St. Patrick’s Day had it’s moment, but you can follow it up this week with more glass-clanking and cheers. Sans green beer…
Saturday, March 18, through Saturday, March 25, marks Colorado’s Craft Beer Week. Saddling the week-long festivities is Colorado Pint Day, today, Wednesday, March 22. A fundraiser for the Colorado Brewers Guild with specialty, branded glasses, available in dozens of taprooms throughout the state. Independent artist, Liam Ashurst, designed the imagery on the 16 oz. glass with mountain adventures in mind, depicting a 14er. For an additional dollar, you can have a tangible memory from your brewery pitstop and support the CBG.
Craft beer week culminates with the fourth annual Collaboration Fest on Saturday, March 25, at the National Western Complex in Denver, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Touted as “America’s most creative beer festival” it features over 150 breweries and 100 different beers. All made in partnership by brewing buds from around the globe.
Cerberus Brewing Co., Pikes Peak Brewing Co., and Bristol Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs are participating in the seven day celebration. Hosting some special events and tapping some of their jointly-brewed beers a day early on Friday, March 24.
Cerberus and Fossil Craft Beer Co. unearth their partnership with a preview of their beers. Nichoria, a New England style double IPA, quadruple hopped. Scrimshaw, a kettle sour gose, conditioned on pineapples and dry hopped on Lemondrop and Wakatu hops.
“Well we are pretty happy that our friends at Fossil asked us to collaborate,” says Josh Adamski, head brewer at Cerberus. “Never thought we’d be part of this big of a festival, being open only seven months.”
Bristol is giving Colorado Springs an event everyday this week with new beers and specialty pairings.
On Thursday, March 23, Bristol utilizes their fantastical character and beloved beer, Warlock. Winter and Wireless Warlock are available on CO2, nitro, infused with OZO coffee, and cask aged with chocolate and vanilla, for $12 per person in the pub.
They follow up with a Friday release of their Raspberry Berlinerweiss, created with Florence Brewing Co.
Pikes Peak Brewing is giving patrons an early taste of their combined efforts with Littleton based brewery, Living the Dream Brewing Co.
Feel the summer season draw near with their “Smok’em if you’ve got ’em”.
“It’s our take on grilled peaches,” says Bryan Hochstetler, assistant brewer at Pikes Peak.
Pikes Peak also paired up with well-known Denver spot, Wynkoop Brewing Co. with “Insert Rye Pun Here”.
“It’s going to be a rye ale aged on pistachios,” says Hochstetler.
If you can’t make the trip this weekend to try the bouquet of brewing teamwork at Collaboration Fest, you have opportunities to get an early pull in local taprooms. If Denver is on the docket for Saturday, VIP is sold out, but general admission is still available for $60/$65 at the door.
“I think the events and all of the breweries that participate help show off how much Colorado breweries care about craft beer,” says Josh Adamski. “Colorado has some really great breweries and this week reminds everyone why we are a kick ass community. As the Colorado Brewers Guild states, ‘Colorado, The State of Craft Beer.'”
Take $5 off your ticket for Collaboration Fest with promo code: BREWERBUDDY
