Colorado Beer Blog – Colorado Brewery List

Meet John Vandewater – A Man with a Passion for CO Beer

April 27, 2017 by Stephen Adams

Welcome John Vandewater as one of the Colorado Brewery Masters, those of us who have visited every Colorado brewery! I first heard about John a couple months ago when he let me know that he had been to over 300 Colorado breweries and wanted to confirm that he’d been to them all. We checked our lists and found out that he had indeed overlooked one at that point and he quickly rectified that oversight. Recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting John and his lovely wife, Sarita, for dinner and we talked at length about our travels and favorite (and not-so-favorite) Colorado breweries. He later apologized for talking so much but, on the contrary, I very much enjoyed the sharing of his passion for Colorado beer. Similar to other Colorado Brewery Masters I asked him to share his story with me. Instead of my regular Q&A, he sent me the following narrative of his Colorado brewery journey…

John Vandewater

The first brewery I can remember visiting in Colorado was way back in 2001 (Avery Brewing) a little tiny tap room where this super friendly guy named Adam would show me his beers now and then.

Adam Avery – picture courtesy of Facebook

I moved to Boulder after living in Manhattan for a few months after my mother passed away. I am originally from Jax Beach, Florida. My twin brother was living here with his wife one block away from the old Avery tap room.

I never liked beer. It was always Bud or Corona till I visited Avery and was so impressed. I began visiting others like Boulder Beer, Walnut Brewing, and Oasis Brewing then occasionally visiting Wynkoop, Golden City, and others between Boulder and Denver. It wasn’t a hobby or anything at that point, just a way to see Denver and Boulder.

I ran my own web hosting proxy server company from 2001 to 2010. I ran it from a home office that I realized I could do it remotely and so one day in the Spring of 2002 I decided to hop on a plane to Ireland, where I spent about 2 weeks. While I was there people would constantly want to buy me beers to listen to my accent, it was a good time and I began to really like beer.

I decided to stay and backpack through Europe for almost 4 months visiting Ireland, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy but it wasn’t until I decided to go to Brussels that really began to enjoy beer.

After seeing the pissing boy and Smurf museum, I was like “damn this sucks”. I asked someone at my hotel “What’s something fun to do?” They told me about an old tavern down the street called La Fleur En Papier Dore, a 15th century tap house. I went to check it out and I had my first Kuwak and Duvel. There, the bartender Micheal was so excited for me to try all of these Belgium beers that the next morning he met me at my hotel and took me all over Belgium to all these old monastery places. I had no idea where we were going but we end up at Westvleteren, Westmalle, and Achel. These monks at Westmalle just gave me free beers they kept saying “this is Trappist beer” and I was like “uh, ok… Just bring me more!”.

La Fleur En Papier Dore

I came back and began to visit more and breweries: New Belgium, Odell’s, Bristol, Ska, Left Hand, Oskar Blues, so many…

Not a lot of places where opening back in 2003-2005 not until Dry Dock came along and we began to see more places open just after this thing called GABF started getting popular. By about 2007 the amount of breweries opening began to just take off that I was unable to keep up so I was like I’ll go if I can make it.

I would visit as many as I could but it was really only like three to four a month but my favorite since it was walking distance from me in Boulder was always Avery or Strange Brew in Denver when they opened in 2010. By then I’d probably been to well over 100 in Colorado.

Strange Craft Brewing – Picture by Brewtography Project

In 2012 I began freelance network and IT support for retail, banks, and hotels all over Colorado. It takes me all over, if they pay me for the trip I’ll do it most of the time. So after work I’d stop in do a couple of tasters and grab a growler or bottles to go before heading to my hotel or whatever. Sometime around this point I had realized I’d been to a lot of breweries and they just keep opening. This is when I began to really make it a mission or hobby to visit them all and find out as much as I could about new places opening. Even back in 2012 it was still mostly word of mouth. No one was really taking count or making a list, at least that I knew about.

I began volunteering with the guys at Avery doing charity work and pouring at events. You network a lot when you do these events and it fueled the Quest.

What’s been great in the last few years is that I’ve been able to apply my skills to help out breweries. I’ve worked on networks and point of sale for BJ’s, Denver Beer, Gordon Biesch, Wynkoop, Breck Farm House, Call To Arms, Walnut Brewery, Boulder Beer, Strange Craft, and a few others.

Little Machine Beer Call To Arms Brewing

Pictures by Brewtography Project

My absolute favorite breweries are more less in Denver now that I moved out of the Boulder bubble: Call To Arms, Ratio, Strange Craft, Little Machine, Station 26, Odd13, and Cerebral. It’s so hard to pick just a few. I love Casey Brewing but it’s so far and I don’t often do work in Glenwood.

John with his wife Sarita

[Back to Colorado Beer Geek] I very much enjoyed sharing a beer with John & Sarita and look forward to many more long passionate talks about Colorado beer and breweries in the future.

Have you been to every Colorado brewery or know someone who has (or is getting close)? Let me know and I will be delighted to meet up, share a beer or three, and capture their story here.

Meet Ruth Malone – First Lady of Colorado Breweries

April 20, 2017 by Stephen Adams

Congratulations to Ruth Malone for becoming the first woman in the state of Colorado to visit all its currently open breweries! I met Ruth and her husband, Patrick, at the closing of the original Caution East location where we were also welcoming the new tenants of that location, Brewability Lab. Later that year, I would write about Patrick as one of the “Colorado Brewery Masters” and dubbed him The Godfather of Colorado Beer Geeks. Since then we have visited lots of new breweries and shared many tasty beers together. It is hard to believe that it has been less than a year because both Patrick and Ruth have become such fabulous friends.

Who is Ruth Malone?

I was raised in Bitburg Germany, not far from the borders of Luxembourg and Belgium, so I grew up drinking amazing beers. I moved to Colorado in 1985 and fell in love with my new home, except there was very little beer here then. My husband and I love to explore the state, see the sights, camp, bike ride and drink good beer 🙂

When and what was the first Colorado brewery that you remember visiting?

1988 – Wynkoop Brewing [the year they opened]

When and where did you accomplish the status of having visited every Colorado brewery?

I think I have accomplished it many times over the years. As Patrick and I would bum around the state and hear of new breweries, we would make it a point to hit all that we knew of. This was pre-internet and pre-Colorado Brewery List, so it was hard to know what was out there. Thanks to CBL, I recently had a firm count and set a goal. My official date of accomplishment was April 15, 2017 at WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez.

What are some of your favorite memories of your quest?

Meeting families and listening to their dreams and challenges. Seeing all the cool ideas and buildings , recycling and repurposing, communities coming together and sourcing locally.

Has anyone influenced you in visiting all the breweries in the state?

My husband, Patrick, has visited every brewery in Colorado and I was with him for most of those. Then the lovely Nikki Minette introduced us to Stephen Adams (Colorado Beer Geek) and he encouraged me to finish the list as well. I had 38 left to go and Patrick has spent countless hours driving me all over the state in the last few months to complete my goal. Stephen Adams has also been my “DD” on occasion, and a constant source of encouragement.

What are your favorite styles of beer and your top breweries in the state of Colorado in terms of your beer taste?

I like all beer but generally stick to Belgian beers and LOVE barrel aged beers. Part 2 of your question is a tough one, as the talent in this state is over the top! My top breweries are Beryl’s Beer Co., Black Shirt Brewing, De Steeg Brewing, Diebolt Brewing, Elevation Beer, Funkwerks, River North Brewery, Strange Craft Beer, and 12Degree Brewing.

What are you favorite tap rooms in terms of aesthetics and atmosphere?

Black Shirt Brewing, Brues Alehouse, High Hops Brewery, and Jessup Farm Barrel House.

What are some of your favorite destination breweries?

Cerberus Brewing and Local Relic in Colorado Springs, Elevation Beer in Poncha Springs (near Salida), High Hops in Windsor, and Jessup Farm in Fort Collins.

What is your go-to brewery on a day-to-day basis?

A very hard question to answer: Diebolt Brewing, River North, and Strange Craft.

I am very happy to welcome Ruth as a fellow Colorado Brewery Master and even happier to call Patrick and Ruth friends.

Doors Are Open at Open Door Brew Co.

April 6, 2017 by Tara Cilke

With big-named neighbors, such as Oskar Blues and Left Hand, it is nice to have a small brewery open in Longmont with a true welcoming vibe. Nestled in a residential neighborhood, Open Door Brew Co. really embodies its name. Large windows flood the space with natural light, twin garage doors open up to the front patio, and the lawn chairs on the expansive rooftop deck all do their part to entice the Longmont community to come inside and share a beer with friends.

A rotational food truck, two patios, and open garage doors welcome you at first sight

The taproom has an aesthetically charming décor with a prominent door theme. Doors of different colors line one wall and a door hangs above the beer taps giving the impression of a fun, playful and welcoming atmosphere. Several patrons commented it reminded them of a “Cheers-like neighborhood bar.” Other beer lovers exclaimed that they would, “Come to Longmont more often just for this place.” There is a family friendly appeal mixed with a modern and fresh approach. The space gives the impression that everyone is invited and all are considered to be part of the family.

Billy McDivitt and Andy Riedel hard at work

Open Door started off with two roommates, Andy Riedel and Mike Badaracca, at the University of Colorado-Boulder who shared a passion for home brewing. The process expanded and added a third team member, Andy’s cousin, Billy McDivitt, and together they started on the long journey to opening their first tap room.

Open Door’s signature beers, collaboration beers, and guest taps! Something for everyone!

Twelve beers were displayed on mini chalkboards: three year-round beers, collaborations, and guest taps. Open Door’s signature beers include: flagship Libertas-Pre Prohibition Cream Ale, Over The Moon Milk Stout, and Short Arm Cretaceous IPA. The brewery will try to have at least two collaboration beers with local breweries and their guest taps will be beer you can’t get anywhere else around the area to help showcase smaller breweries as well.

As with all new establishments, there were a few growing pains during opening weekend, which included slight issues with long lines and waiting to order the beer. Not a terrible problem to have on your first few days, and can easily be worked out and alleviated. The guys are looking forward to releasing a new wheat beer over the summer, developing their beer hall, and adding new elements to enhance their rooftop area. The guys also want to incorporate live music with locally performing artists.

Awesome rooftop deck to enjoy Colorado’s finest sunshine and beer

During their opening weekend, the brewery had a strong show of support ranging from sporting teammates, to people from the inception of Open Door, to Longmont locals. The Denver Bulldogs Australian Rules Football Club was there to show support for their mate Billy while streaming a match on the big screen. Several people who have been following Open Door at all their beer festivals were thrilled to finally see a permanent home for the brewery. Hugs were shared and the brewers were never too busy to chat up a fellow lover of beer.

The consistent outpouring of friends and family, as well as newcomers just again proved Open Door to be a place to drink beer and be happy. It truly felt like a place where anyone and everyone was welcomed.

So come on in for a beer…the doors are always open!

At Factotum, #itsjustbeer

March 17, 2017 by Donna Fournier

factotum

Walk into Factotum Brewhouse, located at 3845 Lipan Street in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood, and you immediately feel at home. That feeling is by design, and co-owner Laura Bruns wouldn’t have it any other way. The importance of the look and feel of a neighborhood establishment is exactly what Laura had in mind when she, along with her brother, Chris Bruns, opened the brewhouse two years ago this February – they wanted it to feel like home and wanted everyone to feel as though they belonged there. Laura and Chris grew up in Marion, Indiana, a working-class community with a small-town feel and wanted to replicate the feeling of a neighborhood place where people come to hang out with friends and have a beer after a long week of work.

The concept of Factotum is a cooperative one. Patrons purchase a brew session at the brewhouse and, once their name comes up in the queue, they work with Chris to craft their recipe to brew on the seven-barrel system housed at Factotum. Whether it is your favorite homebrew recipe updated to a larger-scale creation or a recipe you dreamed up and have been wanting to bring to life, Factotum can help you make it come true. Even if you just want to try your hand at the brewing process but are unsure what you want to create, Factotum can help you bring your creative brewing juices to fruition. Chris, an avid homebrewer and former teacher, will help you every step of the way – from planning your recipe and ingredient selection, to proper sanitation and cleaning, he is your instructor for the day and will aid you in creating your masterpiece.

This cooperative conceptualization of having a brewery in which most of the beers are brewed by guest brewers was new to the Denver scene, and running a business such as this was new to Laura and Chris. Though the two have several degrees, neither had experience running a business such as Factotum. To gain the much-needed experience, they took advantage of the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center to learn about starting a small business, and also attended Tom Hennessy’s Brewery Immersion Course. The immersion course teaches, among other aspects of running a brewery, the Frankenbrew-style of brewery set-up – where breweries upcycle old dairy equipment, which proves a much cheaper alternative to the often pricey brewhouse equipment seen at many other breweries.

Once the guest brewer’s beer – brewed on the Frankenbrew system – has completed, and the beer has fermented and is ready to be served, Factotum offers a “meet the brewer” night where the guest brewer can host a party at the brewery and invite friends and family out to try their beer creation. Even if the guest brewer opts out of having a big to-do about their brew, however, all the beers that are created in the brewhouse by avid homebrewers and amateurs alike are served to beer lovers in the taproom. The large chalkboard in the taproom shows what is on tap, along with the name of the guest brewer, instilling more sense of community. While you enjoy the guest brewer beers, you can look through the book of biographies containing the stories of all of the people who have brewed at Factotum and learn about why they brewed what they did, why they love beer, where they are from in the community – you might even see some of the people you read about next to you at the bar.

Factotum offers many recurring events, including trivia and run club on Tuesdays and yoga in the tasting room on most Sundays. And, although they are closed most Mondays, on the last Monday of each month they are open from 4-10 and offer buy-one-get-one beers all night long. Currently at Factotum, they are having a March Madness where each weekend, two beers will face off against each other. For $5.00 for two 3-ounce pours, people can score the two beers based on appearance, aroma, flavor, and finish and add tasting notes. The ultimate winner of the March Madness competition will have their beer poured at Great American Beer Festival in October 2017 – which would be a dream come true for many homebrewers.

Laura and Chris always felt that a brewery was about much more than the brews served behind the bar. They felt it is the culture of a brewery that keeps people coming back for more. It is the good vibes you get when you walk in the door and someone remembers you and knows what your usual style of beer is. Factotum isn’t about pretension or egos or winning awards. Rather, it is about a sense of community and an atmosphere of learning – and about the beer. Because, often, beer should be just that – a feeling of community and the ease of belonging, because, as Laura states, #itsjustbeer.

Meet Scott Young – The Buckeye Brewer

March 10, 2017 by Stephen Adams

The “Colorado Brewery Masters”, those who have been to every brewery currently in Colorado, is a small group of people. In order of accomplishment they are Patrick Malone, Stephen Adams (The Colorado Beer Geek), Kevin Harris, and the three Colorado Beer Barons. Earlier this year a seventh person, Scott Young, joined our elite group.

I was happy to finally meet Scott at the Spice Trade Brewing Company celebration. It was a pleasure to hang out with him and hope to enjoy many beers together in the future. As with the other Colorado Brewery Masters, I asked him some questions about his quest to visit all the breweries and his favorites that he found on the way…

Who is Scott Young?

I moved to Denver, CO from Columbus, OH in the fall of 2011. I quickly discovered and embraced the craft beer scene. I started homebrewing and later earned my Certificate in Applied Craft Brewing from Regis University in 2015. I completed my internship at Declaration. Since then I have become a Certified BJCP and am sitting for my Certified Cicerone this April. I am currently a pharmacist by profession, but would love to open my own brewery at some point.

Declaration Brewing (picture courtesy of Facebook)

When and what was the first Colorado brewery that you remember visiting?

The first CO brewery I remember visiting/touring was Great Divide in the summer of 2012.

Great Divide Ballpark taproom (picture courtesy of Facebook)

When and where did you accomplish the status of having visited every Colorado brewery?

I initially finished my quest on 2/10/17 by visiting both UTurn BBQ and finally Gilded Goat, but I recently “re-upped” at Zuni Street on 3/4/17.

Gilded Goat Brewing (picture courtesy of Facebook)

What are some of your favorite memories of your quest?

In October of 2012 a small group of friends and I had a Fort Collins birthday weekend extravaganza that included 4 breweries as well as some great restaurants and beer bars.

In August of 2016 I took a week-long southwest Colorado vacation to relax, sightsee, but most importantly to visit 25 breweries in a five day span!

In general, I enjoy planning weekend running, biking, hiking or sightseeing trips to specific regions in order to check breweries off my list. It’s a great way to see and enjoy the entire state of CO!

Other highlights include using the Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs Passports as a catalyst to visit breweries; planning my ski resort pass choices in order to visit breweries; and exploring random Colorado festivals (like Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland or Mike the Headless Chicken Festival in Fruita) to visit breweries.

What are your favorite styles of beer and what are your top breweries in the state of Colorado in terms of your beer taste?

My current preferred styles (also always in flux) are IPA’s and various Belgian styles

My current top 5 (in no specific order):
Avery – Solid flagship beers and their Barrel-Aged series are almost always amazing.
New Belgium – Solid flagship beers and their Lips of Faith series is an obsession of mine.
Odd 13 – IPAs are top-notch and their other series are always experimental and enjoyable.
Casey – Saison, sours, and fruit beers are all blended perfectly and very approachable.
Dry Dock – Solid flagship beers and exemplary seasonal styles and flavored porters.

What are you favorite tap rooms in terms of aesthetics and atmosphere?

My current top 5 (in no specific order):
Odell – It’s simply a gorgeous taproom and patio with plenty of room to visit with friends.
Black Shirt – It has a great intimate/personal vibe with solid music and live bands regularly.
Denver Beer – It’s just a fun hangout space and patio, especially for their various special events.
Jessup Farm – I love the main entrance through all the barrels and the chill upstairs taproom.
Fiction – A very homey, warm and unique space filled with bookshelves to just sit and relax.

What are some of your favorite destination breweries?

My current top 5 (in no specific order):
WeldWorks – Some of the most flavorful and juicy IPA variants are well worth the drive.
Three Barrel – A long trek will be rewarded with wood fired pizza/calzones and tasty beers.
Telluride – It’s all about being in the taproom, enjoying a high ABV beer while snow gently falls.
Manitou – The perfect place to refuel on good food and beer after attempting the famous Incline.
Grimm Brothers – THE best theme for a brewery in CO paired with some great German beers.

Honorable mentions to: Outer Range, Bonfire, Pike’s Peak, Lariat Lodge, Mountain Tap, Tommyknocker

What is your go-to brewery on a day-to-day basis?

Jagged Mountain – They are across the street so very convenient; the beer has gotten consistently better; the staff is always very friendly and remembers me; and I enjoy their run club, trivia night, live music, and food truck schedule 🙂

Jagged Mountain Craft Brewing (photo by The Brewtography Project)

In the first draft of this article I closed with asking “Who will be the next Colorado Brewery Master?”. However, just this week while I was putting together this article another has joined our exclusive company. Next week I will be introducing you to John Vandewater.

CO-Brew: Denver’s Unique Homebrewing Store

March 9, 2017 by Ryan Millar

Brewing your first beer takes time and money. Many hours of research goes into recipe formulation and you must purchase the proper equipment and ingredients. It’s a daunting task, to say the least. That’s where CO-Brew comes in. Perfectly situated in the heart of Denver, CO-Brew is Denver’s first and only homebrewing store, brew-on-premises and brewery, all in one location. Whether it’s your first homebrew beer or your hundredth, CO-Brew is the place for you.

Husband and wife duo Jamie and Janna Williams opened the store in May 2015 and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. Jamie, a former Audi mechanic, has been an avid homebrewer for many years. Due to the lack of homebrewing stores within easy access of their Capitol Hill home, the Williams were determined to open a store where you could purchase supplies, brew a batch of beer, and enjoy a pint. While it took longer than expected to get up and running (mainly due to the extra steps for licensing and regulation), that hard work paid off in the end as you can now enjoy one of CO-Brew’s eight rotating taps as well as brew on one of their Blichmann BrewEasy systems.

CO-Brew provides only the highest quality ingredients, equipment, and local products for their customers. You’ll find the likes of Briess Malts, YCH Hops, Blichmann Engineering, Inland Island, Root Shoot, Voss Farms and Bootleg Biology on their shelves. They’re also keen to carry new and unique products, like Hop Hash (a high Alpha Acid hop resin that’s left over from the pelletizing process), as well as parts for kegging systems, all-in-one homebrewing kits, cleaning supplies, and much more. They even allow customers to be fully hands-on with weighing and milling their own grains. In fact, Jamie is proud to say that they not only serve the local homebrewing community, but they are often a source for last minute ingredients and parts for local breweries.

The Williams stressed the importance of sharing the combined knowledge of CO-Brew’s staff with the public. You’ll find a number of classes hosted by CO-Brew, with brewing boot camp, sensory panels and BJCP training to name a few. CO-Brew is also home to one of Denver’s homebrewing clubs, The Grist Busters, which meets the second Tuesday of every month. Jamie and Janna actively participate in the club and recently collaborated with them on a brewing session to create a Hawaiian Stout, which is now on tap for Stout Month at Denver Bicycle Café.

Knowing that the population within the Capitol Hill neighborhood predominantly reside within apartments and condos, the Williams felt that the brew-on-premises side of their business was crucial. From recipe selection to packaging the final product, they’re able to facilitate the whole process in-house. With the different price points for ten and twenty gallon batches being all-inclusive, CO-Brew makes the process of brewing easy and affordable, which is perfect for individual homebrewers, company outings and birthday parties alike.

Currently the Williamses do not have plans for expanding the brewery or distributing outside of the occasional guest tap, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t busy with professionally brewing. Besides keeping their ever rotating taps fully stocked, they plan on participating in several local beer festivals, such as the Great American Beer Festival and Collaboration Fest – where they’ll be collaborating with Southern Homebrew and Grandma’s House. Jamie also noted that they’re planning a limited bottle release for at least one of their barrel aged beers this year.

Needless to say, if you’re in need of anything remotely related to beer, whether it be a homebrewing class, ingredients for your next batch or just a pint on your way home from work, you should give CO-Brew a try. They’re ready and eager to assist you Monday through Saturday, 10am to 7pm and Sunday, 11am – 5pm.

There’s Quite a Hubbub in Salida

March 2, 2017 by Dev Adams

The Arkansas River Valley is a magical spot in the heart of the Rockies. The area is home to Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area for rafting, biking, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and camping; Monarch Ski Area for skiing and snowboarding some natural snow; and now, Hubbub Brewing.

Salida is the antithesis of the mountain towns depicted in films and on television. It is a classic, unpretentious town nestled in the Arkansas River Valley populated with a mix of outdoor enthusiasts chasing their favorite adrenaline high, artists, and ranchers. With a charming downtown full of local businesses and local character, it has a slew of activities and attractions to offer residents and visitors alike. This has been a year of changes for one long-standing Salida business, Amicas Pizza and Brewery, who has dropped the “brewery” side of things and moved to a larger location around the corner from their original storefront. But Amicas devotees (count me amongst them – vegetarian lasagna sans sauce is just pure heaven) shouldn’t worry, as Amicas beers are still on tap and being brewed by 14-year head brewer Mike LaCroix, if just a little farther away from the pizza oven than before.

Mike, now head brewer and part owner at Hubbub Brewing, has 24 years of experience as a professional brewer working at different breweries across the US. Hubbub and Amicas have maintained a very close relationship as, in addition to Hubbub brewing all of Amicas’ beers, Amicas has set up a food truck, the Munch Box, in Hubbub’s parking lot. I met Mike years ago while watching him try to squeeze around and behind some very tightly-packed fermenters at Amicas and, through visits to Salida for The Colorado Brewers Guild Brewers Rendezvous as well as ski and rockhounding trips to the area, we have grown to be friends. His stories of brewing at a variety of breweries – 11 in total – and his mellow, welcoming personality truly shines through at Hubbub, both in the atmosphere and in the beer.

Mike Josh Dev — Mike has apparently taken photos before… we have clearly not…

Hubbub is located off The Rainbow Highway (US Highway 50) and is hard to miss with a giant “BREWERY” sign along the road and their bright green sign contrasting with their large, black building. It is conveniently located in the midst of the majority of the hotels in town and just a short drive (or 20 minute walk) from downtown Salida.

Hubbub Front — Bonus of Salida: easy parking!

In contrast to Amicas’ small brewpub set up, Hubbub has a respectable 15 BBL system with room to add more fermenters and brite tanks as needed. Instead of focusing on one brewing region or group of styles, Hubbub is taking a cue from the environment around them and offering their patrons a wide variety of flavors to explore. Their beers range from pale ales and IPAs to a coconut milk stout and two chili beers. One the day we visited, we enjoyed a flight of all ten beers they had on tap, with the Moon-Itcher Helles, Fresco y Seco, X-Ray IPA, and their flagship Type 2 Pale Ale all standing out. I even enjoyed the Coconut Milk Stout, not a style I usually like as they tend to smell (and sometimes taste) like sunscreen. Needless to say, Hubbub’s was not in that camp.

Hubbub Brew System — That’s one sexy brewhouse

There’s a fine balance breweries must walk in designing a mountain-town taproom. On the one end they can feel a little too “on-the-nose” log-cabinesque; on the other end, there is big-city sterile minimalism full of white tile and white counters and uncomfortable white chairs. While I’m a huge fan of log cabins with patched carpet, plaid sofas, and that distinct Cabin Funk™, it’s not necessarily to everyone’s taste. And the hospital-level sterility doesn’t exactly encourage relaxation après outdoor activities. Hubbub strikes a good balance. An attractive, long wood bar complements the decidedly modern wood-and-steel chairs. A bright orange wall behind the bar makes the large space feel much cozier without the need to have beetle-kill pine dripping from every corner. Hubbub’s tasting room invites you to stay a while, but not in the “I think the couch is eating me” kind of way.

Hubbub Tap List — Would you like a beer?

Besides the décor, the tasting room is large and bright, thanks to large windows lining the south side of the building. This also provides excellent passive solar heating, which allows for a warm escape from the freezing winter winds. The large bar provides plenty of seating for those who want to make new friends and ample table space allows for you to gather with old friends comfortably. In the summer (or winter, if you’re bold) you can enjoy their outdoor patio which is pup-friendly.

While we were sitting at the bar chatting with Mike, an older gentleman in a cowboy hat sauntered in to pick up a couple of growlers for watching the Broncos game (which I’m glad we missed due to the lack of TVs – it sounded like a travesty). Having lived in Salida for some time, Mike seems to know everyone who crosses the threshold and this customer was no different. When he asked Mike for beer suggestions, he added that he needed something that women would like. Mike, smiling, responded that he doesn’t know how to put beers in categories like “for men” or “for women”, but if the gentleman knew what the ladies usually drank, he could make suggestions. I enjoyed that response immensely as I sipped my X-Ray IPA. Tasters were poured, laughs exchanged, and the man left with two growlers: an IPA and a pale ale. I have no doubt he, and his lady friends, enjoyed them more than they did the game.

After so many breweries behind him, and so many years at a well-established brewpub, I was curious about why Mike had decided to take the risk and strike out on his own, so I asked Mike what was different about owning his own place (besides the long hours, the stress, etc). He responded that what made him the most excited about Hubbub is “the four guys who built this place.” The “three guys” in addition to Mike are: Tom Price, Eric Ramsey, and Scott Boulton, who, between the four of them, have experience in brewing, marketing, ranching, restaurant management, and even bull riding. Opening a new brewery is always a risk, but in Colorado, with its plethora of breweries, and in the middle of the mountains, some might call the venture crazy. When asked, in the face of all of the obstacles to success, why he wanted to open a brewery, Mike’s response was simple: “I wanted to get behind something absurd.”

Hubbub has joined Elevation Brewing, Eddyline Brewing, Moonlight Pizza & Brewery, Deerhammer Distillery, Woods Distillery, and Jailhouse Craft Beer Bar in one of the best craft libations scenes in Colorado, and being that it’s just 2 ½ hours from Denver, it’s the perfect place to visit while avoiding the World’s Most Scenic Parking Lot (I-70).

Hubbub Brewing is everything a mountain brewery should be: unique, welcoming, warm, and, above all, putting out good beer for everyone to enjoy. It’s a place for the locals to belly-up and share a pint after work (or before – no judgement) and a place for a traveler to find a friendly face and full pint.

There’s a Hubbub Brewing – I recommend you check it out.

Brewing a Craft Marriage

February 13, 2017 by Ale Treks

Like a good ale, a good marriage is hard work. Both take commitment. Both take the right ingredients working together over time. Both provide a one-of-a-kind experience.

I have been married a long time and know that there are some days my spouse does not like me. She still loves me, of course, but we have to work things out. When you are in business together, that can often stretch a relationship.

Ale Treks took the time to interview a few of the many couples in our area who are in the craft beer business together. I believe their shared experiences may be helpful to other couples, as well as those working together in any business.

Jeremy + Kristen
Meet Jeremy Gobien and Kristen Kozik of Copper Kettle Brewing. They met through a dating service in 2007. After their first date, Kristen really wanted to know more about this shy, quiet man she met. He was interested in why she would be interested in him. Jeremy was working on his degree in material science engineering and she was a pediatric nurse. The two continued dating and on a trip to Germany, he proposed. Jeremy says that Kristen is like a Czech Pilsner with a hoppy bite at times and Kristen describes Jeremy as a Milk Stout: smooth and mellow.

Daryl + Jules
Daryl and Jules Hoekstra met while Jules was on a camping vacation with her family. Although she was still in high school, Daryl was captivated by this beautiful girl in a white bikini. They began a long distance relationship that flourished — not that easy in the pre-cell phone era! Daryl worked his way to becoming a chef while Jules graduated and studied occupational therapy. The two eventually made it official and have been married for 23 years. According to Jules, Daryl is like a good Pilsner, smooth and balanced, while Daryl describes Jules as a spicy IPA.

James + Sarah
James and Sarah Howat are the owners of Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales. James was a science teacher for Adams County School District and Sarah worked as a behavioral specialist. They met at a nightclub after Sarah won a ‘rock, paper, scissors’ contest with a friend to determine who was going to talk to James. They found they had many things in common, especially their thirst for adventure. James said he knew early on that Sarah was the one and they married after dating for two years. Currently, they have been married for five years. James describes Sarah as a Complex Saison, fruity, herby and spicy. Sarah says that James is a Gueuze, a Belgian Lambic style that is complex with many layers.

These couples shared some of their secrets to a long-lasting relationship:

Communication
This was a big one with all three couples, each suggesting that partners learn to keep their communication lines open and genuine. Daryl and Jules advised not letting anger simmer or hold. Holding a grudge over something is just silly and destructive, Daryl said. Some challenges need to be dealt with right away and then let go, not letting it carry over to the next day. Sarah and James said sometimes you need to give a little time and space, but it’s best to take care of conflict as soon as you can. According to Kristen, communication is difficult in a professional relationship, especially when all there is to talk about is work. Being open and valuing each other’s contribution becomes key.

Time
Find and make time for each other. Ask yourselves: Are you married to the business or to each other? Whether going to a festival, going on a date night, or just seeing a movie together, it is important to carve out that time in your schedules. Sarah says that they have learned to sometimes just go, even leaving for two weeks after the brewery was open for one year and James was the head and only brewer. Taking the time to get away helps knit a stronger relationship.

Roles
Clearly defined and respected roles in relationships and businesses help bring order to life. A friend once told me, “You won’t be king of your castle unless you treat your spouse like a queen.” I noticed that within each couple, there were clear functions of each individual that brought value to the relationship. Marriage is a union where each member is equally important to one other.

Love
Love is a verb. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the feeling and passion of love but the real test of time is to act on the love that you have for each other. Sometimes it is little things like James making coffee for Sarah as he heads out early on the day and Sarah keeping James well fed. Simple sacrificial acts of service toward one another help say ‘I love you.’ Jeremy and Kristen verbally encourage and listen as a way to show love to each other. Kristen sometimes will bring Jeremy a gift of a warm cookie to surprise him. Gift giving is a great way to show you care. Each of us receive and communicate love in different ways, and it’s important to find what way says ‘I love you’ the most to our significant other.

‘Enjoying the experience’
Sarah and James both said enjoying the business was important. Through the craft industry they get to meet many different people. “Our customers are like family” Jules said. Sarah said she loves the idea of a place where people can go and feel safe, share and be known. That is a large part of the whole craft industry experience. When the work that is done alongside a spouse is enjoyed, it helps brew love in marriage.