Colorado Micros?!

[storunner13]

My friend is coming back from Colorado and wants to know what beers to bring back. In particular I'm looking for Microbrews that you can't find anywhere other than Colorado or the West.. Any suggestions?

 

[jmkratt]

Growlers or bottles or both?

 

[storunner13]

Probably just bottles. But I might be able to convince him to bring a growler...

 

[rico567]

When we made the pilgrimage to micro Mecca last year, we found Boulder Beer, Twisted Pine, O'Dells, and Fort Collins Brewing to all have excellent beers....as well as others we tried...and I'm sure many others we didn't try. Very hard to narrow down.

 

[body9599]

I'd give a thumbs up to bolder, o'dell and avery

 

[pjk49202]

Dry Dock has a farmhouse that is bottled and very good.

 

[lackey2000]

+1 Boulder Beer, Twisted Pine, O'Dells, and Fort Collins Brewing

Don't forget Great Divide, Oskar Blues, Left Hand and SKA.

More importantly we may get beers that are not distributed in your market. Russian River? Bear Republic? Coors? My favorite supplier of fine malted beverages is Colorado Liquor Mart near Colorado Blvd and Speer/Alameda. They have the best selection within central Denver IMHO.

 

[Marsdude]

There are so many beers you should try it is hard to list them all. I am not sure which beers are available in your area but here is my effort:

Avery - http://www.averybrewing.com/index2.html

Avery is a great brewery that is becoming known for brewing big beers. I don't know where to start here. They have many really good beers. I like Redpoint. The Reverend is really good as is their Maharajah Imperial IPA.

Bristol Brewing - http://www.bristolbrewing.com/our_beers.asp

I would suggest trying Laughing Lab and Red Rocket at least.

Breckenridge Brewery - http://www.breckenridgebrewery.com/beer/ourbeers.html

Lots of good beers. I really like Avalanche and their 471 ESB

Flying Dog - http://www.flyingdogales.com/Beer-Pack.aspx

I like a lot of their beers, especially their Amber.

Ska Brewing - http://www.skabrewing.com/main.html

I would try their Ten Pin Porter and the Special ESB.

Steamworks Brewing - http://www.steamworksbrewing.com/main/do/Our_Beers

I like the Colorado Kolsch and the Steam Engine Lager.

Fort Collins Brewery - http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/home.html

I am actually not a big fan of their beers but the Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat is not bad. Also the Kid Lager.

Odell's - http://odellbrewing.com/beers/classic

My favorite brewery. I really like 90 Shilling and St. Lupulin. Their Burbon Barrel Stout is great, also love their Mountain Standard, and Saboteur.

Have fun!

 

[TheWeeb]

If you have time and you really want to get creative, there are at least a dozen brewpubs within easy Metro Denver reach that have limited edition bottled beer that is most excellent. Trinity and Phantom Canyon in Colorado Springs, Moujntain Sun/Southern Sun, BJ's, Walnut in Boulder; and if you are heading up north to Ft. Collins take a detour to Longmont and catch Left Hand, Oskar Blues, and the Pumphouse. Oskar Blues - the restaurant - has some 21 taps. . . the Bourbon Ten Fidy was my nirvana. There are just so many choices and though NB and Fat Tire are good staples, it is exciting to check out some smaller operations. If you are confined to Denver then I would hit up Wynkoop and there are two great Rock Bottom brewpubs that always have something unique, though a chain, each has the latitude to go off and create. Rick Abatol at the Rock Bottom at I-25 and County Line (just before 370) is especially adept at doing one-of casks.

Gawd, I miss Colorado!

 

[storunner13]

Oh, man...those all sound good. I'd love to check out some of the brewpubs, and bring back a growler or two...but I don't want to make things too complicated for my friend. I suggested some of the above (who knows how much he'll bring back) as well as Pliny the Elder and something from Rogue (Pacman yeast?)

Luckily, there are tentative plans for a winter trip down there around Christmas time for potential skiing and brewery visits! I'm trying hard not to think about it too much..!

 

[WhiskeySix]

Don't forget Tommy Knocker in Idaho Springs. Small brewery putting out really good beer.
http://tommyknocker.com/idahoSprings.html

 

[cruelkix]

I vote for Avery and tommy knocker as two of my favorites.

 

[storunner13]

I can get Tommy Knocker soda at a the grocery store in the U.P. I guess I haven't looked for their beer around here though...I never made the connection.

 

[TheWeeb]

Tommyknocker is a great brewery, a must stop each time on I-70 at that I-da-ho exit. The imperial nut brown is amazing. They have 6-pack and bomber sales as well as growlers.

 

[cruelkix]

The imperial nut brown was my first Colorado micro brew. I was lucky I still get it nearly every time i go there. It is damn good!