Denver is Beer Country

Posted on April 16, 2008
Filed Under Brews and Breweries, News and Information |

While stumbling around the internets, I came across an article by Joel Stein writing for Time that coined Denver the best place for brewery-touring. In the article, he explores the growing craft beer phenomenon by touring a few larger breweries in the Denver-metro area. He argues that Denver is better than Portland, Oregon (which has more microbreweries) and San Diego, California (which he says is more innovative) because it is more tourist-friendly, has more restaurants that offer better beer vs. wine pairings, the GABF and the country’s first chief beer officer. Oh yeah, don’t forget the water and our dudes???

He goes on quite a beer tour over the three days he was here and gives some great insight, but it is too bad he couldn’t get up to Fort Collins or down south to see those breweries too. He didn’t seem too enamored with the breweries themselves, but it was more a lesson in tasting what real beer has to offer. It sounded to me that he got bored on the tours. Worth a read though.

Of course, coining anything the best has gotten several bloggers all up in arms because we’re all proud of the craft brew that comes from our home states. I don’t think he ever mentioned that Denver, or Colorado, has the best beer, though. I think we do. However, I’m biased. When it comes down to it, if another person is opened up to the world craft beer, what else could be better?

Any press is good press, right?

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Comments

2 Responses to “Denver is Beer Country”

  1. Chipper Dave on April 16th, 2008 12:05 pm

    I don’t want to get into a blogger battle between Portland beer bloggers and Colorado beer bloggers as we both have great craft beers and should be proud. Perhaps it’s best to be more critical at the Time magazine writer for not doing a thorough job in determining what his selection criteria was and which other cities deserve praise.

    I may be somewhat biased towards Colorado beers at the moment only because that is what I have the most access to. I have had the pleasure of drinking some of the Oregon beers although not nearly to the level I need to appreciate that state’s products.

    So here’s to both Oregon and Colorado beers. Long may they keep pouring!

  2. Jeff on April 16th, 2008 2:10 pm

    I agree that the identification of “best” is someone self-defeating [though easy enough--they don't call Portland Beervana for nuthin' ;-) ]. The truth is, regions differ, and that’s a good thing. I was in grad school in Wisconsin, where there are a lot of German immigrants. And lots of lager, natch. New England’s beers are very much like old England’s, and Colorado’s are lighter and easier for an on-the-go fan base. In the dark NW, we like our beers hearty and warming, because we try to keep the blahs away from inside festive pubs.

    Ain’t it great that beer and culture arise to suit one another? Cheers to you–

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