Bryan Selders, brewmaster at The Post Brewing Co., gives us his take on the Beer in Review for 2014.
As 2014 comes to a close, we’re again asking the Colorado craft beer illuminati to reflect on the past year and look ahead to next. This installment in our 4th annual Beer In Review features Bryan Selders, brewmaster at T in Lafayette. Selders is a minor craft beer celebrity, having been featured in a Discovery Channel series called “Beer Masters” about craft beer when he was head brewer at Delaware’s . Selders dropped the beer-making venture, tried his hand at web design but decided to come back to the suds and landed in Lafayette, the small Boulder County town that went from no breweries to three last year. Selders was tapped by The Big Red F Restaurant Group to concoct great beers for their chicken joint in an old VFW post. Selders’ talents earned Howdy Beer a silver medal in this year’s Great American Beer Festival for the crisp pilsner brew that goes nicely with chicken.
Now, onto Bryan’s comments:
Favorite beer of the year: My in-laws live within a 10-minute drive of in Downingtown, PA. Since moving here from Delaware in July 2013, I’ve not had access to the outlandishly fresh Prima Pils that I once enjoyed. This past summer we returned to the East Coast for a beach vacation and visited Victory. The first sip of the first of many Prima Pils was the finest sip of the year.
Colorado brewery of the year:
in Boulder makes so many delicious things. They are adventuresome and find great success with their unique approach to making beer. If we had access to a sitter with great regularity, we would become regulars.
New Colorado brewery of the year: Time and time again, when we are looking for some fun for the whole family, we decide on in Broomfield. They have consistently delicious and drinkable beers and a fun space with ping-pong and pinball. Plus Ooka Sushi down the street will deliver a grand buffet of delights for you.
Craft brewery to watch in 2015: is poised for continued excellence in 2015. Their growing focus on quality control will help guarantee their success as they make consistently delicious beers. Also, look out for all of the expanding Front Range breweries. They are totally putting on their big boy underpants and making tremendous strides in raising the bar in terms of innovation, quality and goodness.
Most notable craft beer news or trend of 2014: The session India Pale Ale and alternative fermentations seemed fairly hot this past year. Acquisitions have been notable but they are neither news nor a trend. It’s business and since there’s money to be made, it’s going to happen.
Craft beer trend to watch for in 2015: On a broader scale, brewers will begin to focus on their strengths and deliver better beer as a result. The model of “a little bit of everything” will give way to “this is what we do, and it’s awesome”. Consumers will rejoice! Whether it’s making remarkable balanced, drinkable beer of the highest quality or crazy Willy Wonka business executed with skill, precision and purpose, those who have chosen a path and own it will succeed. Also, chicken and beer is going to be HUGE!
Previous installments in this year’s series:
