Why Rapids & Grass is a Brewer's Favorite Festival, Even When They Can't Go

Photo by Zach Mahone @ South Main Co.

“The beer is great, the music is fire, and the venue is laid out wonderfully.” 

That’s Ashleigh Carter, the co-founder and head brewer of Bierstadt Lagerhaus. She’s not alone.

You know it’s a good sign when you see a brewer at a beer festival. And in this case, the Rapids & Grass festival in Buena Vista is packed full of them— especially in anticipation of the festival’s rafting component. 

Rapids & Grass is so much more than just a beer fest; it’s an opportunity to get to the mountains, enjoy the river, and get social. Although the festival has decided to skip this year, keeping public health and safety in mind, it still goes down as one of our favorite festivals -- and here’s why the brewers agree. 

“The Rapids & Grass beer festival is unlike any other beer festival I have attended. I have traveled all over the country and poured at a few different beer festivals in Europe and none of them are as laid back and chill as Rapids & Grass,” shares Skip Schwartz, wood cellar and innovation lead at WeldWerks Brewing, “Attendees have access to some of the best beer Colorado has to offer at their fingertips with a relaxed, no lines or waiting. Last year was my first time attending and I know why I will be going back in the future.  Never have I worked a festival with my shoes off and my pants rolled up and it fit into the atmosphere of the festival. Not to mention a water gun fight broke out mid-festival with a few other brewers, which was a lot of fun!” 

Jordan Wheeler, senior packaging operator at WeldWerks Brewing adds, “Ummm everything Skip said. It’s definitely a festival I want to attend every year. It will never get old pouring beautiful beer with such a beautiful backdrop.”

There’s no arguing that the festival’s venue is one that is hard to rival. It also makes for a perfect location for brewers to also kick back, relax, and hang out with each other. 

“Obviously Buena Vista is beautiful,” shares Carter, “and really the beer is just a small part of the fest.”

“What makes it unique is how many brewers actually participate,” Carter continues, “We all get to hang out and camp together the night before and night of the festival, so there is that added social aspect that makes it fun to participate.”

It’s not just the brewers who enjoy it, either. 

“It’s an honor to get to pour our whiskey amongst some of the best beers around, and it’s inspiring to see what these brewers continually offer up such bad ass expressions of their craft,” says Lenny Eckstein, founder & head distiller at Deerhammer in downtown Buena Vista, “It’s always been Deerhammer’s approach to bring innovation and creativity to whiskey. A huge part of this is fueled for us by those on the beer side of the fence.”

Not to mention, the festival draws huge crowds to the Arkansas Valley, boosting tourism and the area’s economic viability. 

“There’s this ongoing effort to bring visitation to BV throughout the year,” shares Eckstien, “The thing about Rapids and Grass is that the crowd that comes up here, who’ve maybe blazed through BV or heard of our hot springs or killer mountain bike trails, or whatever, when they come here for Rapids & Grass they are getting full exposure to the full spectrum of awesomeness that BV has to offer. Deerhammer is PACKED during Rapids and Grass. It’s a great crowd who comes here looking to enjoy this place.”

To our friends Sarah, Shane, and their great Rapids & Grass partners, we love you and we miss you. Thank you for bringing world-class beer and music to Buena Vista. 

— Words by Karen Mills

And now for something completely different: A Can Release from Bierstadt Lagerhaus

July 3, 2020 Denver, CO - Bierstadt Lagerhaus, known for its silly adherence to traditional and outdated brewing techniques, a pathetic number of choices at the taproom and a stunted imagination with regard to beer styles has made something.......else. On July 12th we are releasing BFL. BFL is a 12% Lager; not a “we calculated and wished for this to be 12%, but an honest-to-science, measured at a lab 12%. Speaking of these unnecessary outdated techniques: We did a reiterated mash using an exploded version of our Märzen recipe and double decocted it. Twice. We floated it and fermented it at 9 C. It was krausened to help it further attenuate. In a bold nod to tradition, no sugars, enzymes or malt extracts were used and it’s unfiltered. Please for the sake of anything that is still good in this world, don’t Google any of that if you don’t already understand the lingo. It is our job to prattle on about the methods we used, and your job to get it down your neck. Let’s keep these divisions clear.

As far as the character of this beer, think barleywine strength albeit without a faceload of esters. Think of it as a Lager wine, only please don’t. That is a stupid term and we refuse to be responsible for its usage.

Paul Vismara designed the label and it is perfect for the beer and these times. A giant comet is depicted hurling through space, we can only guess at its destination-earth. Of course it’s earth, after the imminent locust invasion this summer and a shit show of an election this fall, the only way 2020 can end is with a extinction level comet this winter.

For the 12th, please, as you lineup the night before, keep social distancing guidelines in mind. No saving spaces in the line, no proxies and limit one can per ID. The preceding two sentences are bullshit. We make beer, you buy beer. That is as complex as we want this relationship to be.

Simply put we have about 900 16oz cans to sell, 4 per transaction, $12 per can, pre-sale starts on the 8th online (www.bierstadtlager.com), pick up the 12th . Wear a mask and don’t be a jerk. Yuan Wonton will be in the house. Come get some.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

At Bierstadt we craft lagers the traditional way, and nothing more. Discover what we believe at bierstadtlager.com.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus Releases Collaboration with Neighbor Finn's Manor

DENVER, CO— Bierstadt Lagerhaus and their RiNo neighbor Finn’s Manor have teamed up to release a beer sourced from Mexico. With strong roots in tradition, Bierstadt takes the four ingredients, water, yeast, malt, and hops, a strict Reinheitsgebot process, and their resurrected brew kettle from Germany to perfect the classic lagers they are passionate about. Although they are rooted in tradition, it doesn’t stop them from deviating from their three core offerings to create these seasonal “fun” batches of beer to enjoy, such as Cerveza Clara y Mas Fina Especial.

Our Content Editor Karen Mills caught up with Bierstadt Lagerhaus about this unique new beer. Here’s what co-owner Ashleigh Carter had to say.

What inspired this particular recipe?

We got the idea talking to Thomas owner of Finn's Manor (an incredible cocktail and beer bar). They have a great Mezcal selection and actually took their staff to Oaxaca to learn about it. He proposed the idea of a beer for Cinco de Mayo/spring that took actual corn from Mexico and we thought about it and figured we could pull it off as long as we were able to find the corn. Thomas looked around and found this company called Masienda that have loads of different heirloom whole corn from Oaxaca.

How did you decide on Oaxaca corn?

Pretty easily actually. Once we were set on how we could incorporate the corn, we got 6 samples from Masienda to choose from. We all decided unanimously on the Bolita Azul and Bolita Belatove, a blue and purple/red corn with really wonderful floral sweet corn aroma. We actually bought a little mill to grind it all up. We then used a cereal mash for the corn, cooled it down and added the malt, and treated it like one of our regular beers. Single decoction house yeast and fermented at 48F. I think it turned out great. Light, subtle corn aroma and sweetness, and balanced bitterness. Add a lime!

Any additional insights to the beer itself?

We loved this beer so much that we will probably make it every year as our spring seasonal. Not many collaborations or one-offs ever make it into the regular rotation but this was a really special and fun beer.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

At Bierstadt we craft lagers the traditional way, and nothing more. Discover what we believe at bierstadtlager.com.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus Remains Open, Releases Tmavé 13°, Expands Beer Hall, and Launches New Schnitzel Menu

Rackhouse Pub

DENVER, CO— Bierstadt Lagerhaus, nationally renowned, and The Colorado Sun’s 2019 Colorado brewery of the year, remains open. Not only do we remain open, on January 24 th , we have the audacity to release Tmavé 13°, a Czech Dark Lager, inspired by a May trip to Prague. Bierstadt now fields 5 calls a day asking if we are still open since the cidery in our building relocated their production space. Bierstadt wants to invite everyone back as we continue to Lagerhard for a Czech celebration of Lager, Goulash and Becherovka as our collaborators from Bagby Beer in Oceanside, CA fly in for the celebration.

The games, beer hall and liters of lager remain open and flowing, along with all the shenanigans everyone has come to expect. In fact, the beer hall is expanding-slightly-and will have some European-style food options as well as additional seating within the month.

As is known by nearly everyone and barely deserves repeating here, Lager beer is the finest accompaniment to food ever devised by our species. To this end, Bierstadt is changing its focus from really good food, to a transcendent marriage of schnitzel and Lager. Much drunken research was recently conducted in Germany to make sure our schnitzel was on point. Owners Chris Rippe, Ashleigh Carter and Bill Eye were forced to drink multiple liters of lager-often late into the night-to acquire schnitzel making secrets. Livers were bruised, but our schnitzel at Bierstadt is now as it was there. Some sacrifices are worth it.

Denver winery Deep Roots will open in the relocated cidery space. Bierstadt will remain fully operational, come get some.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

At Bierstadt we craft lagers the traditional way, and nothing more. Discover what we believe at bierstadtlager.com.

Westbound & Down Brewing Company Introduces New Cans

IDAHO SPRINGS, CO— Fresh off its Midsize Brewpub of the Year recognition at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival®, Westbound & Down Brewing Company announced this week the release of new cans and distribution beyond Idaho Springs

Westbound & Down will begin canning Colorado Pale Ale, a beer brewed to be enjoyed on outdoor mountain excursions; Westbound Double IPA, one of the company’s recent GABF medal winners; and Chicago Peaks Kolsch, originally a collaboration with Bierstadt Lagerhouse; named for the surrounding Chicago Peaks that include Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt. Fans can celebrate these new cans at Westbound & Down on Friday, December 20 at the official can release at the Idaho Springs brewpub. Cans will also be available on December 21 at The Cultural Center, Westbound & Down’s shared barrel cellar in Northwest Denver.

These popular brands from the brewery will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz cans to-go from Westbound & Down’s Idaho Springs brewpub location, and at Westbound General that will open in 2020. There will be an announcement in coming weeks about this new provisions store.

“We have always wanted to can our products,” says Jake Gardner, Westbound & Down’s Head Beer Drinker. “The marketplace might be crowded, but there is always more room for excellent beer. We want to drink our beers on the go, and there seems to be a market for crushable beers in a can.”

Culture Beverage, an affiliate wholesaler partner of Shelton Brothers Importers, will pick up Westbound & Down’s kegged and bottled brands in 2020. Westbound & Down’s canned brands will be available in very limited quantities outside of its Idaho Springs brewpub and Westbound General locations.

For more information about Westbound & Down’s new cans, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT WESTBOUND & DOWN BREWING COMPANY

Westbound & Down Brewing Company runs a small brewpub in Idaho Springs, CO that prides itself in brewing well-executed beers in a wide array of beer styles to pair with great food. Brewed with a bit of Rocky Mountain air and served with a side of fresh powder, Westbound and Down’s beers have been awarded multiple accolades since their opening in 2015. In 2018, Westbound & Down and Amalgam launched The Cultural Center, a shared barrel cellar and tasting room celebrating the art and exploration of mixed culture fermentation with an emphasis on barrel-aged saisons and sour ales. In 2020, Westbound & Down will add the Westbound General store to its family of craft beer destination places in Colorado. Find the company online at westboundanddown.com.

Smoke ’em if You Got ’em On Saturday February 10 at the Bierstadt Rauchbock Release

Click the image for complete event poster.

DENVER, CO — On February 10 at noon, Bierstadt Lagerhaus releases its stunningly smokey Rauchbock at the Rauchbock Parka Party, and some people will really dislike it. These are of course the same people that whine about Islay malts, brilliant Mezcals and smelling like smoke after cooking on a campfire. These are people we at Bierstadt would rather not spend any time with so if this describes you, please stay away. If on the other hand, you enjoy all of the things mentioned above, plus barbecue and maybe even a cigar or two, you are not going to want to miss it. That and we already dis-invited sniveling whiners so the company, and the conversation should be glorious.

The party will go from noon to late and will include barbecue from the smoke masters at Owlbear, a Mezcal tasting from our friends at Finn’s Manor, and Cigar rolling from Palma.  It is a celebration of all things smoked and smokey.  BYO parka so you can get outside to enjoy the cigars.

Event attendance is free. Please RSVP via Eventbrite.                      

ABOUT BIERSTADT

Bierstadt Lagerhaus is a Lager Brewery specializing in German Style Lagers, located in the heart of Denver’s RiNo Art District – and we only whine very occasionally. Find us online at bierstadtlager.com.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus & Rackhouse Pub Present Brewers Verbally Punching Each Other In The Face at the Second Annual Ho Ho Ho Slapdown

Photo by The Brewtography Project

DENVER, CO—  On December 3, six brewers will compete for one of the most prestigious and ugliest trophies in all of brewing at the Second Annual Ho Ho Ho Slapdown.

Hosted by Bierstadt Lagerhaus and The Rackhouse at 2875 Blake Street, the Ho Ho Ho Slapdown includes six brewers—Greg Moore of Barrels & Bottles, Jake Gardner of Hogshead, Jon Cross of Call To Arms, Marks Lanham of Comrade Brewing, Brett Williams of Little Machine, and Ashleigh Carter of Bierstadt Lagerhaus-all fake and secretly backstabbing friends compete in this no-holds-barred event. This competition features the winter brews made by each of the contestants with a popular vote deciding the outcome. Shenanigans and smacktalk are not only encouraged, but mandated.

After sampling all of the offerings, the public is invited to vote for their favorite-but it is encouraged to wait for the stump speech delivered by each of the brewers. Getting in the spirit early was Jon Cross of Call To Arms. “Jake Gardner is a talented brewer with an excellent palate, but on December 3, the only thing he’ll be tasting is the back of my hand.”

Tickets are $25 on nightout.com or the day of the event at Bierstadt Lagerhaus/The Rackhouse and includes a 5oz pour of all six (6) beers, voting rights and watching the smack-talk. Event goes from 1:00-4:00pm with smack-talk at 4:00pm and final votes in by 4:45.

For more information contact Bill Eye at bill@bierstadtlager.com.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

Bierstadt Lagerhaus is a Lager Brewery specializing in German Style Lagers, located in the heart of Denver’s RiNo Art District – and also the winner of last years’ Slapdown. bierstadt.com 

DRiNK RiNo Hosts Oktoberfest September 16

Strap on your lederhosen and dirndls, it's time to bring Munich to RiNo. On September 16, the DRiNk RiNo community will serve its best Oktoberfest and fall seasonal offerings.

Oktoberfest is NOT a bier tasting event, it's a bier drinking event! Last year more 700 fest-going patrons joined the celebration with a masskrugstemmen competition, classic German food and oompah bands galore. 

Tickets cost $20 and include entrance to the festivities from noon to 10pm and a liter of bier in a 0.5l mug. Tickets are available at DrinkRino.com/ofest. The Rackhouse, taproom to DRiNK RiNo members Bierstadt Lagerhaus and C Squared Ciders at 2875 Blake St. will host the event in their parking lot. 

DRiNK RiNo Members include Bierstadt Lagerhaus, C Squared Ciders, Black Shirt Brewing Co., Mockery Brewing, Great Divide Brewing Co., Epic Brewing Company - Denver Taproom, Beryl's Beer Co., Our Mutual Friend Brewery, The Block Distilling Co., Ratio Beerworks, Stem Ciders, Bigsby's Folly-A Craft Winery: Food, Bar, Private Events, and The Infinite Monkey Theorem. 

About DRiNK RiNo

Denver's River North Art District, RiNo, has grown to become the epicenter of independent craft adult beverage producers in Denver. DRiNk RiNo is a 501(c)(6) not-for- profit trade association of independent craft adult beverage producers dedicated to promoting and celebrating the independent and wild spirit of RiNo. We have the largest concentration of craft beverage manufacturers in the United States, with 15 craft breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries in a one-mile radius. RiNo has become the place to eat, drink and play. Hop on the FREE DriNk RiNo Circulator every First Friday 5pm to 12am and Saturdays 2 to 10pm.  For more information, visit drinkrino.com.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus To Release Velorama Vienna Lager

DENVER, CO— Today Bierstadt Lagerhaus releases its Velorama Vienna Lager Release brewed for the Velorama Colorado Fetival and Colorado Classic bike race.

This beer is a 5.6% ABV lager with low bitterness, copper color, and toasty malt flavor balanced with a dry finish. The recipe includes Vienna malt, Pilsner malt, hallertauer tradition hops, and German Lager yeast. It will be sold on tap at a number of locations in the Metro area and in Crowlers at Bierstadt Lagerhaus. 

The official beer release will take place at 4 p.m. Thursday, August 3, with live music from 5 to 9 pm. Meet Brewers and Owners Ashleigh Carter and Bill Eye, who opened Bierstadt last year at 2875 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205

This beer is just one of the ways the neighborhood is partnering with organizers of the upcoming Velorama Colorado Fetival and Colorado Classic bike race. Members of the Drink RiNo group are also the offical adult-beverage partners, meaning their beer, wine and cider will be sold exclusively at race stages in Colorado Springs (Aug. 10) and Breckenridge (Aug. 11) and for the Velorama festival in Denver (Aug. 11-13), which includes the final two stages of the race. 

With 15 independently owned breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries in a roughly 1-mile radius, RiNo has one of the highest concentrations of adult craft beverage producers in the U.S -- and we're proud to partner with the whole Drink RiNo group: Beryl’s Beer Co. Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Bigsby’s Folly, Black Shirt Brewing Co., The Block Distilling Co., C Squared Ciders, Epic Brewing, Great Divide Brewing Co., Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery, Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse, Mockery Brewing Co., Our Mutual Friend Brewing Co., Ratio Beerworks, Stem Ciders and Zephyr Brewing Co.

For information about Velorama Colorado, visit www.VeloramaColorado.com or call Curtis: (303) 908-2378. 

Find Bierstadt Lagerhaus online at bierstadtlager.com. For more information contact Ashleigh Carter at ashleigh@bierstadtlager.com