Rocky Mountain Brewery's 8 World Cup Beers

Last week we posted information about the special tapping at Rocky Mountain Brewery, they were selling tickets so folks could try the 8 beers they entered into the World Beer Cup. Our pal Nick Arseniak, checked out the brews and decided he'd like to send a report. There were only 100 tickets available, so many of us won't get to try these beers and Nick's descriptions might make you a bit jealous. Here's Nick's report:

On Tuesday, July 17, I stopped by Rocky Mountain Brewery to try the eight beers they sent to the World Beer Cup. The eight beer sampler is 10 bucks. It’s not advertised at the brewery so you’ll either have to ask for it or have already bought a ticket. The beers are available till at least Saturday July 21. After that, there are no guarantees. These beers are worth tasting if you have an interest in experimental beers, fruit beers or gluten free beers that actually taste like a beer.

The first four beers are poured and delivered via paddle. The second four beers are then served via paddle after completing the first four. Description of the beers were taken from the note sheet provided by Rocky Mtn. with tasting.

1. Rocky Mountain Gluten Free Pale Ale – Brewed with Millet, honey and hops. 4.5 abv. (recipe by Chris).

Tasting Notes: Pale light gold in color. Light and crisp. Drank more like a lager. I haven’t drank too many gluten free beers, but the ones I have taste nothing like beer. This one actually tastes like beer. It drinks like a very light pale ale.

2. Rocky Mountain’s Perfect Porter – Roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavors, but not so thick that it coats your mouth. 5.5 abv. (Recipe by Duane)

Tasting Notes: Like it says on the note sheet, its got roasted coffee and chocolate flavors. Dark brown/black with very little head. It drinks smooth and lighter than a stout, which can be often be viscous. Reminded me of Firestone’s Melvet Merlin.

3. Grampa Clank’s Red Chili Cyclone – Dried Chimayo red chilis, blended with malty amber ale. 6.2 abv. (Recipe by Duance & his father, a.k.a. Grampa Clank).

Tasting Notes: Golden in color and cloudy. The heat from the chilis slowly builds up as you drink and is definitely noticeable towards the end. This one made me sweat a little, but at the same time, it actually seemed to cool me down. Not sure if I could handle a whole pint, but an interesting beer nonetheless and is drinkable.

4. Mashing Pumpkins Halloween Ale – Spiced pumpkin ale. Malty with spice flavor and hints of pumpkin and crust. Designed to be smooth and slightly sweet. 6.2 abv. (Recipe by Nick).

Tasting Notes: This is beer drank like pumpkin pie in a glass. It looked like someone put a pumpkin pie, with crust into a blender. The color is a thick, chunky and tan brown. You can actually taste the pumpkin pie and crust in this beer. My favorite of the eight beers and arguably one of the best pumpkin beers I’ve ever had. Would be great as a night capper.

5. Eat a Peach – Describled as liquid peach cobbler. This beer won the World Beer Cup Gold Medal. Basic beer as the original “Da’ Yoopers”, but jazzed up with a crapload of real peach and a pinch of Mexican cinnamon. 5.5 abv. (Recipe by Nick).

Tasting Notes: Light to medium gold in color, looking similar to a cider. Sweet, smooth and tart at the same time. This drank like a dry, mildly-sweet wine with a long finish. Epic Brewing’s Brainless on Peaches is the closest comparison I could make. I can see why this beer took gold.

6. America! Apple Pie! – Half pie, half cobble, half “Yooper” base. Building of “Da’ Yoopers” base, added apple and Mexican cinnamon. 5.5 abv. (Recipe by Nick).

Tasting Notes: Medium gold in color with a cloudy body. Sweet and tasted more like a caramel apple than apple pie to me. Smooth and very drinkable. A little sweeter than the Eat A Peach.

7. Da’ Yoopers – The flagship fruit beer by Rocky Mtn. Current winner of two World Beer Cup medals. 100% Montmorency Cherries from the upper peninsula of Michigan. Blended with malty golden ale, Mexican cinnamon and a lot of love. 5.5 abv. (Recipe by Nick).

Tasting Notes: The pouring I had was from a new keg and the beer was cloudy and looked like cherry cobbler as it had a reddish cream look to it due to the haze. The cloudiness seemed to take the tart edge off the usual Yoopers, making it a smoother drink. The traditional Yoopers is fruity, tart and very refreshing.

8. Gluten Free Da’ Yoopers – Millet instead of Barley used for the base beer. 5.5 abv. (Recipe by Nick).

Tasting Notes: My favorite beer of the last four. Cherry red in color and transparent. Drank very similar to the regular yoopers. Bright, tart cherry. Smooth and very sippable. Seems like the millet works with the beer. Maybe millet should be what people use instead of sorghum for gluten free beers as there was not too much difference between this version and the regular yoopers.
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