Beer in Colorado
If you know me only from these blog posts, you might get the impression that cocktails are my preferred form of libation. Au contraire!
Truth be told, you’re far more likely to find a cold beer in my hand. I’ve spent many an evening in the backyard with my neighbor RK, unwinding over a pint or two (or three) of his latest batch of homebrew or a fine craft IPA. Another neighbor (GB) provides me a steady supply of Heady Topper and Sip of Sunshine from her frequent pilgrimages to Vermont. If I need to fill a growler at one of the local DC breweries, RM across the street is usually game for visit to 3 Stars or Hellbender. Lucky me – I’m surrounded by friends who appreciate good beer as much as I do.
Last month, I timed my backpacking trip in the Rockies to coincide with my all-time favorite beer event: the Colorado Brewers Rendevous. The festival was held in the town park in Salida, along the Arkansas River, with more than 70 craft brewers represented. So many choices! And interesting to see how the trends in brewing have evolved. On my last visit in 2014, it seemed that everyone was competing to make the biggest, baddest IPA – doubles, triples, even quadruples, with tons of hops and an alcohol content north of 10%. This time, there was much more variety and an emphasis on lighter styles like kölsch, pilsner, weisse, and saison. And my favorites, the sour ales, typically flavored with fruit to balance their tart acidity.
The scenery while hiking was as good as the beer...
The overall quality of the beers was outstanding and, with so many options, it’s impossible to pick a winner (plus, after three hours of tasting, my memory is a bit fuzzy). Standouts, in no particular order, were Great Divide, Odell, Left Hand, Avery, Liquid Mechanics, Odd13, and Dry Dock. If you’re lucky, your local beer purveyor might be able to get his or her hands on some of these brews. Or, you can schedule a layover in Denver and sample several at the amazing Falling Rock Tap House (thanks for the tip, RK!).
The festival was the perfect way to kick off a week of trekking in the backcountry, and I’m already marking my calendar for next year’s event. Prost!
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My cooler, suitably decorated with souvenirs from the festival.
