I saw it for the first time at Kinfolk's in Manitou Springs. Trying to decide what to drink next from the excellent selection, I noticed a tap decorated with a somewhat ominous, yellow warning sign. Inquiring as to the nature and ancestry of the mysterious beer, I was told it was a collaborative effort between various brewers throughout Colorado and that it was only served in smaller portions due to it's brain-numbing alcohol content. Without hesitation, I immediately requested a glass. As I attempted to mine my cranium for additional information regarding the beer that evening for this article, nothing further surfaced with any reliable clarity.
In fact, the next time I remember seeing the beer was during the Craft Lager Fest in Manitou Springs, where I volunteered last summer. Wondering the well attended park that hosted the festival, I noticed that one of the breweries poured a beer designated with that yellow beacon long since archived in the recesses of my memory. Upon drinking the dark, flavorful brew for a second time, I was given further information about it's history, and then provided with another long gap of time to wonder about it's existence. It emerged from time to time in conversation, and may have even appeared on taps around the state. But, somehow it evaded my palette, and slipped back into oblivion.
Then, unexpectedly, while discussing events and other beer related happenings with a friend, he informed me that he was attending the sixth annual collaborative brewing of the elusive beer. I tried to hide the massive grin that wanted to cover over my face and exude the same kind of excitement a small boy would feel confronted with a truckload full of Lego's. The friend, Todd Walton of the forthcoming Trinity Brewery and Restaurant, mentioned that the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado should attend the event, and I smiled knowing that I would finally get to meet the mad scientist behind the notorious Warning Sign beer.
As most things are somehow interrelated, the brewmeister behind the fermenters turned out to be Jason Yester, former Head Brewer at Bristol, Todd's partner and Brewmaster at Trinity, and someone I had meet sporadically throughout the years at festivals and other occasions always involving beer. Jason cordially invited the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado to the brewing extravaganza, and I had opportunity to throw out a couple of questions to Jason regarding the community brew.
What made you decide on an Imperial Bock? Has it always been an Imperial Bock?
Imperial Bock is the title TTB made us use for labeling. I'm not truly sure a labeled category exists for the way we make this bock as we break the German Purity law intentionally [to] follow what we call the "Swineheitsgebot." The most accurate description I can give this big lager is an American Eis Bock.
How long have you brewed it collaboratively? What made you decide to bring together other brewers for the process and how did you come up with the recipe?
The beer has been brewed since day 1 as a team brew, and this year marked the sixth year we've been doing the event. The idea arouse in the initial planning of the Craft Lager Festival. We wanted to do something way out in left field to showcase at the fest, and the natural choice was the most extreme style of lager, Eis Bock.
As far as bring other brewers into the brewing of the batch, it just kind of happened naturally. This beer has been gaining it's own momentum and just really evolving collectively and independently. The brew part of it started as just a cool way to share time with other brewers, and make a beer that we can be proud of. Through its natural course this team brew has now become a great community building event for the Colorado brewers.
Well, the recipe first started from my experience with making large imperial beers at Bristol. It's origin is somewhat of an adaption of the commercial barleywine I crafted, Old # 23. From the first brew in the garage, small changes have been made as the recipe worked it's way through several brewer's hands and minds. One theme we always keep is to intentionally break the German Purity law every time we brew the recipe, which allows us to be a little more creative latitude with how we approach the recipe.
How are the selling, distribution, and profits worked out? Are the profits donated?
Each participating company is given a keg to take home and serve and sell at their brewery. This has really gone far as a grassroots driven campaign spreading the good word about the beer. Besides being served by the brewers who attended the team brew, the only other place it's available is at it's true home, the Craft Lager Festival.
All Profits from the CLF are donated to help save and support open spaces of the Pikes Peak region.
What are the stats - avg. ABV, gravity, color, etc..?
Stats on this beer have been from 10.3%-14% ABV, depending on the year brewed. It looks like we're going to settle down around 10%ish for the standard. OG is 23ish plato.... and thats pretty much all we have measured.
What's the total amount that will be produced?
Again this number changes depending on the size of the brewery hosting the batch. This year it'll be about 12 bbl's or 24 kegs, 2009 Arctic will be hosting it and produce roughly 7 BBl's and 14 kegs, and in 2010 Breckenridge will host producing 50 bbl's or ~100kegs.
Where did the name and logo come from?
That's kind of a funny question :). The very time we brewed Warning Sign was on a homebrew system in a garage. We had to brew 3 batches that year to fill a keg because we could only make about 5 gallons at a time. By the last batch we still hadn't come up with a name. While brewing the last 5 gallons of homebrew we were doing some sampling of the finished batches, for scientific purposes of course, and jamming some Talking Heads. The tune "Warning Sign" came on, and instantly I knew that was the name for the beer.
The logo itself was designed by the owner of Ska, Dave Thibideau. When they hosted the team brew he decided to age a small amount on a single oak barrel, and bottle a very special small amount. Needing a label he was searching images on the internet and came across our trusty dinosaur logo. Everyone loved it, so we've stuck with it ever since.
Is their anything else you'd like to add?
Here is a description of the beer (inspired by true events that happened after drinking it):
Warning Sign Eis Bock : “The Earth Saving Beer!” This is quite a mystical beer that is brewed each year specifically for the Craft Lager Festival. The first batch was homebrewed in a local garage, and we change the site of the host brewer annually. This year's batch was brewed in Denver at CB and Potts. Led by host brewer, Bill Eye, the versatile brewing group known as the “Good Ol' Boys”, and a mob of Colorado Brewers, this traditional lager was prepared in a team brewed fashion. Being the strongest style of lager in the world, the 10.5% Warning Sign has a reputation for doing wonderful things with shirts, causing loss of memory, and inspiring spontaneous Axle Rose dancing! We recommend serving it with beef stew in a bread bowl.
So, after years of wondering and speculation, the lore surrounding the Warning Sign was finally revealed. It certainly has a facinating history for such a young beer, and will hopefully continue for many years to come.
As for the event itself, CB & Potts in Highlands Ranch, Denver graciously hosted this year's gathering. Fourteen breweries contributed to the batch, which is the largest group thus far for the collaborative effort. Each brewery had at least one representative present for at least a portion of the brewing. CB & Potts served a great lunch to the fiesty group, and a small container of last year's Warning Sign was tapped to remind everybody that the fruit's of their labor will be well rewarded.
The Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado would like to thank Jason and Todd for the invitation to the event, and look forward to trying 6th Annual Warning Sign batch!
Below you'll find the breweries involved and some pictures the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado took during throughout the day. Enjoy & Drink Well!
6th Annual Warning Sign Collaborators
CB & Potts | Big Horn | Rock Bottom | Trinity | Phantom Canyon | Bristol | Arctic Craft | TommyKnockers | Breckenridge | Ska | Amica's | Wynkoop | Rockyard | Sandlot
In fact, the next time I remember seeing the beer was during the Craft Lager Fest in Manitou Springs, where I volunteered last summer. Wondering the well attended park that hosted the festival, I noticed that one of the breweries poured a beer designated with that yellow beacon long since archived in the recesses of my memory. Upon drinking the dark, flavorful brew for a second time, I was given further information about it's history, and then provided with another long gap of time to wonder about it's existence. It emerged from time to time in conversation, and may have even appeared on taps around the state. But, somehow it evaded my palette, and slipped back into oblivion.
Then, unexpectedly, while discussing events and other beer related happenings with a friend, he informed me that he was attending the sixth annual collaborative brewing of the elusive beer. I tried to hide the massive grin that wanted to cover over my face and exude the same kind of excitement a small boy would feel confronted with a truckload full of Lego's. The friend, Todd Walton of the forthcoming Trinity Brewery and Restaurant, mentioned that the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado should attend the event, and I smiled knowing that I would finally get to meet the mad scientist behind the notorious Warning Sign beer.
Mike Laur © DG2C
What made you decide on an Imperial Bock? Has it always been an Imperial Bock?
Imperial Bock is the title TTB made us use for labeling. I'm not truly sure a labeled category exists for the way we make this bock as we break the German Purity law intentionally [to] follow what we call the "Swineheitsgebot." The most accurate description I can give this big lager is an American Eis Bock.
How long have you brewed it collaboratively? What made you decide to bring together other brewers for the process and how did you come up with the recipe?
Mike Laur © DG2C
As far as bring other brewers into the brewing of the batch, it just kind of happened naturally. This beer has been gaining it's own momentum and just really evolving collectively and independently. The brew part of it started as just a cool way to share time with other brewers, and make a beer that we can be proud of. Through its natural course this team brew has now become a great community building event for the Colorado brewers.
Well, the recipe first started from my experience with making large imperial beers at Bristol. It's origin is somewhat of an adaption of the commercial barleywine I crafted, Old # 23. From the first brew in the garage, small changes have been made as the recipe worked it's way through several brewer's hands and minds. One theme we always keep is to intentionally break the German Purity law every time we brew the recipe, which allows us to be a little more creative latitude with how we approach the recipe.
How are the selling, distribution, and profits worked out? Are the profits donated?
Each participating company is given a keg to take home and serve and sell at their brewery. This has really gone far as a grassroots driven campaign spreading the good word about the beer. Besides being served by the brewers who attended the team brew, the only other place it's available is at it's true home, the Craft Lager Festival.
All Profits from the CLF are donated to help save and support open spaces of the Pikes Peak region.
What are the stats - avg. ABV, gravity, color, etc..?
Stats on this beer have been from 10.3%-14% ABV, depending on the year brewed. It looks like we're going to settle down around 10%ish for the standard. OG is 23ish plato.... and thats pretty much all we have measured.
What's the total amount that will be produced?
Again this number changes depending on the size of the brewery hosting the batch. This year it'll be about 12 bbl's or 24 kegs, 2009 Arctic will be hosting it and produce roughly 7 BBl's and 14 kegs, and in 2010 Breckenridge will host producing 50 bbl's or ~100kegs.
Where did the name and logo come from?
That's kind of a funny question :). The very time we brewed Warning Sign was on a homebrew system in a garage. We had to brew 3 batches that year to fill a keg because we could only make about 5 gallons at a time. By the last batch we still hadn't come up with a name. While brewing the last 5 gallons of homebrew we were doing some sampling of the finished batches, for scientific purposes of course, and jamming some Talking Heads. The tune "Warning Sign" came on, and instantly I knew that was the name for the beer.
The logo itself was designed by the owner of Ska, Dave Thibideau. When they hosted the team brew he decided to age a small amount on a single oak barrel, and bottle a very special small amount. Needing a label he was searching images on the internet and came across our trusty dinosaur logo. Everyone loved it, so we've stuck with it ever since.
Is their anything else you'd like to add?
Here is a description of the beer (inspired by true events that happened after drinking it):
Warning Sign Eis Bock : “The Earth Saving Beer!” This is quite a mystical beer that is brewed each year specifically for the Craft Lager Festival. The first batch was homebrewed in a local garage, and we change the site of the host brewer annually. This year's batch was brewed in Denver at CB and Potts. Led by host brewer, Bill Eye, the versatile brewing group known as the “Good Ol' Boys”, and a mob of Colorado Brewers, this traditional lager was prepared in a team brewed fashion. Being the strongest style of lager in the world, the 10.5% Warning Sign has a reputation for doing wonderful things with shirts, causing loss of memory, and inspiring spontaneous Axle Rose dancing! We recommend serving it with beef stew in a bread bowl.
So, after years of wondering and speculation, the lore surrounding the Warning Sign was finally revealed. It certainly has a facinating history for such a young beer, and will hopefully continue for many years to come.
As for the event itself, CB & Potts in Highlands Ranch, Denver graciously hosted this year's gathering. Fourteen breweries contributed to the batch, which is the largest group thus far for the collaborative effort. Each brewery had at least one representative present for at least a portion of the brewing. CB & Potts served a great lunch to the fiesty group, and a small container of last year's Warning Sign was tapped to remind everybody that the fruit's of their labor will be well rewarded.
The Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado would like to thank Jason and Todd for the invitation to the event, and look forward to trying 6th Annual Warning Sign batch!
Below you'll find the breweries involved and some pictures the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado took during throughout the day. Enjoy & Drink Well!
6th Annual Warning Sign Collaborators
CB & Potts | Big Horn | Rock Bottom | Trinity | Phantom Canyon | Bristol | Arctic Craft | TommyKnockers | Breckenridge | Ska | Amica's | Wynkoop | Rockyard | Sandlot
Mike Laur © DG2C
