The Local Brew
Posted on March 17, 2008
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I have only been “blogging” for a few months now, but I’ve come across several great sites and people who share my passion for fine craft beer. Recently, I connected with Jared Cotton, co-creator of The Local Brew. It is a new show that is showcasing the art of craft brewing and putting on display several of the great breweries across the country. They have a great website and I am eagerly awaiting the DVD of the pilot episode. Even with a “press copy” on its way, I went ahead and order myself a copy and a t-shirt to help support these guys in their hopes of getting mainstream distribution. Check out the their trailer below and I look forward to seeing them swinging through Colorado.
Good luck guys!
The Fort Collins Brewery’s Double Chocolate Stout
Posted on March 16, 2008
Filed Under Brews and Breweries | 2 Comments
Stouts are somewhat of a mixed bag for me. Especially chocolate stouts. There are some that are like drinking motor oil, while others almost taste flat and bland to me. The Double Chocolate Stout from the Fort Collins Brewery (Fort Collins, CO) is what I think of when I am in the mood for a stout. 
Virtually impossible to see through, this stout is everything I could hope for. A dark tan head, malty aroma, coffee undertones and a smooth taste make this my ideal stout. While other beer review sites rate this lower, I think it deserved better. I would definitely buy this bomber again. If I can get up to Fort Collins here soon, I would like to taste the nitro version of this beer. I cannot imagine it getting much smoother.
I really like the Fort Collins Brewery. They are delivering drinkable beers that have great character and taste. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on their new Brewer’s Lunchbox. It’s a mixed 12-pack of their most popular brews. I can only wish they would throw a Double Chocolate Stout in there.
Savor 2008 Event
Posted on March 15, 2008
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Five of our local breweries will be participating in the Savor event in Washington, D.C. from May 16-17, 2008. This sounds like it’s a premier event for craft beer and food pairing. If you’re there on those dates check out the offerings from:
- Avery Brewing Company (Boulder, CO)
- Flying Dog Brewery (Denver, CO)
- Great Divide Brewing Company (Denver, CO)
- New Belgium Brewing Co. (Ft. Collins, CO)
- Odell Brewing Company (Ft. Collins, CO)
Click the image below for further detail and a full schedule.
Left Hand Brewing Co. Chainsaw Ale
Posted on March 14, 2008
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Left Hand Brewing Co.’s Double Sawtooth Chainsaw Ale is part of their seasonal Big Mo Series. The presentation on this beer is great. And for $11.99 a bottle, it should be. It is bottle conditioned in a 750ml caged cork silkscreened champagne bottle. The cork on my bottle was a little tough, but at least I did get a bit of the “popping” sound you generally hear with champagne. According to the Left Hand Brewing web site this beer has been available for only a month or so now, so it should be extremely fresh.
On to the review. I didn’t really know what to expect from this beer as my only background is the Sawtooth Ale which Chainsaw is based off of. I do like that brew. This beer though, had a dark ruby hue and I poured mine with the glass flat to emphasize the head. I couldn’t really place the aroma, but something smelled sweet to me. It was the same with the tasting. I didn’t get the bitterness as much as others have who had reviewed this beer, but I definitely had a sweet taste on the finish. Almost like those champagne-filled chocolate bottles you find as gifts. Maybe this was the bitterness everyone talked about and I just wasn’t recognizing it.
I must admit, for a “big beer” and the price, I expected more. This one just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t bad. Probably a “B” if I had to grade it.
Great Divide Brewing’s Old Ruffian Barley Wine
Posted on March 13, 2008
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Spectacular!
That’s the word that comes to mind when tasting the Old Ruffian Barley Wine from Great Divide Brewing Co. (Denver, CO). I picked up a 22-oz. bomber bottle from my local liquor store and boy was this one a doozy.
This beer poured dark amber in color with an off-white frothy head. The aroma was very piney. The hops apparent. I thought the hop taste was extremely balanced with this beer from start to finish and there was very little hint of the alcohol content for me. It’s amazing considering the 10.2% ABV! However, I would suggest only having one of these in a sitting (a sitting being defined as a 3 - 4 hour block). The alcohol definitely hit me afterward.
This beer is definitely one of the better brews I’ve had in a long time. Not surprisingly, this beer has won several awards throughout the years, including the Gold Medal for best Barley Wine at the Great American Beer Festival in 2006 among others.
I would definitely recommend picking up a couple of these bottles if you can find them and break it out when you want to show off some of the best Colorado has to offer.
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