About- Tristan Chan
Tristan Chan
Tristan is a craft beer fanatic who originally hails from Kentucky, which used to be a veritable wasteland for craft beer. Since moving to Colorado, he discovered a passion for hops, malts, brett strains, tinctures, nitros, and all things craft brew. He created this blog as a means for his friends across the country to a virtual porch drink and he hopes that you’ll join the revolution.14er Brewing Opens for To-Go Sales & Taproom Tastings July 1
June 30, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Andrew Kaczmarek and Nato Francescato have never been keen on following convention. The two co-founders of 14er Brewing bucked tradition when they launched in the summer of 2016 without a taproom location, focusing solely on contract brewing and canning their beers for liquor store sales for the first year. That gamble proved successful earning the two a gold medal at their very first Great American Beer Festival last October for their Rocky Mountain Saison, a Cilantro Lime Chili Saison, which took home top honors in the Chili Beer category.
Budweiser’s “The High End” Responds to Brewers Association’s Independent Label
June 30, 2017 | Tristan Chan 9
Earlier this week, the Brewers Association announced the launch of a marketing campaign to help distinguish independently owned craft breweries with a special label to raise awareness on a brewery’s independence. Qualifying breweries can utilize the label on product packaging, signage, menus and other marketing collateral.
The PorchCast | Ep 38 Great Divide & The Grateful Gnome
June 29, 2017 | Tristan Chan
In episode 38 of The PorchCast we reunited former co-workers Shannon Berner, marketing manager for Great Divide Brewing, and Bess Dougherty, co-founder for The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe and Brewery. The two former Wynkoop employees when brought together in a confined space typically end up spiraling down into a deluge of inappropriate jokes/noises, and they did not disappoint.
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Craft Breweries Declare Their Independence with BA’s Official Seal
June 27, 2017 | Tristan Chan
As the craft beer industry begins to wade through the murky waters of distinguishing itself from other non-craft entities, the Brewers Association has decided to make the distinction even more clear. This morning the Boulder-based national trade organization announced the creation of an official seal to help independently owned craft breweries for qualifying members.
Introducing New Belgium’s Wood Cellar Reserve Series and Farewell to Lips of Faith
June 27, 2017 | Tristan Chan
New Belgium Brewing Company, one of craft beer’s most storied establishments is reimagining their approach toward specialty beer releases. Yesterday, the Fort Collins-based brewery announced the launch of their Wood Cellar Reserve program described as “a series of very rare, small batch wild & sour ales expertly aged by the most award-winning sour brewery in America.”
Avery’s 2017 Boulder SourFest Pour List Showcases Local & National Heavy Hitters
June 19, 2017 | Tristan Chan
This weekend’s 2017 Boulder Sour Festival will once again showcase a wide array of national and local talent, boasting their best in the sour and wild beer formats. Now it its 7th iteration, Avery’s annual celebration of acidic beers will see one major amendment, this year focusing solely on wilds and sours that have been aged in a wooden vessel, meaning this year’s entries will no longer include standalone kettle soured beers.
Denver Beer Company Opens in Olde Town Arvada
June 16, 2017 | Tristan Chan
From the communal outdoor patio picnic tables, to the glass garage door facade giving way to an open airy taproom, even down to the chalk wall interior, Denver Beer Company’s upcoming third facility, opening Saturday in a former auto bodyshop along the main drag of Olde Town Arvada, will feel like an extension of their original Platte Street LoHi location.
America’s Fastest Growing Breweries by Volume
June 14, 2017 | Tristan Chan 8
*Apologies to Creature Comforts Brewing and Montauk Brewing as they were accidentally omitted in the initial version of this post, we’ve since updated the list to reflect their spots in the top 30*
This past month, The Brewers Association’s shared a host of statistics in the May/June edition of The New Brewer Magazine breaking down everything from last year’s new brewery openings/brewery closings, to industry annual growth percentage, as well as volume in barrel production along side breweries’ year-over-year growth.
River North Brewery Announces Return to River North Art District with Upcoming Location
June 7, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Already well established as the country’s most densely populated craft beer neighborhood, The River North Art District (RiNo) will soon add another brewery to its ranks, however, this newest addition will be a … Read More
2017 New Kids on the Block Beer Fest Pour List
June 7, 2017 | Tristan Chan
The 5th annual New Kids On The Block beer festival is getting a bit of a reboot. NKOTB once again features one part 80’s dance party and another part celebration of Colorado breweries under two years old. However, this time around we’re also bringing on some radical new restaurant bites to pair with great beer and an even better dance party.
Dogfish Head Requests to Sever Ties with RateBeer Amid Anheuser-Busch Acquisition
June 5, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Dogfish Head Founder, Sam Calagione penned a blog post earlier today admonishing ties between RateBeer and Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) after it was announced on Friday that ABI’s venture arm, ZX Ventures had acquired minority shares in the popular beer rating/ranking website.
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Last October Anheuser-Busch Acquired Minority Stake in RateBeer
June 2, 2017 | Tristan Chan
In Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (ABI) ever developing game of Monopoly against the craft market, another pawn has been advanced into position. RateBeer Founder, Joe Tucker announced today that Anheuser-Busch InBev’s ZX … Read More
Great Divide’s Denver Pale Ale Artist Series #2 Featuring John Vogl
May 31, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Last June, Great Divide took their iconic, but somewhat dated Denver Pale Ale and reimagined every aspect of the beer. Not only did its 20+ year old recipe receive a facelift, evolving from an English to an American-Style Pale Ale, but it’s label design was re-imagined for a newly introduced canned format.
Paying homage to the artistic roots associated with its new Barrel Bar location’s home in the River North Art District, Great Divide’s yearly rotating Artist Series features the work of a new local illustrator each year.
BREAKING | Fort Collins Brewery Acquired by Vancouver’s Red Truck Beer Company
May 26, 2017 | Tristan Chan 1
In today’s ever changing competitive craft beer landscape, even one of Colorado’s oldest breweries isn’t impervious to acquisition.
Fort Collins Brewery (FCB) has confirmed that the brewery has been acquired by Vancouver, BC-based Red Truck Beer Company, and that during the acquisition process, Red Truck Beer has decided to phase out and discontinue the FCB brand and beers. Read More
The PorchCast | Ep 37 Cider Week Colorado
May 26, 2017 | Tristan Chan 1
For episode 37 of The PorchCast, Tristan, Hunter and Sam were joined by Eric Foster and Ryan Means of Stem Ciders, Brad Page and Xandy Bustamante from Colorado Cider Company and Eric Hatlestad of C Squared Ciders at The Pint Room in Littleton, CO to talk about Cider Week Colorado as well as the state of the Colorado Cider industry.
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Brewery Preview | Grist Brewing Opens Second Brewhouse & Taproom in Lone Tree
May 26, 2017 | Tristan Chan
In an age when breweries are scrambling to battle for shelf space, one Colorado brewery is taking a different approach toward growth. Grist Brewing Company will open its second brewhouse and taproom location this Saturday just 10 miles west of its original Highlands Ranch location, near the Park Meadows Mall.
Colorado’s Elite Brands Named 2017 Craft Beer Wholesaler of the Year
May 25, 2017 | Tristan Chan
During this year’s Craft Brewers Conference, held in Washington D.C., Colorado’s own Elite Brands was recognized as the 2017 Craft Beer Wholesaler of the Year. Elite Brands, which has been in operation since 2003, earned the distinction over 59 other nominations, for excelling in the categories of: Distributor Commitment, Sales Planning/Execution, Building Craft Awareness, Quality, Capacity and Infrastructure, as well as Culture.
Brewery Preview | The Intrepid Sojourner Beer Project (Denver, CO)
May 19, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Over the past decade, craft beer has risen from relative obscurity, to relative general commercial buy-in and now reached the point of exploring the next great frontiers of innovation. From spirit barrel-aging, to mix-culture sours and wilds, lupulin powder to adjunct ingredients, our understanding of beer continues to expand each and every day.
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The Bruery Sells Majority Stake to Castanea Partners
May 19, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Orange County, CA based craft brewery, The Bruery, announced this morning, that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Castanea Partners, which would sell a majority stake to the Boston, MA based private equity firm.
The experimental and barrel-aged focused, The Bruery explained the decision to partner with Castanea this morning via a blog post stating “which will enable us to continue to grow in ways consistent with our ideals”.
Peter Bouckaert Leaving New Belgium to Launch Purpose Brewing and Cellars
May 18, 2017 | Tristan Chan
The classic Greek philosopher Socrates was quoted as saying, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” That continuous quest for knowledge and life’s next great challenge continues to drive Peter Bouckaert. Bouckaert announced today, that he will be transitioning from his current position as Brewmaster at New Belgium Brewing to team up Zach and Laura Wilson formerly of 1933 Brewing, to form Purpose Brewing and Cellars.
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