All Colorado Beer Festival wraps up season

November 14, 3:10 PMColorado Springs Craft Beer ExaminerEli Shayotovich

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                 Everyone loves a good craft beer!

As the Air Force Falcons were putting a stomping on the CSU Rams last weekend, fans of great craft beer descended on Mr. Biggs just a few miles from the stadium for the second annual All Colorado Beer Festival. By all accounts... it was a win for beer geeks!

Last year the ACBF hosted eighteen Colorado brewers, this year that total jumped to twenty four. It may not sound like much when compared to the hundreds that showed up in Denver for the Great American Beer Festival, but remember that the first GABF only had 22 breweries.

Randy Dipner and his colleagues did a phenomenal job of organizing, setting up, and pulling off the event without a hitch. I attended the event last year and they made some great improvements, including arranging the vendor booths along the exterior walls, which then created a big common area in the center of the festival for socializing. Great idea!  A different band performed at each session, and all three were sonically superb. I do have one small gripe regarding the live music however. It's cranked up too loud. This is a beer fest, not a concert. The Saturday evening session was especially ear shattering.

As usual I didn't take notes on which beers I sampled or how they tasted. That's not me. I like to enjoy the moment, then try to recall everything in the days and weeks that follow. Yes, it hardly ever works, but that's how I roll.  However, Chipper Dave Butler (your Northern Colorado Beer Examiner) came down for the Saturday afternoon session and not only took notes, but video as well. he wrote a marvelous piece on his personal blog (Fermentedly Challenged) that you should check out.

A few of my personal faves that I do remember include Trinity Brewing Company's Farmhouse Saison 23, a delish seasonal brewed in the "noel fashion" with brown sugar, pumpkin, fresh white sage, lavender, garam masala, grains of paradise and coriander seed.  I know... how can that taste good? Believe you me -- it's great. One sip and you'll be saying: "This is Christmas in a bottle!"  Be sure to congratulate Jason on winning the People's Choice Award for best brewer at the Friday night session.

John Dunfee over at Arctic Craft Brewery has a "Sour" seasonal that you don't want to miss.  Be sure to ask John where he got the bacteria for this mouth puckering beer. It's an interesting story.  

Dwayne Lujan from Rocky Mountain Brewery took home the People's Choice Award for best brewer at the Saturday afternoon session. Dwayne has a very interesting Smoked Hefeweizen and a hard cider that are worth tasting!

My good friend Jeff Aragon from Trinidad Brewing Company has an absolutely tongue-tastic Scottish Strong Ale called Wee Heavy Lassie.  At 10.5% ABV this sucker will warm your world in a heartbeat.

Last but not yeast (get it?)... the gang from Twisted Pine Brewing up in Boulder has two brews I must add to my beer fridge ASAP.  First is their Northstar Imperial Porter, a malt lovers dream full of chocolate, black and crystal malts balanced by a combination of American and British hops.  The second is the Big Shot Espresso Stout.  this sucker won the Silver Medal at this years GABF in the "Coffee Flavored Beer" category. It should... it actually has a shot of espresso (from Amante Coffee) in every pint!  People loved both of these beers and it catapulted Twisted Pine to the winner's circle as they took home the Saturday evening People's Choice Award. 

If you weren't able to attend this year I strongly suggest that you make it to the next one. Have a beer and help support a local charity!  The ACBF is the last beer festival of the year, with the next one not taking place until January. One does not have to wait two very long, cold months for beer however. Here's what's going on at SoCo breweries over the next few days:

Scott Garber at San Luis Valley Brewing in Alamosa bottled up a large number of 22oz bombers of Valle Especial (their Mexican Lager) and Hefe Suave (an American Wheat that is one of my faves) for the Wolf Creek Ski Area.  He has a few cases left, so while supplies last he's selling them (along with his ESB) for $2.50 per bottle (or $29/case). While you're there (pick me up a few bombers of the Suave) try the newly released holiday seasonal Orange & Spice... and Everything Nice, which has hints of orange and cinnamon.
 
Jason Yester at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs tapped the aforementioned Farmhouse Saison 23 on Wednesday. Additionally, they recently had a  "Randler Tapping," which is a weird device that Jason created that allows him to pour every pint of beer over fresh hops and hand selected herbs. November's randler culprit: Awaken Stout poured over grains of paradise and organic Colorado grown hops.

Mike Bristol and Joe Hull at Bristol Brewing Company in Colorado Springs will be tapping a "one of a kind IPA cask ale" for beer geeks tomorrow, Saturday, November 15, from Noon until 9:00pm. 

Have a great weekend!

Zivjeli!