It's always sad when a brewery has to retire a beer, and later this month Ska Brewing will kill off their Ten Pin Porter. During my years in Durango, this was always the go-to beer for the dwindling light of fall, when the snow starts to crest the La Platas, but it's not cold enough to need a full blown stout. I'll miss seeing the skull-laden labels in stores, always standing out in the cooler. Here's Ska Brewing's press release, chock full of tongue and cheek humor that we know and love from Dave, Bill and Matt.
Press Release:
(Durango, CO) – Ten Pin Porter, Ska Brewing’s flagship porter since 1996, is slated to die later this month in Durango. A memorial service for the delicious craft beer will be held at Ska Brewing World Headquarters on Black Friday, November 29, throughout the day.
“Ten Pin Porter will be missed,” said Ska Co-Founder Dave Thibodeau. “He was the third beer we ever brewed—he meant the world to me. When you’d crack him open, you always knew he’d love you back. Unconditionally. Right now, we’re just focused on getting people together to remember the good times, and say our final goodbyes to a great beer.”
Family and friends are invited to come by Ska and pay their respects on Black Friday—services will include an open casket ceremony. Mourners will also be able to get in some early holiday shopping, as all draft dark beers and black-colored merchandise at Ska World Headquarters will be marked down by 20% on that day.
Ten Pin Porter was known by craft beer throughout Colorado and the Southwest, and as far away as Illinois and North Carolina. Despite the serious roasted aromas and dark outward appearance that were Ten Pin’s trademarks, those close to the beer knew it to be a sweet—and very drinkable—medium-bodied porter.
“I think people who judged Ten Pin just by appearance were missing out,” said Ron Chalmer, a network system administrator from Aurora, Colorado, who had known the porter for over a decade. “We spent time together almost every day after work. There’s definitely a hole in my glass now. I don’t know if it will ever go away.”
Ten Pin joined the Ska Brewing family in 1996, after a bowling alley showdown between the Ska boys and the evil Rotgutzen International Beverage Corporation. In the showdown, the heroine True Blonde inflicts a crushing roundhouse kick that dislodges the skull of Pinstripe, Rotgutzen’s CEO, thus saving craft beer and delivering a perfect “ten-pin” strike at the same time. As word of the showdown spread, Ten Pin Porter quickly became a flagship beer in Ska’s lineup.
Ten Pin enjoyed spending time at bars, beer festivals and with friends all over the country, and was an active member of the Brown Glass Bottle Society.
Ten Pin Porter is survived by a nephew, Steel Toe Stout, a brother, Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter, and four cousins, known collectively as the Seasonal Stouts.
In lieu of flowers, Ska is requesting that donations be made out to the Durango Bootlegger’s Society, or any favorite charity.
About Ska Brewing
Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and now produces over a dozen award-winning beers including Pinstripe Red Ale, True Blonde Ale and Steel Toe Stout. Nine Ska beers are now widely available in cans: ESB Special Ale, True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi IPA, the four Seasonal Stouts and the summer and winter seasonals Mexican Logger and Euphoria Pale Ale. For information, music and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com. Chat us up and get the latest news at facebook.com/skabrew and twitter.com/skabrewing.
Even though it is sad when a beer dies, usually there is something incredible in the pipeline. We can probably look forward to more award winning beers from Ska in the future.
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