3point7 milk stout at Avery Brewing

Another taproom only ale at the Avery Brewing taproom is this 3point7 milk stout which isn't as sweet as first presumed. It has a hoppy front with the milk lactase finish and it's not very creamy on flavor. It is 3.7% alcohol so a session beer for sure.

Avery Taproom

Stopped at Avery Brewing for a quick beer and they have some interesting ales on tap. Right now I'm drinking Coconut Brown Ale, it's quite good with a hint of sweetness from the coconuts. The coconut brown ale is 5.6% and is only served in the taproom

Winter Warlock and the Broncos at the Falling Rock

Winter ales are still on tap at the Falling Rock Tap House. Drinking Winter Warlock from Bristol and watching the Broncos on the big screen. The Rock is full with football fans and friends gathering for beer.

Boulevard Nutcracker Winter Ale at the West End Tavern

West End Tavern has winter ales on tap, my favorite today is the Nutcracker from Boulevard brewing. Lightly spiced and at 7.8% is a wonderful choice for a lunch beverage after Christmas shopping.

Bristol Winter Warlock

It's Christmas Beer month at the Falling Rock Tap House in Denver, so many beers to choose from, but have to choose one. My go to seasonal is the Winter Warlock from Bristol Brewing from Colorado Springs, so creamy with roasted chocolate flavor!

Upslope Brewing

Sam, brewer at Upslope created his version of a nitro milk stout, it's delicious and has a different flavor then Left Hand Brewing. Also equally delicious is the Foreign Style Stout aged in a whiskey barrel. And some other special taps are their 4th anniversary ale and Cabernet aged IPA.

Raspberry Smidy at the Tasty Weasel

Raspberry Smidy (second of TenFidy) on cask. It has a very berry aroma and flavor at 5% alcohol that compared with the TenFidy which is 10.5%.

River North Brewing

River North Brewing is located in the RiNo district in Denver. They've been open for 8 months but have 7 beers on tap from a farmhouse ale to a table sour ale. A very unusual ale was the Oaked Imperial Wit, subtle and tasty. Patrick, one of the brewer's was serving us today.

Lunch at Backcountry Pizza and Tap House

Lunch at Backcountry Pizza and Tap House with their 52 microbrewery beers on tap is a pleasure to indulge. You might be lucky to be seated next to the owner, John who can spin a yarn as no one else can. Today they have New Belgian's Shadow of the Foeder, a blend of 1554 and sour Love Felix on cask. Also on tap is JW Lee's Autumn limited edition, a strong ale.

2009 Ten Fidy Sour

GABF has come and gone but the remainders can be still be found on tap like this 2009 sour Ten Fidy by Oskar Blues. It's a rich sweet and sour Imperial Stout, at 10.5% alcohol, I'll have a taster please!

Fwd: GABF week continues at Backcountry Pizza and Tap House

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Darlene Smith <darlenesmith2473@gmail.com>
Date: October 13, 2012, 2:03:31 PM MDT
To: Darlene Smith <darlenesmith2473@yahoo.com>
Subject: GABF week continues at Backcountry Pizza and Tap House

Our next stop is Backcountry Pizza and Tap House in Boulder. New Belgian's Ohh La La, a raspberry brown at 8.5%, is a sweet tart in a pint.

Sent from my iPhone

Continuation of GABF week at Avery Brewing again

Avery Brewing has special taps for GABF week, today Uncle Jacob's Stout at 17% and Collaboration without Litigation at 8.9%. It's crowded with patrons who are staying out of the rain. Avery won a silver medal with their Belgian style wheat-White Rascal!

GABF continues at Left Hand Brewing

Taster set of Pumpkin Ale, Haystack Wheat with different hops, Fade to Black, and Wake up Dead. Wake up Dead is on nitro and taste real good.

Adam Avery

Adam Avery stops by to chat with us. He's a friendly guy who likes to talk about his beer.

Avery Brewing GABF week

GABF week continues at Avery Brewing

GABF week continues at Avery Brewing in Boulder. Rumpkin, a rum barrel aged pumpkin ale is for sale in bottles and by the taster at the tap room. We're drinking Rumpkin at 15.9% in tasters along with Ross's Mom, a sour red blend at 9%.

Grand Opening of Black Shirt Brewing

I have been wanting for 2 years for this brewery to open. I met the brewer and fellow owners of the Black Shirt when they were brewing in their basement in Centennial Colorado, since then they found a building to house their brewery and with perseverance they are finally opening.
Grand Opening October 13, more information will be posted on Facebook, so like Black Shirt Brewing.
It coincides with the last day of GABF, so if your in the RiNo district in Denver stop on by. Just look for the red door with BSB monogram and have a pint of the Red Ale.



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Location:RiNo District in Denver

Black Shirt Brewing Co

Saturday was a backyard party at Black Shirt Brewing in the RiNo district in Denver. Party started at 5 pm in the back area of the brewery. The tables from the taproom were placed outside for this event and the Mestizos Food Truck was there providing munchies throughout the evening.



This night they wet hopped their red ale in two version batches; one with Centennial hops and another with Willamette hops. the hops were from Voss Farm Colorado. It was an even draw on which one tasted better, I liked the Willamette red while Larry preferred the Centennial red ale. The Willamette hops were more subtle and smooth while the Centennial hopped ale had a strong hop aroma with a bitter aftertaste.















As the night progressed, more patrons dropped by, some who know about the party in advance and some who were passersby curious about the brewery. With GABF just a week away, I hope Chad, Carissa, and Branden are ready for the flood of curious beer folks at Black Shirt Brewing.

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Location:Denver

Black Shirt Brewing Co

It's been a long stretch for these three, Chad, Carissa, and Branden Miller who started the Red Project over 2 years ago but conception started in 1999.

When I first meet them, they were living in a house in Centennial, Colorado and brewing in their basement. The red ale recipe was in its 8 incarnation and it was an 8% alcohol wonder, not many breweries have a red ale so this was special.

The Miller's have a philosophy of pure intent of person and product. They alone with just help from friends are building Black Shirt Brewing Co from ground up. They should have referred to old blues eyes for doing it their way but Johnny Cash is their silent mentor with keeping it simple.

Today Black Shirt Brewing is not a dream but a reality for these three fine people who through it all remind tight net as ever. Chad and Branden are brothers and Carissa is now wife to Chad plus recently had a baby boy. All the set backs did not discourage them but put resolve to finish the Red Project.


Located in the RiLo Art District in Denver, take Walnut east from downtown and park in the liquor store lot. Rough exterior painted building with a red door is Black Shirt Brewing. The garage front door might be open so passers by can look into the taproom interior which is as eclectic as the Millers with walls a gunmetal grey, rough table tops on metal frames, a painting of Johnny Cash on the wall and a nice bar to sit and chat with Branden or Chad who are pouring reds.





Last weekend was the soft opening of Black Shirt Brewing with friends and family along with people of the street straying in out of curiosity. The night was a success with the pouring of four ales, all derived from the base Red Ale. Red Ale, Red Pale, Red Saison, and Imperial Red Rye IPA were all a hit with us wanting more. Carissa did table service and we could tell was a little frazzled but time should smooth all edges.


Carissa speculated that sometime in October will be the grand opening for the brewery but until then they will host small parties on Saturdays leading up to grand opening. Like them on Facebook for updates on opening day.

Check out their website@http://www.blackshirtbrewingco.com/index.php


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Black Shirt Brewing in Denver

I'm at Black Shirt Brewing for their soft opening and I'm drinking the base red ale at 6.5% alcohol is made 6 different malts and 3 varieties of hops. It has layers of caramel, bread, and toffee with citrus and floral overtones.

Hops & Pie

Denver beer tour ends with a beer, Signal De Botrange from Elevation Brewing at Hops & Pie tap house in the Highlands. It's been a satisfying beer tour this fine sunny Saturday. Larry's having Double IPA from Dry Dock on cask.
Hops & Pie has awesome sandwiches, today we are eating our favorite so far their Reuben Sandwich.  As a treat for later buy the Captain Crunch marshmallow treat to go, so yummy.
Hops & Pie is located in the West Highland district of Denver, there's no easy route but it's only 15 minutes from I-25 & Speer Blvd.

Hogshead Brewery

Another new brewery in Denver is Hogshead Brewery, located in the Highlands District. They've been open for 3 months and all ready they seem to be a neighborhood hangout. The building looks like it used to be a gas station where the tap room is small but cozy with tables and bar seating.
Their beers are English style that are low in alcohol but tasty. Here are two examples of their ales, a Porter at 5.6% and Barge's Ale (English Mild) at 3.2% which was on hand-pull.

Prost Brewing Co

Last weekend Larry and I went to a three week old Prost Brewing Co in Denver.  The head brewer/owner is Bill Eye formerly from Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora.  The taster flight is usually 4 beers but we bought two more so to have a taste of all that they brew. All their beers except the IPA are in the German style which are very good.  I enjoyed the Hefeweizen, Dunkel, and Dunkelweizen, they seemed authentic to me especially in light that the 70 barrel brew house was imported from Germany.  The brewery doesn't serve food except for Bavarian pretzels from a local bakery, the pretzel went very well with the beer.  We later shared a pint of the Hefeweizen.

Located right off of I-25 on 19th Street, the brewery is kitty corner from the on ramp at 20th.  They are open daily, Monday - Thursday 3 pm - 10ish, Friday- Saturday noon - midnight, and Sunday noon - 8ish. 

Southern Sun in Boulder

Having lunch at the Southern Sun in south Boulder and of course, drink some beer. They have the Hummingbird Braggot Ale, at 10% ABV and the Oatimus Prime Imperial Oatmeal Stout, at 10.8% ABV which is our choice for lunch.

Toronado Tap House in SF

Made it back to Toronado's on Haight St in San Fran! Rodenbach Grand Cru on tap, wow! Love this place :)

Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solid Restaurant

We stopped by after our jaunt to Longmont's Farmers Market to have a snack with a beer. I'm drinking Funky Chardonnay Mama's, pilsner aged in Chardonnay barrels with brett strain yeast at 5.5% alcohol it's a good beer for lunch. Larry's has Shark Attack by Port Brewing but at 9.5% he'll need to keep it slow drinking!

Vine Street Pub in Denver

Gooney bird sandwich, fries, and Bombshell Belgian Blonde Ale :). Good eats and drink!

Vine Street Pub & Brewery

Bombshell Belgian Blonde Ale at roughly 6.5% alcohol will go well with lunch. Vine Street Pub is sister restaurant to the Mountain Sun and Southern Sun in Boulder, for a Tuesday lunch, it isn't busy right now.

Avery Brewing taproom

I'm have a small taster pour of Eremita IV, 4th release in Tap room only series. It is a pink/amber color with a sour citrus aroma with first sip, Eremita IV has a sweet-sour taste. It has blueberry and juniper berries that spike that spent 3 1/2 years in neutral barrels. Goes down easy but beware, it's 10% alcohol!

Denver Beer Co

I have to say that out of 7 taps, I only cared for 2, Imperial Graham Cracker Stout and the Geyser Belgian Tripel. The place is packed with people drinking and socializing, so some people enjoy their beers here.

Bootstrap Brewing in Niwot CO

Bootstrap Brewing is one of our, mine and Larry's favorite brewery. On tap is 2 Tickets 2 Paradise, a cherry/ginger ale that is so good at 4.5%, great for this hot weather.

Surly Goat

At the Surly Goat again this trip and it isn't disappointing with Sextant, an oatmeal stout from Ballast Point on nitro and from Alesmith, Summer Yuelsmith, an Imperial IPA. There is a mix of beers from Ca, with Sierra Nevada, Russian River's Pliny the Elder to Epic from Utah with Hopulent IPA to Colorado's favorite Avery's White Rascal. Surly Goat has a wide selection of beers for everyone's taste.

The Daily Pint

Here is an example of the Whiskey-Scotch selection at the Daily Pint in Santa Monica. They have over 350 different brands ranging from $7-900 a shot.

The Daily Pint

Stopped one of Larry's favorite pubs in Santa Monica, The Daily Pint. A quaint pub that looks like a dive bar from the street but makes up for the curb appeal with 33 taps with 4 cask hand pulls. Larry's drinking a pint of Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Dbl IPA and I'm having Seduction Belgian Dark Ale from Ommegang.

The Library

I'm in Santa Monica again and of course, had to stop at The Library Alehouse. Larry has a pint of Ballast Point Big Eye IPA on nitro and I'm drinking Weihenstephan Vitus, a double hefeweizen.

Oskar Blues Can Can Girls Beer Club dinner at Hops and Heifers Farm

The Can Can Girls hosted a beer dinner at the Hops and Heifers farm in Longmont on June 21. The farm is owned by Dale Katechis who also owner of Oskar Blues Brewery. The farm is located in Longmont against the backdrop of the foothills of the Front Range. The dinner was on a patio deck next to the garden of hops.
We started our evening at the Tasty Weasel, the taproom of the brewery in Longmont. With beer in hand we piled into Da Blues Bus, that drove us to the Hops and Heifers farm.




The ride took west towards the foothills, 15 minutes later we where at the farm. We met with Geoff Hess who gave us the history of the farm. It was bought by Dale Katechis eight years ago who was interested in an efficient sustainable agriculture. Hess is the manager of the farm. Besides the home of the Katechis on the farm, they grow 8 different strains of hops for the brewery and they have a small herd of black angus cattle.








The dinner was cooked entirely in the Oskar Blues Bonewagon, a food truck or smokateria on wheels.












We all gathered by the Bonewagon before heading to the patio seating. Here's a photo of our friends Max and Dave Chichura, head brewer for Oskar Blues Brewery.




This was a sold out event, we made sure to sit with our friends, Max, Mitch, and Barbara.




The first course was Marrakesh style with sesame serrano grilled chicken but we shared pickled cucumbers and red onions, roasted red pepper salad, leek fondue, and flat bread paired with Deviant Dales.




Second course, En Papillote, monkfish, mussels, shrimp, clams, cheery tomatoes, garlic, chives, and green olives wrapped in parchment paper. We shared country ham, sweet peas, and risotto, which was paired with Pin-up Pale. The Can Can Girls Beer Club brewed the Pin-up Ale.




Third course was Petite Hops & Heifers Filet wirh tarragon beernaise, shared sweet potato and gorgonzola grits, with grilled asparagus on the side. Dales Pale Ale was paired with this course.




Fourth on the menu was Saint Marcellin Chees with sweet onion jam and fig. This course was paired with Gubna.
The picture quality wasn't good when using an iPhone camera.




The dessert course was Luscious, with creme de banana paired with G'Night. The creme de banana was served in a small beer can.




The Hops and Heifer Farm beer dinner was such a fun and tasty experience that I can't wait for the next one.
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Location:Longmont, Colorado