I have never, ever been a fan of Bud, Bud Light or Bud American Ale. I'd just about rather down a glass of dirty dish water.
So, I'm up in Ft. Collins visiting my youngest son who moved there last year, hanging out, skiing a couple of days, and enjoying the incredible craft beer scene they have there (favorite=O'Dells). I ended up with a few hours to kill last Monday morning and decided to go catch the early 10AM tour at the big A/B brewery (third-largest they have).
I've been on plenty to brewery tours and I must say that this one was actually the most interesting overall. The scale on which they brew and package was pretty astounding. The tour guide was a really nice young guy who, when he found out I was a home brewer, talked with me a lot about it. There was only me and 2 others, so it was sort of like having our own personal tour. Toward the end, he gave us options for the first sample (of three) we would get at the tap room. The other folks wanted to try the Signature Copper Lager, so I followed along (with low expectations).
I was very pleasantly surprised when I tasted it. I was expecting another Bud-type product of a different color with the same yucky twang and nasty after-taste. What I drank, however, was clean, crisp and flavorful. It was really good enough that, if I didn't have lagers waiting for a tap spot, I'd readily buy some at the store. I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling the bartender (a really friendly and funny retired schoolteacher named Al) that it didn't taste horrible like the other Bud beers. Followed it up with a Stella (much better on tap than bottled). Al then made us each a Shocktop chocolate wheat/raspberry blend that was pretty darn delicious.
Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a Monday morning in northern Colorado.
So, I'm up in Ft. Collins visiting my youngest son who moved there last year, hanging out, skiing a couple of days, and enjoying the incredible craft beer scene they have there (favorite=O'Dells). I ended up with a few hours to kill last Monday morning and decided to go catch the early 10AM tour at the big A/B brewery (third-largest they have).
I've been on plenty to brewery tours and I must say that this one was actually the most interesting overall. The scale on which they brew and package was pretty astounding. The tour guide was a really nice young guy who, when he found out I was a home brewer, talked with me a lot about it. There was only me and 2 others, so it was sort of like having our own personal tour. Toward the end, he gave us options for the first sample (of three) we would get at the tap room. The other folks wanted to try the Signature Copper Lager, so I followed along (with low expectations).
I was very pleasantly surprised when I tasted it. I was expecting another Bud-type product of a different color with the same yucky twang and nasty after-taste. What I drank, however, was clean, crisp and flavorful. It was really good enough that, if I didn't have lagers waiting for a tap spot, I'd readily buy some at the store. I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling the bartender (a really friendly and funny retired schoolteacher named Al) that it didn't taste horrible like the other Bud beers. Followed it up with a Stella (much better on tap than bottled). Al then made us each a Shocktop chocolate wheat/raspberry blend that was pretty darn delicious.
Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a Monday morning in northern Colorado.