Boulder Beer Company Loves It When You Get Hazed

Some beers are iconic and recognizable, even to the casual observer. Anyone who's been in and around the Colorado craft beer scene since the early 2000s is familiar with Hazed and Infused. When driving to the mountains on often-crowded I-70, it's not uncommon to see a "Get Hazed" sticker plastered onto a vehicle. Hazed and Infused is a dry-hopped amber ale from Boulder Beer Company, Colorado's first craft brewery that started in 1979.

Boulder Beer has had its share of ups and downs, which are well-chronicled in the book "Mountain Brew" by Denver journalist and author Ed Sealover. The brewery was started by Boulder physics professors David Hummer and Randolph Ware, two craft beer pioneers who dreamed big but had some missteps along the way. Boulder Beer has gone through different management over the years and even changed names a couple times, but remains a prominent member of the Colorado brewing community. The brewery's present-day success can be attributed, in part, to the release of Hazed and Infused in 2002. Though the brewery enjoyed some modest success in the early 1990s with beers like Buffalo Gold and Singletrack Copper Ale, the popularity of Hazed and Infused upon its release helped invigorate Boulder Beer. According to Sealover, it was a recipe that answered the call from David Zuckerman, head brewer at the time, to make beers that were more creative and assertive.

Hazed and Infused is appealing for many reasons. The psychedelic-themed labels connect well with the city of Boulder's counter-culture history, and are very visually stimulating. The beer itself is quite delicious, with flavor and complexity in every sip. In the name, "hazed" refers to the fact that it's an unfiltered amber ale. The beer is "infused" with dry American hop varieties, giving it a sharp, crisp character that's refreshing. The initial flavors are sweet malts like caramel and biscuit, then a spicy hop kick that lends some citrus and pine flavors. The dry hop flavors linger for a moment before subsiding into a smooth finish. Hazed is also sessionable at 5 percent ABV, perfect for a summer afternoon. With a groovy name and great drinkability, Hazed is an ideal beverage to enjoy at a park concert while picnicking, or before catching a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It's packaged in cans as well as 12-ounce and 22-ounce bottles.

As part of the Looking Glass series, Hazed was followed up after its release with beers like Mojo IPA, a west coast style IPA with big citrus flavors, Mojo Risin' Double IPA, Flashback India Brown Ale, and more. These beers and others in the Boulder Beer catalogue can be found all over Colorado and in some other states. Bold and assertive beers are a central attribute of today's American craft beer culture, and Boulder Beer can take a bit of credit for helping push the trend in this direction.

Chain Reaction Opens With a Huge, High Quality Lineup

I'd like to welcome a brand new brewery to the Denver area, a region whose brewing culture keeps getting richer. Chain Reaction Brewing Company is a nanobrewery in south Denver that's big on quality and variety. It opened today to a thirsty crowd that was eager to try the broad selection of creative beers that's generated a lot of buzz in recent weeks.

Chain Reaction was started by cousins Chad and Zack Christofferson, who have been brewing for about five years. They decided to take the plunge and open their own brewery, choosing to brew on a one-barrel system. As a nanobrewery, which is a brewery producing beer on a three-barrel system or smaller, they'll have the tall task of keeping plenty of beer available to serve. The Christoffersons seem to have learned a lot watching some nanobreweries struggle to keep up with demand in recent months, so they've decided to serve 16 beers at any given time. Chad, the head brewer, started brewing in May to get ready for the grand opening. They have six fermenters that can hold two barrels of beer, or a double batch, and four fermenters that can hold one barrel. They'll ferment small batch beers in kegs.

The taproom and brewery is housed in a somewhat industrial area of south Denver on Lipan Street. Beautiful wood is the hallmark of the taproom decor, including the bar and tables. It's wood that's been logged from beetle kill near the town of Tabernash, and milled at the Christofferson's family facility in the Denver area. The taproom is in the front part of the brewery space, with the bar in the middle, and the production space in the back. At today's grand opening, the taproom quickly began to fill shortly after business got underway. The staff on hand for Chain Reaction was nothing short of professional and friendly. The bartenders were extremely busy and worked hard to keep up with beer pours, while Zack, Chad and others frequently made their way around to each table to chat and check in with customers.

The beer at Chain Reaction was some of the best I've had from such a small brewery. With 16 beers on tap, getting a taste of everything wasn't quite feasible, but that's a wonderful problem for a customer to have. I sampled a nice variety, including all six flagship beers and a handful of seasonals. A lot of hop-forward beers dot the taplist, including a pale ale, red ale, IPA, Rye IPA, and Lemon IPA. Fans of beer that's on the more malty side can currently find an amber ale, English mild, brown ale, and barley wine. The easy drinking beers include the pink peppercorn saison, orange cream ale, pale wheat, and cilantro serrano lime wheat. For fans of the dark side, a Belgian rye stout is part of the flagship lineup, and the crème brûlée imperial milk stout is a seasonal that made an appearance Saturday before going underground until the winter. The incredibly delicious crème brûlée is creamy and sweet, with huge chocolate and roasted malt flavors. In addition to this one, some of my favorites so far are the IPA, lemon IPA, pink peppercorn saison, and Belgian rye stout. It's a hard choice though, since everything I tried exuded complexity and excellence.

Chain Reaction plans to be open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday. With the start they had at the grand opening, there's no doubt this will quickly become a popular Denver taproom.

Amid Fast Growth, Dry Dock Builds Upon Its Brewing Excellence

In less than a decade, Dry Dock Brewing Company went from being a small, neighborhood craft brewery in Aurora, Colorado to being a major player in Colorado's craft beer market. Cans and bottles of Dry Dock beer can be easily found around the state. One factor that's helped make this happen is the quality that's always been ingrained in Dry Dock's operations. This brewery has the hardware to show for its excellence, winning numerous medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup throughout the years.

Dry Dock was founded in 2005 by Kevin and Michelle DeLange in a small space next to their homebrew shop near the corner of Hampden and Chambers in Aurora. It's undergone a couple of expansions since that time, in addition to building a 40 BBL production facility in northern Aurora in 2013. The original facility, called South Dock, houses the taproom, which now seats 180 and pours 16 house beers. It also features a 7 BBL brewing system. At South Dock, you can find the standard Dry Dock line-up, which includes the award-winning Amber Ale and Apricot Blonde Ale, and a nice selection of seasonal beers. The variety is broad, with style profiles that appeal to novice or the most seasoned beer drinkers, and everyone in between. On Firkin Fridays, the taproom offers a cask version of one of its beers that's been infused with fruit, herbs, spices, or whatever else the staff thinks up.

Part of what helps a brewery stand out is branding and marketing, and Dry Dock does a great job of intertwining its seafaring theme throughout its brand. Ideas and terms associated with maritime activity are woven into many of the beer names and labels, and this theme carries over into the taproom decor. It adds a nice touch when you're sipping a delicious Urca Vanilla Porter, U-Boat Hefeweizen, Breakwater Pale Ale, or any other number of Dry Dock beers while enjoying good company. Their seasonal beers only available at the taproom are especially worth seeking out. Two seasonals I sampled on a recent visit were the Biere de Garde, farmhouse ale of French origins, and the Tart Cherry Saison. True to style and quite delicious, Biere de Garde definitely impressed. The Tart Cherry Saison was crisp and refreshing, and more delicately crafted than most saisons.

With top-notch beer in a fun, spacious atmosphere, Dry Dock has quietly grown into a very popular Denver area taproom. Its beers are becoming more prevalent in places where great craft beer can be found. I'm not sure how large Dry Dock will become, but I can be sure it won't cut any corners on quality in the process.

Seasonal Beer From Bell's Caps Off a Great Trip to Michigan

I try to keep up with what's brewing at my favorite craft breweries outside Colorado, but it's hard when those beers don't make it to Colorado bars or stores. On a trip to Michigan this past weekend for a good friend's wedding and to visit family, I made a point to sample some offerings from this burgeoning craft beer state. One seasonal treat I enjoyed was Smitten Golden Rye Ale from Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo.

Bell's is a craft brewing institution in the Midwest, widely considered one of the nation's best and most beloved breweries. Many beer lovers perk up when hearing the names of Oberon Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Hopslam, Black Note, and many more. Bell's was started by Larry Bell in 1985, and has grown into a large craft brewery that includes an excellent pub in downtown Kalamazoo and a newer 200-barrel production facility in the nearby community of Comstock. I try to make it into The Eccentric Café, Bell's pub, for beer tasting when I spend time in Kalamazoo, but timing on this trip prevented a visit. I did, however, stumble upon a couple bottles of Smitten, Bell's spring seasonal this year.

Smitten spices up the American pale ale style, as it's brewed with malted rye in addition to the base malts. Bell's says Smitten is one of its older recipes, first brewed as part of a rye beer series at The Eccentric Café. Rye, which is a grassy grain similar to barley, is often used in brewing to add certain flavors to the beer. Many breweries all over the country are increasingly embracing malted rye, seemingly most often with pale ale or IPA styles. Smitten pours a bright orange color with a thick head of foam, and has a sweet, earthy aroma similar to honey. American hop varieties give the beer citrus flavors with a touch of pine right up front, then the rye malt presence adds a sweet yet spicy and earthy quality. It finishes dry, but the hop complexities help make it a crisp and refreshing beer. Smitten is a satisfying summertime beer with a lot going on, and a 6 percent ABV keeps it sessionable.

I've had a lot of different rye beers, and plan to try many new ones out there. This special type of grain provides beer styles with another layer of intrigue. With Smitten, Bell's pulled off a very enjoyable rye beer that pleases the palate without overwhelming it.

A Lighter Beer With Character and History

I'll readily admit I love beers that are bold and robust. I've gravitated in this direction for a number of years. But recently, I've gained a newfound appreciation for more approachable beer styles. Through tasting a broader variety of beers and learning more about their history and origins, a couple of things are clear. One is that great beers don't always have to be stronger, richer, or very assertive. The other is that a lighter lager or ale doesn't have to taste like a low-grade American light adjunct lager.

There really is more to European lighter-bodied beers than meets the eye. Beers like the delicious Czech pilsner, German pilsner, Kölsch, or Munich Helles have so much history and culture behind them, and are crafted with high quality ingredients using centuries-old brewing methods. Fortunately for us, many American craft breweries include such beer styles in their line-ups, going the extra mile to ensure the quality and authenticity of these beers. Such styles are primarily lagers, so the production process takes longer than for ales. If done right, the end result is definitely worth the effort.

One Colorado brewery that features a lighter German style lager as one of its flagship beers is Lone Tree Brewing Company. The beer, Mountain Mama Helles, is a traditional Munich Helles lager. Lone Tree recently began canning Mountain Mama, along with its Peach Pale Ale, for sale in the taproom and Denver area liquor stores. In addition to the two canned beers, Lone Tree has several beers for sale in 22-ounce bombers. Customers can also purchase 64-ounce and 32-ounce growlers to be filled with any beer from the taproom. It's great to own a couple of the 32-ounce growlers, pictured below, for more variety of fresh beer.

The Helles lager was first brewed in 1895 at the Spaten Brewery in Munich, Germany. Lone Tree's version is a great example of this traditional style that's similar to, but more malt-focused than, a German pilsner. When pouring a glass of Mountain Mama Helles, it's clear that the Lone Tree brewers know how to craft an authentic German style lager. The beer pours a crystal clear golden color with moderate carbonation. Upon taking a drink, flavors of sweet, bready malts come through, with low hop bitterness. It's an extremely easy drinking beer that's flavorful and refreshing. While it's a very approachable beer that lacks aggressive characteristics, there are a lot of nuances in the flavors and mouthfeel, making it very interesting.

Mountain Mama Helles is a great summer beer, but luckily it's available year-round. Other lighter European beers seem to be very popular lately, especially Kölsch style beers. Seek these beers out, savor the intricacies and flavors, and maybe learn a bit about how they originated. More knowledge can only lead to more craft beer appreciation and enjoyment.

A Belgian Style Pale Ale to Keep You Satisfied This Summer

All beer lovers have their share of favorite summer seasonal beers - ones that are crisp and refreshing, yet flavorful enough to not get boring. The Belgian Style Pale Ale from Upslope Brewing Company has become one of my personal favorite craft beers to grab during these warmer months. I would love to be able to enjoy the BSPA year-round, but I'll have to settle for spring and summertime availability of this limited release beer.

Upslope has made the BSPA its summer seasonal, so it can be found in 6-packs wherever Upslope beers are distributed. It was previously available on a more limited basis, and a couple years ago could only be found in Upslope's mixed 12-packs. Earlier this year, the BSPA was also featured in a collaboration between Upslope and Denver-based Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project. As the first part in a collaboration series called Ferus Fluxus, each brewery inoculated a portion of the BSPA with a wild yeast strain, and then aged the beer. The results were two different wild versions of the BSPA for customers to enjoy.

There are plenty of great reasons why BSPA makes an excellent summertime beer. It's packaged in easy to carry aluminum cans, like all Upslope beers, so you can take it camping, hiking, or on a picnic in the park. The BSPA pours a translucent golden color, and exudes fruity aromas from the Belgian yeast esters. Its body is light, and the flavors are crisp with a moderate hop profile. The Belgian yeast gives it fruity flavors of pear and tropical fruit, and coriander adds a slightly spicy quality. This beer is big on flavor, and highly drinkable. I would like to say its a sessionable beer, but a 7.5% ABV says otherwise. BSPA goes great with many foods, and is perfect to sip on while sitting outside, enjoying the warm weather.

A very reasonable price-point also makes BSPA an excellent value. If you have a chance, definitely give this delicious beer a try this summer.

Some Love for the Lagers

There's no doubt that ales are the classification of beer that dominates the American craft beer market. Top-fermenting beers cover a huge range of styles and can be produced relatively quickly, ready to be consumed within several weeks of brewing. Lagers, or bottom-fermenting beers, take more time and care to produce. Some things are definitely worth the wait, as Saint Patrick's Brewing Company has proven. This small craft brewery in Englewood, Colorado brews exclusively lagers, with an incredible range of variety and innovation.

Saint Patrick's was founded in 2012, and it currently resides in a small business park off Santa Fe Drive. The taproom is small but cozy, and the staff is inviting, knowledgeable and friendly. Saint Patrick's serves about 10 beers at any given time. Some selections will be familiar to seasoned beer drinkers as traditional lagers, like Czech pilsner, German pilsner or dunkel. Many others, when reading the names, just might blow your mind - beers like the Sour Cherry Saison or the Rawbone Dubbel Dog, which brings together elements of a Vienna lager, porter, saison, and dunkel. These beers and many others aid Saint Patrick's in achieving its mission, which is to re-invent what a lager can be. Perhaps one of the best examples of this mission in action is the Limoncello Lager, a decadent and strong but very smooth dessert beer brewed with honey.

All of Saint Patrick's beers are unfiltered, but have excellent clarity due to the lagering process. Each beer is fermented and lagered in cold tanks for 8 to 12 weeks. With this longer time period for production and limited space in its current location, the amount of different beers Saint Patrick's puts out is quite impressive. Brewmaster Chris Phelps uses a large variety of fine ingredients to come up with lagers that incorporate many elements you'd often find in ales, in addition to brewing traditional or common lager styles. Pictured below are two beers I tried on a recent visit, the Kolsch on the left and the Midnight Mocha Lager on the right. Both beers are great representations of traditional German styles. A Kolsch is typically top-fermented like an ale but then cold conditioned like a lager, so the Saint Patrick's Kolsch was similar to an authentic one. It's a refreshing light-bodied, crisp, lightly hopped and slightly sweet lager. The Midnight Mocha Lager is a Schwarzbier, with a slight variation due to the addition of lactose and honey in the brewing process. It's a dark, medium-bodied beer with low hop bitterness and lots of chocolate and coffee flavors from the roasted malt. While the Kolsch and the Midnight Mocha Lager contrast in appearance and flavor profiles, both are crisp and refreshing, and most importantly, very delicious.

Saint Patrick's Brewing Company is one of many hidden gem breweries in Colorado. They'll soon be moving to a more prominent location on Santa Fe Drive just west of downtown Littleton, with more space for brewing and serving their special lager beers. Whether you gravitate toward ales or are well-versed in lagers, Saint Patrick's is a must stop for anyone who just loves great beer.