Favorite Colorado Winter Brews
Winters are a surprise with Left Hand Brewing Co. in Longmont as they shake the season up with a rotation of re-released past favorites and new innovations. Look for delights like the award-winning Fade to Black, which is brewed with different ingredients — like licorice, cardamom and molasses — every year it's made. Snowbound Winter Ale brightens up winter days with an array of invigorating spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves and orange peel. Meanwhile, the Wake Up Dead Nitro evokes chocolate-cake vibes with notes of cocoa, dried fruit and licorice.
Each winter, Grand Junction’s Grand Junction Brewing Co. and other breweries on the Western Slope (towns like Fruita, Palisade and Paonia) concocts seasonal brews like Patch Pumpkin Ale, the Westfielder 8 Belgian dubbel with notes of plum, cherry, allspice and juniper, and the Dimensional Tripel's hints of sweet orange, vanilla, cinnamon and clover. Fruita's Copper Club Brewing Company always rotates seasonals through its taps, but Malone's Irish Stout is the one that really kicks off the holidays with roasted barley that adds a hint of chocolate.
New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins rolls out its Holiday Ale, with flavors of cranberry, orange, cinnamon and spice "for everyone naughty and nice!" Other limited releases include Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin and the Transatlantique Kriek cherry lambic sour ale.
Once brewed only in small batches for employees of Coors, AC Golden Brewing Company's (a subsidiary of Molson Coors in Golden) crisp Colorado Native Winterfest lager has gained a faithful following since they started brewing slightly larger batches. One of the most fun things about this one is its exclusivity — you can only get it in Colorado.
Though the Northstar Imperial Porter brewed each winter by Boulder's Twisted Pine Brewing Company is extremely enjoyable at the time of purchase, it’s also brewed to last. Connoisseurs can stow a six pack away in a cool, dark spot to savor its deliciously aged, full-bodied malted flavors a few winters from now.
Great Divide Brewing Company’s richly malted Hibernation Ale should be sipped cautiously — with 8.7 percent alcohol by volume, it’s one of the strongest winter selections. What really takes center stage, however, are the ale’s chocolate and dark fruit flavors. Visit their Denver tap room for great views of their brewhouse.
Other Colorado Craft Brews to Try
Estes Park Brewery’s easy-to-drink Samson Stout
Atrevida Beer Co.’s malty and spicy Chapulin Colorado (Colorado Springs)
Kannah Creek Brewing Company’s chocolate-y and coffee-finished Pigasus Porter (Grand Junction)
Breckenridge Brewery’s hearty chocolate and caramel Christmas Ale
Raíces Brewing Company’s Manquito with summery warm-you-up vibes (Denver)
Avery Brewing Company’s hazelnutty Old Jubilation Ale (Boulder)
Odell Brewing Co.’s subtly sweet Isolation Ale (Fort Collins)
For information on all of Colorado’s craft brewers, visit the Colorado Brewers Guild.
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