Littleton's Beer Scene Grows, With Jake's Brew Bar Leading the Way

Fortunately, it's not hard to find establishments all over the Denver metro area that serve a large array of great craft beer. So what sets a place apart from the rest? I'd say it's a combination of great service, excellent selection, and a certain element of charm or character. Jake's Brew Bar on Main Street in downtown Littleton has all of these, and it just added a lot more room as well. It's a coffee and craft beer bar, serving 38 rotating drafts and more than 40 bottles and cans of craft beer.

Jake's has been in existence for about two years, but I somehow just heard of it early this year. This past weekend Jake's celebrated an expansion and the addition of a beer garden, and I finally made it in to check out the place. The expanded bar, which houses the beer garden in the back, is next door to the original bar. The two spaces are connected by a front patio, and it fits in nicely among the boutique shops that line Main Street. Jake's decor is simple with white walls and craft beer signs, and sharp-looking wood floors and furniture.

A few minutes at the bar, and it just feels like home. Old black and white family photos are embedded in the bar, and bluegrass music plays over the sound system. To top off the charming, old-timey feel, the tap handles in the new bar space are a variety of old household and industrial tools. It's the perfect place to enjoy a glass or two of excellent craft beer and conversation with the bartenders or your fellow patrons.

The tap list is large and impressive, featuring beers from the east coast, west coast, and everywhere in between. There are several Belgian and German import selections as well. During my visit, I tried two beers from Colorado breweries that were new to me. One was a cask-conditioned glass of De Coup Wild Farmhouse Ale by Paradox Beer Company in Woodland Park. It's a delicious cask ale that has a rustic fruity character with a good deal of funk from the wild yeast. The other beer was Maiden's Kiss Maibock from Grimm Brothers Brewhouse in Loveland. This spring beer is a great example of the maibock style, with a pronounced malty sweetness and moderate earthy noble hop flavors.

There are plenty of other gems on the tap list that are more or less well-known, and that's a huge part of the appeal. I know that every time I go back to Jake's, there will be an eclectic selection of beers that I probably won't see elsewhere. The good folks at Jake's definitely know their stuff, they do things their way, and those who go in and explore are better off for it.

Best in Class: The Case for Myrcenary

Many craft beer lovers have their go-to beer or favorite for a particular style. You know, beers that taste just as great now as they did when first experienced, no matter how many other examples of that style a beer drinker has tried in between. For me and my fondness for big hop-forward beers, that beer is Myrcenary Double India Pale Ale by Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Myrcenary was first released in early 2011 as a year-round offering. At the time, fewer breweries than today were brewing double/imperial IPAs or variations of very hop-centric ales. The double IPA style, which is a distinctly American craft brewing style, has surged in popularity in the past several years. Some of the most sought after and highly rated American craft beers fall into this category, including Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing, Heady Topper from The Alchemist brewery, and Hopslam from Bell's Brewery.

I picked up a 4-pack of Myrcenary the week it was released in 2011, and was blown away by the intense bright flavors and its amazingly smooth drinkability. More than three years later, and having tried quite a few double IPAs since, I still claim Myrcenary as a favorite, perhaps my number one. The name is a play on the word Myrcene, which is a component of oils in the hop flower. Myrcenary is brewed with varieties of hops that contain the highest levels of Myrcene. It's a very well-balanced ale that delivers huge citrus and tropical fruit flavors, along with some floral and pine notes. The malt presence adds a touch of sweetness to the aroma and flavor. The finish is crisp and refreshing, lacking much of the aggressive bitterness that accompanies some double IPAs.

Surprisingly, Myrcenary seems to fly under the radar in terms of national renown. But for those who have tried this well-crafted hop bomb, there's no denying that it measures up to the best of them. With year-round availability at a reasonable price, Myrcenary is one of Colorado's finest.

Breckenridge Gets Zesty With Ophelia Hoppy Wheat

In craft beer terms, there's a new girl in town and she's a complex character. Ophelia Hoppy Wheat Ale is a new spring seasonal from Breckenridge Brewery. Released in January, Ophelia has had several months to garner buzz and establish itself as a spring beer to be sought out and enjoyed. This past Saturday, with the sun shining and spring in full force, I decided to crack open an Ophelia to find out how it stands up as a spring seasonal.

Ophelia's release is one event in a series of big things lately for Breckenridge. In January 2013, Breckenridge announced plans to build a new $20 million, 12-acre farm-style brewery and restaurant in Littleton, Colorado. The project is in the works and may be completed by spring 2015. Breckenridge has also put out some very high quality offerings from its barrel-aging program. One delicious barrel-aged beer it's produced recently is Barleywine Batch #1, released to the public in mid-March. The Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, a long-time fan favorite, can be found on a nitro tap now as well, giving lovers of the Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout Nitro a comparable second option.

For any brewery, releasing a beer like Ophelia would be important. For Breckenridge, it's part of a positive trend of growth and movement into the upper echelons of Colorado craft breweries. Ophelia pours a bright orange color with a light body and moderate carbonation. The flavors are crisp citrus and spiciness, with a zesty and slightly hoppy finish. It has tons of character and complexity for such an easy-drinking beer. It's in the session-beer realm at 5 percent ABV, which will appeal to many beer drinkers during these warmer months.

Ophelia is definitely a hybrid style, and an excellent example of the innovation of American craft brewing. It seems like the type of beer that holds discovery of its complex nature in each sip, making sure you never get bored.

LowDown Brewery Epitomizes the Modern Brewpub Experience

Denver's craft beer spotlight seems to be drawn most to the River North district in recent months, but south Denver is quickly becoming its own beer mecca. From the Golden Triangle neighborhood stretching south and outward along the south Broadway corridor, an influx of diverse and high quality breweries have opened in the past couple years. One of the newest is LowDown Brewery + Kitchen, located at the northeast corner of Lincoln Street and 8th Avenue.

LowDown opened in February of this year, and its owners are well-versed in producing excellent beer and serving delicious food to go with it. Co-owners Philip Phifer and Scott O'Hearn were brewmasters at the Rock Bottom Brewery chain, and the latter brings 20 years of Rock Bottom experience to LowDown. The brewery currently has capacity for about 15 taps, most of which are LowDown beers that cover a variety of styles. The rest, which numbered four on my most recent visit, were guest taps from other breweries. LowDown also serves a nice selection of wine and spirits, so there are plenty of options to satisfy all types of customers. The food at LowDown helps it stand out from the rest as well. Phifer and O'Hearn want to focus on serving healthy, fresh, seasonal and sustainable food items. Customers will find a diverse selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more.

I've made two visits to LowDown recently, and was really impressed with the atmosphere and space. The interior is a sophisticated but casual space with high ceilings that expose pipes, brick and wooden beams. The seating area is set up well in a rectangular shape, with the bar toward the back, and the brewing equipment in view in the front corner. There's a handful of different seating format options to accommodate groups large and small, younger and older. Service is friendly, prompt, and professional - just what you'd expect in any high quality dining establishment.

Breweries are ultimately judged by their beer, though, and LowDown hits it out of the park in this area. No matter the style, the beers I've tried are excellent and well-balanced. LowDown's Belgian styles, a white ale and a strong pale ale, are two that really stood out. The Belgian strong pale ale is a delightfully complex beer that brings a fruity aroma and flavor from the Belgian yeast. Flavors of banana, lemon, pepper, and clove flow into a slightly spicy and hoppy yet smooth finish. For the hops lover, Lowdown brews two great IPAs, the Lowdown IPA and the stronger Impotent IPA, in addition to a beer called called Selfish, which is a citrusy and refreshing pale ale brewed with Pilsen malt. Some LowDown beers are flagship offerings, and some rotate in and out to make way for other great styles. For food, I enjoyed the Dylan's Dipper sandwich with herbed quinoa. This very tasty Italian sausage sandwich on ciabatta delivers some spicy heat, and pairs well with any of LowDown's beers.

The standards for craft brewing excellence in and around Denver are very high, and thanks to places like LowDown, the bar keeps rising. If or when you're in Denver, plan to head just south of downtown and check out LowDown Brewery + Kitchen for a great craft beer and dining experience.

Session Beers Gain Ground in the Craft Beer Market

The term "session beer" is becoming more ubiquitous all the time in the craft brewing community. Beers of sessionable strength, about 4 to 5 percent ABV, are nothing new though. Styles like hefeweizens, pilsners, pale ales, brown ales, and many more have typically been brewed to this more moderate strength. So why is there so much focus now on session beers? A lot of it has to do with the rise in popularity of bigger, stronger, and seemingly more complex beers coming from American craft breweries. This trend is true with the very popular India Pale Ale style, as evidenced by the number of double (imperial) IPAs, or even triple IPAs available in the beer market.

Stronger beers, however, aren't always the best choice for every occasion. Sometimes drinkers want to be able to enjoy more than a couple at a time without feeling the effects that come with strong beers. Breweries have picked up on this sentiment, and have deliberately put more emphasis on brewing beers that are big on flavor and complexity but lower in alcohol content. Session IPAs have emerged as a popular style, likely due to the popularity of their stronger siblings. A couple of breweries known for pushing the envelope in boldness, Great Divide and Stone, have each had a session IPA hit shelves this year. One that's been around for a few years is All Day IPA from Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I've known of this beer for some time, but finally gave it a try on a recent trip to visit my family in the Midwest. All Day IPA, at 4.7 percent ABV, pours a translucent golden color with a thin head of foam. The aroma and flavors measure up to those of regular strength IPAs. The hops flavors are all over the map, from citrusy to floral, to earthy and grassy. The malt presence gives it a slight sweetness, and the mildly bitter finish lingers for a few seconds. It's a complex yet approachable and refreshing take on an IPA. While I typically gravitate toward bigger, aggressive IPAs, this one doesn't disappoint. All Day IPA is available in bottles or cans, so it's convenient to bring this great session ale wherever your adventures take you.

Regardless of what you may think of the session beer concept or lingo, one thing is certain - a diverse array of high quality products is great for the craft beer consumer.

World of Beer Holds Its Own Among Denver Beer Bars

I'll admit I was skeptical about World of Beer in southeast Denver. As part of a national chain of craft beer taverns, I wasn't sure World of Beer could measure up to the level of character and quality that many Colorado Front Range beer bars have set. After finally stopping in and checking the place out on a recent Saturday night, I'm happy to say I was wrong. World of Beer stands up to the best of Denver's craft beer bars in many ways, starting with its vast selection of draft and bottled beers.

World of Beer was founded in 2007 in Tampa, Florida, and has since launched dozens of franchises around the country. The Denver location opened in early 2013 in the CitySet development in Cherry Creek, which includes a handful of great restaurants and a couple of hotels. There's also a World of Beer franchise in the Belmar shopping center in Lakewood, and one in the works in downtown Denver. For a corporate chain of bars, World of Beer has a surprisingly authentic look and feel inside. There are logo signs from different U.S. craft breweries lining the walls and upper area railing. Brick walls placed strategically around the interior, including behind the bar, add a nice touch. There's no food service, which may surprise and frustrate unknowing patrons. However, World of Beer allows food to be brought in or delivered, and there are plenty of nearby options if you choose to go this route.

Sitting at the bar, my experience is that service was friendly and relatively quick, even when the place became packed. The draft menu is excellent, with more than 50 rotating taps of craft beer from near and far. There were a lot of beers I haven't seen on tap at other bars, so I was able to try beers that were new to me. One such beer was the Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad from Funkwerks in Fort Collins. Funkwerks is a great brewery known for crafting saisons and other Belgian style ales, and just won a silver medal at the 2014 World Beer Cup for its Belgian Style Golden Ale named Deceit. The Quad is an excellent complex Belgian strong ale with flavors of vanilla, bourbon, caramel, and dark fruits. It's smooth and highly drinkable despite its elevated ABV of 11.5 percent.

In addition to the extensive draft list, the bottle and can selection includes hundreds of beers from all over the world, filling several large coolers behind the bar. It's quite impressive how much choice World of Beer gives customers who stop in to savor and explore. World of Beer also hosts special events like its recent sour beer night and Epic Brewing tap takeover. While I love to check out a lot of different beer bars, this is one that I'll definitely return to sooner rather than later.

Station 26 Brewing: A Shining Example of Repurposed Space

Any new brewery and taproom that opens these days must exude a certain amount of character, in addition to producing high quality beer. One of Denver's newest breweries soars in both those areas. Station 26 Brewing Company is housed in what was previously a northeast Denver fire station. The building exterior is beautifully preserved, but what's on the inside is really special. Excellent craft beer and simple, classic firehouse charm await thirsty patrons.

Station 26 opened in December of 2013 near the Park Hill and Stapleton neighborhoods. This part of Denver continues to grow, so it made sense to the owners to set up shop there. Co-owner Justin Baccary discovered the vacant fire station, sparking the idea for a great brewery location. After a lease deal was worked out with the building's owner, the new brewery was in the works. Station 26 has quickly become a popular neighborhood craft beer destination, and they just expanded their hours to be open seven days a week. Guests can bring in food or order from whichever food truck may be on site that day.

The left side of the facility is devoted to production space, with brew kettles and fermentation tanks in view near the front windows. The large bar and seating tables, made from reclaimed wood, take up the rest of the space. The interior walls are covered with simple yellow tiles which help the space retain the firehouse ambiance. Add in some appropriately funky metal light fixtures, and the decor is complete. On my recent visit, staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, professional and laid-back. Best of all, the beer at Station 26 is outstanding.

Station 26 keeps about 10 beers on tap, with a wide variety of styles represented. There's something for everybody, from a Scottish session ale or a Euro pale ale, to bolder offerings like a black IPA or a wheat wine. Station 26 also has a cherrywood-smoked beer series, and the cherrywood smoked red ale was on tap that day. This is the second in the three part series, and it's a delicious, complex, subtly smoky and sweet beer. On tap as well was a great citrusy single hop IPA brewed with the Centennial variety of hops.

I could say much more about the beer, but you should really find out for yourself. I suggest you take a trip down to the station!