TRVE’s holiday sweater is truly an outside-the-box gift (provide by TRVE Brewing).
If you are still in need of holiday gift ideas for craft beer-loving friends and family, look no more.
As is well established, First Drafts So our second annual Colorado-centric shopping list is free of any of that.
We tried not to repeat ourselves from last year, , too.
On to this year’s guide …
Patrick Dawson’s guide to cellaring beer.
Beery books: It was a standout year for Colorado beer authors, and here are three very different titles to see you through … In March, homebrewer and BJCP judge Patrick Dawson introduced (Storey Publishing) with a release party at Crooked Stave’s tap room at The Source. Interested in getting started cellaring beer, or sharpening your expertise? Dawson is your man, walking readers through which styles lend themselves to aging and why.
The guys from Falling Rock tell the story of Italian craft beer.
Also worthy of your attention: Paul Vismara and Bryan Jansing of Falling Rock Tap House, who take readers to one of the world’s burgeoning new craft beer cultures in (Dog Ear Publishing). In just 17 years, the wine-loving country has blossomed into what the authors describe as Europe’s most vibrant beer scene. An increasing number of beers from the book’s featured breweries are available around town, most notably Mr. B’s in Denver (see gift certificate section below).
Boulder-based beer writer Dan Rabin takes on the entire state.
Veteran Boulder-based beer journalist Dan Rabin takes on no less a task than documenting every brewery in the state in knowing full well it was outdated five minutes ago (Stackpole Books). Rabin’s comprehensive guide provides the backstory on 149 breweries and brewpubs and helpfully provides his pick for a can’t-miss beer at each.
Brewery swag: All of them have it, but who stands out? It’s truly in the eyes of the beholder. The metalheads at TRVE Brewing in Denver have killer dark stuff going on with their labels, . Or truly go outside the box and try to snag one of TRVE’s holiday sweaters – ! – in a live auction starting at 7 p.m. Thursday benefiting the Food Bank of the Rockies. (TRVE tap room, 227 Broadway #101).
$15 at the tap room (Station 26 Brewing)
has fantastic graphic design and the tap room swag includes hoodies, T-shirts, hats and IPA-infused jelly. Station 26 Brewing T-shirts are sharp, the cask devotees at Hogshead Brewery have a nice collection of ball caps and a memorable T-shirt featuring a profanity against Co2, and buzz-generating newcomer Mockery Brewing in RiNo sells a fantastic T-shirt depicting a fish’s head on a bear’s body (visit tap rooms for selection). The best approach here may be to pick a favorite and represent.
Beer club memberships: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project , but other options abound. We put out a call on social media for leads and got great feedback (thanks!). Some possibilities:
Former Future Brewing’s beer is brewed by a microbiologist and former homebrewer and microbiologist (provided by the brewery)
– One standout in the brewery class of 2014, Former Future Brewing in Denver, offers The $45 basic annual membership includes $1 off all full pints, early access to bottle releases and the privilege of drinking from a special gold-rimmed glass at the tap room (you get to take one home at the end of the year). The “golden key” membership ($80) grants members access to secret, locked taps. Hmm ….
– Soon-to-open Factotum Brewhouse, which will brew beers based on recipes from homebrewers, at a holiday discount rate of $395 ($100 off). Benefits include one free beer every time you visit the tap room (beers that run $5 or under), a beer education class, an evening with headbrewer Chris Bruns learning about the subject of your choice, priority invites to events, members-only beer bike rides, discount prices on brew sessions and growler refills, swag and more.
the Hops and Pie Beer Club entices with 50 cent select drafts once a month
– For $60, membership in the Hops and Pie Beer Club nets you anytime happy hour prices, your third draft free every Sunday and – the clincher – 50 cent select drafts every second Sunday.
– Black Bottle Brewery in Fort Collins (capped at 250 members). Members get two bottles of Liquid Metal imperial rye stout, a bevy of discounts, every fifth beer free, a standard growler and a fill, a custom 2015 Blacklisted glass and more.
Beers and bikes: Colorado has so many great breweries in close proximity to each other, the state is well suited for beer bike tours. Fort Collins-based Beer and Bike Tours offers several tour packages, including a Fort Collins brews cruise on Raleigh Special cruiser bike (from $50 – beer not included).
Mention that you read about the tours here, and owner Bob Williams will throw in a free T-shirt.
Small Batch on Tennyson
Bottle-shop gift certificates: In Denver, consider Mr. B’s in the Ballpark neighborhood, Mondo Vino on Highland Square, Small Batch Liquors on Tennyson Street, Toast Wine and Spirits near Sloan’s Lake and Argonaut Liquors on Colfax Avenue. In the burbs, check out Mile High Wine and Spirits in Belmar (Lakewood), Davidsons Liquors (Highlands Ranch), Lukas Liquors Superstore (Lone Tree) and Parker Payless Liquors (Parker). Best to pick up a bomber or a 750 and tape the gift certificate to it.
