Our Year in Pictures

BeerPhoto recap
Written By Ryan Hannigan

This has been a whirlwind year for sure, but we here at Focus on the Beer are ready for 2015! Looking back at our articles and photos from this year did help us remember all the great times, so we figured we'd share them with you! Thanks for being a part of our year!DSC_0009894920_10152231421817425_542778322_o DSC_0016 DSC_0012 DSC_0002 DSC_0218 audio DSCN0935 photo (2)The crowd gathered under propane heaters prior to the doors opening.DSC_0073 IMG_0674 IMG_0663The first twelve lucky fans got to take home a nice Paradox Beer Company belgian glass!ManitouBrewingDSC_0437DSC_0464DSC_0477DSC_0482Trinity-Saison-Rendezvous-6Sign at Left Hand (Brewed to be enjoyed with friends and stimulate serendipity)WorldBeerCup-57WorldBeerCup-58WorldBeerCup-61WorldBeerCup-26IMG_3103Photo © Brewers Association.Manitou Brewing Company Manitou Brewing CompanyDSC_0557Meet the Brewer: Upslope Brewing10264067_10101463353000981_7861464196107844274_o10256275_10101463352746491_4845288625214687919_oRight across from McCabe's Tavern, Fieldhouse's fermenters are shown proudly in the windows.This was the scene for most of the 4 hours we were there.Three sets of boots. It's a family affair at Fieldhouse Brewing.10390361_889945461021926_4500364622038580735_nIMG_0006The rain came early, but after a quick downpour, it was a beautiful evening.Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada, manned their booth for much of the night.One smiling face we couldn't miss was Tim from Strange Craft Brewing. After the recent name-alteration, we're glad to see they could still use their quirky lettering. Their kriek was wonderful, bursting with cherries and finishing with a slight tartness.Sierra-Nevada-Beer-Camp-0815What's a beer festival without a double rainbow over our capitol building?Dan Ramos prepares to brew his session IPA with Rockyard BrewingNewBelgiumClips-0753_1NewBelgiumClips-0766RedLeg-WildGoose-0681Russ Ware, sporting a Red Leg Brewing shirt.RedLeg-0613RedLeg-0625Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0424Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0488Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0487Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0450Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0460Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0457Rockyard-Rendezvous-2014-0444Breck_Buddhas_Hand-0142Iron Bird's taproom is very close to being complete, with the final touches being put in place today.DSC_0078CCDSC_0077CCRiNoMTB-0032RiNoMTB-0036RiNoMTB-0042RiNoMTB-0056The calm before the storm. You can see they had the park ringed with the many brewers. Plenty of room for the crowd to spread out.Paradox-Deux-Ans-2703It's very refreshing when taprooms and breweries can also be kid-friendly. These aren't bars, they're workshops, where masterpieces are created.Paradox-Deux-Ans-2728Written on the plastic in the back. Paradox's words to live by.Thanks to Hailey and Cully, Airman and a bunch of us got to open some fun bottles. I think all of them paired excellently with Scarbs' homemade bread.BnBTitlePikes Peak WinsSouthwest-Beer-Trip-0817 Southwest-Beer-Trip-0845 Southwest-Beer-Trip-0848 Southwest-Beer-Trip-0868 Southwest-Beer-Trip-0872 Southwest-Beer-Trip-0877Riff Raff Brewing is quickly becoming a favorite brew in Pagosa Springs. Telluride-Blues-Brews-Shakey-Graves-2315 TBBF-GrandTasting-1038 TBBF-GrandTasting-1067 TBBF-GrandTasting-1069 TBBF-GrandTasting-1083 TBBF-GrandTasting-1092 TBBF-GrandTasting-1250 TBBF-GrandTasting-1281 hop-picking-0657 20140901-DSC_0665 20140901-DSC_067510703574_840915762614676_7158569621102593777_nFossil-Soft-Opening-3038Andrew Hershberger and James Kormanik talk with Fossil's Josh Bye at one of Fossil Brewing's soft opening nights.As always, a Venetucci Farm logo carved pumpkin greeted people as they picked up their 2-bottle allotment.Venetucci Release-2944Mike Bristol tapping the Ivywild School adorned pumpkin.Mike Bristol presents the Pikes Peak Community Foundation with the proceeds from last year's Pumpkin Ale, to a tune of $39,275!GABF-Day-2-2806GABF-Day-2-2840-2GABF-Day-2-2846GABF-Day-2-2821GABF-Day-2-2849GABF-Day-2-2854GABF-Day-2-2867GABF-Day-2-2851GABF-Day-2-2874IMG_0090This guy kept his Halloween costume on from the night before and proceeded to cover it with every sticker possible. One caveat to working tirelessly to open a brewery and having a newborn: Shaving is no longer necessary. Rich, from Fossil Brewing with a prime example.Dom from Manitou Brewing manned their booth for much of the afternoon session. WildGooseRLRN-3365Jeff (right) talks to new Mug Club members about their beers and plans for the taproom.JAKs-Brewing-MugClub-3718 Holy COW! That's a lot of great times! We're prime for more breweries to open and more beer to be had here in 2015...hope to see you around!

Ryan Hannigan

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