Bonfire Block Party Adds Sunday Event: Bloodies & Brass With Dirty Dozen Brass Band, June 3

(Eagle, CO) – Bonfire Brewing and Optimum Events have added a Sunday morning event to the Bonfire Block Party, the early summer street party taking place in Eagle Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2. Bloodies & Brass with Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 3 in the Second Street tent, adjacent to the Broadway Main Stage that will see seven bands throughout the weekend, including headliners Galactic and The Record Company during the fourth-annual event. Tickets for the Block Party are on sale now and tickets for Bloodies & Brass go on sale Tuesday, April 3 at 10:00 a.m. Bloodies & Brass with Dirty Dozen Brass Band is presented by Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate Eagle. 

New Orleans’ esteemed Dirty Dozen Brass Band will play a full set during the intimate breakfast which includes hot and cold items, coffee and juices with the $30 ticket price. A full bar featuring Bloody Marys and mimosas will also be available. Dirty Dozen Brass Band is known for their “musical gumbo” and high-octane live shows.

All Block Party events are family-friendly and children two and under are free for Sunday morning’s Bloodies & Brass event. Tickets and more information about the 2018 Bonfire Block Party are available at www.bonfireblockparty.com. A portion of all Block Party proceeds benefit Eagle County nonprofit The Cycle Effect.

What: Bonfire Block Party’s Bloodies & Brass with Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Where:  Broadway and Second Streets, Eagle
When: Sunday, June 3, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $30 includes full breakfast and non-alcoholic drinks
More: www.bonfireblockparty.com

Funkwerks Launches 6-Packs of Year-Round Brands

FORT COLLINS, CO —Now available in Colorado and across Funkwerks’ eight-state distribution footprint are new 6-packs of its year-round brands.

Six-packs of Funkwerks year-round beers— Funkwerks Saison, Tropic King, Raspberry Provincial, and Pineapple Provincial will replace the brewery’s original 4-packs. Select Funkwerks’ Limited Releases will remain available in 750ml bombers in select states. 

“As we grow and expand into other markets we wanted to become more accessible to the consumer. Transitioning from 4-packs to 6-packs allows us to focus on our top sellers and distribute those brands more widely across multiple markets” explains Brad Lincoln, Funkwerks President and Co-Founder. 

“This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Lincoln continues. “We have worked closely with our distribution partners over the past 8 months to bring us to this next step in our mission to bring our favorite styles of beer to a wider audience.”

This new package format is currently available in Arizona, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Missouri and will be rolling out through the month of April in Colorado stores. 

For more information about Funkwerks and their new 6-packs contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT FUNKWERKS

Founded in 2009 by brewers Gordon Schuck and Brad Lincoln, Funkwerks is a niche craft brewery specializing in Saison, Sour, and Belgian-style craft beers made in their small brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The 2012 winner of the Small Brewery of the Year Award at the Great American Beer Festival, Funkwerks beers are available in eight US states. Find the brewery online at funkwerks.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Company Introduces 12-Packs; Releases 2018 Cucumber Wheat

photo by Colin Bridge

LONE TREE, CO — Lone Tree Brewing Company is proud to announce the addition of mixed Brewer’s Bundle 12-packs to their lineup of year-round packaging. Twelve-packs will be hitting stores this week with an all-star line-up of beers including Mexican Lager (2017 GABF® Gold), Peach Pale Ale, and Double IPA. The packs will also feature a rotating seasonal release beginning with Lone Tree’s refreshing Cucumber Wheat. 

The first of batch of Brewer’s Bundles include the following beers, which are all also available across Colorado in canned 12 oz. 6-packs. 

Mexican Lager - 5.3% ABV, 27 IBU 

A large percentage of flaked corn contributes a slight sweetness balanced with a clean, crisp finish. 2017 Great American Beer Festival® Gold Medal, 2015 Great American Beer Festival® Silver Medal. 

Peach Pale Ale - 5.8% ABV, 40 IBU

Our in-house pale ale recipe brewed with real peaches. Subtle fruit flavor complements the Cascade, CTZ & Simcoe hop additions.

Double IPA - 8% ABV, 80 IBU

Big and bold, this IPA provides a flavor profile of earthy hop bitterness and a strong tangerine/ citrus aroma. Utilizing seven hop additions in the boil from six different hop varieties, followed by four-variety dry-hop makes this a beer for hopheads everywhere. 

Cucumber Wheat - 5.2% ABV, 25 IBU

Cool, crisp cucumber flavor bolstered by a pale wheat malt backbone. Seasonally available April through September. 

The new packaging displays the Brewers Association Independent Seal. Lone Tree mixed 12-packs are available at the brewery’s tasting room and can be found across Colorado later this week.

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing and their mixed 12-packs contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

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 and 22-ounce bombers are sold across the state of Colorado, as well as Kansas and Nebraska. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants in its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Peach Street Distillers Wins Three 2018 American Distilling Institute Judging Awards

PALISADE, CO— Peach Street Distillers was honored with three awards from the American Distilling Institute’s 2018 Judging Awards yesterday, bringing its total count of ADI awards to 22.

Peach Street’s Pear Brandy received a Silver Medal in the ADI Fruit Brandy Category. The distillery's Oak Aged Pear Brandy is made from 100 percent pears grown a matter of blocks from the distillery Itself. The pears are crushed, pressed, and fermented onsite before they age two years in French oak barrels.

Colorado Straight Bourbon received a Bronze Medal in the Straight Bourbon Category. This Bourbon is made with 60 percent Palisade corn that is grown, harvested, and milled a mere 3.5 miles from the distillery’s front door. It is mashed and fermented onsite and aged in new American Oak barrels for 2 to 3 years.

Amaro, the newest offering from Peach Street, won a bronze medal in the ADI Amaro Category. Amaro’s base spirit is a locally made Limberger Varietal Wine distilled onsite and proofed to 90 proof with 29 botanicals macerated to make a beautifully assembled Digestif.

“We do all of these crushes, mashes and ferments onsite – and kind of the hard way, at that,” says Peach Street Head Distiller Davy Lindig, “So it’s really cool to be recognized for your hard work. The crew is stoked! I’m stoked for certain!”

Peach Street Distillers has now been awarded 22 ADI medals in total— nine gold medals, six  silver and seven bronze. 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, retailer, wholesalers, distributors and importers. Learn more about the awards at distilling.com.

For more information about Peach Street Distillers’ 2018 ADI awards or the winning spirits, contact Emily Hutto at coop@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” 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 independently owned and operated distillery. Visit the distillery online at peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

Bonfire Brewing Completes Artwork Refresh with New Brush Creek Blonde Ale and Firestarter IPA Cans

EAGLE, CO— Bonfire Brewing’s can redesign is now complete with the introduction of new Brush Creek Blonde Ale and Firestarter IPA 12 oz. cans set to hit stores in six packs this week. Bonfire began this artwork refresh last year with new Demshitz Brown Ale and Kindler Pale Ale cans followed by the release of WtFO Double IPA cans earlier this month.

Coming in at 4.8 percent ABV and 13 IBU, the Brush Creek Blonde is the lightest offering from Bonfire. This American Blonde Ale uses German-style specialty malt and Simcoe hops for a malty and slightly fruity iteration of the style. The new label art features the town of Eagle complete with a depiction of the Bonfire tasting room and the namesake creek, fed by springs and snow-melt high in the Sawatch Mountains that provides 100 percent of the water for all Bonfire beer.

Firestarter IPA is Bonfire’s flagship IPA and workhorse. A new iteration of the Firestarter recipe, packed with Loral, Amarillo, Centennial, and Summit hops debuts in mid-April. This American IPA gets the fire going quickly with its citrus hop character and refreshing dry finish at 6.6 percent ABV and 72 IBU. The can art depicts a serene morning scene in a wilderness of possibilities. 

These refreshed brands, which are also regularly available on draft at Bonfire’s tasting room, are available now.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at coop@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.

Denver’s Thirsty Monk Brewery To Open Monday, Launch Food Flights

photo by Colin Bridge

DENVER, CO— Thirsty Monk, brewer of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operator of world-recognized craft beer bars, opens its greatly anticipated Denver brewery and tasting room Monday in City Park West.

This Denver opening comes with the launch of Thirsty Monk’s Food Flights, selections of small, snack-sized portions expertly curated by Certified Cicerones® to pair perfectly with your chosen beer style. Thirsty Monk offers six Food Flights— Belgian, Light, Medium, Dark, Sour, and Hoppy— in an elevated box lunch-style presentation that includes four food items (a protein, a cheese, a grain, and a preserve) sourced from Uptown neighborhood restaurant partners, including Humboldt Farm, Fish, Wine; Patxi's Pizza; Jack's Uptown Grille; and Olive & Finch.

On draft currently are Thirsty Monk’s flagship lineup of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales that includes Abby Blonde, Past Life Amber Ale, Screaming Monk IPA, Clever Monk Saison, Wiser Monk Table Beer, and Easy Gose among others. Thirsty Monk Head Brewer Brian Grace, based in Denver, has been helping connect the Colorado and Asheville craft beer magics to further elevate Thirsty Monk’s quality beer offerings, and is hard at work designing the brewery’s new upcoming sour and barrel-aged programs.

“There is a such a strong Colorado - Asheville connection bound by beer. As several Colorado breweries have chosen to make the Asheville area their second home, Thirsty Monk is thrilled to be the first North Carolina brewery to make Colorado its second home. And Denver’s City Park neighborhood now truly does feel like my personal second home. This is absolutely where I would live,” says Barry Bialik, Thirsty Monk CEO.

Thirsty Monk is located in the former Deep Draft Brewing space along Restaurant Row at 1604 E 17th Avenue. The brewpub will celebrate its grand opening on Monday, March 26 at 4pm. Regular hours will be Monday - Thursday 4pm to midnight; Friday - Saturday noon to 1:30am; and Sundays noon to 10pm. 

For more information about Thirsty Monk contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK

Founded in 2008 Thirsty Monk currently operates four locations in Asheville, North Carolina including Thirsty Monk Downtown, Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park, Top of the Monk Craft Cocktail Bar, Brother Joe’s Coffee Pub, as well as Bazi Bierbrasserie in Portland, OR and now its Denver brewery and tasting room. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

Ska Brewing To Release Mexican Logger April 4

Mexican Logger will be available at Ska Brewing’s World Headquarters in Durango on Wednesday, April 4, where you can catch Buster’s Ghost live at 5pm and pick up the season's first 6-packs of this beloved craft lager.

Ska brewed this beer for the first time long before Mexican lager was a hot craft beer style, back in 1999. Mexican Logger was Ska’s first session beer back then, long before session beers were a thing. The beer first hit cans more than ten years later in 2011, and then won back-to-back Great American Beer Festival® awards in the International Style Pilsner category in 2015 and 2016.

Ska Mexican Logger is crisp, clean, and refreshing — made for hot afternoons with a side of lime. The beer is a crushable 5 percent ABV, and brewed with a lager yeast strain from Mexico City. That same yeast strain now ferments Ska’s Rue B. Soho Grapefruit Lager as well.  

Mexican Logger will be available in 12 oz. cans and on-draft in Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah the first week of April.

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 over a dozen award-winning beers. 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.

Intentional Brett, Nordic Farmhouse Saison, and Piña Collaba— Beers You've Got To Try at the 5th Annual Collaboration Festival

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

Bonfire Brewing Nominated for Vail Valley Business of the Year

The Vail Valley Partnership, the region's chamber of commerce, recently announced the nominees for the organization's 2018 Success Awards. Bonfire Brewing is among 15 nominees for the Business of the Year category. There are additional categories for New Business of the Year Award (for which Bonfire Brewing's next door neighbor Pickup's Pizza is nominated) and Small Business of the Year (for which Bonfire's friends and event collaborators Yoga Off Broadway is nominated). Congratulations to Bonfire Brewing, their friends in Eagle, and all of the exceptional businesses nominated for the 2018 awards. 

Read the full article in Vail Daily. 

Ska Brewing Debuts Mod Project #4: Berliner Weisse

The fourth beer in Ska Brewing’s Mod Project hits stores across the brewery’s distribution footprint this week. 

“Meet Berliner Weisse, my favorite spring offering,” says Ska Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “This beer is so bright and refreshing, and only 4.5 percent ABV.” 

Berliner Weisse has a light citrus aroma with a hint of champagne. The flavor of Ska’s Berliner Weisse starts out with a refreshing tartness that evolves into a crisp lemony character that finishes dry with a hint of melon— and no bitterness. It’s fairly simple, and pretty darn perfect for springtime shenanigans.

Berliner Weisse follows Pink Vapor Stew, Tart Mexican Logger, and Sour Apple Gose from the Mod Project at Ska. The project delivers assorted, seven-barrel-batches of blended and experimental offerings, with varying levels of tartness to complement the blend of local fruits used in producing them. The Mod Project is available in 12 oz. cans in Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. 

For more information about Ska Brewing’s Mod Project, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces over a dozen award-winning beers. 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 www.skabrewing.com.

Eddyline Brewery Releases 2018 Grapefruit Yanker IPA; Expands Buena Vista Tasting Room

BUENA VISTA, CO — Eddyline Brewery is excited to announce the release of its seasonal Grapefruit Yanker IPA, a grapefruit infused version of its best selling Crank Yanker IPA. 

“Grapefruit Crank Yanker, blew it out of the park for us last year, and we decided to extend its run in 2018,” say’s Eddyline CEO Brian England, “It sold out much faster than we anticipated and we had fans and accounts asking us all winter when it would come back.”

The beer comes in at 7.2 percent ABV with a small addition of mango to give it an extra citrus punch.

“It is the perfect beer to kick off spring, and we plan on making it well into the summer,” says England, "We are excited to be doing what we do best, making great beer for any adventure.”

Eddyline is currently finishing the remodel of its Buena Vista tasting room, adding more seats to help accommodate the area’s bustling increase in business. 

“Buena Vista has seen an incredible increase in visitors since we first opened in 2009,” adds England. “We had guests lining out the door all summer and hope by adding a few more seats we can help quench the thirst of the hikers, bikers, and rafters that come in for a well earned pint after a day in the great outdoors.”

Grapefruit Crank Yanker IPA is available at Eddyline’s Buena Vista locations, and in 16 oz. cans across Colorado in cans beginning this week.

For more information about Eddyline Brewery, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT EDDYLINE BREWERY

Eddyline Taproom & Brewery is one of Colorado’s fastest growing microbreweries. Since 2009, Eddyline has been focused on creating unique ales and lagers of the highest quality while representing the state’s outdoor enthusiasts. Our 16-ounce cans are infinitely recyclable, preserve the quality and freshness of the beer and are easily transportable for your favorite outdoor adventures. Eddyline works closely with local groups to help improve trails, river parks, and strongly believes in being an active steward of the local Chaffee County community. Find the brewery online at eddylinebrewing.com.

Bonfire Brewing Releases New WtFO Double IPA Cans

EAGLE, CO — Bonfire Brewing’s packaging redesign continues with the introduction of WtfO Double IPA in 12 oz. cans, set to hit stores in six packs this week. Bonfire began this artwork refresh last year with new Demshitz Brown Ale and Kinder Pale Ale cans.

WtFO is a Double IPA named after WFO, a previously unnamed run at Vail Mountain, and with a nod to the experimental nature of the beer, which contains an ever changing slate of lupulin in all its forms. The debut cans feature Summit, Citra, Amarillo, and Mosaic hop varietals for notes of grapefruit, tropical fruit, and tangerine.

“We've used, and may use again, lupulin powder in the beer,” explains Bonfire Co-Owner Andy Jessen. “We'll dabble with fresh hops if available, and could also explore the use of hop oils and concentrates. Who knows? In any event, we expect it to change regularly as we use this beer to explore the boundaries of the style.” The new WtFO cans display a dazzling cosmos overlooking a mountain corridor, encapsulating the spirit of experimentation and the great state of Colorado.

Bonfire plans to release cans of WtFO in their home market of Eagle County beginning this week, with shipment to additional markets around the state the following week. WtFO is also regularly available on draft at Bonfire’s tasting room.

Redesigns for Firestarter IPA and Brush Creek Blonde Ale 12 oz. cans are set to follow the release of WtFO and will be available beginning April 2018.

For more information about Bonfire Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at coop@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.

Lone Tree Brewing Welcomes Spring With 2018 Bière de Printemps

photo by Colin Bridge

LONE TREE, CO — Lone Tree Brewing Company’s 2018 batch of Bière de Printemps is now available in bombers while supplies last. This spring seasonal belongs to Lone Tree’s Branching Out Series of small-batch, specialty beers. 

Bière de Printemps, a Bière de Mars, is a palate-awakening French-style spring ale fermented with French Ale Yeast that yields spicy aromas and subtle citrus notes. It is brewed with Noble Hops and a touch of soft winter wheat. The bright lemon notes from this beer’s yeast finish out the experience and open the senses to the aromatics of spring. These first sips of springtime weigh in at 8 percent ABV and 25 IBU. 

Bière de Printemps was bottled for the first time in 2017, and this year it returns with refreshed artwork that was created during the brewery’s rebrand via Anthem Branding. It is available on draft at Lone Tree’s tasting room and in bombers across Colorado while supplies last.

For more information about Bière de Printemps contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

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 and 22-ounce bombers are sold across the state of Colorado, as well as Kansas and Nebraska. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants in its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Ska Brewing Now Distributing Telluride Brewing Beers in Durango

Telluride Brewing has partnered with Ska Brewing Company on its Durango distribution. Telluride’s beers are now available at bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in Durango and in surrounding areas— and at Ska’s tasting room every once in a while, too.

“You might think the idea of another production brewery in the Southwest corner of the state would feel like competition, but Ska welcomed us with open arms even before we were open,” says Telluride Brewing President Tommy Thacher. “As we focus more on production there was no better fit in a distribution partner than our big brother Ska, who is is engrained and much more present locally than we could have been before.” 

“We have been enjoying Telluride’s high quality, consistent beer since their start,” adds Ska Brewing CEO Dave Thibodeau. “We are stoked to have more of it around, and more excuses to drink beer with our friends from Telluride.” 

Telluride Brewing Company sells cans of Face Down Brown, Tempter IPA, Fishwater Double IPA, Whacked Out Wheat, Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale and Russell Kelly Pale Ale, as well as draft-only flavors in its distribution footprint. Telluride’s portfolio is available throughout the rest of Colorado through Elite Brands. 

For more information about Ska Brewing or its distribution arm, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Ska Brewing Company is the premiere craft distributor for Southwestern Colorado. In addition to their own award-winning products they distribute for other breweries such as Left Hand, Stone, Marble, La Cumbre and several others. Ska services on and off-premise accounts in Durango, Telluride, Ridgway, Ouray, and Pagosa. Find Ska online at skabrewing.com.

ABOUT TELLURIDE BREWING

Telluride Brewing Company crafts gold-medal beer in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Brewed with premium malts and worthy hops, the beers it produces are distinct yet classic. In just six years, the brewery has grown from a local favorite to a state-wide sensation, serving up its beers in kegs and cans throughout Colorado. Telluride Brewing Company has earned accolades for its Whacked Out Wheat at the World Beer Cup® (2015) and Great American Beer Festival® (2015) and for its Face Down Brown at the World Beer Cup (2012) and the Great American Beer Festival (2012 & 2014, 2015). For more information, visit telluridebrewingco.com.

Sour Fest at Thirsty Monk in Asheville Returns For The 8th Year

photo by Colin Bridge

Sour Fest at Asheville-born Thirsty Monk, brewer of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operator of world-recognized craft beer bars, is back for the eighth year March 12 to 16. This celebration of sour, wild and mixed fermentation ales from across the state, country, and the globe is Thirsty Monk’s first signature event of the year.

Sour Fest is a five-day tap takeover of sought-after sour beers at Thirsty Monk in Downtown Asheville and Biltmore Park locations. The beer list includes rare selections from Cascade Barrel House, New Belgium, Firestone Walker, Brouwerij Boon, Haw River Farmhouse Ales, Zebulon Artisan Ales, and so many more.

“I curate this tap lineup with multiple goals in mind,” says Thirsty’s Monk’s Beer Buyer and Marketing and Events Coordinator Joanna Postlethwaite. “I strive to bring together a collection of beers that explores the many flavors of sour beer— from tart, to fruit-forward, to complex and funky. I’m putting together the best examples I can find from breweries across the country and the world, as well as exceptional contributions from our talented neighboring breweries here in North Carolina.”

For a complete beer list or for more information about Thirsty Monk, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK

Thirsty Monk, founded in 2008, brews Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operates a family of well-recognized, craft beer destinations in Asheville, NC, Denver, CO, and Portland, OR. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

The Record Company to Headline 2018 Bonfire Block Party

EAGLE, CO – Bonfire Brewing and Optimum Events announced the first of two headlining bands for the fourth-annual Bonfire Block Partyheld Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 in downtown Eagle. Grammy-nominated The Record Company performs as part of the two-day street party, and the full music lineup will be announced on March 20. Limited Early Bird tickets for the Block Party are still available and feature a VIP Experience, Two-Day Sili Packages and Two-Day Wristbands.

The Record Company’s raw and righteous rock ‘n’ roll was unleashed on its Concord Records debut album, Give it Back to You, in February 2016. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary Blues Album. “Off The Ground,” the album’s first single spent two consecutive weeks as the number one track on Triple-A radio playlists around the country, and their second, “Rita Mae Young” cracked into the top ten. In the spring of 2017, The Record Company released their top five single, “Baby, I’m Broken.”

Block Party organizers previously announced blues rocker Nicki Bluhm and Creole legends Dirty Dozen Brass Band as other Main Stage acts for the outdoor street concerts. For more information on the 2018 Bonfire Block Party and to purchase discounted Early Bird tickets, visit www.bonfireblockparty.com.

If You Go:

What: Bonfire Block Party

Where:  Broadway and Second Streets, Eagle

When: Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, 2018

Cost: $17/$32/$95 (Limited Early Bird ticketing)

More: www.bonfireblockparty.com

Photo: The Record Company will appear as a headlining band for the fourth-annual Bonfire Block Party in Eagle, CO taking place Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, 2018. Limited Early Bird ticketing is available and the full musical lineup will be announced on March 20, 2018.

RadCraft 2017 Year In Review

RadCraft’s partners brewed more than 93,000 BBL of beer, malted 400,000 pounds of barley, and distilled a small but significant volume of American Single Malt whiskey in 2017.

photo by Emily Sierra Photography

Last year our partners employed 1,154 people across the country, and served their world-class beer in five states. They debuted more than 15 packaged products on the market, which included Strange Craft’s 125th anniversary beer for The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa and Deerhammer’s first extension of their flagship product, Port Cask Finish American Single Malt.

RadCraft partners contributed more than $100,000 to charitable efforts throughout the calendar year.

A few of RadCraft’s tribe dug deep into their brands, refreshing and in some cases completely overhauling their label design and beyond. Lone Tree Brewing Co. underwent a complete company rebrand via Anthem Branding in the spring, and later in the year Bonfire Brewing began refreshing their canned beer labels one by one.

Lone Tree Brewing Company was awarded a gold medal for its Mexican Lager and a silver medal for its Hop Zombie IPA at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival® in the American Style Lager or Light Lager category and the Imperial Red Ale category, respectively. RadCraft partners also brought home awards from the San Diego International Beer Festival and the Colorado State Fair, among others.

Strange Craft joined forces with Wit's End Brewing Co. on Denver's first brewery co-tasting room and brewhouse at Strange's location on Zuni Street. Wit’s End Head Brewer Tyler Bies took over as Head Brewer of both brewing operations in December 2017.

Asheville-born Thirsty Monk, brewer of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operator of world-recognized craft beer bars expanded its family of pubs to Denver, Colorado and Portland, Oregon. The Monkification of these locations is underway.

That’s only a snapshot of what our partners are up to. Here are their complete 2017 Year in Reviews.

Barrels & Bottles Brewery

Bonfire Brewing

Deerhammer

Karl Strauss Brewing Co.

Lone Tree Brewing Co.

Station 26 Brewing Co.

Strange Craft Beer Co. / Wit’s End Brewing Co.

Thirsty Monk

RadCraft secured more than 2,000 earned media placements for our partners in 2017. We helped with the launch of a new brewery brand— congratulations to Spice Trade Brewing on all of its successes in year one— and the development of online presence for a company that’s been thriving for more than 13 years— props to The MBM Group, which also hired its first managing partner Anna Nadasdy this year.  

photo by Colin Bridge

In February, RadCraft Founder Emily Hutto launched the #dailystout campaign. Learn more about the effort and its 2018 development here.

In May, Little Shop of Floral made more than 20 bouquets of #GrowlerFlowers using our old growlers for our Moms on Mother’s Day. This was the soft launch of The Growler Flowers Project, a hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. There is so much more to come.

Over the summer we challenged beer-loving photographers to submit their depiction of “Summer Beer” in the Summer Session Photo Contest. The winner, Chris Rand, won our hearts with this photo of Bella and a Mountain Tap Brewery Crowler.

Throughout the year RadCraft had the honor of participating in several educational functions dedicated to professionals in the craft marketing space. If you would like resources from any of these conferences and events, feel free to reach out.

In January, our Founder Emily Hutto gave a presentation at the January Business of Beer event at Comrade Brewing advocating social media as a market research tool.

In March she moderated a panel during Colorado Craft Beer Week that celebrated the community of the breweries along the C-470 Corridor (Keep up the #C470beer hashtag, folks!), and another discussion on best practices for brewpub marketing at the inaugural Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference.

In November she had the opportunity to speak at both the North Carolina Craft Brewers Conference and the Colorado Brewers Summit about best practices for brewery blogging and brewery public relations strategies, respectively. 

Also in 2017, RadCraft was stoked to be included in two podcast episodes, both focused on our favorite topic: craft beer marketing. Thank you to Steve Schmidt at Market the Brew and Ryan Wheaton at Branding Brews for their time and great conversations!

Market The Brew, Episode 030: PR: Authentic Narratives for Unique Breweries

Branding Brews, Episode BB020: Creating a Content Calendar

In December, RadCraft celebrated its 5th anniversary. Read our reflections on five years in business here.

photo by The Brewtography Project

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2018

We're currently in the throws of Stout Month, using the hashtag #dailystout to document our fundraising efforts for Water For Good. 

We're excited to welcome Ska Brewing to our tribe of radical crafters. Say hello to Ska, everyone! 

We're heading to Nashville for the Craft Brewers Conference in April, where we're collaborating with fellow craft marketing companies— Promote The Brew, CODO Design, and more— as co-expo vendors. Get ready.

We couldn't do what we do without our partners, our collaborators, and our friends in the craft beer community. Raising our glasses to everyone who contributed to a successful 2017 at RadCraft. Cheers to 2018! 

Station 26 Brewing Co. Debuts Canned Six-Packs of Juicy Banger IPA

DENVER, CO — Station 26 Brewing Company’s Juicy Banger IPA is now available in canned six-packs across the brewery’s distribution footprint in Colorado.

Since its debut in 2014, Station 26’s award-winning Juicy Banger IPA has won over the hearts of hop-loving Colorado beer drinkers. It’s a 7.4 percent ABV IPA brewed with Centennial, Citra, and Mosaic hops that yield flavors of apricot, papaya, and honey.

”Canning Juicy Banger IPA makes the beer more accessible to hopheads across the Front Range," says Station 26 founder Justin Baccary. "We are excited to share our flagship beer with friends new and old."

Juicy Banger IPA joins Station 26’s canned beer family that also includes Colorado Cream Ale, Tangerine Cream, American Copper, and Pale Ale. It is now available in six-packs across the Denver Metro and Boulder areas.

For more information about Station 26, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT STATION 26 BREWING CO. 

Station 26 Brewing Co. brews craft beers in a 1960 fire station in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. The brewery was founded in 2013 by Justin Baccary and friends. It’s an ideal first stop for travelers coming from Denver International Airport. Find the brewery online at www.station26brewing.co.

Four Styles of Stout to Track Down This Stout Month

Emily Hutto and Dan Rabin, photo by The Brewtography Project

Beer and travel author Dan Rabin and RadCraft founder Emily Hutto, gave a talk at the Denver Press Club in November about the variety among styles of the beloved Stout beer style. Thanks again to The Press Club for having us, and thanks to Dan for this great idea. He wanted to convey the true spectrum that is Stout styles, and he's largely responsible for choosing the beer list below.

It should be noted that Dan was one of the first contributors to the #DailyStout campaign for Water for Good, too! 

Here are four varieties of Stouts, with examples of each style to boot. Happy Stout Month!

Dry Irish Stout: Carlow Brewing Co. (aka O’Hara’s Brewery) O’Hara’s Irish Stout, 4.3% ABV 40 IBU

This family-owned brewery began operating in 1996 as a pioneer in Irish craft brewing. While the Dry Irish Stout style is generally synonymous with Guinness, there’s a perception among many that the Guinness brewed today by the Irish corporate giant lacks the robust character of the Guinness of old. O’Hara’s Irish Stout is often described as “authentic,” “traditional,“ and “how stouts used to taste.” Indeed, the beer hits all the right notes stylistically with a smooth malt base, coffee-like roastiness, dry finish and low alcohol content conducive to partaking in multiple pints. Its flavors are best expressed when served cool, not cold.

Sweet Stout: Finkel & Garf Brewing Co. Oatmeal Milk Stout, 5.5% ABV, 36 IBU

Stylistically, this Boulder-brewed stout represents a hybrid of Sweet Stout and Oatmeal Stout. F&G is committed to subtlety and approachability in its beers, and this one in particular is brewed to debunk assumptions that dark and “sweet” beers are scary, chewy, or cloying. It has just the right roundness of roast, dark chocolate, and malt sweetness that washes down smooth and slightly sweet. The silky mouthfeel of this stout is created through the use of about 10 percent oats in its grain bill. F&G Oatmeal Milk Stout is the 2017 GABF gold medal winner in the Sweet or Cream Stout category.

Foreign Export Stout: Left Hand Brewing Co. Fade to Black Vol. 1, 8.5% ABV 30 IBU

Longmont’s Left Hand Brewing may be best known for its smooth milk stout, but the brewery’s seasonal Fade to Black Vol. 1 Foreign Export Stout has garnered its own collection of prestigious awards including three gold medals and one silver at the Great American Beer Festival, and a gold medal at the 2016 World Beer Cup. The beer is big, bold, complex and highly satisfying. As it warms, a variety of flavors emerge including coffee, chocolate, licorice and dark fruits. At 8.5%, it toes the line, but doesn’t quite enter the terrain of Imperial Stouts.

Imperial Stout: Great Divide Brewing Co. Yeti Imperial Stout, 9.5% ABV, 75 IBU

This beer is big in every way. Made by the home of Colorado’s original strong ale (Hibernation Ale, first brewed in in 1995), Great Divide’s infamous Yeti is a classic example of the Imperial Stout style, winner of three Great American Beer Festival awards in the Imperial Stout category. It’s a liquid balancing act between big, roasty malt flavor and bold hop flavor and aroma. Stout in general and specifically Yeti has been a great canvas for brewing creations, which at Great Divide have been an array of Yeti varietals including Espresso Oak-Aged and Oatmeal Yeti.

Ska Brewing Releases Rue B. Soho Grapefruit Lager

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing is excited to announce the release of Rue B. Soho, a refreshing lager brewed with cascade hops and grapefruit (5.1% ABV). Rue B. Soho, Ska’s first new release of 2018, marks the only 2018 release for Ska that will be distributed throughout all of their markets.

“This beer has seen enormous success in our tasting room this past year,” says Kristen Muraro, director of sales and marketing at Ska. “It would be nothing short of selfish not to share it with the world, or at least our friends in the 10 other states we’re distributed in."

With Rue B. Soho, Ska is building off the success of the brewery’s other popular lagers, including their award-winning Mexican Logger which shares the same yeast. Muraro said the uber-clean lager strain is the secret to showcasing the Ruby Red citrus and the classic grapefruit character of Cascade hops.

At first your nose is treated to the aroma of bright and crisp citrus, followed by a tart and light taste of grapefruit juice and carbonation on your tongue. It’s lightly acidulated, and at only 20 IBUs, it is incredibly refreshing.

Rue B. Soho will be available in 12 oz and 6-pack cans. 

To stay up-to-date on more of these kick ass developments going on at Ska, 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.  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 www.skabrewing.com. Plug in to the latest updates, beer releases and shenanigans at facebook.com/skabrewing and twitter.com/skabrewing.