Telemark IPA, $2.99 per 22-ounce bottle
Its sleek mountain-modern home belies Backcountry Brewery’s love of traditional English beer styles.
Backcountry, a popular restaurant as well as a brewery on the main drag in Frisco, just off I-70, was founded in 1996.
It has proven adept at producing award-winning beers, bagging two gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival for its IPA (2000) and Colorado Trail English Ale (2005) and a silver for its Ptarmigan Pilsner (2004).
The company’s IPA is well-balanced with a bright, deep golden color but its boast of a heavy use of hops won’t convince lovers of the pungent flowers, who would prefer a bolder product like Stone IPA. Hop presence is most noticeable as an aftertaste on the tongue. It has 5.6 percent alcohol (by volume).
Telemark IPA is available throughout Colorado.
Backcountry Brewing, 720 Main St. (at Colorado 9), Frisco, 970-668-2337; backcountrybrew ery.com| Dick Kreck
