Four states account for one third (!) of all the breweries in the United States. And guess which big, square state made that exclusive list? With all those beer choices sloshing around, it can be hard to know which brew is best. Fear not! We consulted the expert drinkers here at WideFoc.us Corp’s World Headquarters to round up our top six picks for summer suds.
Rachel, a WideFoc.us community manager since 2014, says, “I am a huge fan of Breckenridge Brewery's Vanilla Porter.” We can see why, as this dark brew is sweet and nutty, so think of it as the ice cream of beer. In fact, it tastes awesome poured over ice cream and makes a heck of a boozy milkshake! This beer is now a classic, brewed for more than 10 years and distributed around the country, so you can always get your fix when you need it. For a full experience, we recommend you head to your nearest Breckenridge pub or down to the Farmhouse in Littleton to imbibe.
The second dark beer on our list, this one comes recommended by our copyeditor, Leah B. “It's hard to pick, but I'll go with Ellie's Brown Ale,” she says after mulling it over a little too long. Ellie’s, named for the brewmaster’s pet Chocolate Labrador Retriever, is less sweet and more malt-driven than the porter above. According to Avery, this one pairs best with heavier food flavors like meat, potatoes, gravy, and cheese, which may make you think “winter,” but let’s get one thing straight: Cheese plates are seasonless.
“You know who I love?” opines Paul, another WideFoc.us Community Manager, “Crooked Stave. They’re the leaders in sour beer.” Indeed, Crooked Stave, whose taproom is located at The Source in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, is the perfect place to snag a flight of funky sours and gose-style ales. If you’re looking for something different from most beers or you love the mouth-puckering combination of sweet n’ sour, Crooked Stave is the place for you. (Eric, our CEO, agrees!)
Feeling a little fruit flavor? Sara, who, as Reporting and Analytics Specialist, geeks out over client reports and social media performance metrics and evangelizes drink-and-learn events in her free time, can relate. Her go-to summer sipper is Dry Dock’s Apricot Blonde, a blonde ale that’s been fermented with crisp, juicy fruit. “It's like summer booze candy,” she says, with a completely straight face. Those three things—summer, booze, and candy—were practically made for each other, right? And Dry Dock has serious beer chops: Aurora’s first brewery, Dry Dock has won medals at the World Beer Cup and 20+ (and counting!) awards from the Great American Beer Festival.
“I love Black Shirt,” says Operations Maven, Leah C. “And not just because it’s closest to my house, though that helps!” With its rock n’ roll vibe—the tap handles are even microphones—and dog-friendly beer garden, complete with a stage made from shipping palettes, Black Shirt is rousing RiNo with red beer, live music, and fun events. (Yes, even though it’s “Black Shirt” they brew red beers only, which range from red porters and stouts to red IPAs and saisons.) The “Now Playing” list of brews changes constantly, though brewery favorites like the Pale Red Rye and American Red Saison are most often on the board. “They have monthly pie and beer tastings,” says Leah. “I mean, they had me at pie.” Girl, we get you.
The last brewery rounding out our list is a staff favorite because of atmosphere as much as alcohol. On the edge of South Park Hill, along East Colfax close to Stapleton, Fiction Beer Company is what happens when book- and beer-lovers unite, as each beer is inspired by a literary work. We’re partial to the Old Bums and Beat Cowboys Pale Ale, a seasonless sipper that goes as well with summer as it does with Jack Kerouac. In February 2016, 5280 Magazine listed Fiction as one of their “10 New Denver Breweries You Need to Visit,” but Senior Community Manager, Stephanie, has her own reasons for recommending them: “I like Fiction Beer Company because the brewers are so good looking.” What more can we say to convince you?
Bonus Booze:
Not a beer fan? We have you covered there, too! If you’re looking for a craveable Colorado wine, Maddie can relate. “I’m not a carbonation fan, but I do partake in Infinite Monkey Theorem’s wines as well as Bonacquisti Wine Company.”
Meanwhile, our CEO says the most magical Colorado distillery is Golden Moon Distillery in Golden. “They make unique, delicious spirits, and the speakeasy is extra-special!” so rise up, boozehounds!
--by WideFoc.us Team
The WideFoc.us Team is an eclectic mix of writers who love food, drink, and music more than your average human. Though eccentric doesn’t begin to cover it, this talented group of so-and-sos is exactly who you want handling your social media. Learn more about our services at http://widefoc.us/our-approach.
