The Brewers Blog

Last night we had our 2nd Craft Beer Tasting, featuring Strong Ales with Matt “Handtruck” Thrall and it rocked! Matt is an excellent steward of craft beer and he was very interactive with our guests. It was great to see many people enjoying this casual and educational format of beer tasting with the option of mixing it up with the brewers. Yeah the beers are of great quality, but to be able to ask questions and chat with brewers face-to-face seems to add a special touch. Thanks to our brewers Matt, Craig and Stephen for making this go super smooth. I think we almost have this event dialed in and I am looking forward to the next one.

Here is the line up you missed and my 2 cents.
Strong Ales 2010:
LHB Widdershins vs ABC Hog Heaven=Barleywines
Odell 90 Schilling vs PHB Shockwave=Scottish
ABC Salvation vs Duvel=Strong Belgian Golden
ABC Samaels vs Thomas Hardy 2008=Old Ale
Aventius Doppelbock vs PHB Incinerator Doppelbock=Strong Bock
ABC DuganA IPA vs LHB 400 Pound Monkey English IPA=Strong Pales

My favorite pairing here was the Thomas Hardy’s 2008 Old Ale vs. Avery Samael’s. Both beers are more like a well aged port wine than a thick caramel flavored beer and although they seem expensive on the shelf they are worth every drop and great to share with friends. The other beer pairing I enjoyed was Left Hand Widdershins vs. Avery Hog Heaven. These beers are similar in ABV % and body but way different in flavor and aroma. Widdershins is a traditional English-style barleywine that is so smooth in taste with a caramel-malty theme and a lightly hopped, almost apricot fruit aroma. Avery Hog Heaven Imperial Red is the total opposite. It is a very dank, Columbus hopped brew that is huge aroma with a solid foundation of caramel maltiness. The contrast was appealing and exciting. I am glad that Left Hand has been brewing some more traditional, English styles of beer while brewers like Avery well, “like to tear it up.” You gotta have both. It is like love and lust.

So anyway… I am sorry to announce that the March 23rd Belgian Tasting is sold out. IPA in April with Doug Odell is still open and you can purchased tickets at the bar or over the phone at 303-702-0881.

We have decided to make this a monthly event and will add dates next week for the Summer Tour. So far it looks like we will tackle Farmhouse Ales, Wheats, and Light Lagers(yeah Cans!).

Finally, we will be having a Spring Beer Fest on May 22nd, 2010 featuring 25 breweries and thier spring and summer seasonals.