Strange Craft Big Malty Is Back
Big Malty is an English Strong Ale with 7.5% ABV. Its a smooth, malt-forward beer brewed with seven different malts.
DENVER, CO— Strange Craft’s winter seasonal Big Malty returns after a two-year hiatus to the StrangeWit co-tasting room today at noon.
Big Malty is an English Strong Ale with 7.5% ABV. Its a smooth, malt-forward beer brewed with seven different malts, including Maris Otter, Caramel, Honey, Aromatic and Biscuit barley varieties. Big Malty is also crafted with local wildflower honey from Colorado’s Clark's Honey Farm that adds unique complexity and a touch of perceived sweetness to this winter warmer.
For more information about Big Malty, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER COMPANY
When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers, and taken home multiple Great American Beer Festival® medals and World Beer Cup® awards. Late in 2017, Strange Craft joined forces with Wit’s End Brewing Company to create Denver’s first co-tasting room. Both brands are brewed on Strange Craft’s now 10BBL brewhouse and served at Strange Craft’s original (now shared) space on Zuni Street. Learn more at strangecraft.com.
Wit's End Brewing Releases Ugly Sweater; Celebrates 7th Anniversary + 1 Year of StrangeWit Cohabitation
It’s time to bust out those heinous holiday sweaters and party with the ghosts of beers past, present, and future.
DENVER, CO— Wit’s End Brewing is celebrating seven years in business and one year of cohabitation with the folks at Strange Craft Beer Co. at its Seventh Annual Ugly Sweater Party. It’s time to bust out those heinous holiday sweaters and party with the ghosts of beers past, present, and future. There will be major awards for the ugliest sweater, thirteen Wit’s End beers on tap, and The Little Big Sandwich Truck.
Wit’s End will be celebrating this momentous milestone on Saturday, December 8, 12pm - close. They are pulling out all the stops with the release of their annual Ugly Sweater Belgian Brown Winter Ale. Ugly Sweater is a random mixture of things that appear to be working together in some kind of plan. Loosely based on an English brown ale recipe, we throw in some knick-knacks like roasted pumpkin seeds, palm sugar, and peace on earth. Its rich caramel maltiness is like drinking a Sugar Daddy®, the roasted pumpkin seeds create a creamy nutty texture, and thanks to a Belgian yeast strain, the huge cinnamon and clove notes come through and balance the sweetness.
Additional special tappings to include Ancient Art (a fresh-hopped brut barleywine collaboration with Burns Family Artisan Ales who occupies Wit’s End’s former space), Jean-Claude Van Brett, Kessel Run Imperial Stout, classic recipes including their 2018 GABF® gold medal-winning Belgian-style blonde ale— Jean-Claude Van Blond, and more!
Beers that will be on tap December 8
Ghosts of Beers Past
Wilford, Belgian Oatmeal IPA
Kitchen Sink Porter, American Rye Porter
Ancient Art, Barleywine (cellar vintage)
Kessel Run, Imperial Stout (cellar vintage)
Jean Claude Van Brett, Belgian Blond w/Brettanomyces
Ghosts of Beers Yet To Come
Double Ambition, Double Black Coffee Stout
DDH Scrumtrulescent, Modern IPA
Miami Berliner Vice with Guava
Ghosts of Beers Present
Ugly Sweater, Belgian Winter Ale
Green Man Ale, American IPA
Super FLI.P.A., Black IPA
Lindauer Lager, Urtyp Helles Lager
Jean-Claude Van Blond, Belgian-style Blonde Ale
For more information about Wit’s End’s seventh anniversary and their year of cohabitation with Strange Craft Beer Company, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT WIT’S END BREWING COMPANY
At the dawn of the fourth wave of craft beer, Scott Witsoe launched Wit’s End in 2011 on a one barrel brewhouse. Wit’s End has now earned two Great American Beer Festival® Gold medals and a World Beer Cup® Bronze award. In late 2017, Wit’s End Brewing moved its brewing operations to Strange Craft Beer Company where Tyler Bies is now head brewer of both brewing companies. Wit’s End will remain an artisanal Denver brand that continues to be fueled by dreams and inspired by the limitless potential of craft beer… join Wit’s End on the journey! Witsendbrewing.com.
Where To Shop For Brewery Merch This Season
Discounts and deals at craft breweries on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday
While the shoppers rage the shopping mall on Black Friday, beer lovers can flock to craft breweries for liquid relief from the crazed holiday, specialty beers, and merch deals galore.
Funkwerks Cyber Sale and Black Friday Giveaway
On Friday, November 23 Funkwerks will be offering free tote bags in their tasting room with each purchase of merch and beers to-go while supplies last.
Funkwerks is also offering 20% off all merchandise on Winky’s Warehouse, the brewery’s online store, beginning Friday, November 23 through Monday, November 25. Winky’s Warehouse offers free shipping on all orders and features something for everyone on your lists including apparel, glassware, gift cards, and new custom bottle openers made locally by a taproom regular in Fort Collins. During this season of giving, Funkwerks will be donating 20% of the profits from their shirts, tanks, and hoodies to local water charities.
25% Off at Strange Craft
Get 25% on all merchandise in the StrangeWit tasting room in Denver on Black Friday. While you’re shopping, snag a pour of the Sweet Potato & Green Chili Ale that made its yearly debut on Wednesday, November 21.
Gift Cards + Free Beer at Thirsty Monk
Purchase a $25 gift card at Thirsty Monk and enjoy a beer on the house. Monk also has an array of merch options for the beer lovers in your life, including $12 growlers that come with growler fill cards!
$2 Beers for Shoppers at Call to Arms Brewing
How often do you get discounted beer when you make a Black Friday purchase? Luckily CTA has you covered. On Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, buy any piece of merchandise from Call to Arms and get a $2 core beer.
A Day of Deals at Maxline Brewing
Skip the holiday rush (or reward yourself for enduring it) and head to Maxline where they will be offering a ton of Black Friday specials throughout the day, including 50% off periodic table of Fort Collins t-shirts, and 15% off merchandise from 1 to 2pm.
Black Friday at Brink Brewing
Brink will also have "gift bags" available up for purchase at its Black Friday celebration if you want to jump start your holiday shopping. Brink Brewing will be opening early, and can promise dark beer goodness that will bring you all the warm and fuzzies and won't require being trampled to death in the doorway of a big box retailer.
DIY Gift Sets from Elevation Beer Co.
Nothing says Happy Holidays like beer, especially if it’s Elevation Oil Man with a bag of the coffee that was aged in its barrel or bottles of Red Wine-aged Apis IV with jars of the local honey used in the beer’s production. Get it all at Elevation Beer Company’s tasting room with a beer in hand. If you’re headed to Monarch Mountain, don’t miss Elevation’s beanies and sunshields. Shop online, too!
Join the 1623 Family
1623 Brewing launches their new online store on Black Friday with two items: long-sleeve tees and trucker hats. More to come in 2019. Shop now.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Gear up with KARL for the holidays! Head to the company’s new merch store now until December 14th and use the code KARL50 for free shipping on orders over $50.
Strange Craft Taps 2018 Batch of Gingerbread Man
Strange Craft Beer Co. is gearing up for the holiday season with their annual release of Gingerbread Man, available on draft and in crowlers Wednesday, November 14 at the StrangeWit tasting room.
DENVER, CO— Strange Craft Beer Co. is gearing up for the holiday season with their annual release of Gingerbread Man, available on draft and in crowlers Wednesday, November 14 at the StrangeWit tasting room.
Concocted with sugar, spice, and hops so nice— Gingerbread Man is an American brown ale packed with all the spices and goodies you’d expect from Grandma's gingerbread cookie recipe. Notes of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice culminate to create the perfect company on a cold winter night.
“Gingerbread Man is one of my favorite seasonal beers,” says owner, Tim Myers.” It signals the beginning of the holiday season— and the American Brown style plays so well with Grandma’s cookie recipe spices that it tastes like you’re biting into a Gingerbread cookie. Now if only I could figure out how to get the frosting to stick.”
Gingerbread man will be available on draft and in crowlers to-go at the StrangeWit tasting room while supplies last. Catch the Gingerbread Man before he runs off 'til next year!
For more information about Gingerbread Man or Strange Craft Beer Co. contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER CO.
When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers, and taken home multiple Great American Beer Festival® medals and World Beer Cup® awards. Late in 2017, Strange Craft joined forces with Wit’s End Brewing Company to create Denver’s first co-tasting room. Both brands are brewed on Strange Craft’s now 10BBL brewhouse and served at Strange Craft’s original (now shared) space on Zuni Street. Learn more at strangecraft.com.
(Rad)Craft Night at Strange Craft, Monday September 17
This GABF kickoff event features Colorado beer author Ed Sealover and local wood designer and manufacturer Spooky Bat Designs
RadCraft is taking over Monday night Craft Night at Strange Craft to kick off the 2018 Great American Beer Festival!
Colorado beer author Ed Sealover will join us to sign copies of his book Colorado Excursions with History, Hikes and Hops. From 6-6:15, 21+ guests can enjoy Strange Craft samples while Ed talks shop.
Guests can also enjoy a showcase local wood designer and manufacturer Spooky Bat Designs. Spooky Bat makes custom tap handles, coasters, wooden magnets, wooden bookmarks, and so much more.
The first 20 guests to arrive at this event get a free pretzel necklace-making kit to ready themselves for the Great American Beer Festival!
Strange Craft Beer Co. Taps Official Metropolitan State University Inauguration Beer
Next Peak is a single-hopped Pale Ale brewed to commemorate the formal installation of Janine Davidson, Ph.D. as president of MSU Denver.
Next Peak brew day at Strange Craft
DENVER, CO— Strange Craft Beer Co. is proud to release Next Peak, a single-hopped Pale Ale brewed to commemorate the formal installation of Janine Davidson, Ph.D. as president of MSU Denver. This beer, brewed in collaboration with Metropolitan State’s Beer Industry Program students, faculty and staff, will tap on Tuesday, September 4 at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the university’s new brewing lab.
MSU faculty and staff helped to brew Next Peak at Strange Craft last month alongside brewery owner Tim Myers, who is also an instructor for MSU’s Beer Industry Program. This Pale Ale was crafted with Pale and Vienna malt from Root Shoot Malting Co. and generous additions of Denali hops in the whirlpool and as dry hops. Denali hops deliver huge flavors of pineapple and citrus with a low bitterness. It’s malt profile lends supporting notes of bread and honey. Next Peak finishes dry, crisp, and delicious.
Next Peak will be tapped at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 4 for MSU’s new Beer Industry Program QA/QC Labs in the Tivoli Student Union on campus. This $3.7M project includes the addition of the Quality Analysis & Quality Control (QA/QC) Labs and Brewing Production Labs that are operational alongside a Sensory Analysis Lab, a Microbiological Fermentation Lab, a Packaging Lab, and a Draft Training Center. For more information about the new lab, visit msudenver.edu/beer.
Also on September 4, Next Peak will tap at Strange Craft’s tasting room on Zuni Street. Additionally this beer will be available at the Inauguration Soirée after the official inauguration ceremony for new MSU president Janine Davidson.
For more information about Next Peak or Strange Craft’s partnership with Metropolitan State University, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER CO.
When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers, and taken home two Great American Beer Festival® medals and two World Beer Cup® awards. Visit the brewery online at strangecraft.com.
Strange Craft Beer Co. To Release Watermelon Hefe on July 4
“We only brew enough to get us through the month of July. After that, ya gotta wait until next summer."
DENVER, CO— Strange Craft Beer Co. will release its fifth annual batch of Watermelon Hefe on Wednesday, July 4 at 12pm during the brewery's Fourth of July celebration. Watermelon Hefe will be served in pints at the bar and Crowlers to-go, while supplies last.
This bright and crisp German-style wheat beer is one of the brewery’s most sought-after creations, a refreshing summer delicacy adored for its 5.5 percent ABV drinkability and healthy but not overpowering dose of real watermelon— more than 660 pounds of organic, hand-cut fruit per 10-barrel batch.
"Summer always means watermelon at our house, and Fourth of July always means Watermelon Hefe at Strange," says owner Tim Myers. "But don't wait too long! I always feel terrible disappointing folks that come by for a pint too late in the month. This beer is meant to be enjoyed fresh. We only brew enough to get us through the month of July. After that, ya gotta wait until next summer."
Watermelon Hefe was first brewed in 2013 and bottled annually from 2014 to 2017. This year it will only be available in pints at the brewery and Crowlers to-go. It will tap during the brewery's Fourth of July celebration at which guests can BYO barbecue. Strange Craft will set up a grill and customers are encouraged to picnic at the brewery. The beer garden will be open late that evening for fireworks viewing.
For more information about Strange Craft’s Watermelon Hefe or anything else happening at the brewery this summer, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER CO.
When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers, and taken home two Great American Beer Festival® medals and two World Beer Cup® awards. Visit the brewery online at strangecraft.com.
Strange Craft Beer Co. Turns 8 During 2018 American Craft Beer Week
Strange Craft Beer Co. is turning 8 years old and celebrating with a week of events during American Craft Beer Week.
DENVER, CO— Strange Craft Beer Co. is turning 8 years old and celebrating with a week of events during American Craft Beer Week (May 14 -20) including a Backyard Anniversary Carnival, special beer releases, cellar sales, and more. Don’t forget your party hat.
On Thursday, May 17 Strange Craft will be releasing Pinon Porter: Milagro, a special beer available exclusively to Mug Club members and brewed with fellow Mug Club member Gabe Torres.
Following the Mug Club release, Strange Craft will host a special celebration of their annual Barleywine, Dr. Strangelove, on Friday, May 18. The brewery will have select bombers of the beer for sale and a special vertical flight available of Dr. Strangelove from 2014, ’15, ’16, ’17, and a barrel aged variant from 2015.
The signature event of the week, Strange Craft’s Backyard Anniversary Carnival, will begin at noon on Saturday, May 19 with 10 local breweries in attendance to help celebrate— including Wit’s End Brewing Co., Chain Reaction Brewing Co., Black Sky Brewery, Copper Kettle Brewing Co., CAUTION: Beer Co., The Brew on Broadway, Renegade Brewing, Very Nice Brewing Co., and more. Along with a great list of breweries, the carnival will host a food truck and live music provided by Robby Wicks Band. Tickets to the carnival cost $25 per person and can be purchased at Eventbrite.com.
In addition to the Backyard Anniversary Carnival festivities, Strange Craft is one of the destinations on the Spring Bus Loop on Saturday, May 19. For $5, riders can enjoy unlimited trips between Strange Craft, Seedstock Brewing, Black Sky Brewery, and Renegade Brewing via bus, 2 to 10pm.
After a long week of celebrations, Strange Craft will host a Recovery Brunch on Sunday, May 20. Brewery guests are encouraged to bring in their favorite brunch dish to pair with beermosas that will be available from 12 to 6pm.
For more information about Strange Craft, their Backyard Anniversary Carnival, and other anniversary celebrations contact Aaron Sprengeler at aaron@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER CO.
When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers, and taken home two Great American Beer Festival® medals and two World Beer Cup® awards. Visit the brewery online at strangecraft.com.
Intentional Brett, Nordic Farmhouse Saison, and Piña Collaba— Beers You've Got To Try at the 5th Annual Collaboration Festival
Collaboration Fest sports more beers brewed with craft malt this year than ever before.
Collaboration Festival 2017, photo courtesy The Brewtography Project
Named America's most creative beer festival by Food & Wine, Collaboration Fest is back for the fifth year offering more beers brewed with craft malt than ever before.
More than 10 collaborations were made with Root Shoot Malting Company’s brewery partners crafted beers with Loveland-grown and malted barley for this year’s Collaboration Fest. These beers include Ursula Brewery's and Westbound & Down Brewing Company's Farmhouse IPA that was brewed using 100 percent Root Shoot malts and Citra, Moutere, and Loral Cryo hops; and two hazy IPAs by Lost Highway Brewing Company, with Berthoud Brewing and Peacemaker Brewing, respectively.
Plot your beer festival map. Taste these projects before they're gone...
Strange Craft + Freetail Brewing Co.
Strange Craft got the Collab Fest ball rolling early, the day after GABF to be exact. Jason Davis, the Director of Brewing Ops at Freetail Brewing stuck around after the festival for Denver’s first snow day of the season to help brew what will go down in history as Strange Craft’s first intentional Brett beer. Don’t ask about the unintentional ones. StrangeTail Seven is a malt-forward English IPA was finished in a Red Wine barrels inoculated with a different variety of Brettanomyces in each barrel.
Lone Tree Brewing Company + Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.
Craft malt liquor— it’s all the rage right now. And Collab Fest participants will get to taste one of the finest, crafted by the Billy Dee fans over at Lone Tree Brewing Company with their friends and fellow 40-lovers Cannonball Creek Brewing. This tall beauty was brewed with a traditional grain bill consisting of mostly pilsner malt paired with flaked corn, flaked rice and some dextrose sugar to lighten the body of the beer. A massive amount of Hallertau Blanc and Vic Secret hops went into this boil and asa dry hops, which made this malt liquor as "juicy' as your favorite hazy IPA. Weighing in at 7.6 percent ABV and 35 IBU, this beer pushes the envelope of what a malt liquor can be.
Station 26 + Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, Wibby Brewing
Station 26 Brewing Co. collaborated with Sleeping Giant to create Nordic Farmhouse Tripel Double IPA brewed with White Wheat, Pilsner, Vienna, and CaraBelge malt, Candi Sugar, and hopped with Cascade, Citra, and Mandarina Bavaria.
Station 26 has also collaborated with Longmont-based Wibby Brewing to craft a Biere de Mars with the perfect balance of malt, hops, and an Inland Island yeast induced spiciness. Station 26 founder, Justin Baccary, suggested the idea of using a French Ale strain from Inland Island and Ryan Wibby was excited about using a different yeast strain and brewing with some more interesting, aromatic hops making this a truly collaborative and unique drinking experience.
Station 26 at Wibby Brewing, photo courtesy The Brewtography Project
Bonfire Brewing + Zuni Street Brewing, Invasive Species Brewing
There’s a childhood story— well, a lot of them— behind this collaboration brew. “We all grew up together,” says Jim Rabun who brews for Bonfie Brewing, “and so it’s been great to get back together with TJ and Willy and come up with a beer inspired by all of us.” This beer is kind of like a light Porter, or a dark Belgian recipe, brewed with chocolate malt from Proximity Malting and fermented with Zuni's house Belgian yeast strain. “We decided on this beer because we are into brewing dark beers and Zuni is great at Belgian's so we decided to combine to two together,” adds Rabun.
Bonfire also worked with Florida based Invasive Species Brewing on a Hazy Piña Colada IPA, appropriately named Piña Collaba. This lighter bodied IPA displays the tropical flavors from Denali and Motueka hops, Pineapple, Coconut, Passionfruit, and an addition of Lactose for more mouthfeel and increased sweetness.
Ska Brewing + Ratio Beerworks
From the hearts of a bunch of punks who love great music and great beer comes this new twist on a White IPA. Magnetic North Norwegian White IPA hits with a classic wheat base, dry hopped with Mandarina Bavaria and Amarillo. The Nordic Farmhouse yeast strain gives notes of orange with a dry finish to this bright, citrusy, making Magnetic North a true Spring crusher.
Holly Gerard shared her Magnetic North brew day shots on her badass beertography blog and Instagram feed, Aperture of Ales. Check them out here.
Funkwerks + New Image Brewing Co.
Meet Arnie, a Kettle Sour with black tea and lemon peel. This beer will cleanse your palate after a long day of diverse flavors. Don’t wait until the end of the fest to get it, though!
Eddyline Brewery + High Alpine Brewing Co.
High Stoke Scotch Ale is a collaboration between Eddyline Brewery and High Alpine Brewing Company. A big malty nose gives way to a very slight herbal hop aroma. Rich caramel malt flavors dominate the palate, finishing with the slightest smoke impression. Mouth feel has a soft tactile feel on the tongue. Deliciously drinkable and gets even better as it warms in the glass.
Strange Craft + Fiction Beer Company
The Stranger Than Fiction is a strong Saison was brewed with oats and spelt before it fermented with a blend of Strange Craft's house Belgian yeast and Brettanomyces and barrel aged on plums and blackberries. See what they did there?
Strange Craft + Metropolitan State University
Strange Craft also brewed a third Collab Fest beer with Metropolitan State University creating Nitro Raspberry Porter, a traditional English Porter finished on Raspberries.
Stranger Than Fiction brew day at Fiction Beer Company, photo courtesy The Brewtography Project