2011 Venetucci Pumpkin Ale is Here!
It is indeed that time of the season, the leaves are turning firey orange, the night air is getting cold and crisp, and the streets are being filled with leaves. Fall is beautiful on the Front Range. One of my favorite parts of Fall is that breweries begin using ingredients that indicate the changing of seasons. We see fresh hop beers and spiced beers. One of Colorado Springs most anticipated beers will be available soon as well - the Venetucci Pumpkin Ale from Bristol Brewing.
A year ago when I moved here, everyone told me that I had to get this beer. I was able to get the limit of three bottles, reserving the beer at Coaltrain. When I cracked the first one open I was thoroughly pleased. I was going to save one for a whole year to compare it the one made this year, but I just didn't have the patience and I drank them all. I also took one to the Beer Bloggers Conference in November and there we compared the beer to a couple different pumpkin ales that Elysian makes (Elysian makes tons of different pumpkin beers every year, and they organize a pumpkin beer festival in Seattle). Most people like the Bristol version the most.
I'm looking forward to trying this beer side by side to the pumpkin beer that Alan makes over at Phantom Canyon. I've heard great things about that beer as well, and this year they've added 150 lbs of pumpkin to the batch. The Phantom Canyon beer is set to be released around October 21st.
So, you want the beer? Here's the information you need:
Bottles:
Bottles go on pre-sale this Monday, October 3rd at noon. At Bristol you must be there in person, pay when you sign up, and you'll have a limit of six bottles per person. You can pick up bottles after Oct 19th, but before Nov. 30th. Sign up early, because they will sell out.
You can also ask your local liquor shop if they're getting any. Last year I signed up for mine at Coaltrain so I could avoid the rush at Bristol.
Occasionally some local pubs will get them too. I remember that last year, Whoptbird Jones from Beer Tap TV found a bottle hidden at McCabes about 5 months later.
Party:
If you're in the mood to party for the release, Bristol will have a release party on October 18th at 5pm. Usually there's a line around the block so get there early. The beer is expected to sell out very quickly.
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