Colorado Beer Thread (Denver, Pueblo: university, move to, car)

[2bindenver]

at the Word Beer Cup held in Denver

Colorado breweries steal the show at World Beer Cup awards - Denver Business Journal

[Timmyy]

Bump.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Mach50

I love a good Oatmeal Stout, that was my "gateway"..

I think the common progression is:

1) Wheat
2) Lager
3) Ale
4) Stout
5) IPA
6) Porter Stouts
7) ESB's
8) Doubles
9) Triples

Wow cool to see my own Beer Notes lol..

I have now discovered Saison and 120Min IPAs! I drink Funkwerks (Ft Collins) and Dogfish (Delaware Sorry CO but DE has you beat) almost exclusively.

[stricklandia]

Originally Posted by Eddyline

I think it has a lot to do with Colorado liquor laws. It is much easier/cheaper to get an onsite tasting room license than a full brewery restaurant license. No capital invested in a full kitchen and have food trucks. I like the variety of food the rotating food trucks have at my corner brewery.

Yes, I read the following article last week, which cited the licensing issues as a big factor in the symbiotic relationship between tasting rooms and food trucks: "Colorado's licensing laws allow new breweries to open on-site tasting areas that operate much like bars, but without much local red tape. Unlike brew pubs and bars, taprooms may serve only their own brews, with no other alcohol, and they can't open kitchens. That dynamic has opened opportunities for a growing army of food trucks — a perfect symbiotic match between startup-heavy industries."

Colorado's booming beer taprooms experience some growing pains - The Denver Post

Originally Posted by delta07

In order for minors to be allowed where alcohol is served, you have to show that the business isn't primarily for serving alcohol. Minors are not allowed in tasting rooms here in OR at all. I don't recall what the laws are in CO.

Wow... Seems like a law you'd find in the South, not in the PNW. As beer geeks with a toddler, looks like we chose well in picking Denver over Portland.

[stricklandia]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Wow cool to see my own Beer Notes lol..

I have now discovered Saison and 120Min IPAs! I drink Funkwerks (Ft Collins) and Dogfish (Delaware Sorry CO but DE has you beat) almost exclusively.

Mach50, what's with #3? All of the beers in your list are ales, except for #2. For #3, did you mean "Pale" Ales?

If you like DFH 120 Min., sounds like you're ready for some West Coast IPAs.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by stricklandia

Wow... Seems like a law you'd find in the South, not in the PNW. As beer geeks with a toddler, looks like we chose well in picking Denver over Portland.

We have definitely stopped by a tasting room with toddler in tow.

[MtnJam]

Another great find in Arvada. Odd location at Ralston and Sheridan. Have done a few tours and haven't found a bad pint among 'em!
Odyssey Beerwerks - Odyssey Beerwerks Craft Beer

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by stricklandia

Yes, I read the following article last week, which cited the licensing issues as a big factor in the symbiotic relationship between tasting rooms and food trucks: "Colorado's licensing laws allow new breweries to open on-site tasting areas that operate much like bars, but without much local red tape. Unlike brew pubs and bars, taprooms may serve only their own brews, with no other alcohol, and they can't open kitchens. That dynamic has opened opportunities for a growing army of food trucks — a perfect symbiotic match between startup-heavy industries."

Colorado's booming beer taprooms experience some growing pains - The Denver Post



Wow... Seems like a law you'd find in the South, not in the PNW. As beer geeks with a toddler, looks like we chose well in picking Denver over Portland.

I was at Oskar Blue's taproom yesterday afternoon and there was a family of 4 there. The only food they have there are peanuts, but the kids happily drank OB's root beer while the parents had a few regular beers.

[otterprods]

When did 'good beer' = heavy, dark, bitter and 1000 calories per glass? Just what year was that? '95?

Give me an ice cold 'rona any day, or even a coors light, I don't care. People call these things watered down but reality is that the water content is similar either way, the 'crafted' beer ingredients just spend more time being roasted (aka burned) and fermented (aka rotted) which give them that heavy flavor and higher AC. If I want something strong & heavy I'll have a whiskey and not have to drink a gallon of carbonated hops to get an ounce of alcohol.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by otterprods

When did 'good beer' = heavy, dark, bitter and 1000 calories per glass? Just what year was that? '95?

Give me an ice cold 'rona any day, or even a coors light, I don't care. People call these things watered down but reality is that the water content is similar either way, the 'crafted' beer ingredients just spend more time being roasted (aka burned) and fermented (aka rotted) which give them that heavy flavor and higher AC. If I want something strong & heavy I'll have a whiskey and not have to drink a gallon of carbonated hops to get an ounce of alcohol.

Ummm ok.
There are lots of craft lagers. Try a Mama's Little Yella Pils from Oskar Blues. Great beer. Ska also makes a great one called Mexican Logger.

People with the above opinion typically feel that beer should taste exactly one way. Instead of appreciating each beer for how it is distinct, they immediately throw out an "I only like x" comment. It's akin to saying that all spaghetti sauce should taste like Ragu or all beef should taste like McDonalds hamburgers. It's their loss because there are some incredibly creative and delicious things happening in beer right now. You just have to go in with the mindset that it's not supposed to taste like Coors Light, and that's a good thing.

More people are catching on. Beer consumption in the US was down last year, but craft beer consumption was up. People are drinking less crap.