What we're drinking: New Years 2014

We've done "buy this beer" in the past as well as a smattering of beer reviews, but as something new for 2014 we're going to share what we're enjoying on a weekly basis. To kick it off, we've got three options that are sure to satisfy any kind of beer lover as they ring in 2014.

Nano brewing at its finest: Nano 108 Brewing Company

Nano 108 Brewing may be Colorado Springs' latest craft brewery, but just walking in the doors of the nondescript industrial park building with "BEER" above the door will persuade you other wise.

Giving the Dog a Beer

Whilst wandering around most every local beer festival in the Pikes Peak region you can find the booth for the Brew Dogs of Colorado.  Since December of 2009 this organization has existed with the goal of capturing Colorado's craft brewery staff and their furry companions in a gorgeous photo book.  As a special promotion, $5 from every sale of the book through Christmas will be going to the National Mill Dog Rescue.  Aside from the charitable aspect, they use the book to document the relationships the brewers and brewery staff have with their animals in loving detail to accompany the photos.

Cold Nights Call for Boozy Beers

I've been checking the weather report to compare the temperature in Portland to Colorado Springs. While Oregon has been seeing snow and ice, the temperatures haven't fallen below 0 or anything like that. The other night, while it was snowing, I had a fire going in the fireplace, I turned on the sci/fi horror movie "Grabbers," and also decided that it was time to open up one of my favorite beers - the Phantom Canyon Winston Smith's Barleywine.

Local craft beer gift guide

There's twenty days until that jolly old elf squeezes himself down your chimney to creepily leave anonymous gifts under the highly-flammable piece of nature that you unabashedly decided to stick in the corner of your living room and throw little trinkets all over. Chances are, someone you're buying gifts for likes craft beer, and hopefully if you're reading this, you do too! We could give you links to hundreds of things you could order from lands far away, but instead here's a few things every beer lover in Colorado Springs would love to find under the tree.

Craft beer events in December!

It's already the holiday season! This year has blown by. Now that the weather has decided that it is going to be winter, you might be looking for some craft beer to help warm you up. Among all the holiday gatherings you might already be heading to, there's quite a few beer-related things going on during this month! As new things arise, we'll continue to update this post.

Thurs. Dec. 5th

Meet the Brewer: Great Divide Brewing / 7pm

Front Range BBQ / 2330 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs

Event on Facebook

For the event we will have an awesome lineup of Great Divide beer, including some standard favorites and a few rarities that are sure to please! Here's the list:

Draft List

Yeti - The classic Imperial Stout 9.5%ABV Colette Farmhouse Ale - A fruity and slightly tart Saison 7.3%ABV Hoss Rye Lager - a Märzen style lager brewed with rye 6.2%ABV Peach Grand Cru - Belgian-style ale with fresh Palisade peaches 12%ABV Space Kitten - Pilot batch IPA brewed with 100% Galaxy hops Saison Brauer  - Saison brewed with Brettanomyces

Christmas Ale Release Party / Gnarly Holiday Garb Pageant/ 5pm Bristol Brewing / 1604 S. Cascade

Join Bristol for this year's batch of Christmas Ale while donning your Gnarliest Holiday Garb! They brew up a tasty batch of spiced Christmas ale annually to celebrate this most festive of seasons. Bristol uses a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, molasses, and love, to put a cheery winter carnival in every pint. This Brewhouse Beer recipe was crafted by Bristol's own Bob Archibald. 

Fri. Dec. 6th

Oskar Blues Ski Giveaway / 2pm-9pm

Brewer's Republic / 112 N. Nevada

Brewer's Republic is hosting Oskar Blues and giving away some skis in the process. They'll have 3-4 beers on tap from Oskar Blues, and each pint gets a raffle ticket! Raffle will happen at nine.

Thurs. Dec. 12th

Photo courtesy of EmilyHutto.com

Colorado Top Brewers book signing / 5pm
Trinity Brewing / 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd W #184
Website

There are lots of great craft beer cities across America, but Colorado is the one state that can boast more awesome craft beer cities and towns than any other. (It s also the only state to have a former craft brewer for its governor!) Right now, there are more than 170 working breweries in Colorado, with an estimated 50 more in development. And the growth doesn t look like it s slowing. There s a craft beer fever spreading across the entire state! Denver and Fort Collins have long been the hubs of the state s craft beer scene, but they are now being rivaled by Boulder, Colorado Springs, Breckenridge, Longmont/Lyons, and up-and-comers like Aurora, Greeley, Ridgway, and Poncha Springs. Breweries in all these places are doing exciting things by re-interpreting classic styles, experimenting with flavors and yeasts, and developing innovative ways to manufacture, package, and reduce their impact on the environment. Colorado brewers all over the state share a distinct passion for creativity, a true dedication to craft, and a boundless energy. This book is a tribute to their outstanding work.

Fri. Dec. 13th

Farmhouse Rusé Release / 5pm
Trinity Brewing / 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd W #184

Farmhouse Rusé. 
This cold weather Saison is inspired by a beer from our friends at Black Fox Brewing Company. Consistent in theme this midnight black Belgian is created from a grist bill which includes roast, debittered-black, and chocolate . Maintaining our mission to utilize local sources we will be using a blend of Anaheim and Pueblo chilies from Mauro Farms in Pueblo, Co.; and tree ripened Bartlett pears from Pear Blossom Farms in Palisade, Co... Combined with cacao nibs this special winter warmer recipe showcases light fruit, a balanced and spicy heat, and a provocative dark chocolate bitterness. 9.2%ABV

Also, Ugly sweater night!  Dig out your most hideous sweater and sport it at the pub.



Left Hand tap takeover / 4pm-?
Brewer's Republic / 112 N. Nevada

Beer list TBA

Sat. Dec. 14th

New Belgium Beer Dinner / 5:30pm / $40Brewer's Republic / 112 N. NevadaTickets: Brewer's Republic and at Coaltrain Wine and Spirits

Beer and Food Pairings:

New Belgium Accumulation - Scallop tacos with a mango salsa

New Belgium Le Terroir - Black bean tortilla soup with a cilantro goat cheese

New Belgium/Cigar City collaboration - Spicy rubbed pork loin and brown rice risotto with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and arugula salad

New Belgium Wild Wild Dubbel - Irish bangers with sweet potato au gratin and maxim oil

New Belgium 1554 - Coffee ice cream with shaved dark chocolate and hazelnut brittle

Fri. Dec. 20th

New Belgium tap takeover / 4pm-?

Brewer's Republic / 112 N. Nevada

Beer list TBA

Sat. Dec. 21st

Winter Solstice Beer tappings / 11am
Trinity Brewing / 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd W #184

Come out and warm yourselves with a tasty winter beer to kick off the first day of winter!!

Tues. Dec. 24th

Cherry Awaken Stout tapping / 12 noon
Trinity Brewing / 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd W #184

We will be closing @ 4pm so our staff can get home early to be with their families.

Ugly Christmas Sweater party / TBA
Brewer's Republic / 112 N. Nevada

Friday, Dec. 27th 

Whiskey Barrel Aged Chilly Water Baltic Porter release / 5pm
Trinity Brewing / 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd W #184

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 

Tues. Dec. 31

Speakeasy New Year's Eve Party / 7pm
Pikes Peak Brewing / 1756 Lake Woodmoor Dr., Monument
Tickets

The days of the Vollstead Act are back and PPBC is hosting Monument's only Speakeasy for New Year's Eve!

Dress as a gangster, flapper, or even in the style of The Godfather, Downton Abbey or The Great Gatsby!

Your admission price includes 2 drinks, a champagne toast, tasty bites from our catering partners, the music of Good Green and loads of 1920's style fun!

PPBC will have a car service on hand to provide safe rides home - please let us know if you intend to use this service prior to Dec 31.

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Kickstarter for Brewers

I stumbled across 'The Bootlegger Bottle' on Kickstarter the other day and wanted to share it because it looks like a great way for anyone to try 'brewing' up something in their own home with very little overhead. According to their site, one could get a beer or other spirit fermented in as little as 12 hours in this vessel!  All you need to do is add some sort of beverage with fermentable sugar to the bottle, and wait a day or so.

Giving thanks with rare beers

When it comes to holidays, I am, to my family, the one in charge of the beverages for holiday gatherings. This year, the wine drinkers out number the beer drinkers, so I decided on four delicious, beers brought up from the depths of my cellar to complement our Thanksgiving feast this year. I also decided to share them with you, so if you feel the need to crash our party, you know what to expect. Some of these beers are available right now, but some are pretty rare.

The Wild Goose Meeting House Preview

Downtown Colorado Springs has a new craft beer, wine, and coffee joint. The Wild Goose Meeting House is set for their Grand Opening this Black Friday at 401 N. Tejon St. While south downtown has been having a flourish of new activity with Ivywild School and Urban Steam now serving craft beer, the north end of downtown is quietly staking it's claim. Being only a block from my work, I had to go see what the buzz is about.

Elevation expanding into Texas!

Some great news from over the mountains! Our friends at Elevation Beer Company have been expanding up a storm in recent months, and have just inked a deal to bring their beers to the Lone Star State. If you have family or friends in Texas, make sure to let them know, as Elevation will be hosting tastings and other events to help launch their brand there!