Drink Local: Feb 18-28

It has been a busy month for all of us, but there are still a ton of local events coming up in the next two weeks, from brewery seminars to Firkin Rendezvous, to Brewers Broads. So get out there and enjoy this amazing spring weather we've been having.

Feb. 18

Smokebrush Porter Release, Bristol Brewing 5pm

From Bristol's Facebook event page:

--Participate in a public art project--Meet the artist of our 2014 label--Enjoy music by Moonhoney and Bob Tudor's one-man band--Taste delicious morsels paired with this luscious smoked porter--(There may even be some hula hoop action.)And since Smokebrush Porter is one of our Community Ales, proceeds from the beer will go to the Uncle Wilber Fountain downtown. So welcome back your favorite smoked beer with a toast to your favorite soaked uncle.

Feb. 21

Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium, UCCS

Take a Friday Off to Eat, Drink, and Learn!!

This one-day event brings brewers together from all over the Rocky Mountain region for the exchange of information and ideas.  The program evolves from year-to-year, as does our industry, but always offers a combination of formal presentations and informal workshops and tutorials.Toby Tucker and Tevis Vance (Country Malt) Trends in Specialty Malts, Emily Hutto (Craft Beer Author and CBG Social Media Liaison) Colorado Craft Beer: The Complete Package, Ashleigh Carter (Prost Brewing Company) Brewing Lager Beer Well

Keynote Address:

Tom Kolicko - Crafting a Nation, Ali Schultz (New Belgium Brewing) Developing a Brewery Sensory Program, Anna Nadasdy (Great Divide Brewing Company) Selling Your Beer in One or Multiple States, Jeff Nickel (AC Golden) A Look at Hop UtilizationRegister here.

9th Annual Peterson Air Force Base Home Brew Fest

5:30-10 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Club. Prizes will be awarded for different BJCP categories. Admission is $20, $15 for Club members. The first 300 guests will receive a commemorative beer glass. Call 556-4181 for details. Home brewers who want to enter their brew should call 574-4100 for details. Website

Feb. 22

10th Annual Firkin Rendezvous, 1pm

10th Annual Firkin Rendezvous, a fundraiser for the Colorado Brewers Guild. 33 Colorado breweries will share with us their cask conditioned ales of goodness. Cask conditioning of ales is a traditional British style of brewing that originated centuries ago when publicans lived above their pubs and made a life's work out of tending their beers. Cask ales are fermented, dry-hopped, conditioned and served in a single cask-- the "firkin" being the British cask size most commonly used. VIP tickets are $60 which includes a t-shirt and early entrance at noon. General admission tickets are $35 with a 1pm entrance. All admission includes beer, food and souvenir tasting glass. Tickets are available here.

Odell Beer Dinner, Brewer's Republic, 5:30pm

Keep the beer-centered day going with a beer dinner hosted by Brewer's Republic and Odell Brewing.

Menu:

Well Spring dry-hopped Saison ale - Grilled peppery bison sausage with stone ground mustardWolf Picker pale ale - Marinated and charbroiled skirt steak over cole crop salad with spicy lime dressingFriek Wild ale - New England style clam chowderRunoff Red IPA - Red pepper chutney glazed chicken with fried steak frittesLugene Chocolate Milk Stout with Orange - Cinnamon raisin bread pudding with grand marnier cream sauceAs always, five beers, five courses, $40!Tickets are available at Brewer's and Coaltrain. 

Feb. 24

Dinner and Beer pairing with The Golden Bee and Pikes Peak Brewing Co., 6pm

1st Course:Gold Rush Belgian Ale Bacon and Artichoke Soup2nd Course:Devil’s Head Red AleCorned Beef Hash, Poached Egg, and Hollandaise3rd CourseSummit House Oatmeal StoutWarm Double Chocolate Walnut CookieOatmeal Ice Cream, Cumquat PreserveFor more information or reservations please call toll free 866.381.8432 or 719.577.5776

Feb. 27

Brewers Broads February Meeting

This is a private party just for Brewers Broads. Lucky ladies!

Stouts and Chocolates

Celebrate Stout Month with Brewers Broads as we pair up with Radiantly Raw to put together a tasty evening!Jacqui of Radiantly Raw is pairing a few of her delicious chocolates with stouts for us taste throughout the event. I will provide Pikes Peak Brewing's Summit House Oatmeal Stout and Ska Brewing's Vinifera Stout with Malbec grapes for everyone to try. Feel free to bring along your favorite stout or other craft beverage.Thursday, February 27th at 6:30 pm.Fifty Fifty Coffee House.330 N Institute St.No Charge.Radiantly Raw chocolates will also be for sale during the event. These are the only raw chocolates made right here in Colorado Springs, and are mighty tasty if I do say so myself.Organic - Raw - Vegetarian - Dairy Free - No Sugar Added - Soy Free - Gluten Free - Non GMO - No Additiveswww.radiantlyrawkitchen.com 

Ska Brewing Beer Dinner, Jake and Telly's Greek Taverna

4 Courses, 8 Beer pairings$60 per person, Reservations required.Jake and Telly's is located at 2616 W. Colorado Ave.(719) 633-0406 

Old No. 23 Barleywine Vertical Tasting and Pairing at Bristol Brewing

Bristol Brewery is proud to present 6 years of our Old #23! These samples, going all the way back to 1999, will be classically paired with small bites from the Meat Locker. Mike Bristol will guide you through the evening in the Wildcat room, sharing stories of the beer's origin, evolution, nuances and labeling. So, bring a friend, don't be late, and come treat yourself. Tickets available here.