Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing Release 2023 Faceplant For The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
“The Faceplant partnership is the essence of what Durango is all about.” — IHBC Race Director Ian Burnett
Brew day at Steamworks Brewing
DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing Co. will release the 2023 batch of Faceplant on Friday, May 26 at both brewery locations. This year’s recipe will again include Tailwind Nutrition electrolytes.
This collaboration beer, the original joint effort, is a 27 year-long tradition between the two breweries. Last year, Durango local company Tailwind Nutrition got on board to celebrate 50 years of this iconic bike race with the addition of their orange blossom electrolytes in the recipe. “This year’s Faceplant is very similar to last year in that it’s an ale-lager hybrid that has a pleasant orange citrus flavor and aroma and a slightly orange hue. The citrus character is derived from the use of Mandarina Bavaria hops, Tailwind’s mandarin electrolyte mix, sweet orange peels and orange blossom honey,” says Steamworks Head Brewer Ken Martin. “At about 6% ABV it should be light, refreshing, and… hydrating?”
"The Faceplant partnership is the essence of what Durango is all about," says IHBC Race Director Ian Burnett. "It really shows the amazing respect and support Durango has to bring together two breweries in the same town to create a beer. This support is the kind of fun partnership that has kept the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic going for 51 years."
On Friday, May 26 local and visiting cyclists are invited to the Iron Horse Unofficial Bike Rally & Tapping Party at Ska Brewing at 4:20pm. The event includes a free commemorative pint glass, a Faceplant beer, tunes by DJ Mountain Menace, and a chance to win door prizes for all riders 21 and over before a 3-mile group ride to Steamworks Brewing.
The 2023 batch of Faceplant Lager is available on-tap only at Ska and Steamworks for Iron Horse Weekend and while supplies last.
Media inquiring about Ska Brewing can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT THE IRON HORSE BIKE CLASSIC
The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is a 3-day cycling festival, which includes a 47-mile bike race and tour over two 10,000’ passes from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. The tradition began in 1971 when Tom Mayer challenged his brother Jim to see if he could ride the route faster than the train. Today the Iron Horse includes mountain bike and gravel events as well as numerous other cycling festivities around town. ironhorsebicycleclassic.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 skabrewing.com.
ABOUT STEAMWORKS BREWING COMPANY
Steamworks Brewing Company has been making award-winning beer in Durango for over 25 years. With 19 taps to choose from at their brewpub just one block off Main Avenue in historic downtown, there’s always a craft beer style available for every palate to pair with their eclectic food menu options. Visit steamworksbrewing.com to see what’s currently on tap and to view our extensive food menu.
ABOUT TAILWIND NUTRITION
Celebrating its 11th anniversary in 2023, Tailwind Nutrition manufactures all-natural sports nutrition products that are free of GMOs, dairy, soy, and gluten, are easy to digest, and support an athlete’s fueling and recovery needs during exercise. Owned, operated and manufactured in Durango, CO, Tailwind Nutrition’s specially formulated drink mixes help athletes perform and compete at their highest level without the worry of food allergies or sensitivities. Tailwind is all you need. Really. For more information visit tailwindnutrition.com.
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 and Steamworks Brewing Craft Lager With Electrolytes To Celebrate 50 Years of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Durango craft breweries Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing Co. collaborate on Faceplant beer for local bike race with Tailwind Nutrition electrolytes
DURANGO, CO— Fifty years of Durango’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic calls for an aptly named beer with a boost.
Enter Faceplant. Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing Co. have teamed up annually on a beer to celebrate the Iron Horse, a tradition since 1997. This year in honor of the golden anniversary of Durango’s beloved bike race, the two local breweries collaborated with Tailwind Nutrition to craft a lager with electrolytes. They brewed this low calorie sipper with Mandarina Bavaria hops that balance out the addition of orange blossom honey.
“Tailwind is excited for our first-ever nutrition and beer collaboration to take place during one of the biggest celebratory months in Durango, and with iconic local breweries," said Jeff Vierling, Co-Founder of Tailwind Nutrition. "We hope Faceplant lager brings riders and community members together in celebration of the 50th Iron Horse — while replenishing some electrolytes. We want to thank Ska and Steamworks for including us in this highly anticipated annual collaboration, and for keeping it close to home."
Faceplant is available in cans at Ska, Steamworks, and local liquor stores beginning Friday, May 6. Find it on tap at both breweries on May 27 for Iron Horse Weekend.
For more information about Faceplant, or to connect with the breweries for interviews, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. Media assets are available for download here.
ABOUT THE IRON HORSE BIKE CLASSIC
What started as a competition among two brothers has become a badge of honor that many Four Corners locals and visitors alike claim each year as they ride road, gravel, and mountain paths from Durango to Silverton and Ouray. Learn more about this infamous bike challenge at ironhorsebicycleclassic.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 skabrewing.com.
ABOUT STEAMWORKS BREWING COMPANY
Steamworks Brewing Company has been making award-winning beer in Durango for over 25 years. With 19 taps to choose from at their brewpub just one block off Main Avenue in historic downtown, there’s always a craft beer style available for every palate to pair with their eclectic food menu options. Visit steamworksbrewing.com to see what’s currently on tap and to view our extensive food menu.
ABOUT TAILWIND NUTRITION
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month, Tailwind Nutrition has been manufacturing all-natural sports nutrition products that are free of GMOs, dairy, soy, and gluten, are easy to digest, and support an athlete’s fueling and recovery needs during exercise. Owned, operated and manufactured in Durango, CO, Tailwind Nutrition’s specially formulated drink mixes help athletes perform and compete at their highest level without the worry of food allergies or sensitivities. Tailwind is all you need. Really. For more information visit tailwindnutrition.com.