In 2017, Strange Craft celebrated its seven-year anniversary, brewed 125th anniversary beer for The Brown Palace, helped to raise more than $14,000 for Colorado charities, and joined forces with Wit’s End Brewing Co. to launch Denver’s first co-tasting room and brewhouse, among many other company milestones.

The Beer

Strange Craft brewed 542 BBL in 2017. The brewery introduced a new beer to its year-round draft list: Shaking The Tree, a kettle soured Berliner Weisse with rotating fruit. The first batch was made with tart cherries, the next with plums. The first batch in 2018 will feature Asian pears. 

Also in 2017, Strange Craft collaborated with The Brown Palace to brew the iconic Denver hotel's 125th anniversary beer Golden Age, an Imperial Honey Brown Ale with honey that aged in Stranahan's barrels. Strange also partnered with Denver's Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast on their anniversary beer, a French Saison brewed with pineapple.

Strange Craft’s sought-after Watermelon Hefe sold out so quickly after its Fourth of July release that the brewery had to brew a second batch to keep the beer flowing through the summer months. Later in summer, Strange Craft brewed the Uncommonly Colorado Ale with Colorado’s Governor John Hickenlooper for the annual Brews & Bites reception at the Governor’s Mansion.

In October, Strange Craft brought back Heather’s Pale Ale, a dry hopped Pale brewed to commemorate Strange owners’ best friend’s sister who died of cancer. Proceeds from this beer were donated to the American Cancer Society.

This year Strange brought back its One Barrel Wednesday brews to pay homage to its beginnings on its one-barrel brewhouse. Going forward Strange is collaborating with Black Sky Brewery, Chain Reaction Brewing Co., The Brew on Broadway and Wit’s End Brewing to present the Traveling One Barrel Wednesday beer series. 

The Business

Strange Craft hosted its seventh anniversary backyard barbecue, which featured beers from nine of its Colorado brewery friends. 

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.

Strange Craft is now 11 employees strong, including the 2017 promotion of Front of House Manager Tyler Schilz.

Strange Craft discontinued production of its bombers. It will continue to brew the previously packaged beers, including seasonals like the famed Watermelon Hefe. The brewery now offers Crowler fills of its beers on tap from the tasting room.

Strange Craft helped to raise more than $14,000 for charities in 2017 through its Strangers Helping Strangers program. Each month the brewery donates a portion of proceeds from a nonprofit tap to a different local nonprofit organization. This program raises funds, but most importantly awareness about the causes Strange Craft supports.

For more information about Strange Craft, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT STRANGE CRAFT BEER COMPANY

When Strange Craft Beer Co. opened just south of Denver’s Mile High Stadium in May 2010, it was the first nanobrewery in the city brewing one barrel of beer at a time. Strange has since become a destination spot for Colorado beer drinkers and taken home multiple awards, including two Great American Beer Festival medals and two World Beer Cups. Visit the brewery online at strangecraft.com.