Chad Yakobson (Denver Post photo by Cyrus McCrimmon).
As 2014 comes to a close, we’re once again asking leading figures on the Colorado beer scene to reflect on the past year and look ahead to next. This fourth installment in our 4th annual Beer in Review series features Chad Yakobson, owner and brewer of Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in Denver. filling its tap handles at The Source, adding more bottle releases, building its distribution arm, staging a couple of amazing festivals and relocating its brewhouse to its Barrel Cellar. Chad’s picks:
Favorite beer of the year: Hommage from Drie Fonteinen. We spent some time in Belgium this year and were lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Armand at his new brewery and blendery. We shared this beer and it was one of the best beers I’ve ever had!
Colorado brewery of the year: Comrade Brewing Company, bringing that big hop aroma and flavor to Denver!
New Colorado brewery of the year: This is a toss up between Comrade Brewing and Casey Brewing and Blending. Casey only started releasing small amounts and they have so much more still awaiting release that they will strike it big next year! On the other hand Comrade has been spreading their beer around Denver and releasing great beers to the local market!
Colorado brewery to watch in 2015: Casey Brewing and Blending, Troy will continue to make waves in Colorado in 2015 and continue to show people what a talented brewer he is with a great line up of barrel-aged and sour beers!
Most notable craft beer news or trend of 2014: Market share continues to increase for the craft segment of beer. This trend is further propounded by the sheer number of breweries opening.
Craft beer trend to watch for in 2015: More barrel-aged and sour breweries opening!
Previous installments in this year’s series:
