Sleeping Giant and Boulder Beer Announce Partnership; New Manufacturing, Sales, and Marketing Relationship to keep Colorado’s First Craft Brewery On Shelves

DENVER, CO— Sleeping Giant, the first dedicated contract brewing company in the Western United States, announced today a new partnership with Boulder Beer Company that keeps Boulder beers in distribution without interruption. Sleeping Giant will be manufacturing Boulder’s brands and taking over distribution and marketing of the Boulder-based institution’s beers in the marketplace.

This news comes after Boulder Beer’s announcement in October 2019 to discontinue its widespread distribution and operate solely as a brewpub. This is still Boulder’s plan, with the new addition of Sleeping Giant as a manufacturing, sales, and marketing partner. Sleeping Giant approached Boulder after this announcement to discuss possibilities, and the two breweries quickly worked together to keep Boulder’s brands on shelves.

Going forward, Boulder Beer Shake, Mojo, Buffalo Gold, Hazed & Infused, Spaceman, and Due East will be brewed and packaged at Sleeping Giant, where state-of-the-art lab and brewing equipment will ensure the quality and consistency of Boulder’s brands and this 40-year-old namesake of Colorado beer. 

“This is an exciting time for Boulder Beer,” says Gina Day, Boulder Beer Company Owner. “We are thrilled to have the brand continue its legacy and to continue to supply our loyal customers through retail markets.”

“For Sleeping Giant, this partnership was an amazing opportunity on multiple levels,” adds Matthew Osterman, President & Founder of Sleeping Giant. “We couldn’t be more proud to work with such an iconic brand, the first craft brewery in Colorado. Further, our new relationship will allow Sleeping Giant to better understand the distribution, sales, and marketing side of the business. Developing this expertise will allow us to assist our contract brewing clients, and provide yet another value-add service to our portfolio.

For more information about this new partnership between Sleeping Giant and Boulder Beer Company, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SLEEPING GIANT BREWING COMPANY

Sleeping Giant is the first dedicated contract brewing company in the Western United States. Catering to the craft beer community, Sleeping Giant offers a cutting-edge QA/QC program, approachable brew lengths, a variety of packaging options, and personalized customer service that sets it apart. Since the company was founded in 2015, it has supported the brewing and packaging needs of dozens of breweries across the country and grown to be Colorado's fourth largest independent craft brewery. Sleeping Giant made the 2019 INC 500 list and was also named a Colorado Companies to Watch this year. Learn more at sleepinggiant.com. 

ABOUT BOULDER  BEER COMPANY

Founded in 1979, Boulder Beer Company has been a pioneer in the craft brewing industry for 40 years. From their early days brewing in “The Goatshed” north of Boulder, to brewing and packaging for a regional audience out of their European-style brewhouse on Wilderness Place, to their recent move to scale down and focus on their brewpub operation, to now partnering with their friends at Sleeping Giant to keep the brands alive at the retail level, Boulder Beer’s passion for innovation and sustainability has seen them to their milestone 40th Anniversary and will continue their legacy in Boulder and the craft beer industry for years to come. For more information on Boulder Beer Company, contact Tess McFadden at tmcfadden@boulderbeer.com and follow @BoulderBeerCo on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Peach Street Distillers to Release Colorado’s First 10-Year Bourbon

PALISADE, CO— Peach Street Distillers is making Colorado history. For the first time ever, the state’s oldest independently owned distillery will release Colorado Straight Bourbon 10 Year Single Barrel, a bourbon that has been quietly resting in a dark corner in Peach Street’s rickhouse since October 2009. Notably, this magic was occurring during a time when distilling was much less popular of an endeavor in the Centennial state.

“Traditionally, longer aged Bourbon Whiskeys are from Kentucky where the humidity and daily shifts in temperature are not so extreme,” says Dustin LeMoine, Bourbon Lobbyist and Director of Sales at Peach Street Distillers. “Our little rickhouse in the Colorado desert sees very dry conditions and temperature swings of up to 40+ degrees per day. This combination draws the bourbon deep into the oak and keeps the spirit in the barrel active—further developing the flavor.”

Peach Street’s Colorado Straight Bourbon is made from sweet Western Colorado corn grown two miles down the road, pure Rocky Mountain water, and rye and barley from Proximity Malt in the San Luis Valley, our 10 Year Expression was aged in American Oak for ten years and bottled from a single barrel. “The result is a bouquet of flavors including cherry, cinnamon, hay, pipe tobacco, caramel and a heavy dose of leather and vanilla on the nose”, according to Head Distiller, Davy Lindig. Peach Street Distillers is proudly local which is why all phases of production— brewing, fermenting, distilling and aging— were done in Palisade, Colorado.

The 10-Year Colorado Straight Bourbon will join Peach Street’s award-winning lineup of Bourbon and Whiskey expressions including Colorado Straight Bourbon, 5 Year Single Barrel Colorado Straight Bourbon, Barrel Strength Colorado Straight Bourbon, Modus Hoperandi Hop Whiskey, American Peated Single Malt Whiskey and Smoked Rye Whiskey. 

Peach Street Distillers will host a release party for this historic whiskey on Saturday, December 7 starting at noon with a limit of two bottles per person. Retailing at $99.99 per bottle, each whiskey is wax dipped and includes a specialty, hand-tied bead. Limited quantities will also be available at participating retailers early to mid-December, just in time for the holidays. 

“There is literally no precedent for a Bourbon of this background or character,” says LeMoine.
“We’re only emptying two single barrels this year so get it while you can!”

For more information about Colorado Straight Bourbon 10 Year Single Barrel or Peach Street Distillers, 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 continuously owned and operated distillery. Visit peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

Now Available: Karl Strauss Ten Beers For Breakfast Maple Stout

SAN DIEGO, CA— Just in time for Thanksgiving, cold weather, and holiday toasting, Karl Strauss presents the 10th of its “Twelve Days” annual holiday ale series, Ten Beers For Breakfast. This Maple Stout is available in bombers and on draft beginning Thursday, November 21.

Ten Beers for Breakfast is a Maple Stout brewed with vanilla beans, rolled oats, and maple syrup. The tenth installment in the brewery’s “Twelve Days” holiday series has flavors of caramelized sugar, sweet chocolate, and roasted espresso backed by a creamy, full body. It will be available in bombers and on draft while supplies last.

The KARL “Twelve Days” tradition began in 2010, and continues each year to celebrate the holiday season. Here is the complete list of beers in this series:

2010 Parrot In A Palm Tree Baltic Porter 

2011 Two Tortugas Quadrupel Ale 

2012 Mouette à Trois Fruitcake Ale

2013 Four Scowling Owns Tripel

2014 Five Wee Heavy Bells Scotch Ale

2015 Six Suits A-Hangin Imperial Belgian Brown Ale

2016 Seven Sharks A-Circling Imperial Smoked Porter

2017 Eight Merry Mermen IIIPA

2018 Nine Bonfires Blazing Golden Stout

Learn more about the the “Twelve Days” series at karlstrauss.com and contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with additional media inquiries.

ABOUT KARL STRAUSS BREWING COMPANY

Karl Strauss Brewing Company has been proudly independent since 1989, pioneering the craft beer scene with innovative and award-winning beer releases like Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Queen of Tarts Dark Sour, and Boat Shoes Hazy IPA. For more information, visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739. Share it. Cheers.

Ska Fabricating Brings Sexy Cans Back; Lucky Winner of Photo Contest Will Head to 2020 Craft Brewers Conference

DURANGO, CO—  Ska Fabricating is bringing its #SexyCans campaign back for the second time in 2019. This photo contest celebrates the thriving online craft beverage community and the rise of canned beverage artistry around the world. Ska Fab will reward one lucky participant with an all-expense-paid trip to the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Cans are quickly gaining popularity as infinitely recyclable vessels with a 360° canvas so everyone has a favorite can or two, either because of what's in it or what's on it. The #SexyCans contest is every drinker’s opportunity to turn a picture of that can into an awesome prize! Starting December 1, 2019, submit your favorite craft can photos to this contest by posting them to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #sexycans and tagging @skafabricating. Post as many entries as you like - the more, the merrier! Every participant will receive a package of winter Ska Fab schwag.

All entries are due by Sunday, March 1 with the winner announced Monday, March 2. All entrants must be at least 21 years old. The winner of this #sexycans photo contest will receive a trip for one to the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference, taking place in San Antonio, Texas from April 19 through 22. This prize includes flights, hotel accommodations, and a full conference badge. 

Badge holders at the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference are invited to join Ska Fabricating and friends at Craft After Dark on Tuesday, April 21 at The Rock Box. Galactic will headline this event with support from San Antonio’s rockin’ local talent. The nonprofit recipient will be announced in the coming months. 

For more information about #sexycans or Ska Fabricating, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@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.

Elevation Beer Co. Debuts Coffee Stout in Cans

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— Introducing Coffee Stout from Elevation Beer Company. This latest seasonal  offering from the brewery is a Coffee Milk Stout made with coffee from Buena Vista Roasters.

Coffee Stout is a 5% ABV Milk Stout made with a blend of Organic Guatemala and Organic Timor beans. 

“We wanted to brew an easy drinking, cold weather beer and thought a 5% stout with a touch of milk sugar was just what we needed,” says Christian Koch, Elevation’s Head Brewer. “We can’t get enough coffee around here either so we decided steep some whole beans from our friends at Buena Vista Roasters.”

Koch grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania and has long wanted to brew a beer with chocolate in the recipe. “The beer is coffee forward with subtle chocolate undertones from the light dose of Boulder-based Cholaca, pure liquid cocoa,” Koch says. “We are really happy with how this one came out.”  

Coffee Stout is available on draft and in canned 12 ounce 6-packs at the brewery tasting room, and across Colorado while supplies last. 

Calling all Colorado-based baristas! Replicate Elevation’s logo in your next latte art expression like the one on the seasonal Coffee Stout can, tag @elevationbeerco and share it with the #lattelogo to be entered to win an Elevation growler and a bag of barrel aged coffee beans from Buena Vista Roasters! All photo submissions are due by December 15, 2019. Participants must be at least 21 years of age to enter. There is no limit on number of submissions.

To learn more about this seasonal release from Elevation Beer Company, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcrafbeer.com.

ABOUT ELEVATION BEER CO. 

Proudly operating in the remote mountain town of Poncha Springs, Elevation Beer Co. is more than just a beer company— we are a family, a community, and a collective of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Dedicated to creating sustainable, meaningful careers in rural Colorado, we take the preservation of our home as seriously as we do the quality of our beer. Taste our flagship 8 Second Kolsch and a lineup of other usual suspects and seasonals at our tasting room, and in canned 6-packs and specialty bombers across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah. Go higher at elevationbeerco.com.

Thirsty Monk Head Brewer Brings Long History of Barrel-Aging Experience to The Woodshed Barrel House

The brewery’s barrel-aging program is a culmination of Brian Grace’s passion and experience

DENVER, CO– Thirsty Monk, brewer of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales and operator of world-recognized craft beer and craft cocktail bars, announces the official launch of its Denver barrel house, The Woodshed. This barrel-aging facility houses Thirsty Monk’s budding sour beer and barrel-aging program led by Head Brewer, Brian Grace.

The Woodshed is home to two foudres, and a growing selection of other wine and spirit barrels. Grace is brewing black, red and golden base beers to be inoculated with wild yeast and bacteria before the addition of fruit and eventual blending and bottle conditioning. He will taste barrels individually as well as the blended variations, and is adamant that patience and forgiveness are key to producing a unique sour blend.

“Patience is required because we’re making sour beer the traditional way which takes a long time for the wild yeast and bacteria to create unique and deep characteristics of aroma and flavors,” says Grace. “Forgiveness is another important aspect because sometimes your barrels are not ideal, but they can develop over time if allowed to age in the wood longer. There have been a handful of barrels where I have tasted them one month and come back to them six months to a year later and they taste profoundly different!”

Prior to Thirsty Monk, Grace brewed at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Michigan and Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in Denver; The Woodshed will be yet another mile marker for the acclaimed brewer, who has been working on building a unique house character by collecting wild yeast and bacteria from the area around the brewery and barrel-aging facility.

“What is most exciting about the project for me is that there will be a house character that I hope will be appreciated by sour beer enthusiasts,” says Grace. “I am the most proud when people tell me they can identify that a beer is from a specific brewery because it holds a unique character that can only be found in beers from those cellars!”

The first release out of The Woodshed will be a pluot and blackberry Dark Strong-Based Sour. This is Grace’s first barrel-aged beer that was open-top fermented at the Woodshed and aged in California red wine barrels. The sour then rests in a foudre that previously held Moscato. 

Also on the horizon for Thirsty Monk is a rebrand. In 2020, the Monk will gain a number of friends, as Thirsty Monk Brewery re-launches its core lineup of Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales with a new look and feel that brings tarot cards to life. This brand refresh showcases Thirsty Monk's soulful and intention-based culture, from innovative beer-making to community partnerships. Visitors can look forward to the introduction of can fills, specialty bottle releases, and “tarot readings” to showcase their beer flights with custom, collectible designs. 

If you have questions about The Woodshed or the beers it’s currently aging, contact Chea Franz at Chea@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK 

Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk Brewery currently operates a family of brewpubs in Asheville, North Carolina (Thirsty Monk Downtown Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park), Denver, and Portland, Oregon. Thirsty Monk’s award-winning, modern-rooted Belgian ales are showcased in the company’s Cicerone-crafted food menus, which include beer style-centric Food Flights and beer-paired burgers. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

Endo Brewing Announces Results of First Crowdsourced Beer; Fuzzy Bunny Boysenberry & Cherry Blonde To Release November 27

LAFAYETTE, CO— Endo Brewing will add boysenberry and cherry to its Winter Blonde Ale recipe this season, as voted upon by brewery fans and loyal social media followers. This crowdsourced beer will tap on Wednesday, November 27 at 3 p.m. at Endo’s tasting room.  

Last month Endo brewed its Winter Blonde Ale recipe, and asked friends and followers to vote on what fruit addition they most wanted to taste in the recipe. They had one week to choose from sweet cherry, mango, passionfruit, pink guava, or boysenberry. A total of 58 voters participated, with 25 votes for boysenberry and 20 votes for cherry. 

“Because they were so close in votes, we tried a fifty-fifty blend of the two and captured all the best qualities of each fruit,” says Kevin Van Winkle, Endo’s Co-Founder and Head Brewer. “We’ve never tried asking people to weigh in on one of our recipes before. It felt like a true community effort, and we’re excited to taste it with everyone who voted and weighed in on its name.” 

WHEN: Fuzzy Bunny will tap on Wednesday, 11/27 at 3 pm at Endo Brewing. This small batch will only be available while supplies last. 

WHERE: Endo Brewing (2755 Dagny Way STE #101 Lafayette, CO 80026)

For more information about Endo’s first-ever crowdsourced beer recipe, contact Chea Franz at chea@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT ENDO BREWING

Founded in 2017 by two guys with a passion for craft beer and bikes, Endo Brewing Company is a community-driven neighborhood brewery located in Lafayette, Colorado. Housed in a former five-bay auto repair shop, Endo Brewing has converted this unique space into a vibrant tasting room offering quality beer in a warm and friendly atmosphere and a state-of-the-art bicycle repair shop behind the bar. Enjoy a handcrafted beer in a relaxed setting while you get your bike tuned up. Find us online at endobrewing.com. Cheers! 

Lone Tree Brewing Company Releases Northwest IPA and Winter Seasonals

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Company is bringing back some fan favorites English Old Ale and Horchata Stout, two beers in the brewery’s Branching Out series, in cans for the first time. Meanwhile Northwest IPA, the brewery’s brand new seasonal offering will launch in early December.

“We call this a Northwest IPA because it features Cascade and Centennial hops, two Pacific Northwest varietals that have helped build the craft brewing industry” says Dennis Stack, Director of Sales and Marketing at Lone Tree Brewing Company. “We know there isn’t a ton of West Coast style IPAs in the marketplace right now so we’re thrilled to provide Northwest IPA as a seasonal offering.”

At 6.5 percent ABV, Northwest IPA is the newest beer coming out of Lone Tree’s Hoppy Little Trees Project. This West Coast style IPA has piney and floral notes that has a balance of bitterness and juiciness. Northwest IPA will be available on November 29 in the tasting room and within Lone Tree’s distribution footprint on December 2.

Horchata Stout, Lone Tree’s traditional Milk Stout with cinnamon, chocolate and lactose will be available on December 9 though fans of the beer can enjoy a couple of days earlier for Lone Tree’s 8-Year Anniversary Party on December 7. 

English Old Ale, a traditional British-style Old Ale spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice, will hit taps and shelves by mid-December. Both of these spiced beers are now available in cans to grab-and-go to your next holiday event.

A limited number of Lone Tree’s winter seasonals will be available across Colorado and Kansas. These beers will also be available at the brewery’s tasting room.

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company, contact Chea at chea@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 are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants in its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Celebrates 8th Anniversary with Charity Event that Keeps Outdoor Dogs from Freezing

What: Lone Tree Brewing Company is celebrating their 8th birthday with a special charity event to support Buddy’s Builders, a local nonprofit that builds dog houses to protect outdoor dogs from the elements. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Buddy’s Builders.

Buddy’s Builders partners with Animal Control at Denver Animal Shelter and Animal Management at Golden Police Department to locate dogs in need of shelter. These organizations connect dog owners with Buddy’s Builders to receive dog houses at zero cost.

To commemorate eight years in business, Lone Tree will release three specialty firkins (tapping at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) made by their staff, including a Carrot Cream Ale, Horchata Stout, and four-packs of Barrel-Aged Wee Heavy. Specialty glassware will be available as well. 

A silent auction will occur from 2 - 6 p.m. including incredible offerings from the following organizations: Brown Palace tour tickets, Denver Center Performing Arts tickets, Denver Zoo, Escape Room, IKON Ski Pass, Paint n Sip, Peach Mobile, Pet Scoop, winery and distillery tastings, yoga and pilates gift classes, artwork, gift baskets and more.

Delicious BBQ will be available all day from Ol’ Skool Que, and music from live-looping extraordinaire The One and Only Jon Ham from 5 - 8 p.m.

When: Saturday, December 7 from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (silent auction goes from 2 - 6 p.m. and The One and Only Jon Ham from 5 - 8 p.m.)

Where: Lone Tree Brewing Company (8200 Park Meadows Dr, Suite #8222 Lone Tree, Colorado 80124)

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company’s Anniversary Party or their 8 years in business, contact Chea Franz at chea@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 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.

Comrade Brewing To Tap Fresh Batch of GABF Winner More Dodge Less RAM

DENVER, CO— Off the tails of their 2019 GABF® Small Brewing Company of the Year recognition, Comrade Brewing will release a fresh batch of its Great American Beer Festival®-winning More Dodge Less RAM IPA, at noon on Saturday, November 9.

More Dodge Less RAM is a stronger triple-dry hopped sister of Superpower IPA that took gold in the second most-entered category of this year’s GABF competition. More Dodge Less RAM is hopped with Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic, and the hop formerly known as Denali. It weighs in at 7.8% ABV. 

Named after that one time a Dodge Ram plowed into the brewery three years ago, and now Comrade brews More Dodge Less RAM twice each year. “We’ve been overwhelmed with requests to try the gold medal winner, we’ve decided to brew it a third time for 2019” saya David Lin, founder of Comrade Brewing. “It was a serious crash that caused over $50k in damage and prevented us from brewing for more than 2 weeks. I remember saying that we’d look back on it one day and laugh about it. Funny how things work, because if that truck never crashed into the brewery, we would have never brewed this beer.” 

The much anticipated of this More Dodge Less RAM is going down at Comrade Brewing this Saturday, November 9. This award-winning beer will be on draft while supplies last. 

For more information about Comrade Brewing or More Dodge Less Ram IPA, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT COMRADE BREWING

2019 Great American Beer Festival® Small Brewing Company of the Year. Launched in 2014 by David Lin and Marks Lanham, Comrade Brewing is often noted as one of Denver and Colorado’s masters of the India Pale Ale style, home of the flagship Superpower IPA. Comrade also brews the award-winning Yellow Fever Chile Beer, the Koffee Kream Extra Coffee Milk Stout, and the REDCON Irish-Style Red Ale year-round, as well an array of rotating seasonals and lots of collaboration beers with fellow brewing companies. Comrade’s trophy case now sports 5 medals from the Great American Beer Festival® and a 2016 World Beer Cup® gold award, among others. Find the brewery online at comradebrewing.com.

Colorado Craft Experts Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers Launch Ska Street, Boulder’s First Brewstillery

Peach Street Distillers in Palisade, Colorado

BOULDER, CO— The Legion of Ska continues to grow with Ska Street, Boulder’s first “brewstillery” concept. This joint venture by Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers is slated to open in the former FATE Brewing space in spring of 2020. 

Peach Street Distillers was hatched in 2005 when Ska Brewing’s two co-founders Bill Graham and Dave Thibodeau found the allure of Palisade’s locally grown fruit too much to pass by. Since Peach Street’s opening, the two companies have worked side by side— with a shared sales team, and collaborations such as Modus Whiskey, and the Boomerang Barrel Program. 

Backing up even further, Ska Brewing was born on Colorado’s Front Range out of the minds of Graham and Thibodeau, with the influence of Boulder’s burgeoning beer community. This area is where they grew up and learned to homebrew, where Graham attended the University of Colorado, and where many of Ska and Peach Street’s staff got their start in the brewing industry. 

After 15 years of partnerships, Ska and Peach Street will finally set up shop under the same roof in spring of 2020. “A number of serendipitous factors have come together to make Boulder the answer to what we’ve been trying to do for a decade,” says Thibodeau. “when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at this chance to call Boulder home.” 

Steve Breezley, Ska’s Chief Operating Officer who formerly worked at Avery Brewing, says, “So many of us at Ska feel attached to the Boulder community— it’s active like our home in Durango, and it’s an epicenter for craft beer.” 

Ska Brewing World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado

Ska Street will integrate Ska and Peach Street’s businesses, with onsite brewing of Ska beers in a 10 barrel brewhouse and distillation of Peach Street spirits in a 450 liter still. The Brewstillery will offer 30 Ska beers on tap and a mixology program that replicates the Palisade distillery experience. Ska Street’s food menu will bring together components of each business, with music-inspired, Caribbean-influenced eats to mirror the food served at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, and the thoughtfully sourced farm-to-table approach that guests have come to love at Peach Street. 

Ska’s experimental brewery, the Mod Project, has afforded the brewery and many of its retailers the opportunity to do some unique projects together in Durango, and at Ska Street in Boulder they plan to build upon this platform with their spirits, as well as well as their beers.

“We’re excited to get back to the Front Range, and to get more involved in Boulder,” Thibodeau says. “Beyond the new location, this is a great opportunity to pursue collaborations with accounts in the area that have been selling our beer for years.” 

For more information about Ska Street, or to interview either Ska Brewing or Peach Street, 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 us as www.peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

Elevation Beer Co. Presents Fall Seasonals For 2019

PONCHA SPRINGS, CO— Elevation Beer Company will bring back Señorita Horchata Imperial Porter, Peach Acide, and False Summit for the season beginning this month. Also available this season is Elevation’s fresh hop ale, Downpour. 

Award-winning Señorita Horchata Imperial Porter will return in cans mid-October, just in time for Día de los Muertos. This 8.4% ABV Porter carefully balances flavors of chocolate malt, cinnamon spice, and Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla with hop bitterness from Northern Brewer and Chinook hops. Señorita, which won bronze at the World Beer Cup®, the Australian International Beer Awards, and the European Beer Star, will be distributed in Colorado and Utah while supplies last. 

One week later, cans of Peach Acide will roll out of the brewery, across Colorado, and in select locations in Utah and Wyoming. The French translation of sour, Acide, is the brewery’s trip into the increasingly popular style of kettle soured beers— including Dry Hopped Acide, Pineapple, Pomegranate, and this popular Peach variety. Peach weighs in at 4.5% ABV and finishes slightly tart with subtle notes of peach fuzz on your nose. 

In November, Elevation Beer Company’s famed barrel-aged Belgian-style Quad will return in 750mL bombers to Colorado’s Front Range. Aromas of dark fruit, vanilla, and bourbon seep off False Summit’s milk chocolate head. As the beer warms, notes of caramel, oak and dark Belgian candi sugar come more prevalent. This barrel-aged Dark Belgian Strong Ale, like the final stretch of a mountain’s peak, is complex and rewarding— an experience to be shared with good company. This beauty weighs in at 11.1% ABV with 30 IBUs. 

On tap and in tasting room only 6-packs while it lasts through the season is Elevation’s fresh hop ale, Downpour. This fresh, seasonal delight is a session IPA featuring Cashmere hops from Billy Goat Hop Farm in Montrose. 

To learn more about these seasonal releases from Elevation Beer Company, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcrafbeer.com.

ABOUT ELEVATION BEER CO. 

Proudly operating in the remote mountain town of Poncha Springs, Elevation Beer Co. is more than just a beer company— we are a family, a community, and a collective of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Dedicated to creating sustainable, meaningful careers in rural Colorado, we take the preservation of our home as seriously as we do the quality of our beer. Taste our flagship 8 Second Kolsch and a lineup of other usual suspects and seasonals at our tasting room, and in canned 6-packs and specialty bombers across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah. Go higher at elevationbeerco.com. 

Karl Strauss Welcomes Dark Beer Season with Three Limited Edition Stout Releases

SAN DIEGO, CA— Karl Strauss is ushering in a season robust with stouts. Over the coming weeks, the brewery will release a Golden Stout with Coffee, Barrel-Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley Imperial Stout, and Ten Beers for Breakfast Maple Stout. These limited edition beers will be available throughout California just in time for your holiday festivities. 

First up is a Golden Stout with Coffee, a collaboration with Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. Blonde in color, this stout is brewed without roasted barley. Rolled oats produce a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, while the addition of vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, and coffee contribute roasted flavors of sweet chocolate and espresso. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters’ single-origin Ethiopian coffee beans are the pièce de résistance in this stout, layering in additional flavors of subtle fruit. This Golden Stout with Coffee will be available on draft and in 16oz canned 4packs beginning on Thursday October 24th.

Next, mark your calendars on Monday November 4th for the much anticipated release of Barrel-Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley. This elegant Imperial Stout (which features Bird Rock coffee beans as well), is brewed with roasted malts and cocoa nibs before it ages in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels with vanilla beans. Rich notes of dark chocolate and espresso are backed by a smooth and warming finish. This 11.3% treat will be on draft and available in limited 500mL bottles while quantities last.

Finally, the holidays will be extra warm and cozy this year thanks to Karl Strauss’ holiday ale. Ten Beers for Breakfast is a Maple Stout brewed with vanilla beans, rolled oats, and maple syrup. This tenth installment in the brewery’s “Twelve Days” holiday series has flavors of caramelized sugar, sweet chocolate, and roasted espresso backed by a creamy, full body. It will be available on draft and in 22oz Bombers beginning on Thursday November 21st.

“These stouts were brewed with the changing seasons in mind. They’re ideal for the (kind of) chilly California winter. With three different releases to choose from, there’s a Karl Strauss stout perfect for every palate!” – Paul Segura, Brewmaster of Research & Development

All three stouts can be found for a limited time at Karl Strauss’ brewpubs, tasting room, and at craft beer accounts throughout California. For more information about the brewery’s upcoming releases, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT KARL STRAUSS BREWING COMPANY

Karl Strauss Brewing Company has been proudly independent since 1989, pioneering the craft beer scene with innovative and award-winning beer releases like Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Queen of Tarts Dark Sour, and Boat Shoes Hazy IPA. For more information, visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739. Share it. Cheers.

Ska Brewing Awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold at 2019 Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival

DURANGO, CO— Earlier this month, Ska Brewing brought three medals home from the 28th annual Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival (SBWF)— bronze for Modus Hoperandi IPA, silver for Oktoberfest, and gold for Steel Toe Stout. 

Modus Hoperandi IPA received a bronze award in the Everyday Ale Modern Style IPA category. This year Ska celebrated the 10th anniversary of this IPA, one of Ska and Colorado’s most award-winning, with recognitions in seven national and another seven international beer award programs— including the European Beer Star and the Australian International Beer Awards. Modus also has claim to fame in Sweden as the first canned IPA available in the country. 

Ska Oktoberfest was honored with silver in the Semi Dark and Dark Lager category of this prestigious awards program. This German-style lager also won silver at the Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival in 2018, as well as a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival® in the Vienna-Style Lager category. 

Steel Toe Stout was awarded gold in the Porter & Stout category. This Milk Stout, one of the first of this beer style to hit a can in Colorado, is one of Ska’s time-honored and most decorated beers, with recognitions in the North American Beer Awards, Great American Beer Festival®, World Beer Cup®, and more, including silver at SBWF in 2012. 

These awards bring Ska’s total medal count from SBWF to five. “This is a triple threat of an honor,” says Arlo Grammatica, Ska’s Sales Manager. “We’re damn proud to be a part of the Swedish beer community, and to return home with such distinguished hardware.”

For more information about these award winning beers 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.

Westbound and Down Brewing Co. Wins Two Silver Medals; Named Midsize Brewpub of the Year at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival

Photo © 2019, Brewers Association

IDAHO SPRINGS, CO— Westbound and Down Brewing Co. was awarded two silver medals and the Midsize Brewpub of the Year recognition at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) competition, the 33rd edition of the world’s largest commercial beer competition.

Westbound and Down Brewing Co. was recognized in the Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category for its Double Barrel Louie, a Barrel-Aged 11.5% ABV English Barleywine named after a rescue dog in Head Beer Drinker Jake Garder’s family, that was aged in Port-finished rye barrels and  finished in Breckenridge Bourbon Barrels on whiskey-soaked peaches.

Westbound and Down Brewing Co. was also recognized in the Imperial India Pale Ale category for 9.3% ABV Westbound Double IPA, a Double IPA with ludicrous amounts of  Galaxy, Mosaic, Enigma and Cryo Mosaic hops that pack big aromas of tangerine, blueberries, and papaya.. Westbound Double IPA is balanced with a sweet biscuit malt profile, with a clean dry finish. 

“We are proud of the beers our team makes and it is rewarding to see our beers recognized, but it won’t change our process and desire to keep getting better,” says Gardner.

GABF, presented by the Brewers Association, recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded on October 5 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, in 107 beer categories covering 174 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the country. This year 9,497 entries were submitted to the general competition, along with 113 Pro-Am and 70 Collaboration entries. The beer was made by 2,295 breweries from across the nation, with entries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Judging took place over the course of three days, with an international panel of 322 judges from 18 countries. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with inquiries about this announcement. For more GABF competition information, including the 2019 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com. 

ABOUT WESTBOUND & DOWN BREWING COMPANY

Westbound and Down is a small brewpub located in Idaho Springs, CO that prides itself in brewing well-executed beers in a wide array of beer styles to pair with great food. Brewed with a bit of Rocky Mountain air and served with a side of fresh powder, Westbound and Down’s beers have been awarded multiple accolades since their opening in 2015. Find this destination brewpub online at westboundanddown.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Company and 11 Other Breweries to Host Toga-Themed South in Your Mouth on October 26

What: Lone Tree Brewing Company is hosting the Annual South in Your Mouth Beer Festival with 11 other local breweries. This year the breweries will be wearing their best toga attire and guests are encouraged to join in!

This event was started in 2016 to celebrate the South Metro Denver craft beer culture. Breweries will be pouring specialty beers that are not commonly available in their tasting rooms. Tickets cost $10 and includes a commemorative glass along with two 5 oz. pours at the event. 

Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a portion of the sales from the South in Your Mouth beer festival will be donated to Drink For Pink— a nonprofit that collaborates with local breweries to raise funds to support breast cancer research in the state of Colorado and help find a cure for cancer.

Enjoy delicious eats from Hottie Rob’s Mobile Eats and Gyros King Food Truck, cool tunes, giveaways, and more!

When: Saturday, October 26 from 12 to 6 pm

Where: Lone Tree Brewing Company (8222 Park Meadows Dr, Lone Tree, Colorado 80124)

Participating Breweries: 105 West Brewing Company, Blue Spruce Brewing Company, Boggy Draw Brewery, Coal Mine Ave Brewing Company, Dead Hippie Brewing, Halfpenny Brewing Company, Grist Brewing Company, Living the Dream Brewing, Locavore Beer Works, Lone Tree Company, Pikes Peak Brewing Company and Resolute Brewing Company

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 in its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Comrade Brewing Named 2019 Small Brewing Company of the Year; Earns Two Gold GABF Medals for IPA Categories

DENVER, CO— Comrade Brewing was named 2019 Small Brewing Company of the Year by the Brewers Association at the 33rd Great American Beer Festival® awards ceremony at the Colorado Convention Center after receiving gold medals for two of its India Pale Ales. These are the fourth and fifth medals the brewery has won since opening in 2014. 

Superpower IPA  was awarded a gold medal in the American-Style Strong Pale Ale category, which had 131 entries. Superpower IPA is an American IPA with loads of Pacific Northwest hops that lend huge pine and grapefruit hop aroma and citrus flavors. Its bitterness is balanced with a crisp, light malt character and is available year-round at the Comrade Brewing tasting room. Just a few days prior, the Denver Westword called it one of the most important beers in Colorado history. 

More Dodge Less RAM, a triple-dry hopped sister of Superpower IPA, took gold in the second most-entered category, American-Style India Pale Ale, which had 342 entries. More Dodge Less RAM was the first beer that Comrade brewed after a Dodge Ram plowed into the brewery three years ago. 

“We still can’t believe it” said Chairman and Founder David Lin. “It’s an incredible honor to take home these awards with so many other great breweries and proud of our brewmaster Marks Lanham and brewer Rio Urioste."

The 2019 GABF® competition winners were selected by an international panel of 322 expert judges from 9,497 entries, received from 2,295 U.S. breweries, plus 113 Pro-Am and 70 Collaboration entries.

For more information about Comrade Brewing or its internationally recognized IPA brewing prowess, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. For more information about the 2019 Great American Beer Festival competition and its winners, visit greatamericanbeerfestival.com.

ABOUT COMRADE BREWING

Launched in 2014 by David Lin and Marks Lanham, Comrade Brewing is often noted as one of Denver and Colorado’s masters of the India Pale Ale style, home of the flagship Superpower IPA. Comrade also brews the award-winning Yellow Fever Chile Beer, the Koffee Kream Extra Coffee Milk Stout, and the REDCON Irish-Style Red Ale year-round, as well an array of rotating seasonals and lots of collaboration beers with fellow brewing companies. Comrade’s trophy case now sports 5 medals from the Great American Beer Festival® and a 2016 World Beer Cup® gold award, among others. Find the brewery online at comradebrewing.com.

Brink Brewing Named 2019 Very Small Brewing Company of the Year, Takes Home Two GABF Gold Medals

Photo © 2019, Brewers Association

CINCINNATI, OH— Brink Brewing was named 2019 Very Small Brewing Company of the Year by the Brewers Association today at the 33rd annual Great American Beer Festival® awards ceremony after receiving gold medals for two of its most decorated beers in the competition. 

Hold the Reins was awarded gold in the English-style Mild Ale category that had 40 entries. This classic “session ale” is full flavored with moderate sweetness, and a bit nutty with a touch of caramel. Chocolate and roast notes give way to a dry finish. This beer, which was originally one of Brink Brewing Head Brewer Kelly Montgomery’s home brew recipes, was awarded a gold medal in 2017 and a silver in 2018 in the same category. “I have been tweaking that recipe for the last decade as new and better ingredients have become available,” he says. “It was always the house beer on tap.” 

Moozie, a rich Milk Stout, was awarded gold in the Sweet or Cream Stout category that had 67 entries. Like a chocolate milkshake without the straw, it features chocolate and coffee notes and is almost chewy thanks to the addition of lactose and flaked oats. Moozie is a family namesake, named after Molly (Brink owners John and Kelly's sister). Their Uncle Jack— whose memory sparked their interest in the craft beer world and inspired the conception of Brink— always referred to her as Moozie. “We wanted to pay homage to both and a Milk Stout seemed fitting (moo!). It also helps that it's one of Molly's favorite styles. The first medal we received a few months after opening was for Moozie, and now she is our most decorated beer with 7 awards,” Montgomery says. 

Moozie also boasts a bronze medal from the 2018 World Beer Cup®, silver at the inaugural Ohio Craft Brewers Cup earlier this year, and a gold medal from the 2018 Great American Beer Festival. 

Brink Brewing is the first brewing company in Great American Beer Festival history to be named Very Small Brewing Company two years back to back. This honor is a huge accomplishment for the brewery, which will celebrate its third anniversary early in 2020. "We went into this year thinking we could never top last year's wins, so the magnitude of exceeding it this year is still sinking in!,” says Brink co-owner John McGarry. “We could not be more proud than to be part of elevating the Ohio beer scene into the top 5 in the US this year based on medals."

If you’d like more information about Brink Brewing or its award-winning beers, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT BRINK BREWING

Brink Brewing Co is craft brewery in the College Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati that serves some of Ohio’s most decorated beers. Since Brink’s opening in 2017, the brewing team has accumulated an impressive 22 awards and a World Beer Cup plaque. Brink was honored at the Great American Beer Festival® as Very Small Brewing Company of the Year both in 2018 and 2019. For more information visit brinkbrewing.com.

The Empourium To Host First-Ever Fresh-tober Fest in Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood

WHAT: Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood gets fresh this fall season with Fresh-tober Fest hosted by The Empourium Brewing Company and accompanied by Call to Arms Brewing Company, The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery, De Steeg Brewing and FlyteCo Brewing!

The Empourium’s fresh hop beer is Now & Forever, a 6.2% ABV IPA with seven pounds per barrel of fresh hops. It’s extra fresh and not so bitter.

Fresh-tober Fest is The Empourium’s alternative for the traditional Oktoberfest celebration— in this rendition each brewery will feature their own fresh hop beer creations! Little Red’s Kitchen will sling German-themed eats and three local bands will perform live throughout the day. Rose Finn will play from 1 to 3pm, The Blowholes from 3:30 to 5:30pm, and Show and Tell from 6 to 8pm. Bring your dancing shoes! 

This festival will benefit the St. Francis Center, a refuge for men and women who are homeless in the metro Denver area. Fresh-toberfest will include a jean drive for St. Francis Center. Guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently used pair of jeans to donate. 

Tickets are not required for this event. Each 12oz pour will cost $5. Guests can purchase custom festival glassware for $10, which includes a first free beer. 

WHEN: Saturday, October 12 from noon to 8pm 

WHERE: The Empourium Brewing Company, 4385 W 42nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80212

Contact Erin Hamrick at erin@radcraftbeer.com for the complete Fresh-tober Fest beer list and to connect with The Empourium for an interview about this inaugural festival. 

ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM

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

Station 26 Expands Distribution with New Image Brewing

DENVER, CO— Station 26 Brewing Co. will begin distributing New Image’s portfolio across the Front Range and Summit County, the company announced.

This logistical move was advantageous for both companies as New Image broadens its reach with Station 26’s craft wholesale experience.

"This made complete sense from both of our breweries’ perspectives, and we can’t wait to offer an expanded portfolio by combining our flagship beers and distribution capability with New Image's fantastic products,” says Justin Baccary, President + Founder of Station 26 Brewing Co. “We’re thrilled about this agreement.”

Station 26 will expand its sales and delivery team to accommodate the distribution of New Image Brewing’s entire portfolio across the Front Range. New Image’s beers will join Station 26’s Juicy Banger IPA, Tangerine Cream, and 303 Lager, in addition to seasonal and specialty releases from the Park Hill brewery.

“We have a ton of overlap with accounts and our portfolios mesh incredibly well,” says New Image Founder Brandon Capps. “There aren’t a lot of people we would trust to represent us in the market, but Station 26 has shown themselves to be passionate, committed, and professional. On top of that, they have invested in an infrastructure for sales and distribution that we believe has the potential to keep growing for years to come.”

If you have questions about Station 26 Brewing Company’s new distribution arm, contact Todd Luther at todd@station26brewing.co.

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.