It was a nice quick trip out to Boulder CO area, for some
work on a project. As such got to try some favorites, visit some new breweries,
and make a few friends.
Having arrived at Denver International, it was short drive
over to Black Project. Having tried them at the Shelton Brothers Festival in
Atlanta last year, it was a place I had wanted to visit. Be aware, they take
this “black project” thing very seriously - the entrance is a nondescript door
with a subtle logo painted over it. Inside was quite nice, some good beers on,
and an actual wing for part of the bar!
Chatted a bit with the bartender, Zach, and found there was
no bottles to be had. Somehow the conversation went to where I was traveling from
(CT) and one of my local breweries (Treehouse) came up. I casually mentioned I
have 2 cans of Green with me, and would love to trade them. Agreed to meet
Friday PM and do the deal (which sadly didn’t happen).
Tried the
Nixie - Ale, Sour, Fruit - 6.0% - 10
IBU -
[Score 8.8/10.0] (#9,568)
Outlaw Shark - Ale, Sour, Fruit - 6.0% - 8 IBU - [8.5]
Puzzle Palace - Ale, Sour / Wild - 6.2% - 10
IBU -
[9.1]
Starfire - Ale, Sour, Fruit - 4.5% - 10
IBU -
[8.0]
Starsailor (salted version of Starfire) - Ale,
Sour, Fruit - 4.5%
- 10 IBU - [8.5]
Overheard the absolutely funniest question/conversation I
have ever heard.
A couple came in - mid-late 20s - and the distaff member ordered
3 “small pours” of some of the beers. After a few minutes (presumably after
tasting at least one), she asked the bartender “What will you trade me for these
beers?” Thinking he had not heard her
correctly (trust me I didn’t think I had either), Zach asked what she meant; and she very clearly asked “What will you trade me for these
beers?”
As he
had nothing to trade, with a flash of insight honed by undoubtedly encountering
this before, he said “Oh, you mean you don’t like these?” She sheepishly acknowledged
this, and the beers were unceremoniously dumped before I could offer an alternative
disposal method, involving my uvula. Zach to his credit was polite and did mention
that Black Project will happily give you a sip of any beer to try, before pouring a larger
glass.
The next day after work was short walk from the hotel to
Sanitas, a new brewery since I was last in CO. Had a nice time there - the taco
truck was fabulous. Sanitas also apparently sells brewing supplies as well.
I was pleased to see they had on a Barleywine (personal
favorite). They also had their “Grand Cru” on, a high gravity “Abbey Style.”
When I asked the bartender Jake if they had any 4-packs for sale, he said “No,
it’s free.” The conversation was reminiscent of a 3-Stooges short...
“What do you mean, ‘free’?”
“It’s free.”
“You mean ‘no charge’ free?”
“Right, no charge.”
“Really, free?”
“Yep.”
Now I am not sure why, but possibly because I am from New
England, and Sanitas is now being distributed in CT, NY, MA.
Had the following:
Odin’s Barleywine - Ale,
Barleywine, English - 9.8%
- 24 IBU - [Score
7.5/10] (#9,573)
Cardinal Double IPA - Ale,
IPA, Double - 9.6% - 91 IBU
- [7.8]
Grand Cru Abbey Ale - Ale,
Belgian Abbey style - 10%
- 28 IBU - [8.0]
Deluge dry hopped Cascade &
Topaz -
Ale, Saison - 6.0%
- 23 IBU - [7.5]
Jim’s English Bitter - Ale,
Bitter -
5.1% - 38 IBU
- [8.0] (really good English Bitter style)
Cherry Saison - Ale,
Saison, fruit - 5.9%
- 22 IBU - [8.5]
Brought back - as indicated - a 4
pack of the Grand Cru Abbey Ale
Went to Fate for dinner the next evening. Food was very
good, beers as well.
Their Chocolate Banana Milk Stout was not what one might
expect, given the name. It was good as a milk stout goes, but no real chocolate
or banana notes. What was appreciated is the waiter did warn me that this would
not taste very banana nor chocolate-like. Only had glasses of:
Maple Bourbon Dubbel - Ale,
Belgian Dubbel style - 7.4
- ? - [7.5/10.0]
(#9,579)
Chocolate Banana Milk Stout - Ale,
Stout, Milk, Sweet - 5.8
- ? - [8.0]
One night we just ate at the hotel “bistro” for dinner. Now
personally when a hotel says “bistro” you get a bit concerned, but this was
pretty good; in fact the Brussel sprouts were very good. What was a bit sad is
that for being located at the nexus of 12-15 breweries in Boulder CO, they had very little
local fare.
Had bottles or cans of
Odell’s - 5 Barrel Pale Ale - Ale,
Pale, American - 5.2%
- 36 IBU - [7.5/10.0] (#9,581)
Boulder Beer - Mojo - Ale,
IPA -
7.2% - 70 IBU:
- [7.5]
Odell's - 90 Shilling
Ale -
Ale, Scotch - 5.3%
- 27 IBU - [8.0]
Sad to say the vanilla oatmeal was REAL vanilla oatmeal, and
not a vanilla oatmeal stout.
It was a long week, and Thursday was the planned day to go
to Avery Brewing. Last time I was out in CO, it was at the old location. Which,
if you were ever here, it was hard to find. This new spot is impressive, big yet
inviting, with aromas of smoked meats wafting towards the Über dropoff.
Avery has always been a favorite brewery; they have made
some edge-of-the-brewing-art stuff for years (Trogdor, Reverend), but they also
brew some good basic beers (White Rascal). Mephistopheles is a personal
favorite, and they had this on tap as a bourbon-barrel aged variant (as well as
Growler to go). Warm, rich, boozy bourbon caramel licorice, this was a beer to
savor. One of the folks I was with I don’t think had ever tried a beer like
this, and was amazed at the depth and body and gamut of flavors.
Had or sampled
the following:
Mephistopheles Bourbon
- Ale, Stout, Imperial - 16.4%
- 8 IBU - [10.1
/ 10.0!] (#9,584)
aged in bourbon
Barrels, and yes a 10.1 of 10.0 on an open -ended semi-log score
Emerita X - Ale, Sour / Wild, Dark - 8.5% - ? - [9.0]
Reverend - Ale, Belgian Quadrupel - 10.0% - 24 IBU
- [10.0]
Coconut Porter - Ale, Porter, Imperial - 10.4% - 25 - [9.5]
CHOWDAH! - Ale, IPA, American - 6.0% - ? - [8.0]
Benedictus - Grüit
- 6.5% - ? - [10.0] (really nice and flavourful Gruit)
Uncle Jacob Stout - Ale,
Stout, Imperial - 15.9%
- 65 IBU - [9.8]
Brought back the aforementioned 64 oz growler of Mephistopheles
Bourbon, as well as Tweak and another Uncle Jacob Stout.
Friday there was plenty of time to try a few new beers, before
the midnight redeye (ugh) flight home. Stopped back at Black Project; sadly Zach
was not there to trade beers. Joshua at the bar offered to buy me a beer in
trade for a Green, which I did. Tried these beers (in small pours) which are
the antitheses of a Treehouse Green!
Cloudmaster - Ale, Sour, American - 4.1% - ? - [8.0]
Puzzle Palace 001
- Ale, Sour / Wild - 6.2% - 10 IBU
-
[9.5]
Didn’t knew where to stop next. Still had to drive a rental
car, so could not drink too much. Joshua had suggested TRVE as the best option
nearby. The place was a bit dark, but then I realized that was the metal/Cthulu/Slayer
pentagram aesthetics.
Very surprised at the first beer, a sour Saison that has
a nice hint of funkiness that many do not have.
Had the following, before heading
home:
A present for those who are present - Ale,
Saison, sour - 6.2%
- ? - [8.0]
Sonoran Depravation
- Ale, IPA, Sour / wild - 5.8% - ? - [8.5]
Stout O))) - Ale, Stout, American - 6.8% - ? - [8.0] (#9,595)
Brought back Maple Funeral and Ancient Bole
Got back home in time for the mini Hermit Thrush event at a
local bar, but that’s another short story for later.
