New Belgium's new suit: new look and new brews

New Belgium Brewing has been working on revitalizing its packaging for the past year, and just last week, they revealed it to the world. I got the chance at McCabe's Tavern in Colorado Springs to visit with a bunch of the Rangers and talk through the new packaging and some of the new brews they'll be debuting in the next month or so!

Craft beer events for the next two weeks

I hope everyone has recovered from last week's festivities and is ready for the new year! We're working hard on a new website that will be public very soon, but in the meantime here's some great events to keep your bellies warm and full during the next few weeks!

Thursday, Jan 9

Grand Opening / 6pm

503W / 503 W. Colorado Ave

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The Dutch Mill has undergone a huge construction overhaul, and is reopening as 503W. They'll be featuring some of the same great food, craft beer, and more.

Friday, Jan. 10

Chilly Water release / 5pm
Trinity Brewing 

Chilly Water Baltic Porter. Not a common style of beer by any means, in fact this style of Porter is a Bottom fermented lager rather than an ale. Traditionally brewed in Northern Europe, this lager had to be strong to keep all the hearty northern souls warm. Again keep in mind this beer is brewed by Trinity and any beer we make will always have an added twist. The twist in this winter seasonal is the choice to age the beer on some rare Mexican wood known as Cauchalalate. This wood imparts a certain dryness accompanied by deep chocolate and coffee flavors. We think this unique wood is the perfect match for the style, and we know you will agree! 8.5% ABV

Red Leg Brewing Tap Takeover
Brewer's Republic

The guys from Red Leg Brewing will be hanging out with 4 of their beers on tap!

Friday, Jan. 17

Pappy Legba Release / 5pm
Trinity Brewing

Pappy Legba, Crimson Saison. Brewed with just a touch of flaked maize for a seductive and creamy texture, this red Saison is undeniably focused on fruit. Post fermentation this special Belgian is aged on a grip of pie cherries, lending it more of a Kriek profile rather than Saison. As Pappy is the guardian of the crossroads, this Imperial Saison releases every January. What beer will you be drinking at your crossroads? 13.0% ABV

Saturday, Jan. 18

Elevation Beer Dinner / 5:30pm
Brewer's Republic
Tickets are $40 and on sale at Brewer's and Coaltrain Wine & Spirits.

Menu:
First Cast IPA – Tater tots with cotija cheese, cured pork belly and jalapenos served with a spiced, sweet chili coulis.
Senorita Horchata Imperial Porter – Carnitas pork sliders with a tequila lime jicama slaw.
Apis IV Belgian Quad – Beef bourguignon pot pie.
Fanboy Barrel Aged Double IPA – Blackened catfish with a goat cheese cream sauce and hushpuppies.
Oil Man Breckenridge Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – Tiramisu with Breckenridge bourbon soaked lady fingers

Beer in 2013: Our Photos

It's over already? Wow, time flies when you're drinking great beer! 

2013 was definitely a pretty amazing year. From rousing discussions about what makes a gueuze a gueuze to packing Front Range BBQ's patio month after month (no matter the temperature) for all of our Meet the Brewer talks, this year has been unique and interesting to say the least. Eric's Beers Made by Walking has again grown considerably, becoming bigger than a Colorado thing with tastings in both Denver and Portland this year, and we can't wait to see where it goes from there. The brewery boom has shown no signs of slowing, with Nano 108 and Lofty Brewing starting up recently and newcomers Manitou Brewing, Fieldhouse Brewing, and Fossil Brewing looking at 2014 for their opening date. Things here at Focus on the Beer are definitely evolving and changing, but we look forward to 2014 to be another year full of great times with craft beer.

Paradox's Halloween Bottle Releases!

Paradox Beer Company has been making some of the tastiest barrel aged beers around, and this Halloween, they're releasing four new treats for all of us! If you've got a beer-tooth (like a sweet tooth, but for beer!) then you've gotta start your trick-or-treating off at their tasting room!