Patrick Crawford (left) and Charlie Berger, co-owners of Denver Beer Co. (provided by the brewery)
As 2014 comes to an end, we’re once again asking leading figures on the Colorado beer scene to reflect on the past year and look ahead to next. This next installment in our 4th annual Beer In Review features Patrick Crawford, co-owner of Denver Beer Co. The three-year-old brewery had a big 2014, and introducing its flagship beers in cans. Patrick’s replies:
Favorite beer of the year: My favorite beer of 2014 is one of my favorites of all time – Sierra Nevada Celebration. It is wonderfully balanced, hop forward, malty, clean, and fresh.
Colorado brewery of the year: Breckenridge Brewery. Those guys are making moves and I can’t wait to see their new spot open. If all goes according to plan I think its going to be one of the premier destination breweries in the country. Good work.
New Colorado brewery of the year: I really enjoyed myself at Lowdown Brewery this year. Beers were great, food tasty. It’s a great spot.
Colorado brewery to watch in 2015: I’m excited for my good friends who will open up Ratio Beerworks this coming year. They have been working hard on the project for years and I know they are going to come out of the gates making great beer.
Most notable craft beer news or trend of 2014: The small brewery tap room continued to dominate in 2014. Brewers are finding neighborhoods all over Denver and making them their home. The neighborhood watering hole is now a neighborhood brewery.
Craft beer trend to watch for in 2015: I see small breweries continuing to pop up all over the city. With the population of our city growing as quickly as it is I think neighborhood breweries will continue to open all year.
Previous installments in this year’s series:
