Sufferfest Beer Company | FKT Pale Ale

The Rocky Mountains have been in existence long before humans traveled the range’s treacherous trails for the newest camping spot or adventurous hike. They invite a sense of tranquility and appreciation, and provide a home to countless species such as bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and the yellow-bellied marmot. The Colorado cutthroat trout thrives in the cold rivers of the Rockies, while birds such as the White-tailed Ptarmigan, Mountain Chickadee, and Pygmy Nuthatch perch among the trees. Yes, this a a beer showcase, but it’s important to set the scene when discussing FTK Pale Ale from Chico, California-based Sufferfest Beer Company.
Read More

Homeschooling with Bugs and Avery Brewing’s Bug Zapper

If you are like me, then you’ve recently taken the part-time job of home-school teacher. My challenge has been to come up with interactive lessons that will keep my kids engaged and distract them from destroying the house. As the weather gets warmer, our science lessons have been moved to our backyard and the curriculum has been about bugs. Lucky for me, there is a beer for that: Bug Zapper from Avery Brewing Co. Hopefully, as we progress into summer, this beer will complement cool, relaxing nights and our encounters with some awesomely cool bugs in the great outdoors. Let us talk about beer and bugs, shall we?

Read More

Turk’s Head Brewery | I-SOON REACH

Turks and Caicos Islands is a group of Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas. The first inhabitants of Turks and Caicos were the Arawakan-speaking Taino people, who arrived between 500 and 800 AD. In 1512, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leόn’s arrival created slavery and depopulated the islands by European disease. In the centuries since, Turks and Caicos has been under several different European powers but gained independence in 1973. Since then they have remained a separate British Overseas Territory.

Read More

Fiction Beer Co. | Donut Panic

A “doughnut” or “donut” is a circular type of fried pasty (I grew up eating “donuts,” so for the purpose of this article, I will use this spelling). Donuts seem to have been around since breakfast food was invented, but many cultures include these tasty delicacies into everyday eating. Modern donuts are said to have been brought to America by Dutch settlers when they immigrated to New York in the early 17^th century. Although some people might agree that donut day should be every day, the official National Donut Day takes place on the first Friday of every June. The origin of this day is said to derive from The Salvation Army during WWI in which they served donuts to soldiers. These baked goods were such a hit that the Salvation Army tents were one of the most popular spots during the war.

Over the past several years, donuts have also been a staple across pop culture from Wayne and Garth’s trips to Stan Mikita’s Donut Shop to Ron Swanson’s affection towards mouthwatering breakfast foods. However, nothing in pop culture compares to Homer Simpson’s addiction to donuts. It’s so encompassing that on one of the famous Halloween episodes of “The Simpsons,” Homer sold his soul to the devil for a donut. To Homer’s delight, he was sent to “Donut Hell” while having endless donuts shoved into his mouth. Mmmmm… donuts.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Summer Dogs: Six Beers Inspired By Furry Friends

In the words of the song Summer from the Smashing Pumpkins, “In the summer I can breathe. I don’t need a single thing and all the love you give is so sweet.” No love is sweeter than the love from “man’s best friend.” While humans get overwhelmed by work, obligations, and stress dogs are just happy to see their owner walk in the door each day. As July 4^th has now passed and we are in the full swing of summer, I created the Summer Dog Ultimate 6er. These are six beers that can be enjoyed with your favorite furry friend. If you don’t own a dog, borrow one! Read More

Dry Dock Brewing Co. | Coffee Stout

Being the type of guy who thoroughly loves learning, I recently decided to pursue my Master’s degree. I often second guess my reasoning for adding this onto my already hectic schedule. Even though I know that it will open future options and career endeavors I think subconsciously I enjoy being a life-long college student. My weeks have been transitioning to early morning wake-ups and late night study sessions. A couple months ago, I found myself at my local Starbucks, head in a book, and stressing over a late assignment and my favorite Americano was motivating me as much as I expect. I packed up my bag and headed to my local Aurora brewery for a beer to take my mind away from my never ending studying.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Spring Training 2018

As I look out my window I am reminded of the brisk freezing temperatures outside, the recent snowstorm that blanketed yards and the ice that selfishly screwed up my neighborhood streets. Winter has only given a glimpse of what is to come as March typically is the snowiest month of the year in Colorado. As somebody who does not partake in typical winter activities, I am filled with anxiousness for warmer months that allows me to open my wardrobe of shorts and flip flops. My dreams are filled with sprouting flowers, dew covered grass and warm early morning sunrises. Most of all I am ready for baseball season. Therefore, near the end of March my baseball-infatuated kids and I are hightailing it to Phoenix, Arizona, for Spring Training.

Read More

Vindication Brewing Co. | India Pale Ale

Vindication—Proof that something is right, reasonable or justified.

Vindication Brewing Co. is located in Boulder, Colorado. Eric Huber, Sanjiv Patel and Marty Lettow merged their diverse backgrounds with similar beliefs in integrity and quality beer. Eric, Marty and Sanj developed the philosophy “Brewtegrity” which comes from the 1516 German Law Reinheitsgebot. Known as the law of beer purity, it mandated that all beer would only be made by barley, hops and water. Purity was as important back then as it is now for these three dedicated brewers in Boulder. They enjoy the purity of their ingredients and are open to share recipes with customers.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | The NFL’s Lovable Losers

The NFL season is in full force and several teams are competing for a playoff spot. There are some teams however that do not stand a chance even making the playoffs. Rumors are floating about key players being traded, coaches being fired, and who is in the competition for #1 pick in the draft. While several teams’ seasons have been over for weeks that isn’t an excuse to not have a good time. The best way for players to get through the next few months is with a beer that helps them forget (or remember) their team’s woes.
Read More

Oskar Blues Brewery | Fugli

A few months I was searching the shelves for beers I had never tried. One in particular caught my attention, Fugli from Oskar Blues Brewery. Oskar Blues, like many breweries, frequently uses clever names that grab people’s attention. Immediately I questioned the reasoning of “Fugli” for something that was supposed to taste so delicious. I assume we all know what two words are added together that form something that by definition means “very unattractive.” Falling into the category of things I think are “fugli” are the ugly duckling from the book I read when I was a kid, the bright green house with brown trim at the end of my block, and the 2017 New York Giants offense. Read More

Lone Tree Brewing Company | Cucumber Wheat

ABV: 5.2%

Lone Tree Brewing Company opened in December of 2011 as the first private craft brewery along C-470 in the Lone Tree/Highlands Ranch area. Since then several more breweries have opened, but Lone Tree has continued to grow strong. They recently introduced their Branching Out Series of seasonals and continue to grow their selection of canned beers. These include their Mexican Lager, Red Ale, Double IPA and Peach Pale. This spring they also started canning their seasonal beers and the first to be canned is the Cucumber Wheat, a delicious refreshing thirst-quenching summer love.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | NBA Finals

Did any other team besides the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors even have a chance this year? Is it even possible to ignore the legacy Lebron James has installed on the NBA finals over the past seven years? Can you think of another player who has a more beautiful 3-point shot than Steph Curry?

Whether you are a basketball fan or not, the NBA finals are always an excuse to partake in some beer drinking. Here is a 2017 NBA Finals 6er with beers from Oakland, California and Cleveland, Ohio.

Read More

Beer & Book Club | A Man Called Ove

Welcome to the 4^th installment of the Beer and Book Club Series. I take serious thought into the beer and book I choose to pair. They can both be so complex that it can be challenging finding two that adequately complement each other but stand out in their own way. The book I chose was different from my usual genre of reading but the beer was a infusion of my two favorite reading beverages.

Read More

Dry Dock Brewing Co. | Dry Dock IPA

ABV: 7% | IBU: 60

What better way to symbolize the greatness of craft beer than relating it to one of history’s greatest children’s book authors? Recently I picked up a six-pack of Dry Dock Brewing Co.’s newest beer Dry Dock IPA. My attention was immediately drawn to a quote on the top of each can. I had been reading Dr. Seuss to my 4-year old son so, naturally, I connected the two. Read More

Fiction Beer Co. | This is Not an Exit – Belgian Dark Strong Ale with Roasted Hatch Chilies

ABV: 9.5% | IBU: 25

Patrick Bateman was a 26-year-old, handsome man who worked on Wall Street. He was intelligent, wealthy and he attracted the finest of women. His charming and sophisticated nature makes an average man like myself jealous we don’t have the same qualities… except for the fact that he is also a psychopath. The other half of his life is spent strolling around during the night with ferocious psychopathic tendencies. Bateman is the protagonist in American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. Always looking for a great book to read, several years ago I had heard great things about Ellis so decided to read the book. Half way through, my literary appreciation was blown away both by the quality of writing and character depiction but also the shock value of a dark and bleak story.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | NFL Conference Championship Weekend

As Chiefs fans continue to complain about officiating and Cowboys fans wait yet “another year,” it is time for the rest of the country to gear-up for the NFL Championship games. The Green Bay Packers take their cheese-loving selves to Atlanta to face the “Dirty Bird” Falcons while the Steelers will be waving their terrible towels at Gillette Stadium against the Patriots. To celebrate the championship games I have built the Ultimate 6er showcasing some of the best beers that represent these sports town cities. Included are two brews that will keep us looking forward to the Super Bowl and into next season.

Read More

14er Brewing Company | Rocky Mountain Saison

ABV: 5% | IBU: 29

As a natural born citizen of Colorado, I am one of the few who has never left (or plan on leaving) this wonderful state. From hiking, tailgating at a football game, or munching down at my favorite Denver Mexican restaurant, I have cemented myself into the thriving Denver culture. All these can of course be enjoyed while drinking a cool refreshing craft beer. Recently I was introduced to one Denver’s newest craft breweries, 14er Brewing. My reward for climbing a Colorado 14er is to drink a beer at the top from an environmentally friendly crushable can, so just hearing the name immediately caught my attention.
Read More

Caution Brewing Company | Lao Wang Lager

ABV: 5.1% | IBU: 15

Sitting on a busy part of Federal Boulevard in southwest Denver is a small noodle house. Inside this small noodle house sits dishes of soup dumplings, amazingly good pot stickers and other Chinese-Laotian dishes that recently made Lao Wang Noodle House #16 on The 50 Best Restaurants in Denver list, according to Zagat. What is most important, however, is the mouth-quenching Lao Wang Lager that is partnered with the food.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Rio Olympians

I admit, even after three days I am going through an Olympic withdrawal. During the previous two weeks my free time was totally consumed by everything from table tennis and synchronized swimming to gymnastics and track and field. I set my alarm for a Sunday morning to watch the men’s marathon and stayed up late to watch the beach volleyball finals. Our American athletes did phenomenally, winning 121 total medals (46 gold, 37 silver and 38 bronze). In honor of them I built my own 6er so I could give cheers to the athletes that make me proud to be an American. Read More

Olympic Beer Culture

Last Friday began the 2016 Olympic Games from Rio. During the opening ceremonies we were entertained by a show of Brazilian culture, Olympic spirit, and women were able to drool over that overly oiled half naked guy from Tonga. For the next couple weeks we will cheer on athletes such as Gabby Douglas, Shalane Flanagan, and Michael Phelps. We will learn about sports we have never watched before and root for athletes we only hear about every four years. Read More