Ska Brewing Low Calorie and Low Carb Aggrolite IPA Arrives For Swimsuit Season

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s latest canned offering is a delicious sidekick for athletes and adventurists. The low-calorie, low-carb Aggrolite IPA is now available across Ska’s nationwide distribution footprint. 

Aggrolite IPA is a collaboration with one of Ska’s favorite bands, The Aggrolites, who played at the brewery’s 24th anniversary invitational in 2019. The Aggrolites started as a 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. 

Aggrolite is light-bodied with slight citrus and pine notes from the use of Cascade, Mandarina Bavaria, and El Dorado hops, and a light golden orange color. This beer contains only 99 calories and 4g of carbohydrates per can, with 4.2% ABV. Aggrolite pairs well with bike rides, boating, and bikinis. 

Show Ska your Aggrolite activities with the #SkaAggrolites hashtag, and tag @skabrewing for a chance to be featured. 

Find Aggrolite at select retailers across its thirteen state distribution footprint, and in cans at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado. Please check the Ska Website, www.skabrewing.com, for adjusted hours and to-go offerings. 

For more details on Ska’s Aggrolite IPA, 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 Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus Releases Collaboration with Neighbor Finn's Manor

DENVER, CO— Bierstadt Lagerhaus and their RiNo neighbor Finn’s Manor have teamed up to release a beer sourced from Mexico. With strong roots in tradition, Bierstadt takes the four ingredients, water, yeast, malt, and hops, a strict Reinheitsgebot process, and their resurrected brew kettle from Germany to perfect the classic lagers they are passionate about. Although they are rooted in tradition, it doesn’t stop them from deviating from their three core offerings to create these seasonal “fun” batches of beer to enjoy, such as Cerveza Clara y Mas Fina Especial.

Our Content Editor Karen Mills caught up with Bierstadt Lagerhaus about this unique new beer. Here’s what co-owner Ashleigh Carter had to say.

What inspired this particular recipe?

We got the idea talking to Thomas owner of Finn's Manor (an incredible cocktail and beer bar). They have a great Mezcal selection and actually took their staff to Oaxaca to learn about it. He proposed the idea of a beer for Cinco de Mayo/spring that took actual corn from Mexico and we thought about it and figured we could pull it off as long as we were able to find the corn. Thomas looked around and found this company called Masienda that have loads of different heirloom whole corn from Oaxaca.

How did you decide on Oaxaca corn?

Pretty easily actually. Once we were set on how we could incorporate the corn, we got 6 samples from Masienda to choose from. We all decided unanimously on the Bolita Azul and Bolita Belatove, a blue and purple/red corn with really wonderful floral sweet corn aroma. We actually bought a little mill to grind it all up. We then used a cereal mash for the corn, cooled it down and added the malt, and treated it like one of our regular beers. Single decoction house yeast and fermented at 48F. I think it turned out great. Light, subtle corn aroma and sweetness, and balanced bitterness. Add a lime!

Any additional insights to the beer itself?

We loved this beer so much that we will probably make it every year as our spring seasonal. Not many collaborations or one-offs ever make it into the regular rotation but this was a really special and fun beer.

ABOUT BIERSTADT LAGERHAUS

At Bierstadt we craft lagers the traditional way, and nothing more. Discover what we believe at bierstadtlager.com.

Bonfire Brewing Continues Patio Expansion Project

EAGLE, CO— Bonfire Brewing broke even more ground on its continued patio expansion last week to increase seating and entertainment space for customers this summer. Bonfire is working closely with local partners to execute this project during uncertain times. 

The new additions to Bonfire’s award-winning patio include fresh concrete complete with sleeves for removable fence posts, adding an additional 500 square feet of safe, level, and licensed outdoor space for customers to enjoy Bonfire beers. Not to mention this upgrade means there will always be a shady spot for refuge from the Colorado sun, no matter the time of day.

Bonfire has always been deeply ingrained in the Eagle community, and this expansion is no exception. The brewery’s landlord manned a Skid-Steer that he owns to help haul concrete and level dirt, and a local contractor offered Bonfire an exceptional price on concrete so they could execute the project as inexpensively as possible. The Town of Eagle might be on a spending freeze in response to COVID-19, however they waived the permit and review fees, and provided technical support to help facilitate the project.

“One of the primary motivations for launching this project is to open up more outdoor customer areas in anticipation of continued distancing requirements, if and when we are permitted to reopen for on-premise service,” says Bonfire Co-Owner Andy Jessen. “It was always part of the original vision for the patio expansion, and now seemed like the perfect time to go for it.” 

Without bar hours to staff, Bonfire team members have been working on an array of projects to update the tasting room, this patio work included. While starting the demo work, the team uncovered a small piece of Eagle history— a portion of the original Town of Eagle sidewalk in pristine condition. It sits below the grade of the building pad, likely covered up in the 1960’s or 70’s. 

The Bonfire crew also saved the hops in the planter boxes that have been growing on Second Street since the brewery’s first summer of business in 2011, and will replant them in an expanded urban hop farm at the tap room this growing season. They are also rebuilding the planter box for the signature pine tree growing in front of the brewery in downtown Eagle. The Bonfire team also has exciting plans for expanded bike parking, and fun ideas for the first round of furnishings in the new space— stay tuned on their social media channels for updates as the project continues.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing or its destination patio, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING

Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.

Laws Whiskey House Announces Distribution Partnership with Republic National Distributing Company in Five Strategic Markets

DENVER, CO— Laws Whiskey House, the award-winning Denver-based distillery, is proud to announce a new strategic distribution partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), the nation’s second largest distributor of fine wine and spirits. RNDC will distribute Laws Whiskey’s comprehensive portfolio of premium products across the following states: Texas, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.

With the addition of these five markets to their national distribution footprint, Laws Whiskey is now available in seven of the top 10 whiskey markets in the country. 

“The opportunity to partner with a dynamic sales and marketing organization such as Republic National Distributing Company in these high-profile markets represents a major leap forward for the Laws Whiskey portfolio of brands,” said Patrick Larkin, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Laws Whiskey House. “We are truly excited to be able to bring our award-winning Four Grain Straight Bourbon and San Luis Valley Straight Rye, along with their respective Bottle in Bond expressions, to fellow passionate whiskey enthusiasts as we continue to expand our brands national presence.”

For more information about Laws Whiskey contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

About LAWS WHISKEY HOUSE

Established in 2011, Laws Whiskey House is a purpose driven, grain-to-glass whiskey distillery founded on the principle that the soul of its whiskey is comprised of the people who grow it, the people who make it, and the people who drink it. Using the traditional method of open-air, on grain fermentation, Laws' whiskeys feature high altitude grown American mother grains and mountain spring water while aging in 53-gallon charred American oak barrels. With a collection of award-winning whiskey, including several Bottled in Bond expressions, Laws Whiskey House invites you to visit their tasting room in Denver's historic Gates neighborhood and enjoy the Laws experience. For more information visit www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com.

About REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY 

RNDC, a world-class distributor of fine wines and spirits in North America, has operations in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.  Young’s Market Company, a partner of RNDC, distributes wines, spirits and select beverages in the western United States including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, Visit www.RNDC-USA.con or www.youngsmakret.com. 

Ska Street Brewstillery Opens For Take-Out in Boulder During Safer-In-Place

Photo by The Brewtography Project

BOULDER, CO— After having to close its doors just one hour and eleven minutes after statewide on-site dining was shuttered, Ska Street Brewstillery will reopen to the public Wednesday, May 6 to serve a new to-go menu.

The limited menu at Ska Street Brewstillery will include some of the new establishment’s signature sandwiches such as The Dave and the Breeze BLT, as well as a new Family Meal menu with serving size options from 2 to 10 people. Many of the menu items are vegetarian and vegan. There will also be Ska beers, Peach Street spirits, and cocktails to-go. 

Ska Street Brewstillery will be open Wednesday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm, and Saturday from noon to 7pm. Orders must be placed online or over the phone to minimize onsite contact and exposure. 

 “This is truly unprecedented for us all— homeschooling our kids, cancelling family and friend gatherings, postponing our travel and exploration of not just Colorado but our wide and wonderful world,” says Ska Street’s General Manager Katie Nierling. “We hope there is a silver lining in this all— we are stronger together and because of one another.”

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about the Ska Street Brewstillery, Ska Brewing, or Peach Street Distillers. 

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 PEACH STREET DISTILLERS

Peach Street Distillers was founded in 2005 in the heart of Colorado’s Fruit and Wine region, Palisade Colorado, where the high desert meets the mountains. The warm days and cool nights in Palisade make the local fruits and grains unimaginably delicious. Living the very definition of “craft” we do everything the hard way to turn these fermentable raw materials into extraordinary spirits. Because, this is what we consider fun and what makes for a mighty fine drink. Peach Street Distillers is Colorado’s oldest continuously owned and operated distillery. Visit Peach Street at www.peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

Laws Whiskey House Releases Bottled in Bond Four Grain Straight Bourbon - Six Year

DENVER, CO— Laws Whiskey House, the award winning Denver based distillery, is proud to announce the annual release of its Bottled in Bond Four Grain Straight Bourbon. Aged six years, this distinctive offering of the company’s flagship bourbon exemplifies the craftsmanship, patience, and perseverance that are the hallmarks of the Laws There Are No Shortcuts mantra. This whiskey has an SRP of $75 and is now available across Laws national distribution footprint with approximately 500 9L cases produced.

As the first Colorado distillery to produce a bonded whiskey, Laws Whiskey House continues to set the standard for Bottled-In-Bond expressions. Since that inaugural release, Laws has expanded their Bonded portfolio to six different expressions including Bourbon, Rye, Malt, Wheat, and Corn whiskies. 

“Patience is an important part of all excellent whiskey,” says founder and CEO Al Laws. “Time in conjunction with the vintage nature of the Bottled in Bond act creates the basis for this special release. For Laws Whiskey House, Bottled-In-Bond expressions are ingrained in our culture. They exemplify who we are as whiskey makers.”

The Laws Bottled in Bond Four Grain Straight Bourbon – Six Year is made with the same bourbon mash bill as the Laws flagship Four Grain Bourbon, with 60 percent corn, 20 percent heirloom wheat, 10 percent heirloom rye, and 10 percent heirloom malted barley. All of these grains are grown and harvested from family-owned Colorado Farms. Furthermore, the distillery’s traditional practice of open air, on-grain fermentation captures the essence of Colorado’s terroir and produces a truly unapologetic authentic American Whiskey. 

The Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 was an important turning point in the history of bourbon that set forth exacting standards that offered consumers a guarantee of transparency, process, and quality. Specifically, it stipulated that the whiskey must be the product of one distilling season, from one distillery, aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof. 123 years later, this designation continues to offer those same guarantees, providing consumers with the knowledge of where, how, and when Bourbon was produced and aged.  

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Bottled in Bond Four Grain Straight Bourbon - Six Year and with any other media inquiries about Laws Whiskey House.

ABOUT LAWS WHISKEY HOUSE

Established in 2011, Laws Whiskey House is a purpose driven, grain to glass whiskey distillery founded on the principle that the soul of its whiskey is comprised of the people who grow it, the people who make it, and the people who drink it. Using the traditional method of open-air, on grain fermentation, Laws' whiskeys feature high altitude grown American mother grains and mountain spring water while aging in 53-gallon charred American oak barrels. With a collection of award-winning whiskey, including several Bottled in Bond expressions, Laws Whiskey House invites you to visit their tasting room in Denver's historic Gates neighborhood and enjoy the Laws experience. For more information visit www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com.

The Empourium To Release A Plethora of Piñatas Mexican Lager For First Friday in May

DENVER, CO— Coronavirus can’t stop The Empourium from their First Friday beer release tradition. The Berkeley neighborhood brewery will release A Plethora of Piñatas Mexican Lager on Friday, May 1— just in time for Cinco de Mayo (Zoom) celebrations.

This Mexican Lager is crafted with flaked corn in its grain bill that imparts soft mouthfeel and a tinge of malt sweetness on the finish. True to its style, A Plethora of Piñatas is light, clean, and crisp— and a sessionable 4.9% ABV. 

The Empourium hits another home run on 80’s pop culture-inspired beer names, this one a reference to the western comedy Three Amigos circa 1986. “This movie always makes us giggle!” says Head Brewer and Co-Owner Greg Fetzer.

The Little Red's Kitchen food truck will be available for takeaway orders and The Empourium will have beer available to-go from 2 to 6pm on Friday, May 1. 

Contact Erin Hamrick at erin@radcraftbeer.com for more information The Empourium Brewing Company.

ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING COMPANY

Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com.

4th Annual Rapids & Grass Beer Festival Cancelled

BUENA VISTA, CO— The organizers of Rapids & Grass, Colorado’s quintessential craft beer, music, and river festival slated to return to the Arkansas Valley July 4th weekend, announced today that the beloved event is canceled to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

This would-be fourth annual festival would feature beer from 50 breweries, local bands, and world-class white water rafting on the Arkansas River. After much thought and careful consideration, festival organizers The Jailhouse, Rapidgrass, and South Main/ Surf Hotel decided to cancel this year's Rapids & Grass Beer Festival as a preventative measure to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“All of us are struggling with the continued uncertainty of what the next few months look like in Colorado, but I don't know any community stronger than the brewing industry,” said Jailhouse founder Sarah Stewart in an email to the participating breweries last week. “We will get through this and we'll all drink beers together by the river again! Until that time comes, stay safe, healthy and strong.” 

Stewart and all of the Rapids & Grass crew extend their deepest gratitude to the breweries, bands, vendors and sponsors of the 2020 festival, and look forward to collaborating on the 2021 event.

Learn more about previous years of the Rapids & Grass festival at rgfest.com. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries. 

ABOUT RAPIDS & GRASS BEER FESTIVAL

Rapids and Grass is a craft beer, music, and river festival conceptualized by Jailhouse owners Sarah and Shane Stewart, Mark Morris of Rapidgrass, and Jed Selby of South Main/Surf Hotel. The festival brings craft beer from the intermountain west and world-class bluegrass music to Buena Vista where its founders are proud to call home. This legendary weekend wraps up with The Freedom Float, a 7-mile raft trip through Class 3 whitewater. Stay in the loop at rgfest.com.

Peach Street Distillers Pear Brandy Named Best Brandy in the USA

Peach Street 2020 American Distilling Institute awards

PALISADE, CO— Peach Street Distillers was honored with a gold medal at the  American Distilling Institute’s 2020 Judging Awards last week, and with gold earlier this month at the American Craft Spirits Association Awards for best brandy in the United States.  

Peach Street’s Pear Brandy is crafted from a 100 percent pear base, with pears grown a matter of blocks from the distillery in downtown Palisade, Colorado. The pears are pressed, fermented, and distilled onsite before they age in French oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years.

Peach Street Distillers has now received 31 ADI medals in total. The distillery was proud to take home five medals for its five entries this year— a gold medal for Pear Brandy; as well as silver medals for American Whiskey, Colorado Straight Bourbon, and Smoked Rye Whiskey; and a bronze for Amaro.

The American Distilling Institute accepts entries in all classes and categories of craft spirits from small, independently owned distillers, blenders, bitters makers, and producers of aperitif and fortified wines. Each year, both United States and international entries are tasted blind and evaluated by expert panels of judges made up of distillers, journalists, bar owners, bartenders, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and importers. Learn more at distilling.com.

2020 marks the first year that Peach Street submitted spirits to the American Craft Spirits Awards, which honor excellence in the categories of Vodka/Grain, Gin, Brandy, Rum, Whiskey, and Specialty Spirits. In addition to a gold medal for Pear Brandy Peach Street also took home a gold for Colorado Straight Bourbon. A carefully selected group of more than 30 expert judges evaluated more than 500 entries for this year’s competition. Learn more at americancraftspirits.org.

“Our rickhouse is more well known for holding Bourbon and Whiskey, but it’s a great honor to win two gold medals in the same voting season for one of our more delicate expressions in Pear Brandy,” says Dustin Lemoine, Peach Street’s Director of Sales. “The local growers and the climate of Palisade, Colorado make it all possible. We’ve actually got a couple barrels of Pear Brandy that will be turning 6 years old this fall.” 

For more information about Peach Street Distillers’ decorated Pear Brandy, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT PEACH STREET DISTILLERS

Peach Street Distillers was founded in 2005 in the heart of Colorado’s fruit and wine region, Palisade Colorado, where the high desert meets the mountains. The warm days and cool nights in Palisade make the local fruits and grains unimaginably delicious. Living the very definition of “craft” Peach Street does everything the hard way to turn these fermentable raw materials into extraordinary spirits. Peach Street Distillers is Colorado’s oldest independently owned and operated distillery. Visit the distillery online at peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

Ska Fabricating Debuts Magic Bus Fully Automated Can Depalletizer

The Magic Bus at Allagash Brewing Co.

DURANGO, CO—  The latest product from Ska Fabricating, the Magic Bus, joins the fabrication company’s portfolio of canning options today. The Magic Bus is a fully automated can depalletizer with pallet management capable of speeds up to 600 CPM. It is ideal for any application where speed is important, increased automation is needed, and operator involvement can be minimized, and is now available to beverage companies worldwide.  

The Magic Bus is all about two things: speed and true automation. Gone are the days of pouring time and labor into the manual handling of pallets, top frames and tier sheets on canning lines— the Magic Bus allows packaging teams to “set it and forget it” by simply loading cans, debanding, and pressing start. A standard two-pallet infeed pulls pallets of cans into a depalletizer, where they are automatically emptied, stacked, and have their top frame and tier sheets removed and stored. Learn more about this radical new machine in this video. 

Two craft breweries have already implemented use of the Magic Bus in their canning operations. This new product can be found in the wild at Allagash Brewing in Portland, Maine and Maui Brewing on Maui island in Hawaii. 

“It’s a pallet loader that lets us queue up a full pallet of empty cans in an infeed system that will then automatically index that next pallet into the depalletizer rather than waiting for a fork lift driver to do it. It’s one more way of making sure we keep the filler running and don’t starve it of cans. We were the first to install one of these systems from Ska.” - Sean Diffley, Engineering Director at Allagash Brewing Co.

Join the Ska Fabricating team for The Magic Bus virtual release party on Friday, April 24 at 10am MST, with a live demonstration of this new product followed by a q&a segment with Ska Fab’s fabrication experts. 

Ska Fabricating is now accepting orders for the Magic Bus. Contact sales@skafabricating.com for more information. 

ABOUT SKA FABRICATING

Founded by Ska Brewing Co-Owner Matt Vincent, Ska Fabricating automates packaging lines for craft businesses, specializing in depalletizers, palletizers, conveyance systems, rinsing, drying, filling and date coding products. With more than 800 customers worldwide, Ska Fab has the products and experience to help you increase your production while saving expenses. Learn more at skafabricating.com.

Bonfire Block Party Postponed to August

EAGLE, CO– Due to worldwide uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure the safety of guests, artists, vendors, and the Eagle County community, Bonfire Brewing and Optimum Events announced today that the 2020 Bonfire Block Party will be postponed to the last weekend in August. 

2020 marks the eighth annual Bonfire Block Party, three-time winner of the Best of Vail's Best Summer Festival title. Originally slated for June 12-14 with its most ambitious lineup yet, the new dates for this community event are August 28-30. Eagle, Colorado’s annual Outside Fest that takes place in tandem with Block Party is also postponed to these dates.

A refund process will be available via the Bonfire Block Party website within the next week, for current ticket holders unable to attend the August dates. Tickets purchased for the original June dates will be applied to the new August dates with no further action needed.

The brewery and its event partner Optimum Events are working to keep the original band lineup and all intended weekend plans intact. They will make announcements accordingly at a later time, and continue to prioritize public health over good times as challenging as this reality may be.

 “With circumstances far out of our control, we're more grateful to the Town of Eagle, our ticket buyers, the bands, and our partners than ever before,” says Bonfire co-owner Amanda Jessen.  “Over the last few weeks, keeping the Bonfire family safe and together has been our top priority, and we’re relieved that that has been possible so far,” Jessen continued. “With the announcement of the postponed dates, we’re excited to all have something to look forward to, and ready to bring our community the best Bonfire Block Party yet, circumstances permitting. Beer in the street may never taste so good,” she concludes. 

Live music tours, events, and festivals all over the world have been cancelled or postponed due to the continuing safety concerns as a result of the pandemic. “The music industry, and every business type associated with it, has been absolutely decimated by this crisis,” notes Optimum Events owner Ted Wenninger. “We’re driven to keep the Bonfire Block Party going not only for the community here in Eagle, but also for all the artists, vendors, and staff that have seen their livelihoods disappear.”

A portion of all Bonfire Block Party proceeds benefit Eagle County nonprofit partner, The Cycle Effect. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.bonfireblockparty.com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with all media inquiries about Bonfire Brewing and Bonfire Block Party.

IF YOU GO:

What: 2020 Bonfire Block Party

When: Friday, August 28 - Sunday, August 30

Where:  Downtown Eagle, CO

Cost: $40 - $140

More Information: visit www.bonfireblockparty.com

Lone Tree Brewing Rolls Out First-Ever Year-Round IPA, Castle Rock Pale Ale, and Strawberry Kiwi Blonde Ale

LONE TREE, CO— 2020 is a revolutionary year for Lone Tree Brewing Company’s canned portfolio. Fresh off the release of New Zealand IPA early in the year, Lone Tree presents three new brands that are now available across Colorado: India Pale Ale, Castle Rock Pale Ale, and Strawberry Kiwi Blonde Ale.

Lone Tree’s new India Pale Ale is a clear, West Coast-style IPA recipe that Lone Tree has long been tweaking to perfection. This medium-bodied 6.2% ABV India Pale Ale has bold hop character from Centennial, Cascade, and Zythos with copious amounts of CTZ dry-hopping that yield fruit-forward and citrus aromas— all balanced out with a strong but not overpowering malt backbone. “We launched our canned brands with our Double IPA and we’ve always experimented with different hops in our Hoppy Little Trees project, but we’ve never had a year-round flagship IPA until now,” says someone cool at Lone Tree. “This IPA is a long time coming, and we can't wait to share this final product with our customers.”

Castle Rock Pale Ale also joined Lone Tree’s canned lineup this spring. This 5.6% ABV Pale Ale is everything one needs in a classic Pale Ale recipe: well-rounded, both malty and bitter, with a pleasant citrus-forward dry-hop aroma. Lone Tree crafted to celebrate the opening of Castle Rock, Colorado’s new Whole Foods store. It is now available at Whole Foods locations across the Front Range, and of course to-go from Lone Tree’s tasting room. Long live the easy drinking Pale Ale. 

Strawberry Kiwi Blonde Ale hits shelves across Colorado and Kansas this week. Blonde Ale makes for the perfect base for these subtle fruit flavors in this refreshing spring seasonal that weighs in at 5.2 percent ABV. This warm weather crusher will be available all summer long. 

Find all of these new cans for sale to-go at Lone Tree’s tasting room, and at liquor and grocery stores across Colorado. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information or to connect with the brewery. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Laws Whiskey House to Release Award-Winning 6-Year Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye

DENVER, CO— After a top-notch showing at the World Whiskies Awards in February where the Denver-based distillery was the category winner for American Rye Whiskey (12 years and under), Laws Whiskey House proudly released its 6-Year Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye. This time-honored new whiskey will be available this month at premium retailers in California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. 

“The world-class quality of our whiskey stems from the grains we get from the Cody Family Farm in Alamosa,” says distillery founder Al Laws. “The heirloom San Luis Valley rye varietal is a standout as it distills into a distinctive spirit that gets better every year.” 

Colorado’s first-ever Bonded Rye Whiskey is now two years older. This rye expression was first released after aging four years, and Laws is now proud to present it again after two additional years of aging. It was crafted from Colorado Malting Company’s  San Luis Valley rye grain harvested from a single season, shaped by Laws as the single distiller, and then aged in our federally-bonded rack house for six years. You will find sweet grass with honey on the nose, cooling notes of wild mint and fennel, followed by deeper accents of sea salt, orange tea and brown sugar on the palate. It finishes with a rich and buttery mouthfeel, accompanied by tobacco notes.  

In addition to the newly released 6-Year Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye, Laws Whiskey House also has a number of bonded single grain expressions including 6-Year Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon, Henry Road Bonded Malt Whiskey, Bottled in Bond Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey and Bottled in Bond Straight Corn Whiskey.

For more information about Laws Whiskey House or their award-winning 6-Year Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT LAWS WHISKEY HOUSE

Established in 2011, Laws Whiskey House is a purpose driven, grain to bottle whiskey distillery founded on the principle that the soul of its whiskey is comprised of the people who grow it, the people who make it, and the people who drink it. Using the traditional method of open-air, on grain fermentation, Laws' whiskeys feature high altitude grown American mother grains and mountain spring water while aging in 53-gallon charred American oak barrels. With a collection of award winning whiskey, including several Bottled in Bond expressions, Laws Whiskey House invites you to visit their tasting room in Denver's historic Gates neighborhood and enjoy the Laws experience. For more information visit www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com.

Craft After Dark Canceled Alongside Craft Brewers Conference

Photo by Garrett Allen

SAN ANTONIO, TX— Following last week’s cancellation of the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup, Ska Fabricating announced today the cancellation of Craft After Dark on April 21. 

Craft After Dark hosts Ska Fabricating, Ska Brewing, Wild Goose Filling, and presenting sponsor American Canning have canceled this CBC anchor event in response to recommendations about public gatherings during this state of national emergency. 

The hosts of Craft After Dark extend gratitude to the headlining band, Galactic, and all of the event sponsors who collaborated to make it possible. 

“While this event and CBC as a whole are gatherings that we eagerly look forward to every year, our concerns about and commitment to health and safety echo those passed down by the BA, state and local governments,” says the Ska Fab team. “We will be announcing follow-up communications regarding what we'll be doing in place of these events, and we look forward to the next time we're able to connect with all of our favorite industry folks on the scale that CBC provided. Thank you all for understanding, and please take care of yourselves and others. For more information on how you can help to stop the spread of COVID-19, familiarize yourself with the CDC’s guidelines.”

For more information about this announcement, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA FABRICATING

Founded by Ska Brewing Co-Owner Matt Vincent, Ska Fabricating automates packaging lines for craft businesses, specializing in depalletizers, palletizers, conveyance systems, rinsing, drying, fill detection and date coding products. With more than 800 customers worldwide, Ska Fab has the products and experience to help you increase your production while saving expense. Learn more at skafabricating.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 WILD GOOSE CANNING

With decades of experience in brewing, canning, and bottling craft beverages, Wild Goose Filling Systems provides filling systems for beer, cider, kombucha, cannabis, wine, and other ready-to-drink beverages. Having pioneered the first craft canning and bottling systems on the market, Wild Goose systems have patented technology that maintains the highest quality levels for packaged beverages. Their expertise in engineering and focus on craft beverages sets them apart from other systems on the market. With unmatched efficiency, operational control and excellence in customer service, Wild Goose provides canning and bottling systems to thousands of customers around the globe. To find out more, visit wgcanning.com.

Canceled: Block Party Preview Vail Ale House on March 13

The Mammoths

UPDATE on March 12, 2020: This event is canceled as a COVID-19 precaution.

EAGLE, CO– Buy fee-free tickets for the 2020 Bonfire Block Party this Friday, March 13 at Vail Ale House. 

From 8pm to 12am this Friday, guests at Vail Ale House can snag these ticket prices, the cheapest of the year if they didn’t make it to the Lineup Release Shindig. From 9pm on, enjoy a preview of this year’s event with live music by The Mammoths, who will also play Block Party in June. 

Kind Hearted Strangers will also play, and Vail Ale House will serve beers on tap from all three breweries in Bonfire’s pilot Block Party brewery collaboration: Woods Boss Brewing, Strange Craft Beer Co., and Vail Brewing Company. 

Woods Boss is sending The Oswald Hazy IPA; Strange Craft is sending Cherry Kriek, and Vail Brewing Company is sending Blur NEIPA. Bonfire Brewing will also have three beers on tap. More details about the Brewery Collaboration will be announced later in the year.

Bonfire Block Party 2020 includes  performances by Sam Bush, The Record Company, Dumpstaphunk, The Main Squeeze, The Broadcast, The Runaway Grooms, and House with a Yard. They join Keller Williams Grateful Grass, The Mammoths and Mo Lowda & the Humble. Five  more bands coming soon.

Ticket options for Bonfire Block Party currently on sale include Two-Day General Admission tickets, Two-Day Sili-Package tickets, regularly priced Two-Day VIP Experience tickets, and Bloodies & Bluegrass brunch tickets, which include bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas. This multi-day street festival in downtown Eagle, Colorado takes place Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14 as a kick-off to summer. Kids 12 and under are free for General Admission, and two and under are free for the VIP Experience and Sunday’s Bloodies & Bluegrass event.

A portion of all Bonfire Block Party proceeds benefit Eagle County nonprofit partner, The Cycle Effect. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.bonfireblockparty.com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with all media inquiries about Bonfire Brewing and Bonfire Block Party.

IF YOU GO:

What: 2020 Bonfire Block Party

When: Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14

Where:  Downtown Eagle, CO

Cost: $40 - $140

More Information: visit www.bonfireblockparty.com

Root Shoot Malting Spearheads Craft Malt Seal in Colorado

Photo at Woods Boss Brewing Company

LOVELAND, CO— As an advocate and Member Malthouse for the Craft Maltsters Guild’s Craft Malt Certified Seal program, Root Shoot Malting is excited to announce Colorado’s twelve new craft malt certified breweries. 

City Star Brewing, Comrade Brewing, Grist Brewing, Iron Mule Brewery, Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery, Joyride Brewing, Launch Pad Brewery, Mockery Brewing, Station 26 Brewing Co., Timnath Beerwerks, Woods Boss Brewing Company, and Guanella Pass Brewing Co. are the newest Member Breweries in the Craft Malt Certified Seal program, which allows brewers and distillers to communicate their use of and support for distinctive, locally produced raw materials. 

These breweries have demonstrated their commitment to locally grown and roasted barley by joining this membership program, and they’re proud to do so. “We joined because we buy malt from Root Shoot Malting. It's important to support our local economy and a fellow manufacturer like ourselves,” says David Lin, Chairman & Founder at Comrade Brewing in Denver. “We were impressed with their dedication to quality, along with their malting facility. Root Shoot helps differentiate our beer while meeting the customers’ desire for local products.”

Photo at Comrade Brewing

Jordan Fink, Co-Founder and Head Brewer of another Denver brewery, Woods Boss Brewing, is another advocate for the Craft Malt Seal. “We have a deep and abiding commitment to sustainability, community, education, personal relationships and of course, making amazing beer,” he says. “To that effect, we developed a partnership with Root Shoot Malting pretty much right out of the gate and at this point, almost all of our base malt is supplied by them. Given the opportunity to join the Craft Maltsters Guild and be able to showcase our participation through the use of the Seal was a no-brainer for us. It allows us to promote the folks who supply our grain, what they do, and showcase our beer all at the same time.”

Another of the country’s leading maltsters and craft malt membership crusaders, Riverbend Malt in Asheville, North Carolina, has also encouraged 12 breweries to join the Craft Malt Seal. Learn more about the Seal at craftmalting.com.  

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Root Shoot Malting.

ABOUT ROOT SHOOT MALTING 

Root Shoot Malting’s family of farmers grow, harvest and malt the finest grains to give brewers and distillers high-quality taste in every glass. Opened in 2016 on 1,500 acres of Olander Farms’ irrigated land in Loveland, Colorado, Root Shoot harvests alfalfa, wheat, corn, rye, and barley. Root Shoot gives breweries and distilleries the ability to procure local, consistent and high quality craft products. Find this craft maltster online at rootshootmalting.com.

Ska Street Brewstillery to open in Boulder on March 16

Photo by The Brewtography Project

BOULDER, CO—  Ska Street Brewstillery will open to the public on March 16, followed by a grand opening celebration slated for April 9. 

A joint project of Ska Brewing and its sister company, Palisade’s Peach Street Distillers, Ska Street Brewstillery in Boulder will include a restaurant, a 10 BBL brewing system, a 450-liter still, thirty taps for serving Ska beers, a mixology program, and all of the music-inspired silliness the has established Ska and Peach Street as iconic Colorado destinations.

The Ska Street Brewstillery menu will include vegetarian and vegan options, as well as the farm-to-table ethos championed by Peach Street and executed by recently hired Head Chef Travis Messervey. The taproom will pour all of Ska’s flagship beers — including Modus Hoperandi IPA, True Blonde Ale, Pinstripe Red, and Pink Vapor Stew— as well as experimental one-offs and other specialties brewed on-site, along with whiskey, gin, vodka, and other spirits also made at the facility. 

Join Ska Street Brewstillery at 1600 38th Street in Boulder on its first day open to the public on Monday,  March 16 at 11am. Business hours are 11am to 10pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 10pm Saturday, and 10am to 9pm Sunday.

Ska Street will be open during regular business hours through the month, and will celebrate its grand opening on April 9. The brewstillery will share more information about this party soon.

For more information about Ska Street Brewstillery, Ska Brewing, or Peach Street Distillers, 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 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 PEACH STREET DISTILLERS

Peach Street Distillers was founded in 2005 in the heart of Colorado’s Fruit and Wine region, Palisade Colorado, where the high desert meets the mountains. The warm days and cool nights in Palisade make the local fruits and grains unimaginably delicious. Living the very definition of “craft” we do everything the hard way to turn these fermentable raw materials into extraordinary spirits. Because, this is what we consider fun and what makes for a mighty fine drink. Peach Street Distillers is Colorado’s oldest continuously owned and operated distillery. Visit Peach Street at www.peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

Thirsty Monk Takes Flight with Taproom Partnership at Asheville Regional Airport

ASHEVILLE, NC— In a partnership with Vino Volo, the award-winning airport wine bar operator and retailer throughout North America, Thirsty Monk Brewery beers will soon be available on draft and to-go at Asheville Regional Airport. 

Thirsty Monk will co-brand a comfortable space with local Asheville flair just to the right of the TSA security checkpoint inside the gate area. This traveler lounge will offer beers on tap, packaged beer to-go, and a selection of curated food offerings alongside Vino Volo’s wine program. Currently the opening is slated for the end of summer 2020.

More than a year in the making, this is Thirsty Monk’s first partnership with an internationally recognized company, and could serve as a model for partnerships in other cities seeking to further extend local personality into airports.

“When I first reached out to the Asheville Regional Airport about how we could go about opening a Thirsty Monk taproom — their team was so receptive and connected me with Vino Volo,” says Barry Bialik, Thirsty Monk CEO. 

“After a year of ideas, discussions, and straight up reality checks, everything is now a go to move forward with the Asheville Regional Airport’s first local brewery taproom and Vino Volo wine bar. I am so proud that our airport staff recognizes the importance of adding local character, and so pleased to have been able to collaborate with Vino Volo’s truly world class team,” says Bialik.

As Asheville Regional Airport grows with new destinations added continually, Thirsty Monk’s partnership with Vino Volo is perfectly poised to host visitors to and from Western North Carolina—taking one of Asheville’s most iconic breweries along with them on their travels. 

For more information about Thirsty Monk’s partnership with Vino Volo, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK

Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk Brewery currently operates a family of brewpubs (Thirsty Monk Downtown, Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park, 2x4 Brew Pub) and cocktail bars (Monk’s Flask, Top of the Monk) in Asheville, North Carolina, Denver, Colorado and Portland, Oregon. Thirsty Monk’s award-winning, Belgian-rooted Modern Ales are showcased in the company’s expertly crafted beer-paired food menus and synergistic cocktail ingredients. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

Oh Hi Beverages and Two Six Craft Distributors Announce Colorado Front Range Partnership

DURANGO, CO— Oh Hi Beverages and Two Six Craft Distributors announced today a new partnership that brings Oh Hi’s sparkling CBD seltzer line to Colorado’s Front Range. These canned seltzers will be available in 12 oz. 4-packs and on draft at select Colorado craft establishments beginning this month. 

Oh Hi canned the first of its new CBD line in the same four flavors as their THC seltzers: Pomegranate, Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, and Ginger Basil Limeade, each with 15mg of fast-acting flavorless CBD isolate. Distribution is currently available through Ska Brewing and Southwest Beverage Company around Southwest Colorado, and now on the Front Range via Two Six Craft Distributors.

“We are very excited to bring Oh Hi CBD seltzers to a wider audience,” says Oh Hi Co-Founder Matt Vincent. “The ability to distribute this to many more traditional retail venues presents a lot of great opportunities to try Oh Hi CBD and experience the great flavor of the cannabis-infused beverages that Oh Hi is known for.”

Denver’s Station 26 Brewing Co. expanded its business model to include a distribution arm, Two Six Craft Distributors, in November of 2019. Oh Hi Beverages joins a portfolio that includes Station 26 products and Arvada-based New Image Brewing.

In December of 2019, Oh Hi Beverages first canned its CBD seltzer line to be distributed in Southwest Colorado through the Ska Brewing distribution network. It can be purchased at Colorado retailers including grocery and liquor stores. Soon Oh Hi CBD seltzers will be available for purchase on Oh Hi’s website. Oh Hi’s THC line can be purchased at Colorado dispensaries.

“We’re thrilled to bring Oh Hi CBD seltzers to the Front Range,” said Justin Baccary, Founder + President of Two Six Craft Distributors. “It’s exciting to have an alternative option in our portfolio for those seeking delicious and well-made non-alcoholic craft beverages.”

For more information about Oh Hi Beverages and its THC and CBD seltzers, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. Contact sales@ohhibev.com with distribution inquiries. Contact Todd Luther at todd@station26brewing.co with questions about Two Six Craft Distributors. 

ABOUT OH HI BEVERAGES

Founded in 2018, Oh Hi Beverages crafts canned THC and CBD seltzers in Durango, Colorado. Oh Hi Beverages is the brainchild of Aaron Miles and Jonny Radding, the co-owners of Durango Organics, and Matt Vincent, one of the co-owners of Ska Brewing and the founder of Ska Fabricating. Collectively Aaron, Jonny, and Matt bring a breadth of business, entrepreneurship, technical, and both cannabis and beverage-specific experience to this new hard seltzer company. Learn more about Oh Hi Beverages at ohhibev.com.

Westbound & Down Opens Westbound General in Downtown Idaho Springs

IDAHO SPRINGS— Westbound & Down announced today the grand opening of their new grab and go shop at the brewpub in downtown Idaho Springs. Westbound General will open to the public on Saturday, March 7.

This news comes fresh off Westbound & Down’s debut of packaged cans that will be distributed through their partnership with Culture Beverage across Colorado. These canned brands, which include Colorado Pale Ale, Westbound Double IPA, and Chicago Peaks Kolsch, will be available to-go from the new shop. 

In addition to beer to-go, Westbound General will offer award-winning java by Colorado’s Sweet Bloom Coffee, new brewery merchandise, and other functional, locally curated goods for neighborhood shoppers and travelers alike. The new space is a fun, casual extension of the brewpub— with clean, upscale yet approachable aesthetic designed by award winning space creator Kevin Nguyen of Regular. 

Westbound General will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday  at Westbound & Down in downtown Idaho Springs. All cans and crowlers to-go from the new shop will be discounted 20% all day, and guests can enjoy free drip coffee from Sweet Bloom Coffee. The shop will be open daily from 7am to close. 

Westbound General, an ideal stop for mountain explorers to fuel up before their adventures, is the newest member of Westbound & Down’s family of Colorado beer destinations, which also includes their award-winning Brewpub in Idaho Springs.

For more information about Westbound General or Westbound & Down Brewing Company, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT WESTBOUND & DOWN BREWING CO. 

Westbound & Down Brewing Company runs a small but mighty brewpub in Idaho Springs, CO that prides itself in brewing well-executed beers in a wide array of beer styles to pair with great food— all in a welcoming atmosphere where people can gather to share the Colorado beer experience. Westbound & Down was honored to receive the Midsize Brewpub of the Year award at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival®. Come along for the journey at westboundanddown.com.