Craft Week Takes Over Colorado Springs and Beyond
If you've been paying attention for the past few months on the social media channels, you may have noticed Colorado Springs Craft Week is coming up soon. Centered around the craft beverages produced in and around the Pikes Peak Region, CSCW has a plethora of events happening starting next Friday.Here's our guide to help you get through all the beer-related events, while keeping most of your sanity, and saving your liver from total failure.
Friday April 25th:
Our Recommendation:
Colorado Springs Tap Takeover at the Wild Goose.The Wild Goose Meeting House is quickly becoming the place to see and be seen. Boasting 12 taps and a knowledgeable staff, they can help pretty much anyone find something to enjoy. On the first Friday of CSCW, they'll play host to a number of our local breweries, including some up and comers. Beer-wise, this is the way to kick off a crazy week of collaboration-style events.Featured Breweries:Fieldhouse Brewing Manitou Brewing Pikes Peak Brewing Paradox Beer Company Great Storm Brewing Red Leg Brewing Trinity Brewing Lofty Brewing Bristol Brewing Nano 108 Brewing Smiling Toad Brewing Phantom Canyon If you can't make it to the Wild Goose for Friday's tappings, we suggest trying to make it to Bristol Brewing's Maibock release the night before.
Cold-fermented for more than a month, the newest addition to the Bristol lineup features Perle and Saaz noble hops lending to a nice, clean and crisp flavor to balance the malty sweetness. The Maibock release will be celebrated with a spring patio party, maypole activities, live music and giveaways. Free admission; pay per pint.
Saturday April 26th:
Our recommendation:
Nano 108 Brewing is tapping a Mango Pineapple IPA.
The inaugural tapping of this flavorful, aromatic modern IPA will feature $5.50 pints — call 596-BEER for more information. We rest our single hop Citra India Pale Ale on fresh fruit to give the beer a bright citrus and tropical flavor. We keep the fruit subtle in this beer to focus on balancing the malt, hops and fruit together to enhance the flavor and aroma of this modern IPA.
If you get bored with all the fun beer at Nano 108, head down to The Wild Goose for a Conversation about the Craft CommunityDavid Wright, who has contributed to Focus on the Beer over the past two months, will be giving a presentation of sorts chronicling his trip around Colorado visiting the different and eclectic places that serve and create craft beer. Along with David will be Tyler Hill, who some of you might recognize from behind the bar at The Principal's Office, giving his thoughts on the craft community surrounding coffee. The event is at 3pm, and don't worry if you can't make it! There will be an encore conversation Tuesday at 3pm as well.
Sunday April 27
Our recommendation:Tour of CraftersRoasters, brewers, distillers and crafters throughout the city open their doors on April 27 for a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into making their product.
- Downtown: 8:30-10:30
- Central/Eastern: 10:30-12:30
- Western: 12:30-2:30
- North: 2:30-4:30
Check cscraftweek.com for details from each crafter on special open house events. Please tour responsibly.If you're near downtown and are looking for some great food, check out Taste of Old Colorado City! http://tasteofocc.comBy the end of the day, you may be getting hungry, so plan on checking out Brewer's Republic's Barrel-Aged Beer Dinner.
On April 27th we are hosting a Barrel Aged Beer DinnerFeaturing beers from:Bristol Brewing CompanyPikes Peak BrewingNano 108 Brewing CompanyGreat Storm Brewing4 Beers, 4 Courses, $40 5pm.
Tickets are going fast, but you can get them at Brewer's or Coaltrain. $40 gets you food and beer, but doesn't include tax or tip. We're planning on being there, and so should you.
Monday April 28
Our recommendation:Barrel-Aged Beer and Chocolate Pairing at Brewer's RepublicOur friends over at Radiantly Raw Chocolates and Brewer's Republic will be putting together a pairing that you cannot miss.
A pairing night that is sure to delight: Colorado Springs barrel-aged beers will be paired with locally-made chocolates from Radiantly Raw. Come by anytime during the evening to pick and choose pairings from available chocolates and beers — see beer list below. Cost dependent on what is ordered; no advance purchase necessary.
Great Storm • Barrel Aged Imperial Red
Nano 108 • Barrel Aged English Barley Wine
Pikes Peak • Barrel Aged Belgian Golden Strong
Bristol • Barrel Aged Laughing Lab
If you are still wanting more, head over to McCabes for their Local Beer Dinner.
A six-course dinner of locally-sourced, seasonally-correct and all-natural dishes paired with beers from six different breweries, including Bristol, Great Storm, Field House, and Smiling Toad. Brewers from all six breweries will attend — purchase tickets by calling McCabe’s at 633-3300.
Get tickets for that quick! If you miss out on Brewer's Republic's dinner, Greg and everyone at McCabes are sure to put on a great time.
Tuesday April 29
Our recommendation:Colorado Collaboration Tap Takeover at Pikes Peak BrewingIf you missed out on Collaboration Fest up in Denver, this is your time to try the collaboration beers brewed by some of our local brewers!
An opportunity to try some of the unique collaboration brews made by Colorado breweries. Full beer list below.
The Big C - A Lady CollaborationBootstrap Brewing, Bottles and Barrels, Big Choice, Caution Brewing, Epic Brewing, Former Future Brewing, Horse and Dragon Brewing, Pikes Peak Brewing, Renegade Brewing, Ska Brewing, Strange Craft and WynkoopBelgian IPA, ABV 6%Unite Pale Ale – International Women’s Day CollaborationPikes Peak Brewing Company, Red Leg, Trinity, Great Storm, Fieldhouse, Paradox, Bristol, Phantom CanyonThis beer was part of a world-wide collaboration project lead by Project Venus. It was brewed on March 8, which was International Women’s Day. More than 30 breweries from around the world participated. Each collaboration was made the same recipe, but brew group put their own personality into it. Pale session beer with late Cascade hops and a touch of rye. ABV 4.8%Jimmy Camp-Southern Colorado Collaboration: Pikes Peak, Bristol and Phantom CanyonThis beer is based on a WeiPi (or a WeissBierPils) highlighting some non-traditional and fruity hops and a little darker than a tradition WeiPi. The exciting ingredients used in this beer are Herkules, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Mandarina Bavaria hops, Crystal Wheat malt, and Klosterbrauerei Ettal yeast.
A delectable night to remember: join Bristol, Paradox and the Blue Star in the Ivywild Gym for a collaboration beer dinner, prepared and presented by crafters from the two breweries and five restaurants involved. Full menu below; purchase tickets ($50) at ticketfly.com/event/538735-collaboration-dinner-bristol-colorado-springs.
Course 1: Bristol’s Maibock with La’au’s selection of salsa’s and fresh chips
Course 2: Bristol’s Tripel with Nosh’s kabayaki beef carpaccio, edamame, white miso dressed greens, and togarashi dusted egg
Course 3: Bristol’s Dubbel with Blue Star’s fresh fettuccine, royal riviera shrimp butter, basil pistou, and bottarrga
Course 4: Paradox’s Barrel #7 with Meat Locker’s confit pork belly, pea puree, smoked onion marmalade, and pickled chilies
Course 5: Paradox’s Santuario Chile with Old School Bakery’s chocolate chili polenta cake, burnt caramel flan, buttermilk ice cream, and Mexican hot chocolate ganache
We're still trying to figure out what to do that night, but if you're on the fence, act quick as the ticketed events will sell out fast!
Wednesday April 30
Our recommendation:
Colorado Springs Tap Takeover at Front Range BBQ
As you all may know, we love what Brian does over at Front Range, and this night will be no different.
A tap takeover featuring all Colorado Springs breweries, with special tappings of several limited-release and barrel-aged beers and live reggae music.
We'll be there, sipping on some barrel-aged, specialties, and so should you. Keep your eyes peeled for our Meet the Brewer events...word on the street is that we're announcing some really soon.
If you can't make it over to Front Range, consider cruising out to Nano 108 for their German Doppelbock tapping! $5 pints!
Thursday May 1
Our recommendation:
DailyBrew Collaboration at Red Leg Brewing
Red Leg Brewing has collaborated with Brett from Mission Coffee Roasters on a beer that is sure to please: an exciting cross between a Costa Rican coffee blend and Red Leg’s Howitzer Amber. This “DailyBrew” highlights the wide breadth of craft industry work taking place all over Colorado Springs on a daily basis. They'll tap it at 5pm, so get there early!
If you can't make it, or if Garden of the Gods road is so backed up because of the increased traffic to Red Leg, head to Coaltrain and pick up a six-pack of Bristol Beer and get a free pint glass!
Friday May 2
Our recommendation:
Crafters' Festival. You need to be here. There is nowhere else that you should or could be. This will be one of Colorado Springs' premier events for 2014, and why would you miss out?
Here are the numbers:
11 Breweries
7 Coffee Roasters
2 Distilleries
3 Food Trucks
and 250 of your closest friends
Saturday May 3
Our recommendation:
If you can get out of bed, or are still wired from an extreme caffeine dose from Friday night, travel on up I-25 to Pikes Peak Brewing, where the Brew Brothers of Pikes Peak will be hosting their Big Brew Day.
A celebration of National Homebrew Day hosted by Pikes Peak Brewing Co. in partnership with the Brew Brothers of Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs Homebrew Club). PPBC will create a Regal Pale Ale wort which homebrewers can customize by selecting their own hops, special ingredients and yeast. Limited space available — homebrewers may register for $20 at homebrewersassociation.org/aha-events/national-homebrew-day/big-brew-events/?site_id=1304. Spectators welcome throughout the day.
If you're not too tired out from brewing all day, The Wild Goose will be hosting Fieldhouse Brewing (cross your fingers!) for a preview and pre-taste of their soon to open brewery just down the street on Tejon! The Fieldhouse crew will be there from 5pm on and it should be an excellent time!
Sunday May 4
We made it!!!
Congratulations to everyone who attended three or more of these events, it's a crazy big list of amazing things, but you're a trooper.
The Wild Goose will be hosting a closing party for Craft Week with all-day happy hour prices and live music. Now that they're open on Sundays, this is sure to be a wild and crazy time.
Also, Bristol Brewing will be tapping Unite Pale Ale, which as you might remember was brewed at Pikes Peak Brewing by Aly Hartwig and a group of local women brewsters! They'll have it on all day, so definitely stop in and grab a pint! As with all the Unite tappings, a portion of the proceeds from every pint sold go to the Pink Boots Society.
For more information about Colorado Springs Craft Week, visit cscraftweek.com
