Bruery’s forecast calls for a 100% chance of rain… Chocolate Rain that is, and we couldn’t be more excited. What began as a single cask of beer that was released in 2009 for a Black Tuesday release event has since become a, wait for it, legendary brew that members of The Bruery’s exclusive beer societies have enjoyed. But for the first time on March 24, Chocolate Rain will be pouring for all. Read More

Alpine Beer Co. Debuts New Beers, Limited Releases and Canned Offerings in 2017

Feature Photo Credit: alpinebeerco.com

2017 is starting to look extra hoppy! Nestled in the Cuyamaca Mountain foothills, Green Flash Brewing Co. subsidiary, Alpine Beer Company in San Diego County will be introducing a few changes that include some new year round beers, limited releases and, for the first time, the release of two beers in cans. Read More