Crazy Mountain Adds a Big Offering to Its Lineup of Cans

Big beers packaged in cans are nothing new, but it's always nice to hear of a brewery going this route. As cans continue to be a popular packaging option, some breweries aren't afraid to put some of their higher end, more decadent beers in cans. One older example is Ten FIDY Imperial Stout from Oskar Blues Brewery. This beer has been available in cans seasonally since 2007. The almost cult-like status Ten FIDY has achieved is proof that many consumers will purchase great beer regardless of its package. The latest big beer in a can to hit shelves in Colorado is a barley wine ale called Lawyers, Guns & Money from Crazy Mountain Brewing Company in Edwards, Colorado.

Most of the beers that Crazy Mountain has brewed for distribution have been packaged in cans, so canning a beer like Lawyers, Guns & Money was the natural progression for the brewery. They also recently released in cans their Old Soul Strong Belgian Ale. Both beers had been brewed and released previously, but their availability in cans is new for the brewery. Crazy Mountain was founded in 2010 by Kevin and Marisa Selvy, who moved from San Francisco to the Vail Valley with the dream of starting a brewery. Their tasty brews, which cover a wide variety of ales, have quickly caught on in Colorado and beyond, thanks to high quality and the draw of craft beer in cans. More portable and ideal for the outdoors, cans are a great packaging option for any brewery.

Lawyers, Guns & Money is an American take on the barley wine style, with a big focus on complex hop flavors. It's a hefty and strong beer, at 10 percent ABV, that hits on all the right notes as a barley wine. The beer features a robust and complex malt profile that's balanced well with a large dose of American hop varieties. Crazy Mountain ratchets up the hop flavor and aroma by dry-hopping during fermentation, and their use of Belgian candi sugar adds another layer of malty richness. As you'd expect, this beer is like a huge party on the palate - sweet, bitter, intricate, intense, and very satisfying. It's a strong ale that's big on character and drinkability.

Do yourself a favor, if you get the chance, and grab a 4-pack of Lawyers, Guns & Money. While this beer tastes great fresh, it's also the kind of beer that can be aged in the can, so maybe save one to enjoy during the colder months.