Deerhammer and Eddyline Brewery Are Building The Crank N’ Hammer Trail In Buena Vista With Distilled Beer
Deerhammer and Eddyline debuted Trail Forge Whiskey last year, a project now five years in the making that has raised $25,000 in funds for the creation of the new Crank 'n Hammer trail in Buena Vista. The next single barrel bottling of Trail Forge will be available in May.
BUENA VISTA, CO— Deerhammer and Eddyline debuted Trail Forge last year, a project now five years in the making that has raised $25,000 in funds for the creation of the new Crank 'n Hammer trail in Buena Vista. The next single barrel bottling of Trail Forge will be available in May.
The concept for Trail Forge was conceived in 2018 as an unexpected excess of IPA cans that Eddyline wanted to make good use of while the beer was fresh. A squad of volunteers from the Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition hand poured each of these cans, 10,000 gallons worth, of Crank Yanker into the still at Deerhammer. “All of the volunteers thought it was so awesome that this work was going to make whiskey that was going to make trails,” says Deerhammer Founder & Owner Lenny Eckstein. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
The Crank n’ Hammer trail is a 2.1 mile section connecting Camp Elevation South with Fistful of Dollars, a loop that will avoid car traffic on CR 304. Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado will be building a portion of this highly anticipated bikeway on May 13 and 14, and the full distance is slated for completion during the upcoming warm months.
Buena Vista institutions Deerhammer and Eddyline were both founded in part because of the surrounding Arkansas Valley trail system that they biked on long before they crafted spirits and beers for the growing number of locals and visitors in the area. Owners Lenny Eckstein of Deerhammer and Brian England of Eddyline have only gotten more passionate about these nearby trails as they raise their families in the area, and cultivate community over pints and drams aprés mountain biking. Over the years they have collaborated on various barrel aged beer projects, with their latest endeavor to craft Deerhammer whiskey from Eddyline beer inspired by and in support of Buena Vista’s extensive trail system.
This unique category of spirits— referred to Bierschnapps in Germany– is beer distilled into spirit. The grain bill on its own might yield a malt whiskey, “but with the flavor addition of the hops added in the boil and post-fermentation, this spirit takes a turn away from more traditional whiskey notes,” says Eckstein. “It hits a hybrid flavor profile that would likely intrigue any whiskey purist, and at the same time lure in those that typically reach for a hoppy beer rather than a pour of whiskey.”
The latest expression of Trail Forge was aged 4.5 years and will be at a cask strength of 110 proof. “The extra time in the barrel definitely rounds out the typical citrus hop notes into more of a subtle, fruit-forward essence,” says Eckstein. “Cantaloupe meets blueberries meets lemongrass and peppercorn. It almost hits me more like a brandy than a whiskey.”
Created by local mountain biker Brinkley Messick, who has helped to build many trails in Buena Vista and beyond, the collectible Trail Forge label artwork features beer and whiskey elements, and local topography to boot. This second bottling of Trail Forge will become available at Deerhammer and Eddyline in May, just in time to welcome peak mountain biking season in the Arkansas Valley.
For more information about Trail Forge, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT DEERHAMMER
Steeped in Tradition. Crafted in Colorado.
Amy and Lenny Eckstein founded Deerhammer in 2010. Drawn to Buena Vista, Colorado by the whitewater currents of the Arkansas River, their passion for whiskey is driven by that same adventurous spirit. As artisans and business owners, Amy and Lenny’s process is defined by a deep curiosity for the history of spirits and a thoughtful analysis of each individual step of the distilling process. Deerhammer's cornerstone contribution to the field of American craft spirits, Single Malt Whiskey, has become the company's flagship product. Deerhammer also distills Whitewater Whiskey, Buena Vista Brandy, and Dutch Style Gin. Find the distillery online at deerhammer.com.
ABOUT EDDYLINE BREWERY
Eddyline Taproom & Brewery is one of Colorado’s fastest growing microbreweries. Since 2009, Eddyline has been focused on creating unique ales and lagers of the highest quality while representing the state’s outdoor enthusiasts. Our 16-ounce cans are infinitely recyclable, preserve the quality and freshness of the beer and are easily transportable for your favorite outdoor adventures. Eddyline works closely with local groups to help improve trails, river parks, and strongly believes in being an active steward of the local Chaffee County community. Find the brewery online at eddylinebrewing.com.
Eddyline Brewery and Lone Tree Brewing Go Beyond Treeline To Produce New Canned IPA
Beyond Treeline is a bold, experimental Double IPA made with a lot of passion for the Colorado beer community.
COLORADO— Eddyline Brewery and Lone Tree Brewing are proud to premier their new Beyond Treeline IPA, born out of the relationship between the two brewery sales teams.
Eddyline and Lone Tree have long shared a distribution house, Western Distributing, and high-fived at events all over the Front Range and the Arkansas Valley of Colorado. The 2022 Colorado Brewers Guild Collaboration Festival gave them a reason to make a beer together— and to go beyond the horizon. Beyond Treeline is a bold, experimental Double IPA made with a lot of passion for the Colorado beer community.
Hopped with Mandarina Bavaria, and two experimental hops from Hop Breeding Company– Talus™ and the fresh hybrid HBC 586— Beyond Treeline is quenching, with fruit-forward hop aroma, low bitterness, and a soft mouthfeel. Huge peach and stone fruit on the nose meet tropical flavors like guava, pineapple, and coconut in this innovative IPA, all balanced out by subtle oak and herbal notes on the finish. Its beautiful orange, slightly hazy hue is reminiscent of sunset casting on treeline.
Beyond Treeline will debut in cans across Colorado in April with artwork that features Lone Tree’s signature tree design and Eddyline’s hop-bearded can character, who’s sporting backpack stickers for each brewery and a special heart for Colorado craft beer legend Andy Jessen.
Find Beyond Treeline in 16 oz. 6-packs wherever you buy Eddyline and Lone Tree beers in Colorado, and on tap at Eddyline’s tasting rooms in Buena Vista, and Lone Tree Brewing Co. while supplies last.
Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Beyond Treeline IPA.
ABOUT EDDYLINE BREWERY
Eddyline Taproom & Brewery is one of Colorado’s fastest growing microbreweries. Since 2009, Eddyline has been focused on creating unique ales and lagers of the highest quality while representing the state’s outdoor enthusiasts. Our 16-ounce cans are infinitely recyclable, preserve the quality and freshness of the beer and are easily transportable for your favorite outdoor adventures. Eddyline works closely with local groups to help improve trails, river parks, and strongly believes in being an active steward of the local Chaffee County community. Find the brewery online at eddylinebrewing.com.
ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING CO.
Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for a decade. Lone Tree creates community around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers that are sold in cans and on draft across Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.
Eddyline Brewery Releases 2018 Grapefruit Yanker IPA; Expands Buena Vista Tasting Room
The beer comes in at 7.2 percent ABV with a small addition of mango to give it an extra citrus punch.
BUENA VISTA, CO — Eddyline Brewery is excited to announce the release of its seasonal Grapefruit Yanker IPA, a grapefruit infused version of its best selling Crank Yanker IPA.
“Grapefruit Crank Yanker, blew it out of the park for us last year, and we decided to extend its run in 2018,” say’s Eddyline CEO Brian England, “It sold out much faster than we anticipated and we had fans and accounts asking us all winter when it would come back.”
The beer comes in at 7.2 percent ABV with a small addition of mango to give it an extra citrus punch.
“It is the perfect beer to kick off spring, and we plan on making it well into the summer,” says England, "We are excited to be doing what we do best, making great beer for any adventure.”
Eddyline is currently finishing the remodel of its Buena Vista tasting room, adding more seats to help accommodate the area’s bustling increase in business.
“Buena Vista has seen an incredible increase in visitors since we first opened in 2009,” adds England. “We had guests lining out the door all summer and hope by adding a few more seats we can help quench the thirst of the hikers, bikers, and rafters that come in for a well earned pint after a day in the great outdoors.”
Grapefruit Crank Yanker IPA is available at Eddyline’s Buena Vista locations, and in 16 oz. cans across Colorado in cans beginning this week.
For more information about Eddyline Brewery, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT EDDYLINE BREWERY
Eddyline Taproom & Brewery is one of Colorado’s fastest growing microbreweries. Since 2009, Eddyline has been focused on creating unique ales and lagers of the highest quality while representing the state’s outdoor enthusiasts. Our 16-ounce cans are infinitely recyclable, preserve the quality and freshness of the beer and are easily transportable for your favorite outdoor adventures. Eddyline works closely with local groups to help improve trails, river parks, and strongly believes in being an active steward of the local Chaffee County community. Find the brewery online at eddylinebrewing.com.