As the first flakes of snow fall upon the Colorado landscape, brewers have begun to offer their thick, hearty, winter beers to the anxious public. Mostly dark and a bit foreboding, these meal-like substances will jump-start nearly any frigid, cold-saturated beer-drinking soul.
Originally brewed to keep the populace warm and slightly gelatinous for the winter months, winter beers, or winter warmers have in modern times mimicked their ancestors in many ways. Filled with tarry, dense malts, and often times loaded with fruits and spices, a pint of winter brew can feel like a warm, delicious, comfort-inducing brick dropped into a shivering stomach. Although, be aware of that which you consume. The extraordinary American spirit for experimentation has livened some old recipes with brain-scattering alcohol levels. Thus, before you know it, your body is numb, your brain is soft, and nobody seems to know what your rambling on about.
Below you'll find a list of dark suds from some of the breweries across our frigid state. Drink well and enjoy the holidays!
Bristol Brewing releasing their Christmas Ale 12/2 /10.
Odell Isolation and Mountain Standard Double Black IPA, a full-bodied dark ale with a perceived mellow bitterness.
Trinity Brewing just released their Chilly Water Porter, actually a lager. The Farmhouse Nocturnum will be released Dec 17. It's a “Super Saison”, a strong Belgian ale coming in at 12.5% abv. Christmas Eve Trinity taps 2 kegs of Cherry Awaken Stout, their Awaken Stout that has been aged on Cherries. Sold by the glass on Christmas Eve only.
San Luis Valley Brewing is brewing up a “California Common Style beer, that co-owner Angie Graber is brewing herself, and calling it Cowbell Common. They are also serving up their 'Ol 169 Oatmeal Stout, and Saddle Up Strong Scottish Ale.
Bull and Bush Pub & Brewery will have Yule Fuel on tap soon. Don't forget about their Christmas Beer Tasting on Dec. 14.
BierWerks up in Woodland Park is featuring a “Weihnachtsbier”, or a German Christmas Bock. Stronger than their Dunkel, with a little more chocolate malt, this beer is traditionally brewed with the first fesh malt and hops of the fall harvest, and makes its first appearance no later than the beginning of advent, 4 weeks before Christmas.
Speaking of German-style beers, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse in Loveland will soon be releasing their own Christmas Bock. They also have a Smoked Porter on tap, and a Doppelbock coming soon.
Dry Dock Brewing: Try their Urca Vanilla Porter, many vanilla beans have given it up for this brew. On their Firkin Friday, Dec. 3, they will tap their Holiday Spiced Old Ale. It is their HMS Old Bounty Ale brewed with a collection of spices, including nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon. etc.
Elk Mountain Brewing taps Firkins on Wednesdays. They have a Coffee Cream Ale coming up, as well as a Raspberry Porter and a Coffee Stout, to name a few.
Up at Grand Lake, the Wooly Booger Nut Brown Ale is always a good bet, as well as their Shadow Mountain Stout and their Milk Stout.
Rocky Mountain Brewery has a Winter Warmer they describe as malty & roasty, with a hint of spruce spice that comes from Red Prickly Ash Berries. Also their Albino Porter, a rich dark coffee beer made with coffee from a local roaster is on tap.
Originally brewed to keep the populace warm and slightly gelatinous for the winter months, winter beers, or winter warmers have in modern times mimicked their ancestors in many ways. Filled with tarry, dense malts, and often times loaded with fruits and spices, a pint of winter brew can feel like a warm, delicious, comfort-inducing brick dropped into a shivering stomach. Although, be aware of that which you consume. The extraordinary American spirit for experimentation has livened some old recipes with brain-scattering alcohol levels. Thus, before you know it, your body is numb, your brain is soft, and nobody seems to know what your rambling on about.
Below you'll find a list of dark suds from some of the breweries across our frigid state. Drink well and enjoy the holidays!
Bristol Brewing releasing their Christmas Ale 12/2 /10.
Odell Isolation and Mountain Standard Double Black IPA, a full-bodied dark ale with a perceived mellow bitterness.
Trinity Brewing just released their Chilly Water Porter, actually a lager. The Farmhouse Nocturnum will be released Dec 17. It's a “Super Saison”, a strong Belgian ale coming in at 12.5% abv. Christmas Eve Trinity taps 2 kegs of Cherry Awaken Stout, their Awaken Stout that has been aged on Cherries. Sold by the glass on Christmas Eve only.
San Luis Valley Brewing is brewing up a “California Common Style beer, that co-owner Angie Graber is brewing herself, and calling it Cowbell Common. They are also serving up their 'Ol 169 Oatmeal Stout, and Saddle Up Strong Scottish Ale.
Bull and Bush Pub & Brewery will have Yule Fuel on tap soon. Don't forget about their Christmas Beer Tasting on Dec. 14.
Speaking of German-style beers, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse in Loveland will soon be releasing their own Christmas Bock. They also have a Smoked Porter on tap, and a Doppelbock coming soon.
Dry Dock Brewing: Try their Urca Vanilla Porter, many vanilla beans have given it up for this brew. On their Firkin Friday, Dec. 3, they will tap their Holiday Spiced Old Ale. It is their HMS Old Bounty Ale brewed with a collection of spices, including nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon. etc.
Elk Mountain Brewing taps Firkins on Wednesdays. They have a Coffee Cream Ale coming up, as well as a Raspberry Porter and a Coffee Stout, to name a few.
Up at Grand Lake, the Wooly Booger Nut Brown Ale is always a good bet, as well as their Shadow Mountain Stout and their Milk Stout.
Rocky Mountain Brewery has a Winter Warmer they describe as malty & roasty, with a hint of spruce spice that comes from Red Prickly Ash Berries. Also their Albino Porter, a rich dark coffee beer made with coffee from a local roaster is on tap.
