Good beer is where you find it.
The new Strange Brewing Co. — it opened only two weeks ago — is located in a plain (that’s being kind) strip mall in an industrial neighborhood in the near west side. Its most prominent neighbors are the Xcel power station on one side and an Interstate 25 overpass on the other.
The brewers/owners are Tim Myers and John Fletcher, who worked as techies in the newspaper business until they were laid off a year ago. Both homebrewers, they decided to do what they loved — beer. Both also have understanding wives.
The small brewery at 1330 Zuni St., Unit M, has a tasting room and, for now, enough capacity on its tiny one-barrel system (a modified homebrew set-up) to produce about 200 barrels a year. “This is a lot more fun,” said Myers, 44. “If we don’t go broke doing it,” added Fletcher, 42.
After only two weeks, the response has been unexpectedly overwhelming. A surprising break: The brewery is less than a block from the South Platte bike-path detour so, when it’s open 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, the little tasting room is packed. The downside is that Myers and Fletcher are working overtime, sometimes making three batches a day to produce enough beer to keep customers satisfied.
The flagship beer is their Strange Pale Ale. The beer board also lists a Belgian Farmhouse Ale and a Belgian Wheat Cherry Stout, the latter a brewing mistake that occurred when Myers mixed two other beers he was making. It’s sold well nevertheless.
Eventually, they would like to put their beers in area bars, but they are limited by their ability to produce enough even to cover in-house consumption. They are selling to-go growlers, however.
And about that name. It’s the two men’s tribute to “Strange Brew,” a 1983 movie that featured Canadian brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie in a series of improbable adventures in their quest for free beer.
Boston Beer No. 1
In its annual report, the Brewers Association says that Boston Beer Co., producer of Samuel Adams, is the nation’s largest craft brewer, based on 2009 beer sales volume.
In addition to Boston Beer, the top five, according to the Boulder-based trade group, includes Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Spoetzl and Pyramid.
New Belgium, headquartered in Fort Collins, is the only Colorado brewer to crack the top 30. Other Colorado breweries in the nation’s 50 largest craft brewers are Odell (33), Rock Bottom (34), Oskar Blues (44), Breckenridge (46) and Boulder (49).
Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors are the top two among all brewers. Overall, New Belgium is now the seventh-largest brewery in the country.
Beer notes
Happy Dads: Herman Joseph’s Private Reserve from AC Golden, usually available only on tap, on sale in six-packs for Father’s Day. . . . New summer brews: Michelob, which seems to produce a new beer every month, has added Ginger Wheat and Shock Top to its summer sampler pack; Grand Teton’s “Cellar Reserve” series grew larger with its Tail Waggin’ Double White Ale; and Odell just released Woodcut No. 4, a Märzen- style ale. . . . Dostal Alley Brewing in Central City holds its first beer tasting, including brews from Tommyknockers and AC Golden, at 6 p.m. June 11. . . . Oklahoma is OK: The Sooner state last month legalized homebrewing of beer for personal use. . . . Great Divide Brewing celebrates its 16th anniversary from 2 to 7 p.m. June 12 with food, music and — what else? — beer at the brewery, 2201 Arapahoe St. . . . Bob Pease is the new chief operating officer of the Brewers Association. Charlie Papazian remains president and CEO.
Quotable: “God made yeast, as well as dough, and he loves fermentation just as dearly as he loves vegetation.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Dick Kreck’s e-mail: rakreck@yahoo.com. Send mail to him c/o The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202.
