Where's Herman??

[Originally published 10/25/16 under ThisScatteredLife.com]

Science nerds sure aren’t what they used to be. Anyone that’s been to Grist Brewing Company in Highlands Ranch can attest to that. Science Based With Creativity is the motto and beer is the game over at Grist. There they pour two kinds of beer. Science Beers and Creativity Beers. So you’d better decide which camp you’re in before ordering a flight. There is no co-mingling of science and creativity within a flight.

Dog friendly and boisterous with an impressive rotation of food trucks and events, it’s still probably the selection of beers that have people flocking to the southern Denver brewery. November 5th marks the 3rd anniversary celebration of Grist Brewing, and soon they will be opening a second location. (You’ve either been there or are curious, either way you should check them out – right about now).

The couple words that all of us at Grist relate to and try to emulate in our beer are, “Science Balanced With Creativity.” We take our core beers, or as we like to call them, our Science Beers, very seriously. We analyze them on the UV-Vis spectrometer for IBU and SRM, we count yeast cells before pitching, we match OG and FG, all that so we can assure every batch is the same and every time you order a Science Beer you know what you are getting. Our Creative Beers, well, those are our one-off, seasonal, specialty beers that we don’t try to match with anything else. We like the Creative Beers to be a little different. A little bit out of style. However, still approachable.                                                                    —  Grist Brewing Company

Talk about ‘Revenge of the Nerds’. The mad scientists at Grist have a pretty sweet gig. The first night our TSL tasting team checked out Grist Brewing Company was a loud and crowded Friday night. (What – you didn’t know ‘This Scattered Life’ had a tasting team? I can already hear the groans from the rest of the “team” if and when they read this. But it’s my blog and I like the sound of it  better than “sampling beers with the family”.)

So anyway.

Twice monthly on Fridays, Grist has a Test Tube Release. And according to the gist I got from Grist … a Test Tube is the result of the master brewers stepping aside and allowing other brew staff to get their creative juices flowing. Nectarine Ale was the TTR on our visit.

Apologies to the masters, but I loved the Nectarine Ale. Alas, I was disappointed when I tried to order it on our second visit and discovered that good or bad, test tubes don’t make it on the menu. Turns out the beertender wasn’t being sadistic. The nectarine was partially his creation and his pleasure was not directly related to my pain. (Maybe if I can get enough people to request it they’ll try to recreate it beaker-sized).

Generally speaking, I’m not a sour beer fan. However, the Tartanium Berliner Weisse at Grist was one of the best I’ve tried. Besides Science and Creativity, Tartanium is the other flight available. Three 3 ounce pours with your choice of syrup. I was hoping to add either the Ginger-Lime or Spicy Mango syrup to our Tartanium taster, but those are reserved for full pours and the Tartanium flight.

The Window Tour Hefeweizen was my favorite (next to the one-and-done Nectarine Ale). Jeff was torn between the Niobrara Milk Stout (Nitro) and the Staple English IPA. Zach swears the name didn’t influence his vote for Walter’s White IPA, and Sarah went for the Third Ring Belgian Strong Ale. With the variety of beers available, there is sure to be something to match every beer drinker’s preference. The Grist Brewing Company version of a Mexican punch, Ponche De Burro, was one we all liked and would be a great option for the not-so-much-a-beer-fans.

Our second visit to Grist was a Shirts on Tap event: Tap it Tuesday. If you’re not familiar with Shirts on Tap, it’s a great monthly subscription box for craft beer aficionados. For a small fee you get a custom shirt featuring that month’s local micro-brewery, coupons and special discounted membership events. No shipping and no obligations. (The only catch is there need to be enough beer enthusiasts in your area to support the launch. That or you could call and email under a bunch of different names until they offer it in your city).

Happy hour at Grist is from 3 – 6 every weekday. I’m thinking the trifecta would be a happy hour Friday with a great Test Tube Release and my favorite food truck.

Science. It’s hard to argue with it. You might even say its poetry in motion… and be blinded by it. (Whatever. Don’t be judge-y I came of age in the 80’s.)

[Originally published 11/13/16 under ThisScatteredLife.com]

Family, friends and beer. Does it get any better? The best thing about enjoying craft brews with a group of your comrades is being able to taste everything in their flight as well as your own. Well, maybe the best thing is the camaraderie and laughs while enjoying the brews. Whatever the case, you are going to want to grab some buddies and try everything they’ve been brewing over at Comrade Brewing.

Where does the name Comrade come from?

com·rade /ˈkämˌrad/ n. 1. a person who shares in one’s activities, occupation, etc.; companion, associate, or friend.

 

“The name comes from the camaraderie that the craft brewing industry is known for.”                                              Comrade Brewing Co

Comrade is normally closed on Tuesdays, but they made an exception a few weeks ago for the members of Shirts on Tap. Because, y’know they like to Tap it on a Tuesday.

The Yellow Fever got a thumbs up from everyone at our table. It’s their Yellow Card Citra Blonde Ale infused with fresh hand-cut Jalapenoes – and just happens to be this girl’s hands down favorite. That’s right, I gave it a thumbs up and a hands down. It’s not that the chilis made it spicy enough to render you speechless. I just didn’t want to stop drinking it long enough to gab about it.

2016 World Beer Cup® Chili Beer Gold Award Winner – Yellow Fever

 

 

2014 & 2015 Great American Beer Festival® Silver Medal Winner – Fresh Hop Superpower IPA

 

 

Westword Best of Denver 2015 Best Colorado Beer Putting the World on Notice – Superpower IPA

 

 

5280 Magazine Top of the Town 2015 New Brewery – Editor’s Choice

 

 

Award winning brewery with a 15 barrel brewhouse, using only US-made equipment.

Superpower IPA was a huge hit with all the IPA lovers in our group. It made the top 3 list for Jeff, Sarah & Zach. Sarah also had the Yellow Fever as one of her best of the best, while Jeff & Zach both had Hype Machine IIPA and Koffee Kream Extra.

The Hype Machine was super hoppy with an 8.9% ABV, whereas the Koffee Kream was reported to be very good IF YOU LOVE COFFEE. I hate even the smell of coffee so this is the only one I didn’t try. But I was sitting among java junkies who ranked it in their top 3.

Potent, robust, rich, flavorful – these were some of the adjectives bouncing around the table. They all agreed it was a beer they couldn’t drink a lot of at one sitting – but they sure enjoyed what they had. I would have surely enjoyed a little caffeine boost myself. Are there any beers infused with Monster??

Well Oiled Machine was a very dark and intense Black IPA that didn’t make it to anyone’s repeat list at our table. Leroy and REDCON, however, did make it to Diane’s top 3.

Leroy(American Brown Ale)

American Brown Ale crafted with chocolate malt, caramel wheat and honey malt; hopped with Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops. This beer pours a rich mahogany with notes of roasted barley, caramel and chocolate. Medium light-hop flavor and moderate bitterness.

REDCON (Irish Red Ale)

Our take on an Irish Red Ale. F/K/A. DEFCON Red. Brewed with a blend of English crystal and chocolate malt and hopped with East Kent Goldings. Slight caramel sweetness, fruity esthers and just a hint of chocolate with a light citrus nose. Dry and easing drinking. A beautiful red color, hold it up to the light and see it shine!

Every Tap it Tuesday, (typically the last Tuesday of the month), is made more festive with drawings every half hour for members of Shirts on Tap. Prizes can be anything from free pints and custom shirts to growlers filled with your choice of beer. Our friends Katlyn & Ethan won the last two prizes of the night. It was a very happy birthday indeed for Ethan.

[Originally published 02/13/17 under ThisScatteredLife.com]

If you’re looking for a great little brewery in Littleton, don’t give up! 38 State Brewing Company is a little hard to find, but well worth the effort. Decked out in the colors from the 38th state of the union, this Colorado-proud craft brewing company is tucked into a former automotive shop in an industrial area.

From small-time trial and error garage brewing with friends, to a popular bona-fide brewery in a much larger garage, 38 State is one of those success stories that inspire homebrewer wannabes to invest in their first hops.

The roots of 38 State are simple really – four friends who decided to try their hand at something in which they had absolutely no experience dabbling in… making beer. We never started doing this to make a buck – we did it for ourselves. Our agenda wasn’t to make a brew good enough to sell, but rather one good enough to drink. So, knowing little about the industry and the process of brewing, we decided to roll the dice and see what kind of trouble we could get ourselves into. Too many hours to count were spent in the garage tinkering with recipes, learning about ingredients, and trying to master the creation of a beer that we could enjoy. We never intended to open a brewery. But then, as luck would have it, something changed all that…                                                                                              — 38 State

We finally made the pilgrimage to check out 38 State after we had moved into the mountains. It was quite a trek for a wintry Tuesday night, but we couldn’t miss the Shirts on Tap event. Tap it Tuesday is always a good time – a monthly “party” with old friends and new, beers to sample and prizes to win. And, of course, drink discounts for Shirts on Tap members.

As per usual, we ordered a flight of everything offered on tap. The Red Ale, however, was only available in cans. With a lineup of drafts in front of us, I held out as long as I could. But I am a fan of the reds, and once I tried our friend Nelson’s, I had to order one for myself. Yep, even before the tasting was over – I went rogue – completely dismissing our flights first / pints after protocol. Sarah is not normally one for the reds, but I caught her swiping mine more than once. If red is your thing, this one is a pretty sure bet!

When we visited 38 State, they had two versions of The Krampus: 2015 and 2016. There were striking differences between the pair for Sarah and I. She preferred the 2015 and I voted for the 2016. Surprisingly, Jeff and Zach liked them both equally. So … The Krampus was on the top 3 list for all of us. Just not necessarily the same edition.

Jeff, Sarah and Zach all really liked the You’re F’n Out Stout. Perhaps if there had been a stronger chocolate to coffee ratio I would have tried it. But as a staunch despiser of coffee, I couldn’t get past the nose notes.

The IPA was a hit with everyone. It’s not surprising that it has won numerous awards!

The draft selection changes frequently. So try not to be too disappointed if your favorite isn’t offered on subsequent visits. They’re just giving you time to miss it while you settle on a new favorite.

If you haven’t tried 38 State yet, what are you waiting for?? We were there for open mic night and I was surprised at how good everyone was. Definitely not your typical drunken karaoke! They have a variety of weekly and special events, so be sure to check out what’s happening before you go.

[Originally published 02/12/17 under ThisScatteredLife.com]

Ever felt a tad wistful watching old Cheers re-runs? Maybe wishing you could hear a chorus of your name as you plopped onto your favorite bar stool? Well, Diebolt Brewing in North Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood is just that sort of friendly watering hole.

More recently, we gathered at Diebolt for a Shirts On Tap “Tap It Tuesday” event. Like many Denver area micro breweries, Diebolt sticks to their forte – crafting beer – and leaves the grub to local food trucks.

True West Tacos was there for Tap It Tuesday, serving up great food at excellent prices. They are there most Tuesdays to satisfy your Taco Tuesday fix, but be sure to check the Diebolt food truck schedule before you get your taste buds in a frenzy.

“Based on a recipe from a family that’s been in Colorado for several generations, we are slinging top-notch Colorado-style tacos from a mobile taco cart.”   — True West Tacos

The ambiance is a bonus, but of course, the main draw that will keep you coming back to Diebolt Brewing is the beers.

…French ancestry and ties to historical French brewing regions have influenced some of Diebolt’s beer styles. While Diebolt’s main focus is exploring French style beer, they enjoy making a wide variety of styles and flavors and received national acclaim with a Silver at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival for their Braggarts Brown Ale.  — Diebolt Brewing

Father and son team Dan and Jack Diebolt founded Diebolt Brewing Co. in early 2013, and have served up some exceptional beers during their reign. We sampled a flight of everything on tap during our latest visit. Despite our differing beer preferences, the four of us were actually unanimous in 2 out of 3 of our favorites.

First up was the Figgy Noir with its unique full flavors and easy drinkability. With my affinity for light beers, I was surprised to enjoy this Biere de Garde as much as the rest of my family.

FIGGY NOIR
FRENCH EXPAT SERIES: ALGERIAN BIERE DE GARDE
Our Figgy Noir is the first of the Expats to surface taking inspiration from the North African country of Algeria. Sweet Algerian curry, palm sugar and figs give it the color of the Saharan sands, the heady, spiced aroma of an outdoor bazaar and the figgy flavor of the cradle of civilization.
IBU: 19 | ABV: 7.2%

Anton Francois was the other group favorite, and at a 5.5% ABV you can definitely have more than one.

ANTON FRANCOIS
FRENCH ALE
A clean, refreshing French Ale with a light malt and fruity arome, crisp malt saveur that makes its way to a slightly earthy, hop bitterness and bready malt fin.
IBU:25 | ABV:5.5%

Jeff, Sarah & Zach all had the Colorado Greenback in their top 3 (although they did not rank them in the same order). The Session IPA was very good, but I tend to prefer the lighter beers. So while I would definitely enjoy a pint of Colorado Greenback, it would not be my go-to beer, which makes me like Diebolt even more for the variety they offer.

COLORADO GREENBACK
SESSION IPA
Light, clean, hoppy, and refreshing. Our sessionable IPA will lure you in with an incredible citrus, floral, piney aroma while the delicate malt profile dances briefly on the palate before moving to a dry, bitter, grapefruit ending. Not too hoppy, not too malty.
IBU: 75 | ABV: 4.9%

Sunnyside Wheat was the clear winner for me. No surprise there. As far as wheat beers go, I found the Sunnyside to have more flavor than most and would be thrilled to find a few waiting for me after a long hike or just sitting on the deck enjoying the sunset.

SUNNYSIDE
WHEAT
Named after the best Denver neighborhood with the best neighbors. A crisp, clean, quaffable American wheat with a slightly fruity aroma; soft, bready flavors and a smooth finish. Unfiltered, yet crystal clear, this beer drinks like a light pilsner.
IBU: 16 | ABV: 4.2%

The Highlands area is one of our favorites, and despite no longer being within biking distance, we will be frequent visitors to the local eateries, shops and breweries. And Diebolt … well, eventually everybody there will know our name. Cheers!

[Originally published 02/17/17 under ThisScatteredLife.com]

We found ourselves at Seedstock Brewery a couple weeks ago for the Tap it Tuesday event with Shirts on Tap. Despite how crowded it was, the service was quick and friendly. In fact, everyone there seemed pretty friendly. Good beer seems to have that effect on people. The fact that Seedstock is in an area of Denver where parking is not an issue also probably helped elevate the collective mood. Free, no-hassle parking and a great atmosphere – I liked the place before I even had a chance to quench my thirst.

At most small breweries it’s usually not too hard to choose your favorites. There are a couple you really like, maybe a few that are just pretty good and at least one that is not palatable to your tastes whatsoever.

Not so at Seedstock.

There were 7 total in our group and 9 beers on tap when we visited. And not one beer that any of us disliked. We all had our obvious favorites, but we liked all of them to at least some degree. I believe it may have been a first for our group.

Czech Pilsner    5.9% ABV
Straw-yellow in color, with thick white head.  Complex and distinct pilsner aroma. Balanced bitterness with a clean, dry finish. Pairs well with a good hike.

The 2 Czechs were high on the list for everyone.

Premium Czech Lager   5.8% ABV
Pale amber in color. Bready maltiness with strong but clean bitterness. Subtle sweetness and dry finish make this beer balanced and refreshing. Pairs well with a pulse.

Zach rounded out his top 3 with the Bohemian Ale.

Bohemian Ale    6.2% ABV
New copper in color with a slightly tart and citrus aroma.  Czech Kazbek hops provides an earthy spiciness combined with a slight citrus flavor.  Has a moderate hop bitterness at the finish. Pairs well with conversation.

Hefeweizen is one of my go-to styles of beer, and as much as I like them, there is probably an equal or greater amount of dislike of them from Jeff. The Weizenbock, Hefeweizen’s stronger cousin, was just alright to Jeff. I, however, thought it was great.

Weizenbock    7.0%ABV
Ruby brown in color with a light tan head. Dark fruit aroma of plum and prunes is joined with a slight banana nose. Flavor is a combination of dark fruit, spicy cloves, and malty breadiness.  Clove spiciness combines with malty sweetness to make this beer very balanced.  Pairs well with a slight nod of the head.

The Wheat was my “favorite in training”. There could be days where it might it even take the lead. But not today.

Wheat   4.5% ABV
Cloudy golden in color with a thick white head and slightly fruity aroma. Moderately sweet flavor with a creamy mouth feel and crisp, clean finish. Pairs well with sunshine.

We all enjoyed the Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, but only Jeff and Sarah had it on their win-place-or-show list. It had a lot of great, distinct flavor, but more of a sipper. This is definitely not a beer I would pound – if it were a beer pounding type of night.

Barrel Aged Scotch Ale   9.5% ABV
A smoky toffee and caramel aroma, with a bourbon sweetness. Flavor is earthy woodiness that is slightly sweet. Finish is a balance of earthy sweetness and clean bitterness. Pairs well with a tobacco pipe.

Here at Seedstock Brewery,
We are led by one guiding principle: brew the best tasting beer we can. Along the way we’ve learned a few things – like when to push forward and also when to leave well enough alone. That’s why we start with the same old-world, family recipes that have stood the test of time, but we don’t stop there. Combined with a heartland work ethic, and ingenuity, our barrels pour something uniquely American.

Which is why we took the name Seedstock. It comes from the farming trade – a term that means saving the best of what you have now for planting tomorrow. We use the same concept in our brewing, taking lessons from the past and applying it to what we do today. This approach allows us to craft straightforward beer for folks who like to drink it. And so friends, kick back, hoist up a pint and enjoy a beer that has the most important trait of all, it just flat-out tastes good.

Great beer in a relaxed atmosphere, Seedstock clearly knows what they’re doing. They know who they are, where they are from, and hopefully they will be staying around for a long time to come.

[Originally published 05/12/17 under ThisScatteredLife.com]

Do you have a go-to place for when you just want to get out of the house and unwind in a fun atmosphere? Where you know the food is reliably great and the in-house brewed beer is always cold? For us that place is Tommyknocker Brewery in the small mountain town of Idaho Springs, CO.

We started going to Tommyknocker long before we’d ever even heard of the nearby unincorporated “town” of Dumont. Little did we know back then that we would be buying a home in Dumont, with the closest grocery store and restaurants in Idaho Springs.

And where we need to go to dispose of trash & recyclables. (Who knew there were still places without garbage pickup or mail delivery? Alright, maybe most of you did – but I had always taken those services for granted.)

We may be remote, but less than 10 minutes away we have access to a pretty amazing brewpub. The majority of breweries I’ve been to are focused on the beer and either don’t have food available or you are limited to food trucks or the typical pub fare.

Tommyknocker has a full menu with options to satisfy every palette and stage of hunger. The fish & chips, pork green chili, buffalo and lamb burger are all really good and popular. But we are hooked so hard on the Mother Lode Nachos that it’s usually hard to veer away.

The meat, cheese and condiments are all good and fresh, but what really sets these nachos apart is the chips! Spent grain from Tommyknocker is picked up and taken to Raquelitas Tortillas, where they turn that grain into THE BEST chips we’ve ever had.

Raquelitas Tortillas – The brand that chefs demand. Featured on the Food Network, Raquelitas Tortillas, a Denver based, minority owned business, has been  “Colorado’s Premium Tortilla Manufacturer” since 1960.
Using spent grain direct from the Tommyknocker mash tun, Raquelitas hand crafts specialty tortilla chips of the highest quality and rich with micro nutrients inherent in said spent grain. Enjoy them as the base of Tommyknocker’s nachos or by the bag available from Raquelitas.                                                                    — Tommyknocker Partnerships

Seriously. At random times Jeff will just blurt out, “Hey, how about nachos and a beer?” And moments later we are headed to Tommyknocker. Someday I fully expect he will be able to send me a brain wave request and won’t even need to open his mouth until the humongous plate of nachos are placed in front of him.

Unless you are almost literally starving, you should probably plan to share. (From experience I can tell you that they do not reheat well – regardless of heat source).

I know we already paused to admire the nachos, but I’m not ready to let go of them yet. Let’s go in for a closer look at those fantastic tortilla chips.

Pure perfection.

The main draw to Tommyknocker is of course the beer. Which is why I made you wait for it. If you’ve not ever taken a tour of the brewery, you really should remedy that now. From the bar area, you can view the fermentation tanks and watch the brewmasters at work.

For the uninitiated, it might appear that the majority of the brewing process takes place on this level. But oh, there is so much more. The tour continues downstairs where there is a buzz of activity in the various rooms – which seem to be in a completely different underground world.

Our afternoon tour was with Steve Indrehus, Director of Brewery Operations. Steve has a long history with Tommyknocker and has his hands in just about every aspect of the operation, from hand-picking the Loveland Ski Area spruce pine needles for the Pine Bough Pale Ale, to determining the exact ratio of fresh orange peel to be infused into the Blood Orange IPA. 

Passionate about his brews and full of Tommyknocker history and facts, Steve imparts brewery knowledge a mile a minute, leaving you grabbing for all the interesting nuggets zooming past. (Or maybe I was on the slow side having just suffered a chemical burn in one eye just prior to our meeting).

Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Barrels are used for aging the Gold Medal winning Butt Head Bock and the small batch brewed Legend Olde Oaked Brown Ale, as well as the Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Nut Brown. A whole lotta flavor in those bad boys.

One of their newer beers, the Palisade Peachwood Ale is made from the actual wood as pictured above. No actual peaches involved. This is one of my favorite Tommyknocker brews – one that I could drink all the time. The Green Chile Lager is another that I really like, though it usually isn’t on tap so I grab a 6 pack on the way out.

Jeff was surprised at how much he enjoyed both the Peachwood and the Green Chile. While he will never drink the Green Chile as long as there is a Blood Orange IPA or a Peachwood to be had, he says it is the best of any of the spicy beers he has had anywhere; no artificial taste or over-the-top heat like some he has had.

His go-to from Tommyknocker is the Blood Orange, which is a top contender for all of us. Every couple weeks Jeff will stop on his way home from work and pick up a 6 pack – unless he has thought ahead and brought in a growler to be filled.

They had bottled earlier in the day of our tour, so we went back a few days later to check out the bottling process. Kayla was managing everything that was going on around her and catching any malfunctions WHILE answering employee questions and discussing the process with us. It was like watching a mom of triplets take care of all their needs while giving a college lecture and signing a mortgage loan. Quite impressive.

With all he knew of the history of the building and the tommyknockers folklore in this mining town, I couldn’t help but ask Steve before the end of the tour if he had read ‘Tommyknockers’ by “my Stephen”. How could he not, right??

But alas, Steve is not a fan of Stephen or the horror genre in general. He makes some really great brews though, and he is always coming up with new concepts. So all is forgiven.

Bad photo, but had to throw it in there. For Steve.