Coalition beers
Colorado’s small breweries have combined on special “group” brews, and the beers will be served this weekend at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
In Denver, Breckenridge Brewery, Wynkoop Brewing Co., Rock Bottom Brewery, Denver Chop House and Flying Dog Brewery made 50 kegs Denver Special. One keg will be available at the GABF – which runs Thursday through Friday – and the rest will be on tap at the five cooperating brewpubs.
Drinkers will find the beer “not too dark – a kind of reddish brown color, darker than a pale ale but not as dark as stout,” said Wynkoop brewer Thomas Larson.
In addition to Denver Special, the Colorado Brewers Guild booth will feature similar efforts from coalitions in Durango, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Boulder-Longmont, said Guild executive director John Carlson.
It’s the first year brewers have come together in such an effort, Carlson said. “I think the brewers want to add to it in years to come,” he said. “There’s talk of doing some wood-aged beers next year.”
