Fresh Beer, Iconic Music, and Art All Over: Ska Brewing Is 28 Years Old

DURANGO, CO— Many of Ska Brewing’s friends in the beer, music, and art industries will gather on September 8 and 9 in Durango, Colorado to celebrate 28 years of Ska beer. The weekend of shenanigans will include an art show by the one-and-only Nan Coffey, multiple collaboration beers, and the annual Brewers Invitational and Anniversary party that Fishbone will headline. 

Now for the second year, San Diego-based contemporary artist Nan Coffey will make a ska-punk-rock pilgrimage to Durango to help Ska kick off the anniversary weekend with an art show on the second floor of Ska’s World Headquarters. Nan’s style that she calls “Art All Over” has caught the interest of many Ska and Punk bands who she’s produced art for over the years, including The Specials, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Less Than Jake, Frank Turner and of course, Fishbone. Meet Nan, get signed prints, and get the party started on Friday, September 8 from 4 to 7pm. 

Tickets are still available for the Ska Brewing Brewers Invitational and Anniversary slated for Saturday, September 9. The celebration will feature headliner Fishbone with guests Catbite and The Dendrites, as well as 28 of Ska’s brewery friends pouring their beers. Several of these beers are collaborations made with Anarchy Brewing, Goldspot Brewing, and Guanella Pass Brewery especially for the occasion. Guests can also sample some of Ska’s newest beer releases: Double Modus Hoperandi and its fresh hopped sister featuring Billy Goat Hop Farm hops, Ska Cold Pale, and the 2023 batch of Oktoberfest. 

For more information about Ska Brewing’s 28th anniversary weekend celebration, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. Media inquiring about The Art of Nan Coffey can contact Coffey at info@nanwashere.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 Fort Lewis College Debut Skyhawk Single Hop Sultana IPA To Showcase Hop Research

DURANGO, CO— After months of hop research and experimentation, Ska Brewing and the Fort Lewis College Chemistry Department are pleased to present Skyhawk Single Hop Sultana IPA just in time for graduation weekend. 

Articulate detail was taken to choose the hop in the Skyhawk Single Hop Sultana IPA. This IPA is the product of undergraduate research on hop biotransformation, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. It’s a full-bodied, luscious IPA rich with huge tropical notes of pineapple and mango that weighs in at 6.50% ABV. 

This collaboration seeks to understand how different hops alter the taste and aroma of beer, reducing the dependency on trial and error, and wasted hops. “We’ve been really excited about this research because it furthers our analytical view of hop varieties, transcending a deeper understanding of how hops perform in the brewing process beyond just flavors and aromas in the resulting beer,” says Ska Brewing Brewmaster Steve Breezley. “This is knowledge we can only gain through trials that we’re thrilled to have Fort Lewis as a partner for.” 

“I really appreciate the environmental science perspective on this project because that is really the end goal,” says Callie A. Cole, PhD  Associate Professor at Fort Lewis College Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. “By developing these methods with Ska Brewing, we are hoping to ultimately have a positive environmental impact by increasing the efficiency of hopped beer production and reducing the demand on hops. It’s why people will fund this research. It’s a strong motivation for Ska to be involved as well as other breweries to be interested in this data.” 

Skyhawk Single Hop Sultana IPA will tap on Fort Lewis’ 2022 commencement day, Saturday May 14, at Ska Brewing at 11am. The beer will be on draft only while supplies last.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about this research partnership and the resulting beer. 

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 FORT LEWIS COLLEGE

As the Four Corners’ stronghold of academic excellence, Fort Lewis College blends small class sizes, engaged faculty, and unparalleled research opportunities to help students earn college degrees and chase dreams. Guided by real-world experiences and a bountiful landscape, our students develop critical thinking and communication skills to fuel further studies or rewarding careers. A broad range of subjects and diverse student body weave cross-cultural knowledge throughout signature programs focused on environmental studies, education, the health sciences, creative arts, and business administration. Find an education to live by at FLC.

Spring Returns to Durango in a can

DURANGO, CO– Some call it springing forward, others say the start of patio weather, and in Southwest Colorado this time of year has come to be known as Mexican Logger season. 2022 marks the twenty third year that Ska Brewing has brewed the original craft lager, and a return to normalcy for the brewery that hasn’t celebrated this release for three years. 

Ska has brewed this easy-drinking light lager since 1999, and received many accolades for it since— including Great American Beer Festival® awards in the International Style Pilsner category in 2015 and 2016. It’s crisp and clean, cold fermented with a lager yeast strain from Mexico City and weighing in at a crushable 5 percent ABV.

Ska is thrilled to celebrate the kickoff of spring with this beer release on Thursday, March 31. Durango locals The Lawn Chair Kings will play beginning at 5pm, and brewery-goers can expect beer and food specials to celebrate the occasion. “Without this party to kickoff the season, I just wake up one day drinking beer in the middle of the summer without realizing it even began,” says Ska Brewing CEO Dave Thibodeau. “Patio season deserves a proper kickoff this year.”

In 2020, Ska released Mexican Logger’s dark-hued sister to satisfy the urge for Mexican-style Lager during the cold months. Mexican-style Lager Dark will go into hibernation now until the fall. 

Media assets for Mexican Logger are available for download here. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with any questions. 

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.

Ska Brewing Cans The Hazy IPA of 2019; Announces Coming Brand Refresh

DURANGO, CO— After much experimentation on its Mod pilot system, Ska Brewing is excited to finally offer a hazy IPA in a can— The Hazy IPA of choice after an array of test batches. This new offering from Ska will be available October 1, and it will go down as the beer that sparked Ska’s coming brand refresh.

Ska’s rendition of this popular beer style is a long time coming, named The Hazy IPA because it’s the recipe that Ska’s brewers determined would go in a can after many different batches. This 6.5% ABV, full-bodied New England-styled IPA is rich with juicy and citrus-forward tropical notes obtained through a variety of proprietary hopping techniques.

Unlike Ska’s other canned offerings, there’s not a character or a punny name associated with this beer style. Instead the artwork pops with bold colors and Ska’s trademark checkerboard stripe that wraps the can. “When we put all of these comic book elements together, we realized this was a good direction to ultimately refresh our entire line of beer cans,” says Ska’s co-founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau. 

The Hazy IPA will release in cans and on draft at Ska’s World Headquarters on October 1. This beer will also be available in canned 6-packs and on draft in select accounts across Ska’s 13-state distribution footprint. The Hazy IPA cans are the first glimpse at Ska’s refresh of select brands with announcements to follow in coming months. 

For more information about Ska Brewing or its new hazy offering, 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, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Welcomes Autumn With Euphoria Cans

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s seasonal Euphoria Pale Ale returns to the brewery’s World Headquarters this Thursday during Ska-BQ, and hits shelves in thirteen states next week. This highly anticipated beer release serves as Durango’s unofficial kickoff into winter.

Euphoria’s big malt backbone meets caramel sweetness and just a touch of chocolate, with epic grapefruit hop aroma and flavor provided by a huge dry hop addition that all comes together to make it a perfect beer for those long lift rides.  

Both known as craft creators in their respective industries, Ska Brewing and Venture Snowboards began a partnership about 15 years ago. “Ska takes the same approach in crafting their beer, and we're both based in the San Juan Mountains, so teaming up seemed like a natural. Euphoria is named after Venture’s powder board - you get the same heady feeling drinking it as you do floating through the deep stuff on a blower powder day,” explains Lisa Branner from Venture.

“Euphoria comes in perfect time for the Broncos season,” says Ska Brewing’s Sales and Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “We’re officially ready for football now.” 

Celebrate the upcoming season with Ska Brewing this Thursday, September 12 at Ska-BQ the brewery’s World Headquarters at 5pm. Ska and Venture Snowboards will debut this year’s custom ska-themed snowboard and host a Euphoria celebration in November— more information will soon be available about this event at skabrewing.com.

Find Euphoria in 6-packs in all thirteen of Ska’s distribution states through colder months. Contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com with any more questions about this beer’s backstory or availability. 

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, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Debuts Skagua Sparkling Water In Cans

DURANGO, CO— Skagua, Ska Brewing’s house-made sparkling water, is hitting cans for the first time. This non-alcoholic, Ska Tasting Room favorite will be available locally in three flavor varieties beginning on July 19. 

Skagua has been a staple beverage at Ska for more than a decade now. “A can in our hands has become second nature,” says Ska’s co-founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau. “A while ago we realized we needed non-alcoholic bubbles to start the day, and we’ve had Skagua on tap at our World Headquarters since. Grapefruit and Lemon especially have become favorites of Durango’s families searching for a healthy, hydrating alternative to sugary carbonated drinks.”

Skagua cans will be available in three flavors: Grapefruit, Lemon, and Watermelon. Grapefruit and Lemon are lightly sweetened with only 25 calories per serving. Watermelon Skagua is entirely sugar-free and has zero calories. All Skaguas are gluten-free and made with non-GMO ingredients. 

Beginning Friday, Skagua will be available in canned 6-packs for purchase at Ska’s World Headquarters and local establishments such as Nature’s Oasis. Individual cans of Skagua can also be found on restaurant menus in the Durango area. 

Find Skagua on Instagram at @drinkskagua. For more information about Ska Brewing or the new Skagua cans, 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, music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Groundbreaking Modus Hoperandi IPA in a can

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing, home to Colorado’s OG IPA in a can, is celebrating 10 years of its Modus Hoperandi recipe with custom label artwork, specialty merchandise, and a summer full of Modus events and specials. Bring on the Summer of Modus. 

A nod to its punny name, Modus Hoperandi was the first of many India Pale Ales that helped establish Ska as a skilled IPA house, and one of the country’s original canned IPAs when it debuted in 2009. To-date, this beer is one of Ska and Colorado’s most award-winning, with recognitions in seven national and another seven international beer award programs— including the Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival and the European Beer Star. Modus will go down as the first canned IPA available in Sweden, and a convert beer for many a macro fizzy lager drinker in Colorado and beyond. Earlier this year, USA Today called Modus one of America’s most delicious beers. 

Modus Hoperandi is a beer that the Ska team has put the most effort into developing, says Ska Brewing co-founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau. It was a rigorous process that included blind tasting every Colorado IPA they could get their hands on. “We knew that we wanted pine, and citrus, and Ska staff palates lead us toward Modus’ bold flavor and 6.8 percent ABV,” he adds.

Ska is celebrating the 10th anniversary of this groundbreaking IPA in a can with a limited Modus Hoperandi and Modus Mandarina 12-pack (six of each IPA) and custom cans, with deals and events all summer long.

Share your Modus story with the hashtag #mymodusmemories and follow along to celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of Colorado’s favorite IPAs. 

For more information, 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.

Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers Launch Boomerang Barrel Program

DURANGO, CO— The first of Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers’ Boomerang series beers, Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Barrel No. 394, is now available at Animas Wine & Spirits. The beer, a 17% ABV Imperial Stout, was aged in a Peach Street Distillers whiskey barrel hand selected by the owners of Animas Wine & Spirits as part of the brewery and distillery’s new small-batch program.

The new Boomerang series is one more way for sister companies Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers to collaborate with one another. Within this series the companies plan to invite key accounts to choose their own barrels at Peach Street for which specialty beers will age, to be served exclusively for sale at each respective business. “This is a great opportunity to do something unique in the craft world, where people from both productions teams can collaborate on styles and flavors to match the barrel character to the beer they will be filled with,” says Peach Street Director of Sales Dustin LeMoine. “Buyers at exceptional liquor stores know their customers better than anyone, and with their input we can put together a program that combines craft interests from all over the palate, keeps things Colorado local from grain to glass (and shelf), and tastes pretty damn amazing… Why wouldn't we?”

The first of the Boomerang Series beers is Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Barrel No. 394, a 17% ABV Imperial Stout. This is the highest ABV beer that Ska Brewing has brewed in almost 24 years of business.

Currently in the works for the Boomerang program are a prickly pear sour ale in Peach Street Anjeo-aged Dagave Gold barrels, several twists on giant imperial stouts in various Whiskey barrels, an Imperial Maple Brown. “This is just the beginning,” LeMoine adds. “Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers are focused on elevating the game of barrel aging in Colorado.”

To learn more about Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers’ Boomerang program, 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 awardwinning 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.

Ska Brewing Announces 24th Anniversary Invitational Music Lineup feat. Mustard Plug, The Toasters, and The Aggrolites

Photo by The Brewtography Project

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s 24th annual anniversary invitational will feature a triple threat of punk and ska bands— Mustard Plug, The Toasters,  and The Aggrolites— to play on Saturday, September 7 at the company’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado.

Kicking off the celebration is Mustard Plug, a 22-year-old punk-influenced Ska band from the midwest that most recently debuted their new album Can’t Contain It. 

Next up is The Toasters, who will return to Durango for the third time. This OG third-wave ska band from NYC circa 1981 played their time-honored classics from albums like Skaboom and Thrill Me Up at Ska’s 16th and 21st anniversary celebrations. 

Then to perform are The Aggrolites, a compilation of two bands, one reggae and one ska in genre, that came together in Los Angeles in 2002 to create the soul and funk-inspired “dirty reggae music” that they’re known for. 

“Our anniversary party is my favorite day of the year, and it only gets better with age,” says Ska Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “It brings together all of our brewery friends with some of our favorite bands, and gives us a chance to celebrate with all of our fans.”

Tickets for the Ska Brewing 24th Anniversary Invitational will go on sale on June 3, and Ska will announce the list of their brewery friends that will pour at the celebration later this summer. 

For more information, 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.

Ska Brewing and Rancid Brewstomper Golden Ale Debuts at Bash Music & Craft Beer Festival May 11

PHOENIX, AZ— Brewstomper Golden Ale, brewed by Ska Brewing and Rancid, will debut at The Bash Music & Craft Beer Festival’s first show at Margaret T. Hance Park in Phoenix on Saturday, May 11. The beer will be available in cans at all of the festival shows this season.

At 5% ABV Brewstomper is a crisp, refreshing golden ale designed to be enjoyed with music and friends, the type of beer that doesn’t dominate the conversation, it simply enhances it. While the hops and malt work quietly backstage without bravado, the show certainly couldn’t go on without them.

Brewstomper will be available on tap at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado on May 10 at 5pm. Cans of the newly released beer will be 2 for $5 at this tapping event. Expect some Rancid music in the background.

Fans of the band and the brewery can also find Brewstomper in canned 6-packs across Ska’s distribution footprint beginning next week. It will be available in limited quantities in Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah.

To learn more about Brewstomper, and with any other media inquiries about Ska Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

Find the full Bash Music & Craft Beer Festival schedule at www.thebashfestival.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.

Ska Brewing and Rancid Collaborate on Brewstomper Golden Ale

DURANGO, CO— Introducing Brewstomper Golden Ale, brewed by Ska the brewery and Rancid the band. This crushable crowd-pleaser is set to debut at The Bash Music & Craft Beer Festival early this summer. In April, the brewery and the band will brew the beer for release at the first show, headlined by Rancid, in Phoenix on May 11.

“Rancid and Op Ivy (both founded by Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong), provided the soundtrack to our lives as we were planning out the brewery in the early ‘90s,” said Dave Thibodeau, co-founder of Ska. “Their music, along with a heavy dose of an unnamed American light lager, really are the roots of what has become Ska’s World Headquarters today.” 

Both the beer and its can design, taken from Rancid’s second album Let’s Go, evoke a sense of punk rock nostalgia, bringing you back to the days of sweaty, indie garage shows and oodles of easy drinking beers,” said Thibodeau. “This is a beer concept we should have brewed up a long time ago, and we have Rancid to thank for making it happen.”

“Working with Ska was really was a no-brainer,” said Freeman. “They make great beer and they‘ve got that Do-Shit-Yourselves ethos that’s woven into all of our DNA.”

It’s been no secret that the Ska Brewing crew are massive Rancid fans, with not-so-subtle nods to Freeman and Armstrong over the years via beers such as Hoperation Ivy and most recently Rue B. Soho— but it wasn’t until Ska’s sales characters, Kristen Muraro and Arlo Grammatica “found” their way backstage at a Rancid show that discussions of collaboration began. Many beers and a couple shows later, Brewstomper Golden Ale will debut this summer. 

At 5% ABV Brewstomper is a crisp, refreshing golden ale designed to be enjoyed with music and friends, the type of beer that doesn’t dominate the conversation, it simply enhances it. While the hops and malt work quietly backstage without bravado, the show certainly couldn’t go on without them. 

Brewstomper Golden Ale will be the featured beer throughout the summer at the 2019 Bash Music & Craft Beer Festival, with Rancid as headliners joined by Pennywise, The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, L7, and more. Brewstomper will also be available in cans throughout all of Ska’s markets. 

For more information about Brewstomper Golden Ale, 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.

Ska Brewing's Pearody Returns For Spring

DURANGO, CO - Ska Brewing’s Pearody Ale hits the brewery’s World Headquarters in cans this week and will be more widely available this year in 12 oz 6-packs across Ska’s 13-state distribution footprint seasonally while supplies last. 

A crisp, refreshing ale brewed with pears, this beer is hopped with Perle, Tettnang, and Citra hops. Pearody’s champagne-like qualities stem from its creation as a celebratory beer for the City of Durango’s 40th Snowdown festival last year. “I get asked all the time when we’re bringing Pearody back, and now I have an answer,” says Ska Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “This beer was so popular that we decided to share it with all of our markets.” 

Packed full of fresh fruit and hop flavors and sitting at a sessionable 4.5% ABV, this beer is a clutch sidekick for any winter or springtime activity. 

Pearody will be available seasonally in canned 6-packs across Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah.

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.

Ska Brewing Launches Distribution in Oklahoma

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing beers are now available in Oklahoma via Boardwalk Distribution, Oklahoma’s locally owned and operated independent craft distribution house. This new market brings the brewery’s state distribution count to thirteen.

Cans and drafts of True Blonde Ale, Rue B Soho, Euphoria, Modus Hoperandi, Modus Mandarina, Pink Vapor Stew, and Ska’s latest year-round release Moral Panic hit Oklahoma this week, as did Ska’s Mixed- Up and Hoptions IPA 12-packs. Seasonals like Mexican Logger will be available in Oklahoma as well.

"Boardwalk Distribution is more than excited to team up with Ska Brewing for distribution across the state of Oklahoma,” says Freddy Lamport Vice President of Boardwalk’s Beer Division. “Ska Brewing has been one of those amazing breweries that has always been outside the Okie consumer's hands... well not any more! We believe their brand, mantra and style is in perfect alignment with our core beliefs and are very happy to welcome them to our portfolio.”

Ska’s distribution in the Sooner State is a long time coming for brewery Co-Owner and Oklahoma native Matt Vincent. “The laws in the state allow better opportunities for good, cold beer to be imported into it... Plus my mom is sick of driving to Kansas to buy Ska beer.”

In January, members of the Ska Brewing crew will head to Oklahoma to drink Ska beer at several launch events. More details on these shenanigans will soon be available on Ska’s website and social media channels.

Ska Brewing distributes its award-winning beers in thirteen states— Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and now Oklahoma.

For more information about 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.

Ska Brewing True Blonde Named 2019 Good Food Awards Finalist

DURANGO, CO— In November, Ska Brewing’s True Blonde, the brewery’s most decorated beer, was named a finalist for the 2019 Good Food Awards. 

2019 marks the ninth year for the Good Food Awards. This platform recognizes to tasty, authentic and responsible food producers in 16 categories: beer, spirits, cider, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, confections, fish, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks and elixirs. This year’s competition saw 2035 entries. Ska True Blonde Ale is one of 21 of finalists in the Good Food Awards beer category, and the only brewery in the finalist list from Colorado.

Ska’s True Blonde is one of its oldest and most decorated beer recipes. It’s a crisp, medium-bodied blonde ale that is crafted with honey from Durango’s specialty honey producer, Honeyville. True Blonde has been the recipient of four Great American Beer Festival® medals and two World Beer Cup® awards. It has also been recognized at the Colorado State Fair, the LA County Fair,  the European Beer Star awards, the Australian International Beer Awards, and the L.A. International Beer Competition. 

The 2019 Good Food Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 11, 2019, at a 1,000 person gala in the historic San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, followed by two days of celebration including the public Good Food Awards Marketplace

For more information about Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. For more information about the Good Food Awards, contact Katherine Harris at katherine@goodfoodfdn.org.

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 including Modus Hoperandi, Mexican Logger, Euphoria and Pinstripe. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit skabrewing.com.

ABOUT GOOD FOOD AWARDS 

The Good Food Awards (GFA) celebrate exceptional American craft food and drink producers who create distinctive, handcrafted, and sustainable products. The GFA brings together thought leaders from every sector of the food industry to choose the most delicious products from all regions of the country in a blind tasting. Products are evaluated by region, allowing the GFA to showcase the rich variety of terroirs of the nation’s food culture, elevating craft producers with the ultimate aim of stimulating local food economies. After the tasting, high-scoring producers are closely vetted for compliance with GFA requirements for sustainable production practices. Winners and runners-up are evaluated by the Good Food Foundation and announced each January at the Awards Ceremony. Learn more at goodfoodfdn.org.

Ska Brewing Releases Barrel-Aged Beers Series No. 2, Bumpier & Grindier

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing don’t see nothin’ wrong with a little bit of bump n’ grind. So much in fact, the brewers decided to bump up their delicious, award-winning Steel Toe Milk Stout like, age it it bourbon barrels, and blend it with local cold-brewed coffee to create Bumpier & Grindier Imperial Coffee Cream Stout, available in 500 ml bombers for one day only.

THE BEER

Bumpier & Grindier was aged American Oak Bourbon Barrels from their friends and long time sister company, Peach Street Distillers, then blended it with hand-selected roasts of Desert Sun Roasters' cold-brewed coffee. The result is a Bumpier & Grindier Imperial Coffee Cream Stout; the 2nd installation in Ska’s Barrel-Aged Beers program—following the brewery’s Whiskey Sour released earlier this year.

“We decided to call upon two of our friends for this second installation of our Barrel-Aged Beers series to help make it even more memorable,” explains Ska Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “Our sister company, Peach Street Distillers, hold a very close place with us at Ska Brewing. We’ve also have had a long relationship with our neighbors at Desert Sun Roasters and used their coffee as the key ingredient for our original Bump n’ Grind coffee stout— it only seemed natural to rope them in on this even Bumpier & Grindier iteration.”

THE EVENT

Bumpier & Grindier will be available in 500 mL bottles at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado on Friday, November 16. Guests can reserve their bottles for an exclusive beer and food pairing that will take place from 5 to 7pm featuring unique, limited edition Ska beers and an opportunity to meet the brewers and ask questions. $12.99 reserves your bottle at the table– get yours by emailing kira@skabrewing.com or calling 970-247-5792.

For more information on Ska Brewing and their Barrel-Aged Beer program 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, Rue B. Soho and the Mod Project— beers with varying levels of tartness to complement the blend of local fruits used in producing them. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Reallocates Distribution Markets, Exits Texas

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing has ceased beer sales in the great state of Texas, refining its distribution footprint to twelve states. This change will allow the brewery to focus more on its local, regional markets.

Ska might be the largest brewery in the Four Corners; however the Durango-born company still produces a relatively small amount of beer— approximately 34,000 BBL annually. Brewing near capacity coupled with the challenges of operating a brewery in a remote location led to Ska’s decision to reallocate its markets. 

“Crafting beer in the mountains makes for some big logistical challenges, and unfortunately Texas has been tough,” Ska Brewing Co-Founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau says. “Quite frankly if we ever want to enter this market again we are going to have to allocate more resources and brew and sell a lot more beer.”

Ska Brewing maintains a great relationship with its Texas distribution company Ben E. Keith Beverages, and is proud to welcome a legion of Texas-based guests to its Durango World Headquarters all year long. 

Ska Brewing beers are currently available across Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah. 

For more information about 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. Ska has long been a herald for sustainable brewing practices— its World Headquarters are wind-powered and earlier in 2018 Ska decked out its roof with 223 solar panels. For information, more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Decks Out World Headquarters Roof With 223 Solar Panels

photo by Shaw Solar

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing is excited to announce the installation of 223 solar panels courtesy of Shaw Solar at its World Headquarters, just in time for Summer Solstice. These new solar panels will generate enough energy to brew approximately 545,000 pints each year. 

The brewery has partnered with Durango’s Shaw Solar to install a grid-tied solar power system on as much of the surface area of its roof as possible— 68 kilowatts from 223 panels to be exact. 

These new solar panels join the insulation in the brewery’s walls made out of blue jeans, the bar and tables made from bowling alley lanes, and grass and flowers quenched by recycled water at Ska’s World Headquarters as part of the company’s long-term sustainability plan. They will provide about a quarter of the brewery’s electricity. The rest is wind-powered. 

“This project with Shaw was a long time coming,” says Ska Founder Dave Thibodeau. “We’ve always aligned our company mission with sustainability efforts, especially those that directly impact Durango. Now we can proudly say that our independently owned craft brewery is independent from the grid.” 

Ska Brewing’s new solar panel installation is now complete, and brewery guests can celebrate at this evening’s Sol-BQ event at World Headquarters with some live punk/ska music from Warsaw Poland Bro that begins at 5pm.

If you have questions about Ska’s new solar panels, or any of its sustainability initiatives, 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.

ABOUT SHAW SOLAR

Shaw Solar is Durango's leading full-service solar contracting company, specializing in both residential and commercial projects. Known for their creative solar solutions, Shaw Solar has spent the past two decades bringing "Solar Power to the People", and as a result has installed roughly half of the solar in our area, including LPEA's first grid-tied system back in 2001 and first Solar Garden in 2015. Learn more at shawsolar.com. 

Ska Brewing Initiates Save The San Juans Saturday on June 23 to Support 416 Fire Relief

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing has organized Save the San Juans Saturday to support relief efforts for the 416 fire in Durango. This Saturday June 23, breweries across the state are encouraged to donate funds from pint sales to Durango’s Community Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). The fundraising goal for the fund is $500,000.

This Saturday, June 23 one dollar from every pint sold at Ska Brewing will be donated to CERF. The brewery has initiated Save The San Juans Saturday to catalyze statewide brewery support. More than 25 brewing companies, bars, and restaurants have joined the effort. 

Odell Brewing will donate $1 from every pint of Colorado Lager sold in its Fort Collins and RiNo Denver homes to fire relief on Saturday, too.

From now through Saturday, one dollar from every Oskar Blues pint sold at the Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont and Oskar Blues Boulder taprooms will support the fund. All sales of CANundrum mixed 12-packs sold to-go from Oskar Blues’ Boulder and Longmont taprooms will be donated as well. “Oskar Blues and SKA are cut from the same unconventional ColoRADo cloth and have built our breweries in places we love to play in the outdoors.  Hell, you can’t spell oSKAr without SKA.  We’re proud to help lead the charge in helping their community respond to the 416 fire with a week of fundraising at our taprooms,” says Chad Melis, Marketing Director for Oskar Blues Brewery.

From now through the end of June, New Belgium Brewing is matching tips and donations in its Fort Collins tasting room.

The current list of companies participating in Save The San Juans Saturday is on the following page. All fundraiser details are listed here. Breweries interested in hosting events or fundraisers can email kristen@skabrewing.com for more information.

For more information about Ska Brewing or its fire relief efforts, 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.

Ska Brewing Announces Anniversary Music Lineup, with Headliner Big D and the Kids Table

photo courtesy Big D and the Kid's Table

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing will host its 23rd anniversary on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Thirty five of Ska’s closest brewery friends will pour specialty beers at this event, which will feature music headliner Big D and the Kids Table. Tickets to Ska’s anniversary party go on sale June 11 at 9am MST via Brown Paper Tickets and at the brewery while supplies last.

This annual beer and music festival at Ska Brewing’s World Headquarters (225 Girard St, Durango, CO 81303) sells out every year. This year’s guests can look forward to some gritty, witty ska-punk-stroll-dub anthems by Big D and The Kids Table out of Boston, as well as performances by the Doped Up Dollies and a yet-to-be-announced third band. 

“It’s our goal to collaborate with a breadth of ska-inspired bands, and on year 23 we hope to bring some fresh sound to town” says Ska Brewing Founder Dave Thibodeau about Big D and the Kids Table, who brings their lively sound to Durango this fall. “We are excited to have these guys and gals play at the brewery for the first time.” 

This anniversary celebration will also include pours from Telluride Brewing, Left Hand Brewing, Stone Brewing, Marble Brewing, and more than 30 others, as well as special beer releases from Ska. Tickets cost $45 per person and includes a commemorative pint glass, tasters of all of the beers and live music, of course. All proceeds for this celebration go to La Plata Open Space Conservancy.

For more information about Ska Brewing or its infamous anniversary celebration, 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, Rue B. Soho and the Mod Project— beers with varying levels of tartness to complement the blend of local fruits used in producing them. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

ABOUT BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE

Big D and the Kids Table has paved their own way spreading their music to The States, England, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Australia and South East Asia since their beginning in 1996. Starting as a ska-punk band they have released more than 13 albums ranging styles of dub, thrash, reggae and their own concoction Stroll: hopscotch, double-dutch, northern soul. Find the band online at bigdandthekidstable.com.