Great American Beer Festival - Day One

I attended the Great American Beer Festival (opening day) last night.





I had many good beers. A few of my favorites:
* Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout
* Left Hand Fade to Black
* Rogue Double Chocolate Stout
* Papago Orange Blossom


My drinking companion, Oliver Porter, from Phoenix:



Besides beer, there was Hop Candy, which they said was just hops and chocolate. The dark chocolate was quite delicious.





I focused mostly on beers that I can't get in Colorado and/or were special release beers. The full list of beers I tasted:
Bell's Wild One
Boulevard Tank T Farmhouse Ale
New Glarus Moon Man
Jolly Pumpkin Biere de Mars
Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Three Floyds Infinitas Attero
Three Floyds Sandpebbles
Short's Anniversary Ale (Blood Orange Wheat Wine)
Short's Key Lime Pie



* Both of the beers from Shorts were quite good and very interesting.

Bricktown Black Gold Raspberry Chocolate Stout
Brugge Pooka Sour Boysenberry
Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgium Style IPA
Fegley's Kriek Lambic
Left Hand Fade to Black (one of my favorites)- the only Colorado beer I drank at the festival.



Durango Blueberry Wheat (yummy)
Rogue Double Chocolate Stout
Rogue Chatoe OREgasmic
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Firestone Walker Pale 31
Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

* Firestone had these really cool 'bookmarks' that described each beer along with food pairings. Very cool!



Deschutes The Abyss
Deschutes Black Butte XXII Reserve
Allagash Fluxus 2010 (Belgium style Imperial Chocolate Stout)
21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat
Four Peaks Kilt Lifter (Scottish Ale)
Papago Orange Blossom

It was fun running into Ally from Asher Brewing

The Great COntenders at Wynkoop Brewing

Last night I was at the Great COntenders Beer event at the Wynkoop Brewing Co in Denver.



I helped Stever Turner from Asher Brewing Co. pour beers.



There were about 20 brewers from Colorado and about 300 attendees.



Asher Brewing's Greenade Organic Double IPA was a big hit with the attendees.

Beer Swaps

I met a fellow beer lover online that lives in NC. We decided to swap a few beers. My 12-pack from her arrived yesterday.





I am going to invite a few fellow beer lovers over for a tasting!

Beer Log from Scotland Trip

Jennifer's Beer Log from trip to Scotland (and a couple of days in England/Wales)




Friday, 8/27
Inveralmond Brewery Ossian 4.1% ABV at the Bell Rock Tavern in Tayport
Brewdog 5AM Saint Amber 5.0% ABV at my friend's house in Tayport
Brewdog Trashy Blonde 4.1% ABV



Saturday, 8/28
Deeside Brewery Lulach 4% ABV at the Ship Inn in Stonehaven
Inveralmond Brewery Independence 4% ABV at the Ship Inn in Stonehaven
Inveralmond Brewery Ossian 4.1% ABV at the Bell Rock Tavern in Tayport
Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA 5.3% ABV at my friends house







Sunday, 8/29
St. Andrews Ale at The Russell Hotel in St. Andrews
Brewdog Punk IPA 6.0% ABV at my friend's house in Tayport
Badger Fursty Ferret 4.4% ABV



Monday, 8/30
Cairngorm Trade Winds 4.3% ABV at the Taybank in Dunkeld
Inveralmond Inkie Pinkie 3.7% ABV at the Atholl Arms Hotel in Dunkeld
Boddingtons - didn't care for this one.

Tuesday, 8/31
Kelburn Misty Lord 4% ABV in Dundee (didn't care for this one)



Wednesday, 9/1
Jennings World's Biggest Liar 4.3% ABV at The Criterion in St. Andrews (tasted like Elderflowers, a little sweet but very delicious)
Caledonian Deuchars IPA 4.4% ABV at the Edinburgh Airport
Adnams East Green 4.3% ABV at my friend's house outside of Bristol, England

Thursday, 9/2
Wadworth 6X 4.3% ABV at The Boat Inn in Chepstow, Wales
Cottage Brewery Planet Ale 4.3% ABV at The Boat in Penalt, Wales
Black Sheep Ale
4.4% ABV at my friends house outside of Bristol, England



Friday, 9/3
Marston's Pedigree
4.5% ABV at the Llandoger Trow in Bristol
Orkney Brewery Northern Light 4% ABV at the Bailie in Edinburgh
Houston St. Peter's Well 4.2% ABV at Abbotsford in Edinburgh
Brewdog Alpha Dog at Hector's in Edinburgh

Saturday, 9/4
Edinburgh Gold 4.8% ABV at The Doric in Edinburgh
Belhaven's Best 3.2% ABV at the Hawthorn in Edinburgh