What's New Now...

So much has transpired around here since last post at Fiction Beer Company....the mind boggles.  The Denver Brewery scene has exploded and become hyperlocal.  That means that I have given up on going out of my way to try new breweries, as there are too many to try.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but there have been more than a dozen, maybe two dozen new openings in the last 6 months in Denver alone.  There are whole brewery districts that I haven't been to.

While this seems like a good problem to have, there are two major issues I see.  One, even though I love beer, brewing, brewers, and breweries, I don't see a need to travel across town for a brewery anymore.  I am one of their main customer types, and they are not drawing me out of my neighborhood.  Two, from experience, some breweries are not brewing good beer, and others are not providing good experiences for "people like me".

I used to think that when you had a bad beer or bad experience at a new brewery, you should go back after a few months to give them another shot.  I expected breweries to improve quality and figure out their service priorities.  They often are so busy upon opening that their number one priority is to have enough beer to sell.

Lately, however, breweries that don't have many beers on tap, have bad beer, or crappy service are not getting a second chance with me.  I neither have the time, nor do I need to leave my neighborhood to get fresh brewed beer, and I am more vocal about these experiences with others beer geeks....and word does get around.  I have overheard conversations about certain breweries that mirror my own opinions....that can not be good for them.

So, with so many breweries, you'd think were at a saturation point, right?  Nope, not yet.  There are just as many breweries coming on line in the next few months as the last few.  I am most excited by the breweries of professional brewers branching out on their own.  Guys and girls from Dry Dock, Great Divide, Prost, and others are leaving their steady paychecks and hanging their own shingles in the next few months.  I can't wait.  I will be sad to start seeing some breweries go under, however, as you hate to see a homebrewer with a dream and their life savings invested go bust...but at the same time, I fear that is next year's trend.

Welcome to my neighborhood

GABF

Dry Dock bottles for Gabf

finally a list I can agree with!

I am a staunch hater of beer lists.  They are dominated by non-discriminating tastes.  This one seems to do the trick for me, however.  What is your favorite?

http://www.clickhole.com/article/11-microbrews-you-have-try-summer-423?utm_campaign=hootsuite&utm_medium=ShareTools&utm_source=hootsuite

Opinions

I got a fun comment on my blog dated 9/11....I am just getting around to it now in December.  The comment chastised me for rambling on about cans and glassware on my Vessels and Containers post in April 2013.

It is 5F at the beer garden.  

Imperial Stout saves the day.

I have been told by this poster that I should never drink directly from cans or bottles....but I never spoke about that....I don't prefer to drink beer from the container, but I do occasionally sip from cans and bottles.....and it doesn't bother me if others do.  I just don't tend to buy beer in cans, and that is for some unusual unreasonable prejudice that I can't identify.... Cans are better if you have concerns about quality or age.  Bottles are fun to hold in your hand and can be used as a weapon.

Likewise, glassware is a personal consumption preference, like shotgunning or keg stands (I don't tend to do those either).  If you enjoy unusual or proper glassware for each beer, and that increases your enjoyment....great.  If you just want a shaker style pint glass....by all means.  If you are drinking for enjoyment, each aspect of a great beer presented in the way that you enjoy it is the best way...but not the only way you may or might enjoy it.  

So, anonymous person who commented on my blog....thanks for reading it, and sharing your knowledge.  I think your opinions are right and valid.  I agree somewhat, but that wasn't what the post was about.  It was about me and my changing opinions about such things, and probably why it rambled more than you might have liked.  I have become more egalitarian about the issue, and a lot of issues about beer.  That is probably why I don't post as much anymore.

For everyone else, if you have comments, you are welcome to post them.  I don't get around to moderating as quick as I should, but I do like to have a dialog about beer.  I learn more that way.

Opps, I did it again!

My new best friend...sorry Dave, I invited Jim over to homebrew.

It has been since June since I last checked in on my blog....and it is never for a lack of things going on beer wise around here, but rather just the opposite.

I have just been too busy to brew, rebuild my keggerator, or help launch my brother's brewery....

With all the new brewery openings, winning gold medals for our Oktoberfest, the GABF, and the Pints for Prostates Rare Beer Tasting and all....it seems that I have fallen in with a rough crowd.

Dave and my buddy Jim drinking Sam Adams Utopia at Rare Beer V.

It is time to get back to brewing, trying to get it together for this weekend.  Dave and I have been fighting (via text) about what to brew.  I have been embarrassingly UN-accommodating.  I need to get over myself and just brew whatever....and brew it good.

I do have some other projects I need to get back to as well.  I need to build a collar for my keggerator so I can use all of my faucets.  And look into some new equipment as well.  This hobby is supposed to be fun, after all.

Gold.  I was sad they didn't put a plaque on the Maas this year, but it our first actual medal.

After the Great American Beer Festival, I was finally able to answer the age old question..."What's a day without beer?"  Answer:  The day after GABF and Denver Beer Week...I was/am a little burnt out on beer, whew!

Me playing firefighter at work.  I can't believe they paid me for this!

Pike's Peak Brewing Company Rebrands!

I think I first spoke about Pike's Peak when I served their beer at the first GABF I voluenteered at.  They are one of my favorite breweries, but I have had a hard time figuring out why.  The beer is good, they have simple food, it is located between my brother's and my house, more times than not when I am there, the brewer comes and says hi (he may or may not recognize me from previous encounters...just not know who I am)....

 

Ironically, the service there has been spotty....yet, I grant them a pass (for some reason) on this.  They do a nice business, and have a nice crowd, but who doesn't?  I like the rebranding, it means that they are serious taking the next step.  I would love some swag!

 

http://blogs.denverpost.com/beer/2013/06/11/pikes-peak-brewing-company/10628/#more-10628