Ska Brewing Reports 2022 Impact; Previews New Sustainability Initiatives
Ska Brewing is coming off of a dynamic year in business engaged in the craft beer, music, art, biking, and local Southwest Colorado communities in which it is ingrained.
Photo of Ska’s xeriscaped beer garden courtesy The Brewtography Project
DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing is coming off of a dynamic year in business engaged in the craft beer, music, art, biking, and local Southwest Colorado communities in which it is ingrained— with even bigger plans to support its community with sustainability initiatives in 2023.
Here is Ska Brewing’s 2022 Year In Review.
BEER
In 2022, Ska Brewing brewed approximately 25,000 BBL of beer that was served on tap at the brewery World Headquarters and distributed nationwide. Ska’s distribution footprint grew to 11 states last year with the addition of Wyoming in the fall.
Ska debuted several new canned beers last year, such as the new age Checkered Future IPA that brought together old school hops and new brewing techniques; Raspberry Blonde Ale that gave a fresh take on a classic style; the Faceplant Lager brewed with Tailwind Nutrition electrolytes; and the Peppermint Bark Stout crafted with Animas Chocolate Company peppermint bark. The brewery also brought back famed mainstays Mexican Logger, Oktoberfest, Euphoria Pale Ale, and Mexican Lager Style Dark.
Up next in Ska’s canned beer lineup is The Ska Lager, a snappy, crisp, bright, and easy-drinking at only 4.8% ABV. This new no-nonsense offering will hit shelves in March.
MUSIC
Ska Brewing was born out of an affinity for music, which the brewery continues to stoke by hosting Ska, punk, and other relevant bands of all shapes and sizes to play at the brewery. The legendary third wave Ska group Hepcat and opener Rude Girl Revue traveled to Durango to perform an epic show at Ska’s 27th Anniversary Party and Brewer’s Invitational.
SOUTHWEST COLORADO
Ska was a proud supporter of many events that took place in its hometown Durango, Colorado— including Durango’s annual winter festival Snowdown, the 50th anniversary of The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, the Durango Independent Film Festival, Animas River Days, Downtown 4th of July Celebration, Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships, Thirsty 13 and many more.
Ska partnered with Fort Lewis College on multiple efforts, including a hop biotransformation research project that yielded the Skyhawk Single Hop IPA; and a hard seltzer branding deep dive with the Fennell-Saegert Student Marketing Agency.
Each year, Ska donates upwards of $50,000 in product, money and time to nonprofits organizations such as La Plata Open Space Conservancy, Manna Soup Kitchen, Fort Lewis College, United Way, KSUT, KDUR, Women’s Resource Center, LaPlata County Humane Society, and Trails 2000, among many others.
Ska Distributing continued to serve the Southwest Colorado market by bringing craft beer brands to the area from across the state and beyond, including new auditions to the portfolio: Bruz Beers and Weldwerks Brewing Co.
COMMUNITY
Outside of its hometown, Ska engaged with the beer community at large through collaborations with Living The Dream Brewing in Littleton, Colorado and Manhattan Brewing in Manhattan, Kansas.
Beyond beer and music, Ska is passionate about art— especially art that showcases Ska music. During the Ska anniversary weekend in September, Ska hosted San Diego-based artist Nan Coffey for an art show that brewery visitors can still peruse on the second floor of the building.
Beyond beer, music, and art, Ska is passionate about biking. The brewery was a sponsor for Rides & Vibes in Grand Junction, the Fruita Fat Tire Festival, and 12 Hours Mesa Verde, among others. This year, Ska is stoked to be the official beer of the Session Series, Triple Bypass, Salida76, and Beti Bike Bash by Team Evergreen Cycling.
SUSTAINABILITY
Ska has long committed to reducing waste and developing brewery and distribution systems that minimize its carbon footprint— from recycled jeans in the walls as insulation and reused bowling alley wood as tables, to solar panels, solar lighting, wind energy credits, and recycling of all cardboard, paper, plastic, glass and metal waste. Ska was one of the first craft breweries in the country to package its beer in infinitely recyclable aluminum cans, and now has many packaging systems in place to further conserve resources, including Ionized air rinse instead of water rinsing and an efficient, on-demand, de-aerated water system. These are just a few of Ska’s sustainability programs that the brewery is constantly improving upon.
In 2023, Ska is pleased to continue these efforts alongside the implementation of two sizable and unprecedented sustainability initiatives. The brewery is installing a machine that will allow for the transition of all can collars from plastic to paperboard, making Ska one of the first breweries ever to utilize this equipment in the move away from plastic packaging materials.
Secondly, Durango’s Table To Farm Compost will now be the recipient of all of Ska’s spent grain. This transition from cattle feed and landfill to compost will reduce methane emissions and align with Ska’s commitment to local partnerships.
Ska will publish more information about these efforts in coming weeks.
Media inquiring about Ska Brewing can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT SKA BREWING
Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi and Rue B. Soho. For information, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.
Ska Brewing Presents 2023 Snowdown Beer, Hornblower Horchata
This winter season, Southwest Colorado dwellers and questants can toast their goblets to A Shakespearean Snowdown with a small-batch, horchata-spiced ale brewed by Ska Brewing.
DURANGO, CO– Hear ye, hear ye! This winter season, Southwest Colorado dwellers and questants can toast their goblets to A Shakespearean Snowdown with a small-batch, horchata-spiced ale brewed by Ska Brewing. Hornblower Horchata will debut at the brewery World Headquarters on Tuesday, December 20.
Now in their 27th year of collaborating with Historic Downtown Durango on a special beer release for the occasion, Ska Brewing experimented with a gallimaufry of vanilla and cinnamon flavors in this egregious beer for the 43rd annual Snowdown celebration.
“We are very excited to collaborate with Ska Brewing again this year,” says Linda Brockway, Snowdown Event Coordinator. “We invite everyone to the beer tapping so they can herald its greatness across the land of Durango.”
Hornblower Horchata will be available in 12oz. 4-packs through Snowdown, Friday January 27 to Sunday February 5, 2023, for which Durango has a gambold of events planned.
Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more details about Hornblower Horchata or Ska’s Snowdown partnership with historic Downtown Durango.
ABOUT SKA BREWING
Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi and Rue B. Soho. For information, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.
Ska Brewing Releases Official Beer of 41st Annual Durango Snowdown
An amber lager packed with roasted, malty sweetness, made especially for Durango’s 41st Annual Snowdown
DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing has teamed up with Snowdown, Durango’s premier winter celebration, to create a sure-fire cure to your cabin fever. Snowdown Comic Excelsior-Style Amber Lager will be available in the Durango area on draft and in limited 6-packs of 12 oz. cans beginning Friday, January 4.
The Beer
Snowdown Comic Can was brewed to celebrate and commemorate the 41st Annual Snowdown and coincide with the 2019 theme, A Comic Con Snowdown. An amber lager packed with roasted, malty sweetness— Snowdown Comic Can is expertly balanced with a dry bitterness from just the right touch of noble and citrus hop aromas and weighs in at sessionable 5.3% ABV and 28 IBUs.
Snowdown Comic Excelsior-Style Amber Lager will be released on draft and in cans at Ska’s Durango World Headquarters on Friday, January 4 at 5pm. Guests can buy two cans for $5 at this event, which will also feature special giveaways. Capes are encouraged.
The Celebration
Durango has been hosting a Snowdown celebration each winter for over 40 years. More that 100 events and activities are crammed into a 5-day window (January 30- February 3). Beard growing contests, joke off, hot wing eating contest, beer plunge, outhouse stuffing and a light parade are all on the agenda. The festival spreads across town, with many local businesses hosting celebrations and events.
For more information on Snowdown Comic Can and Ska Brewing contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT SKA BREWING
Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.