Boulder County — where the beer flows like wine, and where the women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. No, wait, that’s Aspen. But the beer does, indeed, flow like wine here in the Foothills. Boulder County boasts 23 breweries, brewpubs and meaderies. With 103 breweries in the state, Colorado is second in the nation for most breweries (California leads the way with 221), according to the Brewers Association. Now, that’s a lot of beer!
This holiday season bring your own Boulder County brew (BYOBCB) to a holiday party. There are plenty to choose from. The local brew masters have their seasonal lagers, ales and Belgium brews on tap and in liquor stores, ready for the drinking. So head down the street to your neighborhood brewery, grab a stool and order a winter warmer (make sure not to fall off your stool) — or pick up a six-pack from your corner liquor store and imbibe with holiday spirit. Bottoms up!
Twisted Pine
Imperial Porter
Style: Imperial Baltic-style porter Flavor: full-bodied chocolate malty flavor with sweetness Alcohol: 9 percent
Availability: 22-oz. bombers Note: Silver medal winner at the 2006 World Beer Cup and took the bronze at last year’s Colorado State Fair
Reilly’s Oak Whiskey Red
Style: Scottish ale
Flavor: sweet, malty, bourbon
Alcohol: 6 percent
Availability: fourpacks
Note: 2007 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winner
Pumpkin Brown Ale, Sour Brown, Belgium Style Porter and Truffle (Raspberry Espress) are currently on tap. Twisted Pine has rotating seasonals on tap, which are available by the growler or pint. Looking for a gift? Gift certificates to the Ale House are also available, as well as gift baskets filled with beer, glassware and Twisted Pine apparel. Another great gift is a gift certificate for parties of one to three to spend the day brewing with their master brewers. Visit www.twistedpinebrewing. com for more information.
Avery
Old Jubilation Ale
Style: English strong ale
Flavor: Hint of hazelnut, with mocha and toffee
Alcohol: 8 percent
Availability: six-packs
Note: Uses five specialty malts — two-row barley, special roast, black, chocolate and victory.
Czar Russian Imperial Stout
Style: Russian imperial stout
Flavor: Spicy and floral. Hints of English toffee, rich mocha,
molasses, candied currants and hint of anise
Alcohol: 11 percent
Availability: 22-oz. bombers
Note: Store additional bottles for three to four years; Czar becomes denser and more complex with age.
Mephistopheles’ Stout
Style: Belgium imperial stout
Flavor:
Black licorice flavor, vine-ripened grapes, anise, chocolate-covered
cherries, rum-soaked caramelized dark fruits and double espresso finish
Alcohol: 15.1 percent
Availability: 12-oz. bottle (limited quantities)
Note: Ages even better than the Czar. Store for five to 10 years.
Old Jubilation
Style: English strong ale
Flavor: Nutty hazelnut, mocha and toffee flavors
Alcohol: 8 percent
Availability: six-packs
Note: Most brewers add
spices like cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg to their holiday brews, but
Avery uses five different kinds of malts instead.
Visit www.averybrewing.com for more information.
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery
Hollers Haze
Style: Smoked porter
Flavor: Smoky Alcohol: 6.5 percent
Availability: $14/growler at Vine Street, Southern Sun and Mountain Sun
Winter Lager (official name TBD)
Style: Lager
Flavor:
Flavors yet to be disclosed
Alcohol: 8 percent
Availability:
$14/growler at Vine Street, Southern Sun and Mountain Sun
Note: Known
for their hoppy beers, the Mountain Sun rarely brews lagers, so this is
a special occasion. Their last lager was brewed three years ago.
Visit www.mountainsunpub.com for more information.
Walnut Brewery
Mountain Rescue Ale
Style: Belgium double
Flavor: Fruity with cloves
Alcohol: 6.7 percent
Availability: $11.95/ growler
Note: Proceeds benefit Rocky Mountain Rescue Group
Old Thumper Barley Wine
Style: English barley wine
Flavor: Sweet and malty
Alcohol: 10 percent
Availability: 10-oz. or pints (Sorry, no growlers)
Note: Limited amount, so hurry on down before the keg is dry!
Visit www.walnutbrewery.com for more information.
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New Belgium Brewing Co.
Frambozen
Style: Belgium-inspired brown ale
Flavor: Spiced with raspberries
Alcohol: 6.7 percent
Availability: six-packs
2 Below
Style: Deep amber ale
Flavor: Tawny-roasted malt, floral notes with a hint of pepper spice
Alcohol: 6.6 percent
Availability: six-packs
Visit: www.newbelgium.com for more information.
Odell Brewing Co.
Isolation Ale
Style: English winter warmer, brown ale
Flavor: Rich and sweet malt flavor with spice hop finish
Alcohol: 6 percent
Availability: six-packs
Visit www.odells.com for more information.
Boulder Beer Company
Obovoid
Style: Oak-aged oatmeal stout
Flavor: Black and chocolate malts give it a bittersweet chocolate finish, being oak-aged allows vanilla to come through
Alcohol: 6.8 percent
Availability: 22-oz. bombers, growlers
Never Summer Ale
Style: Winter warmer
Flavor: Dark caramel malt
Alcohol: 6 percent
Availabily: Six-packs, 22-oz. bombers
Visit www.boulderbeer.com for more information.
Boulder Draft House
Barrel-aged Imperial Chocolate Porter
Style: Imperial porter
Flavor: Whiskey, wood and chocolate notes
Alcohol: 8.5 percent
Availability: It’s a one-barrel batch, so grab a pint before the Draft House is out.
Note: Aged in a Stranahan´s Colorado Whiskey barrel for six months
During
January, the Draft House will have a Belgium double pale ale on tap. It
was fermented with golden raisins and dried apricots, giving it fruity
characteristics and bitterness. It will be dryhopped like an American
pale ale, but have the fruity taste of a Belgium beer. One pint of this
10-percent alcohol beer will warm you up this winter.
Visit www.boulderdrafthouse.com for more information.
Left Hand Brewing Co.
Fades to Black
Style: Stout
Flavor: Licorice, espresso beans, molasses and black cardamom notes
Alcohol: 8.5 percent
Availability: six-packs and kegs
Upslope Brewing Co.
Colorado Christmas Ale
Style: English old ale
Flavor: Orange, ginger, allspice and juniper berries
Alcohol: 6.7 percent
Availability: $7/22-oz. bombers, $4/10-oz. pour in Belgium glassware
Note: One batch in taproom
